Deprivation and marginalization, underpinned by weak governance, are primary forces driving young Africans into violent extremism, according to a new study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – the first study of its kind.
The report entitled, “Journey to Extremism in Africa: drivers, incentives and the tipping point for recruitment,” was launched last week in Ethiopia, underscoring the need for Africa to deal with the scourge by development-based approach among others.
The report which is based on interviews with 495 voluntary recruits to extremist organizations such as Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram, the study also found that it is often perceived state violence or abuse of power that provides the final tipping point for the decision to join an extremist group.
Based on the responses to those questions, the study has determined that the majority of recruits come from borderlands or peripheral areas that have suffered generations of marginalization and report having had less parental involvement growing up. The report further states that most recruits express frustration at their economic conditions, with employment the most acute need at the time of joining a group. Recruits also indicate an acute sense of grievance towards government where 83 percent believe that government looks after only the interests of a few, and over 75 percent place no trust in politicians or in the state security apparatus. Recruitment in Africa occurs mostly at the local, person-to-person level, rather than online, as is the case in other regions – a factor that may alter the forms and patterns of recruitment as connectivity improves.
Violent extremism is the most pressing challenge facing Africa, which claimed the lives of 33,300 people in the years between 2011 and 2016, with millions of displacements and economic devastation resulting in humanitarian catastrophes on the continent.
“Just as violent extremism profoundly impacts the attainment of development goals, so the search for solutions must also place development approaches at its center,” the report said.
According to the report, dramatic reappraisal of state security-based interventions is urgently required, including more effective oversight of human rights compliance, rule of law and state accountability.
Speaking at the launch of the study, Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Humanitarian Coordinator, reiterated that the problem is a grave concern on the continent as attacks by violent extremists are challenging development gains in many African countries.
“If left unchecked violent extremism threatens to stunt development outcomes for generations to come,” she said, indicating that violent extremism is fundamentally paved with deprivation, marginalization and poverty.
The report emphasizes that a comprehensive model should integrate responses across the security and development pillars.
Focusing on the drivers and incentives for recruitment in Africa, the study is drawn from an unprecedented number of interviews with former recruits from multiple violent extremist groups spanning the continent.
The 2015 UN Plan of Action on Preventing Violent Extremisms urges the global community of states to pay closer attention to the root causes and drivers of violent extremisms, calling for a shift in focus from decades of overconcentration on militarized approaches.
Journey of young Africans into violent extremism marked by poverty and deprivation: UNDP
African Hotel Show promotes research, convention center
Over 120 hospitality companies participated in the sixth African Hotel Show which opened last Thursday. The four day-long event was organized by Ozzie Business and Management Hospitality Group. Businesses which service hotels and major hotel operators themselves such as Radisson Blue which presented its five year plan for Ethiopia were treated to presentations on cutting edge research and trends in the hospitality sector.
The Oromia Region President delivered a speech through his representatives saying this show can really help promote tourism in Ethiopia while at the same time exposing people to new ideas and giving stakeholders a chance to network.
Founder and Managing Director of Ozzie Business and Management, Kumneger Tektel said “We have seen encouraging outcomes which enhanced the overall capacity of local business by introducing the latest international marketing activities, new business procedures and trends, thereby equipping local tourism industry players with a diverse and sustainable international tourist market base.”
However, he commented that the country could alleviate the hard currency shortage by helping the hospitality industry, particularly by establishing a National, Convention and Visitor Bureau to promote Ethiopia as a meeting hub.
Hospital employees decry nepotism
Cite questionable financial activities, salaries for ‘ghost’ workers
Employees of Saint Yared Hospital worry they may lose their livelihoods due to an enduring disagreement between the hospital’s shareholders.
According to employees Capital spoke with, the hospital is considered by many to be one of the best health facilities in town but morale among staff has been low since shareholders have been unable to reach a common consensus over a dispute between management and the financial administration.
Staff claim that the company administration mainly those responsible for overseeing financial issues are close relatives of the major shareholder and this has created a falling-out with the other share owners.
Some of the management, they said, including the operation manager, finance director, auditor and other prominent positions are held by close relatives of the major shareholder.
This has led to serious problems such as recently when the Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority (ERCA) billed the hospital for a large amount of uncollected tax, the employees Capital interviewed pointed out.
Some of the financial officers are said to have quit their jobs at the hospital in response to the murky financial structure. A letter that one of the finance officers wrote in his exit report that Capital obtained, indicated that there are several reasons for this. They include: lack of proper management of financial documents and financial statements, and issuing cash invoices and cash receipts without a sufficient reason. The employee stated this was why he resigned. The former finance officer said that the hospital’s leadership is knotted by family.
The employees also claim that there are individuals who are included on the payroll and are being paid large salaries, but who do not exist in the company and haven’t been seen on duty. “If they are shareholders they have to earn the revenue from their dividends,” the employees argued.
The workers said that there is a disagreement between the two groups of managers; one of them represents the majority of shareholders and their dispute has affected the activity of the hospital.
The hospital’s worker association asked for clarification from the shareholders about the operation and ongoing condition of the company. The association stated in the beginning of the letter that the hospital had a good reputation in the past but this last year the hospital’s performance has declined which is causing employees to worry. The association also asked why the company has been unable to pay the income tax that was collected from employees to the relevant authority on time and requested clarification regarding who is responsible for paying the accrued tax. The letter also addressed several other concerns.
“The company is under nepotism and this affects the employees, the shareholders and the country,” one of the employees told Capital.
He said that the company was not audited for the past several years which has motivated the association to notify relevant government offices. One employee said: “the dominance of one individual is affecting the entire hospital and we are afraid the company might dissolve the employees’ legal rights.”
The employees via their association voiced their concern to the Labour and Social Affairs Bureau of the Bole Sub City and the Confederation of Ethiopian Labour Unions.
“We have also submitted a complaint to the Federal Ethics and AntiCorruption Commission about the unethical activities, illegal financial flow, and other questionable activities in the company including urging that an audit be conducted,” a representative said. They have also reported the issue to the Federal Police to investigate the illegal acts.
“We need government intervention for a solution at the company that employs over 200 people for the benefit of the serenity of the industry, the patients and employees,” they said. “This big facility is now deteriorating because of the disagreement between the shareholders,” they added.
Sisay Abebe, Co-Manager of St. Yared Hospital, who is also a founding member and shareholder at the hospital, told Capital that he has been informed about the employee’s concern. He accepted the association’s claim which was that there was not an agreement among the management. “It is the livelihood of the employees who have been working for several years. I agree with them,”
The hospital is administered by two managers who have co-signed. “One of the co-managers is affiliated with the major shareholder,” he said.
Hiwot Tirfneh, Co-Manager of St. Yared Hospital, on her part told Capital that there is a disagreement between the shareholders that is being handled by the court. She declined to comment about the disagreement since the case is at the court, but she said that she has information about the concern of the employees. She added that so far the hospital is conducting services and their wages are being regularly paid.
The employees however, expressed their concern that while the shareholders are under a dispute the hospital’s lease contract could be terminated as early as July according to a notification from the lessor. This has escalated their concern and feeling of insecurity.
According to the information Capital obtained Yared Hospital was formed more than a decade ago by two individuals namely Akeze Teame (MD), Sisay Shimeles and lately Getahun Yitbarek (MD) has joined the company. All are Diaspora from the US and France.
Employees said that the major shareholder Dr. Akeze Teame opened another facility called American Medical Centre in 2012 that they claim has created a conflict of interest between the hospital and the centre, which runs a similar businesses. They claim that the facility has been poaching the hospital’s clients. They are requesting an independent audit report and further investigations into the company.
