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Webb Fontaine (www.WebbFontaine.com), one of the leading providers of Customs and Trade solutions to governments worldwide, gathered a panel of industry experts to engage in a thought-provoking conversation about ‘Technology and Trade in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities’ in its recent edition of the webinar series. The panel included Adekunle Oloyede &#8211; Comptroller, Modernisation &#8211; ICT and Risk Management Nigeria Customs Service, Fridah Kimani &#8211; Trade Facilitation Specialist &#8211; Kenya Revenue Authority and Agnes Katsonga Phiri – Executive Director Corporate Services &#8211; Malawi Revenue Authority, Michel Żarnowiecki &#8211; Director of Institutional Reforms &#8211; Webb Fontaine. Moderated by award winning journalist Victoria Rubadiri, the webinar focused on the economic stability and future of Africa. Together, the panelists delved into the innovative insights on International Trade in Africa, the impact of African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) agreement and the collaborative role of African nations in achieving economic integration as a continent.

Dawn of a New Economic Era for Africa
Agnes Katsonga Phiri believes this is an exceptionally exciting time for Africa as it is moving the member states in the direction of bigger markets and opportunities, however she also highlights the challenge of heavy investment associated with the unification. Commenting further, she says, “Africa is a mixed bag in terms of countries that are economically equipped to handle the trade demands as well as smaller countries that much prefer to rely on local trade. Perhaps, it is good thing that digitization across the world is transforming our global economy, this could be key in solving the challenges associated with the economic merger of different states. Thus opening new avenues of online services, promotion of exports thereby boosting work-flow efficiency and positively driving the growth in manufacturing leading to a further expansion of the financial sector in Africa. Introduction of new trade policies that foster the digital landscape in Africa will benefit the countries in strategically maneuvering the AFCFTA. It will certainly make Africa move to another level despite the differences present, of course it will require us to change our previous mindset and adapt to new ways of working as well as conducting our business locally and internationally.”
Inspiring Innovation
In agreement with Agnes, Fridah Kimani added an insightful perspective from the eyes of Kenya. She remarks, “As exciting as this union is, it will certainly open up new roads for the younger population across Africa to indulge in innovation leading to even more modernized ways of working. However, the flip side to it is that Africa is still very conventional in the way it operates, unfortunately we have not advanced tremendously in the area of manufacturing, the newfound change could take some time to getting used to and perhaps it won’t come easy. On the other hand, the Intra-Africa Trade in the continent accounts only for the 17% whereas the Intra-trade in Europe accounts for over 60% and Asia about 59%. So, we have a huge gap to fill there before we can actually start reaping the benefits of this agreement. Some other critical issues that we face on a higher scale than other continents are border-terrorism, warfare amongst different countries, illegal trade practices that further delay growth and progress in our region.
Role of Customs
Having experienced a similar amalgamation of member-states in the European Union, Michel Żarnowiecki sheds light on the view-point of Webb Fontaine for this historic moment in Africa’s economic history, he adds “It took the Common market and then European Union a very long time about 75 years to reach to the point of economic stability that it has reached today, the integration is a slow process that involves challenges along its way. However, it is not to say that these challenges cannot be handled, the integration of states is always beneficial in the long run. With sub-regional integration that has happened in some parts of Africa before, we do come from some experience of it. However, there is a word of caution from the experience we have had in EU earlier, we lost about 50 Billion Euros a year in VAT collections because there was this idea of getting rid of Customs as the member states unified. Thus, it is crucial to factor the role of customs in supporting this regional integration.”
COVID-19 – The Importance of Technology
The COVID-19 pandemic transpired change in ways of working and accelerated a massive digital boost across all continents alike. Commenting on the impact of COVID-19 on Africa, Michel Zarnowiecki says, “The consequential effect of COVID-19 across Africa was sort of a mixed bag with some reports based on the continental free-trade area pointing out that there was a reduction in production, adversely affecting SMEs thus lowering overall economic output of Africa. However, Nigeria has a different story to tell as there was a good revenue generation hinting at economic success and the ability to introduce effective contingency control measures. Nonetheless, we saw a rationalisation in staff particularly in Customs during the pandemic which was challenging for most countries, although it might open perspectives for future operations in the post-pandemic era.”
Speaking on the disruption faced by supply chains across the continent, Adekunle Oloyede says, “Even though it was a challenging time for all, the borders were shut but ports were open with operations running and leveraging on technology, had little to no impact on revenue-collection for Nigeria. We already had a very non-intrusive way of making payments in place which enabled us to keep hold of our revenue collection.” While Agnes comments on the state of Malawi, “In Malawi, we had a similar experience in terms of revenue collection and while we were hit by COVID-19, and went through a change in government, our borders remained opened and we adapted to flexible working thereby ensuring lesser impact on the revenue. We saved costs on travel of course investing more in digital devices that allow work from home. These tactics helped us control the negative impact of COVID-19.”
The panel further investigated best practices, insights, statistics and deployment of strategies to maneuver the challenges associated with trade in Africa by employing and exploring technological opportunities and innovative applications across the entire continent.
These thought-provoking webinars form part of what is intended to be a larger ThinkTank series aimed at delivering impactful insights thereby allowing stakeholders and consumers to engage in knowledge-sharing as well as in delivering concrete business strategies.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Webb Fontaine.
About Webb Fontaine: Webb Fontaine is an AI company re-shaping the future of Trade. Trusted by governments globally, Webb Fontaine provides industry wide solutions to accelerate trade development and modernization. The company uses unique technology including Artificial Intelligence to enable countries to emerge as leaders in the future of trade.
Knowledge transfer is at the core of Webb Fontaine; comprising a team of experts who work across the world, empowering local communities and governments.
As an industry leader with the largest R&#038;D centres in the industry, Webb Fontaine is constantly developing international trade practices connecting countries, borders and people. www.WebbFontaine.com

Webb Fontaine Discusses Technology and Trade in Africa in its Recent Webinar Series

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A USD 20M loan has been successfully signed between The Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited (MCB) (www.MCB.mu) and Bank of Kigali Plc on 26 July 2021. The aim of this loan is to provide additional liquidity to Bank of Kigali Plc over a 1-2 year period, to facilitate execution of its lending strategy. Despite the challenging market conditions, Bank of Kigali Plc maintains strong financial performance and continues to attract the support of financial institutions, showcasing investors’ confidence in the bank.

