The failures of the Bank’s accountability are laid bare in the REGROW case. In Southern Tanzania, farmers and pastoralists spent years navigating bureaucratic delays and rejection of their claims by the Bank’s officials, before the Inspection Panel confirmed that Bank-funded rangers were killing villagers with impunity and destroying livelihoods, while paving the way for mass evictions. Despite years of complaints, the Bank ignored warnings and continued funding these abusive paramilitary rangers even while the Inspection Panel investigation was underway.
In its push to become “bigger and better” the @WorldBankGroup commissioned a Task Force to explore integrating its three accountability mechanisms. Critics warn the move could undermine the independence and effectiveness of the @InspectionPanel.
Amid all debate, it cannot be ignored that the current system is critically flawed and LACKS REAL ACCOUNTABILITY for communities devastated by Bank projects. THREAD
@Mittaloak@WBGTanzania@WorldBankIAM
Today, none of the victims of the Bank’s “critical failure” of the REGROW project have received justice or compensation for the harm caused. More than 84,000 people face imminent eviction. Rangers have killed more villagers. Lives are suspended in fear. Communities who spent years proving devastating harm occurred are left without protection, remedy, or justice.
For most communities across the Global South, these mechanisms are completely unknown or remain out of reach. Even when complaints are accepted, accountability rarely follows. Since 1994, the Panel has received 186 complaints, registered 131 cases and opened only 42 full investigations. Even fewer of these cases have led to meaningful change on the ground as the mechanism is designed to respond after harm has already occurred. Additionally, it lacks the power to halt abusive projects or enforce meaningful redress for affected communities.
The Plunderers Pact - "US diplomacy in the Congo serves its own interests – to the detriment of millions of people affected by the conflict” - vital read from Tony Katende highlighting our critiques of the deal.
As @FredMousse explains:
“The agreements contain not a word about accountability or justice. Instead, we see that economic interests and access to resources are given priority, even as actors involved in acts of violence remain active.”
@Mittaloak@congofriends
As Ebola spreads in eastern DRC, the US is slashing lifesaving health assistance while linking future support to preferential access for American corporations to Africa’s critical minerals.
Learn more in @Mittaloak’s Prowess of Bullying:
BREAKING: The US has removed UN expert Francesca Albanese from its sanctions list, a week after a federal judge temporarily blocked the measures over likely free speech violations, Reuters reports.
🔴 More on https://t.co/5H0QqpfIYw
.@TheCanaryUK - "Uganda & Rwanda: African Proxies of Western Imperialism"
Important read from Lyndon Mukasa on how the West uses DRC’s neighbors to generate a state of near-permanent insecurity to cheaply extract country’s minerals & resources.
https://t.co/GCLf9abVCE
The USA has over 800 US military bases around the world. It's too many AND TOO EXPENSIVE. We're not defending the US geography, we're controlling the entire world. #UpInArms
“The deal made by Virtus, a newly created firm led by former US military & intelligence personnel, should raise serious concerns in a country where mining has long been a synonym of violence, exploitation, corruption, & devastating pollution.” -@FredMousse@congofriends@Mittaloak
L'Espresso Italian magazine cover has sparked online storm. It should, instead, spark moral outrage and action against the apartheid & genocidal policies of Israel.
The latest edition of the magazine titled "L'Abuso" or "The Abuse", has on its cover a photo of an armed Israeli settler sneering, whilst pointing his smartphone at a visibly distressed Palestinian woman. Pro-Israel accounts mocked the photo as AI but the photographer confirmed its veracity with a video from the incident, where journalists from the @nytimes were also present.
Italy, one of Europe’s staunchest allies of Israel, scrapped its long-standing defence deal with Israel last week. Its time for United States & other European countries to do the same and stop enabling Israel's war crimes and the occupation of Palestine.
https://t.co/5ohvHh9eYZ
.@koldo_casla Congratulations on your appointment as the next Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing. We look forward to our continued partnership with your office to challenge displacement from war and occupation to fortress conservation!
@oak_institute@ndycurrier