From News 24

Cape Town – The African, Caribbean and Pacific Parliament (ACP) says it will discourage African heads of State and government from attending the EU-Africa summit scheduled for May should Western nations impose sanctions on Uganda and Nigeria over anti-gay laws, according to a report.

The European Parliament recently backed sanctions on Uganda and Nigeria in protest at their recent passing of anti-gay laws.

Last month, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed a bill that calls for “repeat homosexuals” to be jailed for life, outlaws any promotion of homosexuality and requires people to report homosexuals.

Earlier, Nigeria banned same-sex marriage and civil unions while homosexual acts already carry the death sentence under Sharia Islamic law which applies along with federal law in the north of the country.

Cultural territory

The EU approved a non-binding resolution by a large majority which said that the two countries violated the Cotonou accord on human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law.

According to The Herald the ACP-EU joint parliamentary assembly is currently under way in France where it is set to debate a motion on the suspension of Uganda and Nigeria from Cotonou Partnership Agreement.

Zimbabwe’s representative to the ACP-EU, Makhosini Hlongwane said ACP had drafted a statement to debate against the decision.

“We now see a dangerous Europeanisation of our value system and our culture, tied to development aid,” Hlongwane was quoted as saying.

“If we do not take steps to stop further incursions into our cultural territory, we are doomed as a people,” Hlongwane said.

PHOTO: (Ben Curtis, AP)

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