The loan proceeds will be used mostly to fund their general corporate projects. Bank of Kigali Plc remains a systemically important bank in Rwanda and injection of the funds into the economy will likely boost growth and development.
This transaction is one among the many partnership areas MCB and Bank of Kigali Plc have had over the years. The two institutions have established an excellent relationship and the interactions span across various spectrums of normal banking activities and more specialised advisory services around Capital Markets and Consulting.
“The USD 20M term loan from The Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited will increase Bank of Kigali’s liquidity and support our efforts in financing the economic recovery of our customers who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially Small and Medium Enterprises.” said Dr. Diane Karusisi, Bank of Kigali CEO.
Alain Law Min, CEO, MCB Ltd: “I am confident that the USD 20M term loan from MCB will greatly help Bank of Kigali’s endeavours to support the local entrepreneurs in their effort to build back the local economy. I am also pleased that this transaction will further strengthen the long standing relationship between our respective organisations.”
Anbar Jowaheer, Head of Financial Institutions and Syndication confirms that: “At MCB, and as an African Bank, we are proud to support other African Financial Institutions in accelerating their growth strategy through our Bank of Banks initiative. As a proactive partner, we are committed to uphold strategic collaboration with our African clients.”
MCB, with a standing of more than 183 years, remains a key player within the African landscape. It has subsidiaries and Representative Offices across the continent, along with a broad network of African correspondent banks.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Mauritius Commercial Bank Ltd (MCB).
Press Contacts: MCB Gilles Martial, Internal Communication and PR Manager Marketing&#038;Communication SBU, MCB Ltd T : +230 202 6357 E: gilles.martial@mcb.mu
Bank of Kigali Dahlia Umulinga, Corporate Communication Manager Bank of Kigali Plc T: (+250) 788 143 354 E: dumulinga@bk.rw
About MCB: MCB is the leading financial institution in Mauritius and an increasingly important regional player. Based on a strong business model and modern distribution channels and customer services, MCB has been supporting the development of individuals, companies and the country as a whole since 1838, thereby playing a key role in the socioeconomic development of Mauritius. It is supported by a network of over 500 correspondent banks around the world and has diversified its activities in Sub-Saharan Africa and the region since the early 1990s. The participation of MCB in large-scale cross-border operations, as well as the acceleration of its Bank of Banks initiative, demonstrate its international diversification. MCB is a socially responsible institution committed to promoting the principles of sustainable development and adheres to the Equator Principles and United Nations Global Compact.
For further information: www.MCBgroup.com
About Bank of Kigali Plc. Bank of Kigali Plc is the largest commercial bank in Rwanda, by total assets. In 2017, Global Credit Ratings affirmed Bank of Kigali’s long-term and short-term national scale ratings of AA-(RW) and A1+(RW) respectively with a stable outlook.
The Bank has won several back-to-back international and regional banking awards from EuroMoney, The Banker, Global Finance Magazine, and EMEA Finance. Bank of Kigali has been recently awarded “Best Bank in Rwanda 2021” by Global Finance.
For further information: www.BK.rw.

The Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited signs a USD 20M term loan facility with Bank of Kigali Plc to support its strategic growth objectives

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GE’s (www.GE.com) HA technology ordered by more than 50 power producers to operate their combined cycle power plants in twenty countries generating approximately more than 26 gigawatts (GW) of power; GE’s H-Class supports shift to producing more sustainable power, including pathways to near-zero carbon operations through these new gas turbines that can use pre-combustion hydrogen fuels and post-combustion carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration; In 2021, HA-powered projects secured recent industry awards including “2021 Plant of the Year”, “Plant of the World” and “Reinvention Award”.

GE (NYSE: GE) today celebrated its record-setting H-Class heavy duty gas turbine fleet—the fastest growing fleet in its class—has secured more than 50 customers across 20 countries, generated more than 26 gigawatts (GW) of power, and accumulated more than 1,000,000 commercial operating hours. Since the launch of its flagship HA gas turbine in 2014, followed by the first unit in commercial operation in 2016 with record-setting combined cycle efficiency, GE’s HA gas turbine has helped power plant operators reduce emissions, increase efficiency, retire coal-fired facilities, and integrate greater levels of renewable energy.
“GE meticulously engineered our H-Class turbines to be an industry leader and help power plant operators thrive in the complex world of the energy transition, providing reliable and sustainable power today and being well-positioned as a destination technology for years to come,” said Amit Kulkarni, Head of Product Management for Heavy Duty Gas Turbines of GE Gas Power. “GE is advancing flexible, efficient, and reliable gas power generation solutions as gas is best-suited to complement renewable energy. We are proud of the momentum, progress, and collaboration with our HA customers as we celebrate this “One Million Hours” milestone with them.”
In 2021, Southern Power Generation’s 1.4-GW Track4A Power Plant, a natural gas–fired power plant in southern Malaysia that is equipped with the first commercial GE 9HA.02 gas turbines—one of the world’s largest and most efficient power-generating models—was recognized by POWER Magazine as their “2021 Power Plant of the Year” (https://bit.ly/3y6YkJX) and by Diesel&#038;Gas Turbine Worldwide as “Power Plant of the World (https://bit.ly/3yb1qwE)” for “a meaningful model for balancing climate awareness, energy affordability, and reliability in power-hungry Southeast Asia.” In addition, the role of GE’s HA technology adopted at China Huadian Corp’s Juliangcheng plant was recognized for its accelerating role to retire existing coal-fired capacity and replace it with new, high efficiency combined cycle with POWER Magazine’s “Reinvention Award (https://bit.ly/3rSOYiR)”.
Additionally, GE recently announced new HA-powered pilot projects focused on demonstrating power plants capable of operating on hydrogen. GE’s H-Class gas turbine portfolio currently has the capability to burn up to 50% by volume of hydrogen when blended with natural gas. This capability is enabled by the DLN2.6e combustion system that is standard on current 9HA.01, 9HA.02 and 7HA.03 gas turbines offerings. Hydrogen is not the only path for decarbonizing gas turbines. GE’s H-class Combined Cycle Plants can also be configured with a post-combustion capture system to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90% (https://invent.ge/3zNi6up).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GE.
For more information, contact: Laura Aresi Public Relations Leader GE Gas Power laura.aresi@ge.com
Anne Ezeh Communications Director GE Gas Power, SSA anne.ezeh@ge.com
About GE Gas Power: GE Gas Power is a world leader in natural gas power technology, services, and solutions. Through relentless innovation and continuous partnership with our customers, we are providing more advanced, cleaner and efficient power that people depend on today and building the energy technologies of the future. With the world’s largest installed base of gas turbines and more than 670 million operating hours across GE’s installed fleet, we offer advanced technology and a level of experience that’s unmatched in the industry to build, operate, and maintain leading gas power plants. For more information, please visit www.GE.com/power/gas and follow GE’s gas power businesses on Twitter (https://bit.ly/2VfM3nV) and LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/3icU1aC).

