Tag: 2024

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2024.

The UK, Denmark and Kenya have officially opened a critical link road at Mombasa Port, which is driving growth through trade and improving the lives of residents.

There was cause to celebrate in Mombasa as the new Mbaraki-Nyerere Road and the Bamburi Drainage Outfall were officially opened in a ceremony at the coast.

The road and drain have been operational since July 2022, and the upgrade from a murram road to a high-quality bitumen road has transformed the lives of the businesses and residents of Mombasa.

The construction of the road was made possible by a three-way partnership between the County Government of Mombasa, the UK Government and the Royal Danish Embassy – and delivered by TradeMark Africa, a pan-African aid-for-trade organisation, whose work has reduced cargo clearance times at Mombasa Port from 11.2 to 3.4 days and led to a reduction of 16.5% in cargo transit times on the Northern Corridor, from the Port of Mombasa to Bujumbura in Burundi.

Prior to the construction of the road, traffic congestion from Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) – the workhorses of Mombasa Port – negatively impacted the productivity and profitability of businesses. The road is – literally – driving growth through trade, as it has led to higher truck utilisation rates, and quicker turnaround times for cargo at the Mbaraki Terminal. 160 local people were directly employed during construction, and 15% were women. The lower congestion has also improved air quality for residents.

The 1.2km road that runs from Mbaraki to Nyerere has also positively impacted the lives of Mombasa’s citizens, due to the incorporation of a 100-meter-long drain, funded by the Royal Danish Embassy. This drain collects water from catchment areas along the roadside, transports it underneath the road, and dispatches it to the Indian Ocean – preventing flooding.

Children’s education was disrupted due to excessive floodwater at a nearby school and an estate. At the Star of the Sea school, for example, children were carried across the floodwaters to their classrooms.

Not only has the road been built to a high-quality, but it was designed and constructed considerately, to meet the needs of the local community. The road comes complete with wide pavements which make pedestrians safer, provide access for persons with disabilities, and make climate-friendly transport options more attractive. It has also been fitted with solar streetlights, which are not dependent on the electricity grid, and also connects to existing drainage from nearby businesses. The road also increases access to local goods and services, such as markets.

The impact of the road is not just limited to Kenya, but also the East Africa region. The Port of Mombasa handles 31 million tons of cargo annually- expected to increase to 50 million by 2050 – and is a gateway for the flow of goods between Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Principal, The Star of the Sea School, said:

This small intervention is having a big impact on the lives of our students. The construction of the drain has prevented severe flooding, meaning our girls at the Star of the Sea school can learn without interruption, they can access school safely, and they have a happy and healthy learning environment.

Mohammed Ali, CEO, BossFreight, said:

The construction of the road has been a game changer for us – we can now transport more cargo, more efficiently, and have happier clients. We would welcome the construction of more high-quality roads that can handle more HGVs.

Mr. Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir, Governor of Mombasa County, said:

Today marks a pivotal step towards realising our vision of a modern, efficient, and resilient Mombasa. This road is not just an infrastructural improvement; it is a transformative investment that will catalyse trade, enhance mobility, and foster economic growth for our people. We are committed to continuing our collaboration with international partners like TradeMark Africa, Denmark, and the United Kingdom to drive projects that uplift our communities, support sustainable development, and cement Mombasa’s role as a key gateway for regional trade.

Leigh Stubblefield, Deputy British High Commissioner to Kenya and Development Director, said:

As the Swahili proverb goes – unity is strength. One of the best ways we can drive growth is through partnerships that deliver high-quality infrastructure, that facilitate smooth trade, that do not load Kenya with debt – and crucially, are considerate of the needs of the local community. The UK is proud to have helped deliver this project with the County Government of Mombasa, The Danish Embassy, and TradeMark Africa. We go far, when we go together.

Elma Adwa, Regional Manager, Royal Danish Embassy, said:

Denmark and the United Kingdom have worked together for over a decade with TradeMark Africa in various projects. Denmark is extremely excited to be part of this initiative of officially opening a critical link road at Mombasa Port, which is driving growth through trade and improving the lives of residents within Mombasa County and beyond. We look forward to more projects that will enable the smooth flow of trade in Kenya.

TMA Deputy CEO and Chief of Programmes, Ms Allen Asiimwe, reaffirmed TMA’s dedication to regional trade, saying:

>TradeMark Africa recognises that efficient physical infrastructure is the backbone of regional trade, directly impacting economic growth, job creation, and community welfare. This road is more than a logistical upgrade—it is an investment in the economic future of Mombasa and Kenya. With our partners, we are committed to facilitating green growth and enhancing trade routes that empower local industries and uplift communities. TMA remains focused on developing resilient trade infrastructure that supports sustainable development goals and strengthens Africa’s trade competitiveness on the global stage.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 November 2024.

The UK highlights the appalling human cost of Russia’s illegal, unprovoked war against Ukraine with Russian forces suffering their heaviest losses of the conflict so far in October 2024.

