Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Benin: Election candidates must commit to protecting human rights amid shrinking civic space

Source: APO


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As voters prepare to go to the polls in Benin, candidates running in the country’s legislative and municipal elections on 11 January 2026, and presidential election on 12 April 2026, must commit to prioritizing human rights, Amnesty International and 13 civil society organizations said. The organizations have published a manifesto setting out key human rights priorities for the incoming authorities.

“Civic space continues to shrink in Benin with a wave of attacks on independent media outlets and people still being arbitrarily arrested and detained for dissent. Despite progress, women and marginalized groups face discrimination, while forced evictions jeopardize the human rights of thousands of people. The right to a fair trial and access to justice are some of the issues the incoming authorities must urgently address,” said Dieudonné Dagbéto, Executive Director of Amnesty International Benin.

Protect freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly 

Several newspapers and websites in Benin have been suspended under the Digital Code, which criminalizes the ‘publication of false information’ and ‘harassment through electronic communications’. It is essential to revise this Code in alignment with international human rights standards, and the recommendations accepted by the authorities during the last Universal Periodic Review.

The authorities continue to disproportionately restrict the right to protest. They must guarantee the right to freedom of peaceful assembly by revising the criminal Code which currently prohibits “any unarmed gathering that could disturb public peace”, allowing for peaceful protests to be banned on vague grounds.

In recent years, security forces have dispersed peaceful protests with excessive force and arbitrarily arrested individuals. Prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations must be conducted into every alleged case of excessive use of force, and those arbitrarily detained must be released.

The relatives of those allegedly killed by security forced during protests in 2019 are still waiting for justice. We call for the revision of the 2019 amnesty law to ensure their access to justice and remedy.

More humane prison conditions

Despite efforts from the authorities, prisoners still sleep in overcrowded cells. To combat prison overcrowding, pretrial detention should be used as a last resort, and judicial proceedings should be expedited. Laws and decrees offering alternatives to imprisonment for minor offences should be enforced. It is also essential to improve prisoners’ access to drinking water and sanitation, as well as healthcare, including adequate facilities and qualified medical staff, and to investigate allegations of torture and other ill-treatment.

Better access to justice

Opposition political figures continue to be arbitrarily detained, as confirmed by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. There must be an end to arbitrary detention and all persons detained without legal grounds or in violation of human rights must be released. The effective implementation of legal aid would be a major step forward. The jurisdiction of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to receive complaints directly from individuals and NGOs must also be restored.

Promoting gender equality and protecting the most marginalized

Women remain underrepresented in political decision-making bodies, parliament, and senior management positions. Urgent measures are needed to increase women’s representation and achieve gender equality.

In 2024, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities deemed access to health and education services for persons with disabilities to be insufficient. The manifesto calls for the training and recruitment of teachers in sign language and other media, as well as the creation of centres for children with intellectual disabilities and support for private centres.

Due to the spillover of the conflict affecting the Central Sahel, attacks by armed groups in the north of Benin resulted in 27,294 internally displaced persons and 30,540 refugees and asylum seekers as of November 2025, according to the UNHCR. Most of them, deprived of their land and livestock, have difficulty accessing basic services. The incoming authorities must respect international obligations to protect refugees and displaced persons, and coordinate humanitarian assistance effectively.

Strengthening access to economic, social, and cultural rights

Since 2021, development projects have resulted in thousands of people being forcibly evicted, many of them without prior and fair compensation. Elected authorities must ensure fair compensation and adequate and safe rehousing solutions for all victims of forced evictions.

Despite a 2021 Constitutional Court ruling, women were kept locked up in the Mènontin district hospital in 2023 for non-payment of medical fees. While recognizing that the authorities have corrected this situation, the manifesto calls for effective access to maternity care and essential health services and for an end to the illegal practice of detaining patients.

In 2018, the right to strike was reduced to 10 days per year for almost all public and private sector employees, with a total ban in the health sector. In 2022, this ban was extended to other categories of workers. We call for the revision of the 2018 and 2022 laws to guarantee the right to strike, and to apply restrictions only to essential services.

“Our recommendations are not exhaustive, but they provide a roadmap for strengthening respect for human rights. We call on all political parties and candidates to commit to this,” said Dieudonné Dagbéto.

Signatories:

Amnesty International
Association des Blogueurs du Bénin
Association des Jeunes Juristes du Bénin
Association des Jeunes Juristes Diplomates et Politistes du Bénin (AJJuDIP Bénin)
Centre de formation en mécanisme de protection des droits humains
Coalition des défenseurs des droits humains (CDDH) Bénin
Commission béninoise des droits de l’Homme
Human Rights Priority
Internet society (ISOC) – Bénin
Social Watch Bénin (SWB)
Union des Scolaires et Étudiants du Bénin
Union nationale des médias en ligne (UNAMEL)
Voix et actions citoyennes
Wanep – Bénin

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.

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Zimbabwe: Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) agricultural voucher system boosts food security and promotes protection from sexual exploitation and abuse

Source: APO


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The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe funded by the French Government, coordinated the Agricultural Voucher System as part of the Nourish and Thrive: Inclusive and Sustainable Nutrition and Livelihoods Initiative Project. This coordinated effort aims to enhance food security and nutrition by providing rural households with subsidized access to high-quality agricultural inputs, thereby fostering resilient and sustainable livelihoods in drought-affected regions. 