GE’s HA Gas Turbine Fleet Achieves 50 Customers and One Million Operating Hours

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We are seeking the conservation leader from West Africa

The ALU School of Wildlife Conservation (www.SoWC.ALUeducation.com) has launched a campaign and scholarship program to recruit more women, specifically from West and North Africa, for their 2021 Conservation MBA. The ALU SoWC is developing the next generation of entrepreneurial conservation leaders and undertaking research into Africa’s wildlife economy. For the 2021 intake, the ALU SOWC is looking to identify and bring on more African women from these West and North African Countries: Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, and Libya, to participate in the program by offering several full-tuition scholarships. This innovative program of leadership development, learning, and research provides platforms for young entrepreneurs to incubate their innovative conservation business models for the African wildlife economy.
This MBA programme is a 20-month student-driven learning experience with a conservation lens. Structured as a series of distance-learning modules, periodic in-person intensive class sessions in Kigali, Rwanda, and a field-based module, the programming covers business and management topics as well as key sector-specific issues that strategic conservation leaders need to grasp. Students also complete a Capstone Project on a key conservation opportunity of their choice.
As the demand for a business and economic case for conservation is higher than ever; the sector’s challenges are mostly correlated with politics, power, economics, and importantly, leadership. The ALU SOWC has partnered with the African Leadership University School of Business to offer conservation leadership training that responds to the leadership gaps in the conservation sector. ALUSB’s MBA for Conservation Leaders aims at providing professionals with strategic leadership skills to improve business resilience and boost organizational performance for economic, organizational, environmental, and social profit.
The MBA for Conservation Leaders is designed for emerging leaders in sectors that manage, depend on, or impact wildlife and natural landscapes. Candidates from the following sub-sectors are especially encouraged to apply: Energy; Food&#038;Beverages; Protected Areas; Extractive Industries; Forestry; Tourism and Recreation; Farming and Ranching; Harbours and Airports; Marine and Fresh Water. Anyone who is currently at an organization or a relevant department of an organization that manages, conserves, impacts, or depends on biodiversity is welcome to apply. The MBA program requires at least 5 years of post-graduate work experience with demonstrated career progression and the candidate must have completed an undergraduate degree or equivalent. Applicants must first gain admission (https://bit.ly/CMBAreg_pr) to the MBA program, selecting the Conservation Scholarship application option in the application portal, once their MBA application is complete.
Leadership Training at Warp Speed: The Leadership Pathway for Conservation Professionals The Leadership Pathway for Conservation Professionals is a partnership with The Room (ALU’s community of global leaders committed to unlocking opportunities). Participants will learn new skills and the ability to apply them to real-world conservation scenarios while engaging in a motivating programme of learning with conservation peers. They will expand their professional network with new opportunities for collaboration and be exposed to conservation leaders and key conservation resources. The eligibility criteria include a position in middle management in a conservation organization or in an organization that impacts or depends on the environment with 1 to 5 years of work experience and a demonstrated interest in conservation. The program consists of 6 sessions focusing on 3 leadership pathways &#8211; in English or French. It offers 24 additional hours of conservation learning plus 4 additional standalone leadership modules from any pathway. Candidates can register their interest (https://bit.ly/3f7RZq4) and be the first to be notified when applications open soon, for the available funded spots on the program.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of ALU School of Wildlife Conservation (SoWC).
Media Contact: sowc@alueducation.com
About the African Leadership University: African Leadership University is higher education for a higher purpose. We believe that young people hold the potential to become the ethical, entrepreneurial leaders our continent and planet need. Our role is to unlock that potential through a one-of-a-kind learning experience that gives students the foundation for a lifetime of leading positive change.
Over the next 40 years, ALU aims to develop 3 million entrepreneurs and industry leaders by employing engaging, evidence-based teaching methods to integrate student learning with the real world, empower them to take ownership of their own learning, and equip them with the ability to think entrepreneurially.
Two campuses—Mauritius and Rwanda—are already open, as is the ALU School of Business and ALU School of Wildlife Conservation. Moving forward, we plan to scale across the continent. We are deeply passionate about our students and excited by the challenge of building something entirely new.

From MBA programs to accelerated learning, ALU Conservation Programs are set to build the next generation of Africa’s Conservation Leaders

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Pakistan’s Silkbank reimagines digital banking for retail and business customers with AI-powered Temenos Infinity to accelerate adoption, build engagement and drive market growth; digital banking powered by Temenos Infinity will help Silkbank to attract and retain customers and drive customer growth.

