Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: APO

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The United Arab Emirates has expressed its solidarity with the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria and conveyed its sincere condolences over the victims of a passenger bus crash in the capital, Algiers, which resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries. 

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) conveyed the UAE’s sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, as well as to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria and the brotherly Algerian people, along with its wishes for a speedy recovery for all the injured.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Source: APO – Report:

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The United Nations Support Mission in Libya closed its online poll Thursday, which has been ongoing for the last two months, with the participation of 22,584 people.

The poll was conducted to invite members of the public to express their preferences on four options proposed by an Advisory Committee made up of Libyan legal, political and constitutional experts towards establishing a government that would have democratic legitimacy. The Mission will use the data, together with opinions solicited from an additional 3,881 people collected through telephone polling and in-person and online group consultations, to inform the development of its new political roadmap, which will be announced during the 21 August Security Council Briefing. 

“It was essential to hear as many opinions as possible, from people from all walks of life,” said Special Representative of the Secretary-General Hanna Tetteh. “The UNSMIL-facilitated roadmap is just that: a facilitation of a Libyan led- and owned-political process. With this new roadmap, the Mission is aiming to respond to the expressed preferences of the Libyan people to facilitate a peaceful political transition that accounts for the political and security realities of the country.” 

Among poll respondents, 42 per cent said holding presidential and legislative elections concurrently—as soon as possible—was their preferred path to break the country’s decade-long political impasse (Advisory Committee Option 1).  

The next most popular option received 23 percent of the votes. This option, Advisory Committee Option 4, stipulated that existing institutions be dissolved and a dialogue forum be convened to appoint a new executive and select a 60-member constituent assembly, which would adopt a temporary constitution and electoral laws for national elections. 

Seventeen (17) per cent of poll respondents said they preferred to finalize the constitution before any elections are organized in line with Advisory Committee Option 3.  

Eleven (11) per cent supported holding legislative elections first, then adopting a constitution before holding presidential elections as was suggested in Advisory Committee Option 2.  

Seven (7) per cent indicated they preferred a different option from the four the Advisory Committee proposed. 

When asked why they selected a particular option, 39 per cent of respondents said they believed their choice was “most likely to avoid the extension of transitional periods.” Twenty-nine (29) per cent said they chose the option they saw as being “most feasible from a political standpoint.” The remaining respondents prioritized selecting the “fastest road to elections” (28 per cent) or cited other reasons (4 per cent). 

“We cannot wait any longer for elections,” one respondent said. “These political bodies are expired, they don’t represent us and they want to stay in power as long as they can.”  

The Mission, in the poll, asked for feedback on the Advisory Committee’s recommendations to ensure any roadmap is implemented, including preconditions and accountability measures—a common point of discussion both in the poll and in UNSMIL’s other consultations.  

Before elections, respondents placed high importance on enhancing electoral security (96 per cent), ensuring independent funding for the High National Elections Commission (85 per cent), and adopting an amended electoral framework that addresses contentious issues (82 per cent). Sixty-three (63) per cent supported forming a new, unified government to oversee elections and 56 per cent said the HNEC board needed to be fully appointed in line with the Libyan Political Agreement.  

To ensure the country completes elections, 67 percent of respondents said they supported “strictly enforced timelines and alternative measures if the relevant parties do not perform their required functions. Sixty-two per cent said people who delay the process should be held accountable through individual sanctions and 52 per cent said individuals running for elections should be required to “respect the outcomes.” Thirty-five per cent approved of a national mechanism to oversee the implementation of the agreement.  

The poll respondents, who were self-selected, were largely well educated and politically informed, with 86 percent holding a bachelor’s degree or higher and 70 percent reporting familiarity with the Advisory Committee and its proposals prior to taking the poll. Respondents included people from across Libya’s districts. Youth, women, cultural components and persons with disabilities were represented.  

This Mission also reached 2,481 people through in-person and online consultations, including community leaders and representatives of civil society, unions, youth, women and other groups. Compared to the online poll, people in these consultations expressed more support for dissolving institutions and convening a political dialogue forum. A telephone survey of 1,400 randomly selected people, ninety-five percent of whom had never heard of the Advisory Committee or its proposals, leaned more in favor of a constitution-first approach. 