Thank you, Mr Chair.  We are approaching 1000 days of Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.  The costs for Ukraine have been immense, and we will continue to hold Russia accountable against its OSCE commitments for its actions.  But President Putin, who chose to start this war, should also be held accountable for the cost of his war to Russia and the Russian people.

For example, the cost to Russia’s international credibility, after it so clearly violated its commitments under the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and the Geneva Conventions. Undermining fundamental commitments, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the non-use of force – principles which we all rely on for our safety and security.

But Mr Chair, the human cost of this war is extraordinary and appalling. Almost 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed as a direct result of Russian aggression and 6.2m Ukrainians forced to leave their country as refugees. Each day President Putin continues with his war of choice, more lives are lost – including those of his own people.  October 2024 saw the highest number of Russian casualties since the full-scale invasion began.  Nearly 42,000 losses were reported, taking the total number of Russian casualties since the war began to approximately 700,000.  Hundreds of thousands killed and seriously wounded, not out of necessity, but because of the Russian President’s imperial ambitions.  Tragically, human lives are a commodity in which the Russian leadership appears to place little value.

We know that the human rights situation within Russia is dire. Last month the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, Mariana Katzarova published a report on the Russian State’s complicity in and encouragement of widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment, including against the brave Russians who dare to speak out against the invasion. But also among the victims mentioned in this report are Russia’s own mobilised men and regular servicemen, some for refusing to obey orders to fight against Ukraine. Hundreds are reportedly detained in unofficial detention centres near the front lines. This goes against the OSCE’s Code of Conduct, which compels States to abide by international law, including the Geneva Conventions.

And how are these soldiers seen by Russia’s elite?  Well, a member of President Putin’s ruling party in the State Duma, Mr. Alexander Borodai, boasted that Russian authorities were sending troops with “no social value” to fight in Ukraine.  According to Mr Borodai, they are seen as “expendable” or “spare people”.

Perhaps having exhausted these “spare people”, Russia’s leadership is now turning to Pyongyang to bolster its combat capability. Not only does this latest move recklessly endanger security in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, it is a stark reminder of Russia’s increasing reliance on third-country support.    At last week’s joint meeting of this Forum and the Permanent Council, participating States and Partners for Cooperation made clear their concern at the growing military relationship between Russia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which stands in violation of several UN Security Council Resolutions.  Regrettably, Russia chose not to engage seriously and erroneously claimed that the topic was outside the OSCE’s remit.  Preventing unintended escalation or misunderstandings, including from unusual military activity within the OSCE’s Zone of Application, is why the OSCE was built.  Russia owes participating States transparency on why these troops are there and with what intent.  Enhancing transparency and risk reduction is in our collective security interests.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 November 2024.

Statement by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders, at Nicaragua’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President,

We too are increasingly alarmed by the deterioration of human rights in Nicaragua, including the closure of church-affiliated organisations and the harassment and arbitrary detention of members of the Church.

We are also concerned by the shutdown of civic space, including space for freedom of expression and independent media, and the growing climate of intimidation and repression affecting Nicaraguans in exile.

We therefore recommend that Nicaragua:

1. Releases all political prisoners immediately and without condition, and amends the Special Law 1145, relating to Nicaraguan nationality.
2. Addresses concerns regarding this year’s reform to the Penal Code, which allows the prosecution and confiscation of the assets of exiled Nicaraguans or foreigners accused of crimes against the State.
3. Ensures that religious and non-religious individuals can share information and materials about their beliefs without interference or threat to their safety.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 November 2024.

Statement by the UK at Equatorial Guinea’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you Vice President,

The United Kingdom welcomes steps taken by Equatorial Guinea to move away from capital punishment and encourages further concrete, and constitutional, steps towards full abolition (including in military courts) including by satisfying provisions to become a signatory to the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights).

We also welcome that Equatorial Guinea accepted a broad range of UPR recommendations from the previous cycle in 2019, especially in regards to strengthening human rights protections for all citizens. However, we remain concerned by limited progression on implementation and call for actionable next steps to be agreed and delivered to implement the accepted recommendations.

We recommend that Equatorial Guinea:

1. Sign and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
2. Continue to work with the UNFPA and other international organisations to protect and promote the rights of women and girls, including by banning underage marriage.
3. Take concrete steps to engage with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, including by both responding to recent opinions made by the Working Group and facilitating a visit by them, as accepted in 2019.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 November 2024.

Statement by the UK at Costa Rica’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr President,

We welcome Costa Rica’s commitment to tackling discrimination including as the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to launch a national strategy against hate speech and discrimination.

We urge the government to take further steps to reduce discrimination, particularly against women and children, and the LGBTQ+ community.

In addition, we welcome Costa Rica’s commitment to the American Convention on Human Rights, but are concerned by recent criticism of the media.

We have three recommendations:

1. Take additional steps to implement Act No.9406, to enhance legal protection for girls and adolescent women associated with abusive relationships, to help tackle the recent surge in domestic violence.
2. Take further measures to protect rights of LGBTQ+ persons, including banning the process of conversion therapy.
3. Ensure the protection of media freedom by strengthening legal protection guarantees for journalists, the media and civil society.

Thank you.