Temenos (SIX: TEMN), the banking software company, today announced that Silkbank, a leading commercial and Islamic bank in Pakistan, has gone live with Temenos Infinity, the world’s #1 best-selling digital banking platform, to power up its digital banking for retail, corporate and SME customers. Temenos Infinity enables Silkbank to offer seamless digital onboarding and get to market quickly with ready-to-go digital banking features designed to attract new customers and increase customer engagement.
Silkbank’s existing digital banking offers a broad range of retail and business products and services, including account and card management, funds transfers, bill payments, mobile top-up, loans and loan management. However, using disparate legacy systems, the customer experience was disjointed and inconsistent across its web and mobile channels.
Temenos Infinity gives the bank a unified digital banking platform to bring these services together to create frictionless, personalized and secure banking experiences and increase customer satisfaction. The improved digital onboarding and banking experience gives Silkbank a competitive edge the bank expects will increase its new retail, corporate and business customers by 15 percent this year.
Running on Temenos Transact next-generation core, the addition of Temenos Infinity delivers a seamless front-to-back solution, enabling Silkbank to reduce operational costs and launch engaging digital solutions for individuals and business users much faster.
Silkbank plans to migrate its complete user base of more than 350,000 customers to the new digital banking platform within four months and increase transactions through digital channels to 70 percent within 12 months of launch. The implementation was carried out by Xpert Digital (XD), a certified Temenos Services Partner specializing in delivering exceptional digital experiences.
By modernizing its digital banking with Temenos Infinity, Silkbank benefits from an open and flexible platform to deliver an outstanding omnichannel customer experience. As a result, Silkbank can remove friction across every single journey and touchpoint, allowing the customers to get things done efficiently.
The powerful analytics and Explainable AI engine also allow Silkbank to learn from every customer interaction and identify attrition, abandonment and bottlenecks in the customer journeys to improve business processes.
Javed Yousuf Edhi, CIO and Group Head – Technology&#038;Digital Innovation Group, Silkbank, commented: “With Temenos Infinity, we can accelerate our digital transformation initiatives and reimagine how we engage with customers digitally. For example, our retail and business customers increasingly want to do more of their banking by mobile app and internet, and expect the experience to be effortless. Whether onboarding new accounts digitally, providing an omnichannel experience, offering exceptional service, or a combination of all, Temenos Infinity makes it possible.”
Jean-Paul Mergeai, President &#8211; International Sales, Temenos, said: “Covid-19 has prompted a strong shift in the behavior of bank customers towards digital banking. While Pakistan is still heavily reliant on cash transactions, the trend indicates a promising future for digital financial services in the country. Silkbank is a pioneer of digital banking technology and, with Temenos Infinity, is well-positioned to capitalize on this growing opportunity. Together with Temenos, Silkbank can now take digital banking to the next level, making digital banking more human to offer the personalized experiences customers want from their bank.”
Temenos Infinity is the top-selling digital banking platform worldwide, according to the IBS Intelligence Sales League Table 2021 (https://bit.ly/3ybxm3W).
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Temenos.
Media Contact: Jessica Wolfe&#038;Scott Rowe Temenos Global Public Relations Tel: +1 610 232 2793&#038;+44 20 7423 3857 Email: press@temenos.com
Alistair Kellie&#038;Andrew Adie Newgate Communications on behalf of Temenos Tel: +44 20 7680 6550 Email: allnewgatetemenos@newgatecomms.com
About Temenos: Temenos AG (SIX: TEMN) is the world’s leader in banking software. Over 3,000 banks across the globe, including 41 of the top 50 banks, rely on Temenos to process both the daily transactions and client interactions of more than 1.2 billion banking customers. Temenos offers cloud-native, cloud-agnostic and AI-driven front office, core banking, payments and fund administration software enabling banks to deliver frictionless, omnichannel customer experiences and gain operational excellence.

Temenos software is proven to enable its top-performing clients to achieve cost-income ratios of 26.8% half the industry average and returns on equity of 29%, three times the industry average. These clients also invest 51% of their IT budget on growth and innovation versus maintenance, which is double the industry average, proving the banks’ IT investment is adding tangible value to their business. For more information, please visit www.Temenos.com.

Silkbank Goes Live with Temenos Infinity to Supercharge Digital Banking in Pakistan

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Read the full press release: bit.ly/3i938sI
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).

President Obama Joins NBA Africa as a Strategic Partner

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The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted EUR 17 million to international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) for 2021–2024. The support was granted to five organisations for their work on promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHRs) worldwide, and especially in Afghanistan, and for strengthening tax transparency in sub-Saharan Africa.

The funding has a significant role in promoting the goals of Finland&#39;s development cooperation. Support to INGOs is one of the ways to contribute to effective and efficient development cooperation. In this call for proposals for discretionary government grants, EUR 15 million was allocated for the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights and EUR 2 million for strengthening tax justice.
Funding allocated to tax justice is part of the implementation of the Government’s Taxation for Development Action Programme.
“A reliable and efficient tax system that is considered just is an essential element of well-functioning societies. Through this funding, we support civil societies’ capacity to call on governments to collect tax revenue and use them for providing public services,” Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari says.
Promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights is one of the key goals in Finland&#39;s development cooperation. The coronavirus pandemic has weakened the availability of SRHR services globally.
“The funding will support women&#39;s and girls’ opportunities to access these vitally important services. Through this support we contribute to advancing the lives of women and girls with disabilities, women and girls belonging to minorities and those suffering from humanitarian crises,” Skinnari says. 
Discretionary government funding has been granted to the following organisations:
International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), EUR 3.5 million in 2021–2022. IPPF is an international federation of family planning associations. Its 118 Member Associations (including Family Federation of Finland) offer information about sexual and reproductive health and rights and related training and services. In addition, the federation is one of the most important actors in international forums in advocating for sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Ipas, EUR 3.5 million in 2021–2022. Ipas is one of the few international SRHR actors that concentrates mainly on safe abortion and improved access to modern contraception. Among other areas of work, the organisation focuses on African countries where the availability of abortion care is limited.
MSI Reproductive Choices, EUR 8 million in 2021–2024. MSI (originally Marie Stopes International) is an international non-governmental organisation that promotes sexual and reproductive health in 37 countries. Marie Stopes Afghanistan is the longest-serving independent SRHR actor in the country, aiming to reduce maternal and child mortality.
Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), EUR 1.2 million in 2021–2022. NRGI is an international non-profit organisation focusing on the transparency of the extractive industries in countries rich in oil, gas and minerals. NRGI aims to ensure accountability in the sector and sustainable benefits for citizens. 
Stichting Onderzoek Multinationale Ondernemingen (SOMO), EUR 800,000 in 2021–2022. SOMO is a non-profit centre for research on multinational corporations. The organisation investigates the impacts of said corporations’ business activities on people and the environment. It works in close cooperation with African non-governmental organisations in promoting tax justice.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Supporting international non-governmental organisations to promote tax transparency and sexual and reproductive health and rights in developing countries

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Conflict and the growing climate crisis are pushing herders in Somalia to abandon their way of life, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned.