In total, 26,465 people shared their opinions.  

“The Mission must stand firmly with the Libyan people,” one poll respondent said. “We are a peaceful nation and welcome everyone, but what the people demand is what the Mission should support. We are tired of chaos and division. It is time to build a modern, democratic, civil state governed by the rule of law, where rights and freedoms are respected.” 

The SRSG thanked all who took the time to share their views.  

“Your commitment to building a stronger Libya—despite a myriad of challenges—is admirable,” she said. “The Mission looks forward to continuing an open dialogue as the roadmap moves forward. Your voices are invaluable.”

– on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

Source: APO – Report:

Special Representative of the Secretary-General Hanna Tetteh and her two deputies visited three Tripoli polling centres Saturday to witness municipal elections and meet with the High National Elections Commission staff and election observers who were overseeing the voting.  

SRSG Tetteh and the Deputy Special-Representative of the Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Stephanie Koury, toured polling centres in Central Tripoli and Hai Al Andlus municipalities. DSRSG, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Aeneas Chuma visited Souq Al Jouma.  

Municipal elections were conducted yesterday in 26 municipalities. 

“What you are doing here today is important,” SRSG Tetteh told HNEC staff and elections observers. “I know you are facing significant operational and security challenges, but the Libyan people have the right to select their own leaders through peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections. Every step towards the goal counts.”  

In the week leading up to the elections, HNEC offices in Zliten, Zawiya, and Sahel al Gharbi were attacked. Those in Sahel al Gharbi and in Zawiya were burned, in the latter destroying all electoral materials for seven municipalities. Meanwhile, in the country’s east and south, the House of Representatives-appointed government ordered elections be halted in 16 municipalities. 

The Mission, in two statements issued Thursday and Friday, strongly condemned the attacks and negative government interference, labelling them “unacceptable” and calling all to “ensure a conducive environment for the free and orderly conduct of the elections.” 

“I am very pleased to see that municipal elections went ahead successfully in 26 municipalities today,” SRSG Tetteh said. “These elections matter because they give people a real say in how their communities are run. I encourage all institutions to keep moving forward so that elections can take place across Libya.” 

The polling centers were set up in schools. Each had separate rooms for men and women to vote. In each room, voters moved through four stations. Their identities were verified, they received a ballot for each race being contested in their municipality, they voted, then they dropped their vote into a transparent ballot box. All boxes used for polling purposes were sealed with special-purpose seals with unique identification numbers. 

The SRSG commended HNEC on its technical preparations and professionalism. 

“I am proud of the way my staff have performed,” said an HNEC supervisor at Souq al Jouma. “They are following their training to make sure the elections are conducted in a credible manner.” 

An election observer at Hai Al Andlus commented: “The municipal elections provide hope that national elections and political change can happen.”  

Earlier yesturday, DSRSG Koury attended a press conference at HNEC headquarters, where HNEC leaders gave an overview of their preparations and the plan for the day of polling.  

“The Libyan citizen, in light of the grave challenges they face, including the declining level of services and the difficulty of meeting basic needs, has chosen the path of change and reform,” said HNEC Board Member Abdulhakim Al-Chaab, during the press conference. “They aspire to end the daily queues of suffering through the queues of elections.” 

– on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

Source: APO

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The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, extends his heartfelt congratulations to the Government and people of the Gabonese Republic on the occasion of their Independence Day.

This important day stands as a celebration of Gabon’s sovereignty, national pride, and the enduring aspirations of its people. It also provides an opportunity to recognize Gabon’s active engagement in advancing the core objectives of the African Union, including peace, environmental stewardship, and sustainable development.

The African Union commends Gabon’s contributions to regional and continental initiatives, particularly in promoting climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and governance reforms. As a member of key African institutions, Gabon continues to play an instrumental role in shaping Africa’s collective vision as outlined in Agenda 2063.

