March 17, 2022
War in Ukraine to Hurt Poor Nations Importing Grain
Poorer countries in northern Africa, Asia and the Middle East that depend heavily on wheat imports risk suffering significant food security due to Russia's war in Ukraine. According to the U.N. food agency, the conflict will drive up already soaring food prices across the globe. Russia, which is under heavy economic sanctions for invading their neighbor, accounts for one-third of global grain exports.
Shell and Eni Announce Force Majeure on Key Nigerian Oil Flows
Royal Dutch Shell and Italian energy giant Eni have both declared force majeure on key oil flows from Nigeria, threatening to disrupt supplies in a market that's already concerned about the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Shell's measure has been in place since March 3 and applies to its Bonny export program. Eni relates to Brass crude cargoes and follows a pipeline blast in the Bayelsa state. Force majeure is a legal step that allows companies not to meet contractual obligations for reasons that are out of their control.
Ex-Zambia AG and Leading Nigerian Lawyer Join Arbitrator Ranks
Zambia’s former attorney general has gained an international platform for his new career in the private sector, while a leading Nigerian lawyer has gone independent. Likando Kalaluka, former attorney general of Zambia, joined international arbitration services provider Arbitra. The arrangement means that Kalaluka will practice as an arbitrator alongside his role leading the private practice firm he founded late last year. Prior to his role as the government’s chief legal advisor, he was in private practice with Ellis & Co and was legal advisor to the Zambian branch of children’s rights charity Plan International.
New Project in Support of African Continental Free Trade Area
The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) are partnering on a new project to assist eight African countries to operationalize the African Continental Free Trade Area. The project was launched at a virtual event on March 10 that brought together the Ministers of Trade of Senegal, Niger and Togo, and government representatives of Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Mauritania. The project will support the implementation of over 30 activities in the AfCFTA strategies of Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo, and Tunisia.
British Court of Appeal Implementing Order to Require Libya to Pay 16 Million Pounds
A British Court of Appeal decided on March 11 to continue proceedings to implement an executive order against Libya, requiring it to pay 16 million pounds to aerospace and defense company General Dynamics. General Dynamics signed a contract with Libya to supply communications systems, but Libya did not comply with it. The parties referred the dispute to the International Criminal Court in Geneva. The International Criminal Court of Arbitration issued a decree in favor of General Dynamics.
OACPS Secretary-General Promotes Greater South-South Cooperation During Mission to Portugal
The Secretary-General of the Organization of African, Caribbean and the Pacific States, Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, participated in the XI Conference of the Strategic Triangle: Latin America-Europe-Africa from February 22-25. In the margins of the conference, the Secretary-General also held meetings with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, the new Executive Secretary of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), and the President of the Institute for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (IPDAL).