Erratic weather patterns, droughts and floods have taken their toll on Somali pastoralists, while conflict, COVID-19 and the recent locust infestations have made matters worse.
Stark new footage from the East African nation lays bare the struggles facing herders. Ahmed Mohamud, a herder, said he has lost 50 of his 70 camels while other herders have lost all their livestock.
“There’s no food. The ground is dry,” he said. “This country is known for its refugees. If you lose your animals, you sign up as a refugee, that&#39;s what we say. So, there are many people who lost their animals and signed up as refugees.”
Dwindling herds have become commonplace as vegetation, a source of food for the animals, becomes harder to find.  
The recurrent nature of climatic shocks, such as droughts and floods, mean herders have little chance to recover. The instability created by conflict further weakens their ability to adapt and find alternative grazing areas.   
Mohamed Hassan Gure, another herder, said: “The latest drought, 2021, is the one that destroyed the animals. Before they recovered from the previous drought they were hit by others. Like the locusts. The locusts ate the pastures.
“So the animals did not get anything to eat and that is how they died. There was nothing to give them. They didn&#39;t have anything to feed on. We were left with 50 animals. Out of the 50, 30 were killed by the rains. Now 20 are left.”
He added: “Only God knows, but we wonder whether our way of life is in danger. If the droughts continue and the animals get fewer, this way of life is in real danger.”
The frequency of climate-related crises in Somalia is increasing. More than 30 climate-related hazards, including droughts and floods, have hit the country since 1990 – a threefold increase compared to similar events between 1970 and 1990 (OCHA). The recurrent nature of such events makes recovery difficult for communities.
Somalia is ranked as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change by the ND-GAIN Country Index when it comes to its ability to improve resilience.
Three decades of conflict have weakened the country’s institutions and left some 2.9 million people internally displaced. Competition over scarce natural resources can also increase tensions leading to violence.
“Somalia is a perfect case of [the] disastrous consequences of the combination between climate change and conflict. And how climate change and conflict are working together to worsen an already disastrous humanitarian situation,” said Abdallah Togola, who heads up ICRC’s economic security program in Somalia.
“These extreme weather events due to global warming, climate change, are droughts, floods and cyclones. All these factors now are more frequent, first, and are worse in terms of intensity.”
The ICRC has supported more than 11,000 families who were left in a precarious situation following the prolonged dry season in Somalia this year.
As part of its support, cash grants totaling nearly CHF 900,000 have been sent to these families to help them cope with the harsh conditions and loss of livelihoods.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Somalia: Climate change and conflict threaten herders

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“I was caught completely by surprise when armed attackers started shooting and burning our homes to the ground in my village,” reveals Victoria Miidie, a mother of seven. Victoria is from Tinakpuro, a village in the greater Tambura area of Western Equatoria, which is currently beleaguered with conflict. “I immediately ran to Tambura town and sheltered in the premises of the Catholic Church here because I heard that UNMISS is on the ground protecting civilians. Though conditions are tough here, with many families being displaced, I feel safer when I see UN peacekeepers patrolling.”

More than 30,000 people are currently sheltering in school and church premises as well as close to the UNMISS temporary operating base in Tambura. Their homes have been burnt to the ground, their crops ruined, and their livestock scattered or killed. Women, children and the elderly have been severely affected.
Food is scarce, as is shelter and healthcare, though the UN peacekeeping mission, local authorities and humanitarian partners are doing their best to help in any way possible.
“Our children are going hungry,” says Marcella Barangba, another displaced person sheltering with a newborn baby near the UNMISS base. “I beg our attackers to stop the violence. We need to be able to cultivate our farms and live in peace. They have even burnt all the health centers. How are we supposed to treat our children who are falling sick with stress and hunger?”
Christopher Murenga, Head of the UNMISS Field Office in Yambio, says that despite all efforts, the situation on the ground is dire. “We are working with the government and humanitarian partners to alleviate as much of the suffering as possible, but the scale of destruction is immense,” he avers.
“It is extremely heartbreaking to see people who were looking forward to the peace dividends promised by the signing of the Revitalized Peace Agreement and the roll out of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity at the state level, having to flee for their lives,” he continues. “They wanted a future of hope and this politically instigated intercommunal violence has shattered that expectation,” he adds.
The number of displaced persons camps in Tambura alone has risen to four, following the outbreak of conflict a month ago and affected residents want to see a commitment from the government and the international community that this cycle of brutal violence will not be repeated.
“Too many bad things have happened to us in the past 10 years. Women and children have suffered especially,” states Lucia Alfred Bangbaru, who is also sheltering in Tambura after escaping from recent attacks on her village. “We want to know what our government and the international community is going to do for our children, who are the future of this country. We desperately need a durable peace.”
For now, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has distributed non-food items to 300 displaced persons, the World Food Programme is providing food assistance, while other humanitarian partners are working with UNMISS to ensure some relief for the newly displaced.  
For their part, UNMISS peacekeepers are intensively patrolling in and around Tambura, protecting those in need and reducing tensions.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

UNMISS, partners continue to provide protection and support to displaced people in Tambura

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This week, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power helped to kick off the Prosper Africa Build Together Campaign at the Corporate Council on Africa’s U.S.-Africa Business Summit. As announced by Special Assistant to the President and National Security Council Senior Director for Africa Dana L. Banks and reinforced by Department of Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo, the campaign is a targeted effort to elevate and energize the United States’ commitment to trade and investment with countries across the African continent under the Biden-Harris Administration.

USAID will play a leading role in the Prosper Africa Build Together Campaign, joining 17 U.S. Government agencies—and working hand-in-hand with the private sector, African governments, and multilateral organizations—to bolster trade and investment in key sectors such as clean energy and climate smart solutions, health, and digital technology. Through this next chapter of the Prosper Africa initiative, USAID is committed to driving billions of dollars of investment in Africa and supporting thousands of jobs for both African and American workers.
The U.S. will accomplish these goals by promoting new opportunities for African and American businesses, investors, and workers; working with African governments and the private sector to strengthen business enabling environments and investment climates; modernizing and synchronizing U.S. Government services to provide businesses with a coordinated support package; and fostering the conditions that will mobilize investment in Africa’s infrastructure, consistent with President Biden’s Build Back Better World partnership.
Through the Prosper Africa Build Together Campaign, the U.S. relationship with African nations is evolving from one based mostly on aid, to one increasingly based on trade and investment. USAID is committed to strengthening private sector ties between African nations and the United States, spurring investment at a scale that could never be matched by foreign aid alone, and partnering with people across the African continent to realize the shared vision for a better future.
For the latest updates on Prosper Africa, visit: prosperafrica.gov
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

USAID Advances the Prosper Africa Build Together Campaign

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The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and The Department of State, is providing nearly $199 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the people of Somalia. The Somali people have faced decades of chronic food insecurity, violence, and cycles of drought and flooding, which have all been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and recurring desert locust infestations. This additional funding brings the total U.S. humanitarian contribution to Somalia to $408 million for Fiscal Year 2021 to date.