On behalf of the African Union Commission, the Chairperson reaffirms the Union’s commitment to supporting Gabon in its pursuit of inclusive development, political stability, and strengthened democratic institutions.

Happy Independence Day!

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).

Source: APO

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• Dr. Rania Al-Mashat discusses joint efforts to promote private sector investment through innovative financing mechanisms provided by Japanese financial institutions.
• Al-Mashat: The Tokyo International Conference on African Development paves the way for constructive partnerships with African countries to support sustainable development efforts.
• Exploring new opportunities for economic and investment cooperation between Egypt, Japan, and African countries in priority areas, particularly renewable energy.

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, met with Ambassador Fumio Iwai, the Japanese Ambassador to Cairo, and Mr. Ebisawa Yu, Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Egypt, within the framework of following up on efforts to strengthen joint economic relations between the two countries in light of their historical and close ties in various fields, as well as discussing preparations for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), whose 9th edition will be held from August 20 to 22.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation welcomed the Japanese Ambassador to Egypt and the Chief Representative of JICA, praising the economic and development relations between the two countries which have spanned more than 70 years, reflecting the ongoing coordination and mutual keenness to develop joint relations, embodied in the exchange of visits between the leaderships of the two countries over the past years, as well as the turning point in announcing the elevating of bilateral relations to a strategic partnership during the visit of former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to Egypt in April 2023.

Both sides highlighted the various aspects of Egyptian-Japanese relations that have contributed to advancing sustainable development, particularly in sectors prioritized by the government, foremost among which are education, health, human capital investment, scientific research, and the transition to a green economy, in addition to empowering the private sector through partnerships with Japanese financial institutions. The two sides expressed their anticipation for the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in early November. They also reaffirmed their commitment to continue their successful cooperation in launching and completing the 4th phase of the Greater Cairo Metro.

The meeting also discussed preparations for the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) and Egypt’s participation in the conference. H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized the importance of the conference and its role in strengthening African-Japanese relations, paving the way for enhanced South-South and trilateral cooperation, and creating constructive partnerships that contribute to advancing development in Africa.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat further underscored the importance of exploring new opportunities for economic and investment cooperation between Egypt, Japan, and African countries, noting that both sides should identify priority areas in this regard, particularly renewable energy, where Egypt has distinguished expertise that can be transferred to African countries with the support of Japan.

In this context, Al-Mashat reaffirmed the Egyptian government’s commitment to building on the ongoing progress in Egyptian-Japanese relations to further strengthen the strategic partnership and stimulate development financing and green investments in the energy, food, and water sectors within the “NWFE” program, and expressed aspirations for a new phase that enhances climate action and expands private sector participation in development.

H.E. also affirmed the government’s aspiration to increase investments and participation by the Japanese private sector, JICA, and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), in support of the Ministry’s efforts to increase development financing for the private sector from international partners, thereby supporting the goals of empowering the private sector to lead development efforts, noting the importance of enhancing the engagement of Japanese financial institutions in public-private partnerships in the areas of industrial localization, developing human capital, sustainable infrastructure, and advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence.

It is worth noting that Japan is one of the most important Asian development partners, with a current cooperation portfolio comprising about 18 development projects supporting the government’s plan to achieve sustainable economic development goals. The cooperation portfolio between Egypt and Japan aligns with Egypt Vision 2030, the Government Action Program (2024–2027), and Japan’s financing policy priorities. The total technical support and grants provided by Japan amount to approximately $2.4 billion, in addition to development financing of approximately $7.2 billion, in the fields of renewable energy, electricity, transport, civil aviation, antiquities, irrigation, education and health, and budget support.

The Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation visited Japan last December to strengthen Egyptian-Japanese relations. During the visit, the Development Policy Financing Agreement was signed to support private sector development and economic diversification, aiming to improve the business environment, stimulate private sector investment, and promote economic diversification with a focus on green growth. Letters of exchange were also signed for the Grant Agreement of The Project for the Improvement of Equipment at the National Cultural Centre (the Cairo Opera House).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation – Egypt.