Politics in the key Indian Ocean Region state and African player Kenya seems to worsen with Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga last week dismissing President William Ruto’s invitation to hold talks. In politically stable Tanzania, economic experts have expressed worries over the US decision to tighten its monetary policy. Experts say the move will attract more investments to the US while Tanzania will continue to face shortages of the widely traded currency. South Africa’s radical leftist opposition party, EFF, urged the leaders of China, India and Brazil to boycott the upcoming BRICS summit in solidarity with Putin. South Africa on the other hand is planning to scale up its grid capacity as it works to address the crippling power shortages. As part of its Indian Ocean outreach India’s indigenously built destroyer INS Visakhapatnam entered Oman on Sunday (July 30). With the aim of further strengthening regional response to pollution incidents at sea, a three-day tabletop exercise was organised in Seychelles for the western Indian Ocean. Mozambique, last week, came in for praise by EU as its special forces performed “extremely positively” to combat terrorists.
Kenya opposition leader Odinga dismisses President Ruto’s offer to meet
Aljazeera | 26th July 2023
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has dismissed President William Ruto’s invitation to hold talks over anti-government protests, saying the president’s offer was “not serious at all”. Ruto said on social media on Tuesday that he was willing to meet Odinga “anytime” following weeks of protests against the rising cost of living and the introduction of new taxes.
Tanzania to feel pinch of US monetary policy
The Citizen | 30th July 2023
Economic experts have expressed worries over the US decision to tighten its monetary policy, saying the move will accelerate shortages of dollar and put more pressure on the exchange rates with other currencies. Experts say the move will attract more investments to the US while Tanzania, like the rest of the world, will continue to face shortages of the widely traded currency. Tanzania is already hit by the shortages of the US dollar supply and recently, oil importers raised the alarm over the same issue.
SA’s radical leftist leader appeals for BRICS boycott in solidarity with Putin
Africanews.com | 30th July 2023
South Africa’s radical leftist opposition party, EFF, urged the leaders of China, India and Brazil to boycott the upcoming BRICS summit in solidarity with Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Speaking at an anniversary rally for South Africa’s third largest party, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Malema also denounced Washington’s pressure to turn against the Russian leader.
Government promises to strengthen electricity grid
TechCentral | 31st July 2023
South Africa is planning to scale up its grid capacity as it works to both address the crippling power shortages that have plagued it for 15 years, and also put the country on track to meet its decarbonisation goals.
According to electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramakgopa, the country will increase transmission lines by 14 218km over in the next 10 years and will seek to boost transformers sixfold by 2033, as it tries to keep up with projected demand from consumers and business
INS Visakhapatnam reaches Muscat to boost India-Oman maritime partnership
Hindustan Times | 30th July 2023
To enhance the maritime partnership between Indian Navy and Royal Oman Navy, the indigenously built destroyer INS Visakhapatnam entered Oman on Sunday, informed Indian Navy officials. The Indian Navy and Royal Oman Navy are working together to address security challenges in the region and the warship is part of the Western Naval Command Fleet, the officials added. The Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India and an important interlocutor at Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Arab League and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) fora.
Oil spills: Seychelles takes part in Western Indian Ocean Pollution Regional Exercise
Seychelles News Agency | 26th July 2023
With the aim of further strengthening regional response to pollution incidents at sea, a three-day tabletop exercise was organised in Seychelles for the western Indian Ocean, putting to test an existing regional contingency plan. Dubbed the ‘Western Indian Ocean Pollution Regional Exercise (WIOPOLREX)’, the exercise was organised jointly by the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) and the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) from July 25 to July 27.
Mozambique: Special forces trained by EU performing “extremely positive” on the ground – Watch
Club of Mozambique | 31st July 2023
The Mozambican special forces trained by the European Union (EU) to combat “terrorism” in Cabo Delgado are performing “extremely positively” on the ground, despite “some small failures”, the commander of the training mission has said.