An estimated 5.9 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Somalia, and an estimated 3 million are internally displaced, with food insecurity and humanitarian needs continuing to worsen in recent months. More than 640,000 people from Somalia continue to seek refuge in neighboring countries. With this new funding, the United States will reach an estimated 758,000 people with emergency food and nutrition assistance, safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, shelter, protection for children and other vulnerable people, and health services including programs to help communities stop the spread of COVID-19.
The United States is the single largest provider of humanitarian aid in Somalia. The U.S. government remains concerned about the continuing increase in humanitarian needs and encourage other donors to step up to provide much needed support to save lives.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The United States announces nearly $199 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the people of Somalia

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Dam levels in KwaZulu-Natal continue to experience a weekly decline, recording 70.1% from last week’s 70.4%. This is according to a weekly report on the status of water levels in the province issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

“We must note that although there is a decline, it is minimal and should not alarm residents at all,” said spokesperson Sputnik Ratau.
Ratau said when compared to a similar period last year, the province’s storage capacity was much improved; then it stood at 59.7%.
He said the province’s water supply system, Umgeni, was doing incredibly well as it has recorded an above average percentage of 80.1%, from last week’s 80.8%.
The System, with five dams supplying it, stood at 69.9% last year, comparative to the current year.
“We have dams such as the Midmar within the Umgeni Water Supply System which presently stands at 95.8%, down from 96.9% recorded last week,” said Ratau.
Meanwhile, the Nagle Dam has declined from 82.8% to 79.3%, the Albert-Falls Dam is at 52.1% from 52.9% and Inanda Dam is at 92.1% from 92,7% a week ago.
Hazelmere Dam has also taken a dip from 44.6% to 43.4%. Driel Barrage, Woodstock and Zaaihoek Dams are unchanged at last week’s percentages of 94.1%, 86.6% and 78.4% respectively.
Also on a downward spiral and is a source for concern is the Mearns Dam which has declined sharply from 91.2% to 61.0%. It recorded 45.4% during a similar period last year.
Spring Grove Dam is unchanged at last week’s 90.7%, while Ntshingwayo Dam is at 75.3% from 75.8% and Wagendrift Dam at 98.5% from 99.0%.
Goedertrouw Dam is at 72.6% from 72.9%. Also seeing a decline are the Klipfontein, Hluhluwe and Pongolapoort Dams at 90.9%, 90.6% and 57.2% respectively. The dams recorded 92.3%, 91.5% and 57.4% respectively last week.
The Department has called for prudent water use and urged residents to report water leaks and infrastructure vandalism to local authorities. 
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.

Water and Sanitation on Declining KwaZulu-Natal Dam Levels

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“Searching for markets required money, physical stamina and a lot of time travelling. We used to leave this for men,” Monica Rashid, Msambafumu Network, Lisasadzi Extension Planning Area (EPA), Kasungu.

Monica is a smallholder farmer in Kasungu district. She faces challenges in accessing produce markets, extension services, and market information like many other farmers living in remote areas that are far from thriving trading centres.  
In this context, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Government of Malawi, through the Ministry of Agriculture’s Department of Agriculture Extension Services (DAES), have provided 78 smartphones to smallholder farmers like Monica, to enhance market-led digital extension services. The initiative is made possible with funding from the Government of Flanders under the marketing capacity building for smallholder famers project in Mzimba and Kasungu districts. The main goal of the project is to strengthen the capacity of the decentralized institutions of the Ministry of Agriculture to support smallholder market-oriented agricultural production. The project implementation period is from December 2015 to December 2021.
The smart phones have been distributed to the Farmer Field Schools (FFS) networks and cooperatives to support smallholder farmers to access agriculture advisory services, market information and to build business networks with value chain actors through digital platforms. In addition, the smart phones are aimed at overcoming challenges resulting from restrictions arising due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other endemic extension challenges such as inadequate extension staff and limited mobility. 
As one of the smallholder farmers for whom the smart phones make a difference, Monica says, “Now with a smart phone we will be able to get market information and link with markets while we are at home caring for our children. We also get advice from extension workers and from other digital platforms.”
Digital platforms present numerous advantages which can support market-led agriculture, enhancing efficiency and competitiveness of agribusinesses, supporting extension services and empowering women in transcending cultural and gender gaps by reaching out to women and men, youths, the elderly, the disabled in the same way thus increasing inclusivity.
The smart phones were distributed to 34 women and 44 men. It is envisaged that participation of women on these platform will help them to leapfrog inequalities and to become more engaged in agricultural development through access to agronomic knowledge, market information and networking.
Supporting extension services in times of COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced contact hours for outreach programmes. As a safety measure, extension service providers meet farmers for fewer hours and usually in smaller groups. A shift to digital platforms makes extension services easily accessible and more convenient to the user. 
The platforms allow access to production technologies through videos, voices and pictures as a means of enhancing adoption of improved technologies. Such platforms also take into consideration of people with low literacy levels and those with disabilities increasing extension outreach considerably.
“Before having the smart phones and with the COVID-19 pandemic it was hard for us to share information with our farmers which made it very costly to communicate with the farmers. We are now able to send messages through videos, audios and documents to farmers. In addition, our farmers are able to advertise their produce online,” says Kondwani Mponela Mwandila, a government Agricultural Extension Development Officer, for Chipala EPA, in Kasungu district.
Improving efficiency and competitiveness of agribusinesses
Digital platforms present numerous advantages that can support market-led agriculture. They help to reduce time spent and transport costs on market research. In this way, transaction costs are greatly reduced and this increases the competitiveness of agribusinesses.
“With a smart phone farmers can easily link up with markets through emails and on social media such as WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook,” said Ezra Mbendera, Director of Agriculture Environment and Natural Resources for Mzimba South District
He added that with the phones that have been distributed, farmers will be able to access information on different technologies at a time most convenient to them through social media and apps such as the Fall Armyworm Monitoring and Early Warning System (FAMEWS), and Zaulimi: guide to how to raise pigs, among others. This he said, would contribute to increased adoption of improved technologies and better investment decisions, and would reduce transaction and information costs significantly making agribusinesses competitive.  
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FAO Regional Office for Africa.

Strengthening Market-led Digital Agriculture Platforms in Malawi

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UNICEF estimates that 40 per cent of all school-aged children across Eastern and Southern Africa are currently not in school due to COVID19-induced closures and pre-pandemic levels of out of school children. 

Across the region, we are seeing re-closing of schools mid-year due to recent COVID-19 surges, with over 32 million children estimated to be out of school because of pandemic closures or having failed to return once their schools opened earlier this year. That is in addition to an estimated 37 million children who were out of school before the pandemic.
“Although the number of children out of school constantly fluctuate depending on the local context, the fact that an estimated 40 per cent of the region’s children are out of school is shocking,” said Lieke van de Wiel, UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa. “We urge all Governments to prioritize education and ensure that schools remain open and safe. For the sake of the individual child, but also for the future of their communities and countries.”
With much of Africa in the throes of a new COVID-19 wave, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Uganda recently re-closed their schools nationwide, while Zimbabwe extended the academic winter break resulting in continued school closures, and Rwanda and Mozambique partially closed schools in some of the areas worst affected by the virus, while South Africa opened theirs this week following an extension of the winter break because of a COVID19 uptake.
UNICEF estimates that currently some 69 million children are out of school in the region, due to COVID-19 closures as well as a range of other factors, including inability of parents to pay school or transportation fees, child labour due to poverty, girls dropping out because of pressures to marry or inability to afford sanitary napkins during menstrual cycles, and access challenges for children with disabilities.
Some African children have had access to online learning, but millions have little or no access to the internet, computers or phones. In addition, going to school not only offers the basic learning needed to help break the cycle of poverty, it also provides protection from harmful practices such as early marriage, pregnancies, or abuse at home or on the streets, and can ensure a daily, nutritious meal.
“We have experienced a steep learning curve since the outbreak of the pandemic both in terms of keeping schools safe but also on how damaging it is for children and their communities when their classrooms are closed,” Ms. van de Wiel continued. “The impacts of closures &#8211; both in the short and in the long term &#8211; are too vast to justify persisting with this approach. And on-line learning alone cannot substitute the overall benefits of children physically being in school, having fun and learning from friends. When containment measures are being discussed and agreed, schools must be the last to close and the first to open.”
UNICEF is supporting the efforts of the Ministries of Education and Health to work closely together to adopt strategies that allow for real-time, evidence monitoring of the COVID-19 context, and responding with relevant, localised measures. Nationwide school closures must be the very last resort.
Evidence collected since the start of the pandemic shows that children and schools are not the main drivers of the pandemic. So far, the health risks to children from COVID-19 have remained low. More than a year since schools first closed in the region, UNICEF and partners have accumulated a large body of knowledge about how to reduce the risks of the virus to children, teachers and their families.
“Given that one-fifth of all school-aged children were already out of school pre-pandemic, there is no doubt that these continuing disruptions are further fuelling the world’s and the continent’s learning crisis which is heading towards becoming a learning catastrophe,” Ms. van de Wiel said.
Currently 12 out of 21 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa have fully open schools, and 3 have partially open schools. UNICEF commends Ministries of Health and Education that have taken the decision to reopen schools while applying proven safety precautions as well as prioritize teachers for vaccination.
The pandemic is also exacerbating an already precarious education financing situation; only five governments of the 21 countries in the Eastern and Southern Africa region were spending at least 20 per cent of their budgets on education as per the pre-crisis Education For All target.
Governments urgently need support to further invest in meeting the conditions to keep schools open and safe availability of masks, ensuring sufficient ventilation and social distancing via sufficient desks and chairs, through water and hygiene facilities, along with resources to support catch-up on learning loss and to build back better systems to withstand future shocks.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

40 Per Cent of Children in Eastern and Southern Africa are not in School

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Viral hepatitis caused 1.34 million deaths in 2015, a number comparable to deaths caused by TB and higher than those caused by HIV. However, the number of deaths due to viral hepatitis is, worryingly, increasing over time, while mortality caused by tuberculosis and HIV is declining.

When she was almost at nine months of pregnancy, 27-year-old Mejumaa Chaka was tested and found to have hepatitis B virus, meaning she has increased chances of transmitting the same to her baby during birth. “I would feel a sharp pain in the stomach, so earlier this month I went to my clinic in Lunga Lunga, from where I was referred to Msambweni hospital, which did not also have the test kits so I was again referred to [MSF hospital in] Mrima where I was tested for Hepatitis B and found to be positive,” says Mejumaa. She was put on treatment and will be followed up even after birth, which she hopes should be in a few weeks.
Left unchecked and untreated, Hepatitis B can be easily transmitted from an expectant mother to her child during birth, but this can be remedied through timely vaccination. Most adults with hepatitis B recover fully, even if their signs and symptoms are severe. Infants and children are more likely to develop a chronic (long-lasting) hepatitis B infection.
Out of the 325 million people living with viral hepatitis globally in 2018, 290 million are living with hepatitis B or hepatitis C unaware. These trends are expected to increase with time if the strategies outlined for elimination of hepatitis epidemics as a major public health threat by 2030 are not implemented. These interventions include immunization; timely hepatitis B birth dose for prevention of mother to child transmission; blood and surgical safety in healthcare settings; harm reduction in people who inject drugs (PWID) and effective treatment for hepatitis.
“Currently, the Kenyan national health guidelines only have provision for treatments for syphilis and HIV among pregnant women to prevent transmission to child during birth. Hepatitis B is largely left out and only given to the infants six weeks after birth, which exposes them further,” says Andrea Isenegger, the project coordinator for MSF in Likoni.
In February 2020, MSF started providing HBV vaccinations to expectant mothers who are negative for the HBV virus, and putting those who turn positive on treatment during antenatal visits. After delivery, the new-borns are also vaccinated immediately as per the WHO and Kenya Paediatric Association recommendations. Since February when MSF started HBV screenings and vaccinations in Mrima, it has offered HBV treatment and vaccines to 1,557 mothers, and vaccinated 2,819 new-borns.
In Kiambu County, where MSF provides integrated and comprehensive medical services to people who use drugs, it provides vaccinations against HBV for all patients and currently provides diagnosis and treatment for hepatitis C virus.
We see quite a number of HCV infections amongst drug users in Kiambu County. Together with our partner LVCT-Health, active drug users affiliated to a drug den are provided with clean needles and syringes to prevent the spread of Hepatitis B, C and HIV. The patients in the Medically Assisted Therapy (MAT) clinic are tested for Hepatitis C every third month, and last quarter 194 patients were screened in the MAT clinic. By the end of June 2021, 19 patients had been initiated on treatment, completed treatment and were cured of Hepatitis C. The clinic also offers vaccination for Hepatitis B to all new inductees, cumulatively, 287 patients have so far been fully vaccinated. LVCT also offers vaccination in the drop-in clinic in Ruaka.
HCV has been a silent killer among people living in low- and middle-income countries, with injecting drug users being among the most vulnerable populations for infection due to their lifestyle, including sharing of unsterilized needles and syringes.
Due to the high costs involved and lack of access to diagnostics and treatment for viral hepatitis, many go untested and die silently. Without finding the undiagnosed and linking them to care, millions will continue to suffer, and lives will be lost. On World Hepatitis Day, 28 July, we call on people from across the world to take action and raise awareness to “find the missing millions,” which is this year’s global theme.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

Reining in Hepatitis: preventing and treating the hush killer among vulnerable populations in Kenya

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The EU is following developments in Tunisia very closely. The country’s commitment to democracy, and respect for the rule of law, for the Constitution and for the legislative framework must be maintained, while remaining attuned to the wishes and aspirations of the Tunisian people. We therefore call for institutional stability to be restored as quickly as possible, and in particular for parliamentary activity to resume, for fundamental rights to be respected and for all forms of violence to be avoided.

We will continue to closely monitor the situation as it develops, while recalling the considerable support that the European Union and its Member States have shown Tunisia in the context of a major pandemic and economic crisis. Preserving democracy and stability in the country is a priority.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Council of the European Union.

Tunisia: Declaration by the High Representative on Behalf of the European Union

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Practically all peacekeepers and staff have now left the hybrid UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), in line with its drawdown plan, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Tuesday.

Atul Khare, Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, updated ambassadors on progress towards the mission’s closure and final liquidation, following the end of its mandate last December after 13 years protecting civilians uprooted by conflict. 
Nearly 6,000 troops and police were repatriated from the Sudanese province ahead of the drawdown deadline of 30 June, and nearly 1,200 civilian staff were separated from the mission.
Expedited timelines achieved
The UN General Assembly recently approved nearly $80 million to support final closure no later than 30 June 2022.
Mr. Khare was in Sudan earlier this month, where he met with senior officials as part of efforts to ensure progress remains on track.
“All leaders shared their satisfaction at the successful achievement of the expedited timelines and discussed ways to resolve outstanding issues related to the liquidation and wider transition implications,” he reported.
Only a 360-strong Guard Unit remains at UNAMID to protect staff working on the exit, and the remaining UN assets, though primary responsibility for security rests with the Sudanese Government.
Remaining UN assets in Darfur are being disposed of in two phases, the first of which is already underway.
‘Enormous’ inventory list
The mission has so far handed over some $41 million in facilities and equipment to local authorities, but 10 of the 14 sites reportedly have suffered “varying degrees of destruction and theft”, which Mr. Khare called a major loss for local communities.
“I note that although authorities have made commitments to investigate these incidents, various Sudanese interlocutors have nevertheless suggested that these events resulted from underlying tensions among groups locally, along with concerns, whether real or perceived, surrounding equitable access to the facilities and equipment that was handed over,” he said.
Mr. Khare pointed to the potential of properties such as the UNAMID logistics base in El Fasher. Its numerous assets include more than 1,000 self-contained housing units, a hospital facility, a power generation and distribution network, a fuel storage depot, and water storage and purification equipment.
Hundreds of vehicles and other moveable property are also being stored there.
Pure water for a million
UNAMID also currently holds enough sodium hypochlorite salt to purify roughly seven billion litres of water, sufficient to meet the drinking and cooking needs for one million people for a year.
“It is critical that the Government of Sudan makes every effort to ensure that this enormous reserve of facilities and equipment is sustainably applied to national imperatives for civilian use,” he said.
Although some $8 million in equipment has been transferred to other UN field operations, or to a peacekeeping reserve in Italy, Mr. Khare stressed that the bulk will be donated to the Sudanese authorities for civilian use.
“To this end, during my recent visit to Sudan, I implored all government interlocutors to emphasize the immediate development of a single, holistic donation plan, with input and agreement from Government interlocutors at the national and local levels,” he said.
Handover challenges
The UN intends to gradually handover the El Fasher site to the authorities, starting in November, a process that would lead to the phased reduction of the Guard Unit.
“For all this to occur in an orderly and speedy fashion, I must raise the issue of the armed movements that have stationed forces around the El Fasher compound since the beginning of June,” Mr. Khare told the Council.
“After an initial period of confusion among these groups which led to the disruption of UNAMID movements, and, in some cases, harassment of United Nations personnel and vendors, movements have for the most part proceeded as needed in the recent weeks.”
However, he said coordination and leadership among these groups is critical if the liquidation process is to proceed smoothly “for the long-term sustainable benefit of Sudan and its people.”
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

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Webb Fontaine Discusses Technology and Trade in Africa in its Recent Webinar Series

The Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited signs a USD 20M term loan facility with Bank of Kigali Plc to support its strategic growth objectives

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Somalia: Climate change and conflict threaten herders

UNMISS, partners continue to provide protection and support to displaced people in Tambura

USAID Advances the Prosper Africa Build Together Campaign

The United States announces nearly $199 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the people of Somalia

Water and Sanitation on Declining KwaZulu-Natal Dam Levels

Strengthening Market-led Digital Agriculture Platforms in Malawi

40 Per Cent of Children in Eastern and Southern Africa are not in School

Reining in Hepatitis: preventing and treating the hush killer among vulnerable populations in Kenya

Tunisia: Declaration by the High Representative on Behalf of the European Union

UN-African Union Mission in Darfur in final shutdown phase

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