This initiative tackles urgent nutrition and food security challenges in regions of Masvingo and Mwenezi districts affected by drought, specifically supporting rural households impacted by the El Niño-induced crisis. By distributing subsidised agricultural input packages through a voucher system, the project empowers farmers to obtain high-quality, drought-tolerant seeds and essential resources. This approach not only improves access to resilient agricultural inputs but also strengthens households’ capacity to recover and thrive despite adverse climate conditions, promoting long-term food security and sustainable livelihoods. 

The voucher distribution event brought together local leadership, agro-dealers, and project participants, marking a significant step towards inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems transformation. The programme targeted 4,000 households across selected wards in Masvingo and Mwenezi, ensuring timely access to nutritious crops and promoting resilience in the face of climate shocks. 

In addition to boosting agricultural productivity, the mission placed strong emphasis on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), underscoring FAO’s steadfast dedication to safeguarding vulnerable community members. Participants received comprehensive education on effective strategies to prevent exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers and development partners, fostering a culture of awareness and accountability throughout the programme. 

“A stitch in time saves nine. It is important that we share the information we learnt with our colleagues and teams and create awareness to prevent exploitation and abuse,” said Ruramai Sibiya from World Vision Zimbabwe highlighting the importance of proactive awareness.  

During the mission, FAO trained Voucher Redeeming Suppliers (VRS) on the FAO’s Identification, Delivery and Empowerment Application (IDEA) platform. The IDEA platform is a digital ecosystem of applications designed to protect and manage beneficiary data, deliver assistance, and distribute aid using cash and voucher modalities ensuring smooth voucher redemption and transparency in input delivery. The training covered system navigation, troubleshooting, and customer service best practices. Local leadership engagement and on-site monitoring further strengthened accountability and efficiency. 

Embedded in its implementation strategy, the Nourish and Thrive project also seeks to increase awareness and strengthen prevention measures against sexual exploitation and abuse among all stakeholders, reinforcing FAO’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable communities while promoting inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems. 

“The training on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse was very much educative, and I followed it properly. I thank the FAO team for this opportunity,” said Dumisani Simango, an agro-dealer from Masvingo, expressing his appreciation for this initiative.  

FAO remains committed to building resilient agrifood systems and upholding the highest standards of protection and accountability. Through initiatives like the Nourish and Thrive Project, FAO ensures that communities not only recover from climate shocks but also thrive in safe, inclusive environments. 

FAO’s PSEA Focal Person, Leticia Njowola, emphasized that reinforcing PSEA is anchored on FAO’s zero-tolerance policy, which applies to all UN personnel, implementing partners, and service providers. 

“Preventing and protecting against sexual exploitation and abuse is a priority in the humanitarian and development sector. Any form of exploitation or abuse violates people’s rights and undermines programme sustainability and impact. At a policy level, embedding PSEA measures ensures institutional accountability, strengthens governance frameworks, and reinforces trust between implementing partners and the communities they serve, critical for achieving inclusive and rights-based sustainable agrifood systems transformation,” Njowola said. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.

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Arrow tips found in South Africa are the oldest evidence of poison use in hunting

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Marlize Lombard, Professor with Research Focus in Stone Age Archaeology, Palaeo-Research Institute, University of Johannesburg

The oldest evidence for the use of arrow poison globally was long thought to come from Egypt, dating to 4,000 years ago. It was a black, toxic residue on bone arrowheads from a tomb at the Naga ed Der archaeological site.

New evidence from southern Africa is challenging this.

New research has found poison on stone arrow tips from South Africa dating to 60,000 years ago. It is the oldest direct evidence for hunting with poisoned arrows.

This adds to what is already known about the know-how of ancient African bowhunters. These abilities may have contributed to our species’ long and flourishing evolution in the region, and ultimately the successful spread of Homo sapiens out of Africa.

Hunter-gatherers in southern Africa

The evidence comes from Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter, in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. The site was partly excavated in the 1980s to preserve archaeological material that could be damaged during the construction of the N3 highway between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

Two of the authors (Marlize Lombard and Anders Högberg) at Umhlatuzana rock shelter, where the poisoned arrow tips were excavated. Gerrit Dusseldorp, Author provided (no reuse)

Umhlatuzana is recognised as an important Stone Age site where hunter-gatherers lived at least 70,000 years ago. It is one of only a few sites in southern Africa where people continued to live until just a few thousand years ago.

In southern Africa, people have a long history of hunting with poisoned arrows. For example, a team of South African and Swedish archaeologists found residues on arrow tips dating to between a few centuries and 1,000 years ago, that revealed how different arrow poison recipes were used.

Recently, three bone arrowheads stored in a poison-filled bone container were reported from Kruger Cave in South Africa dating to almost 7,000 years ago. This pushed back direct molecular evidence of arrow poison use to about 3,000 years before the Egyptian poisoned arrows.

Traces of poison have previously been found on a stick and in a lump of beeswax dating to between 35,000 and 25,000 years ago at Border Cave in KwaZulu-Natal. These were seen as indirect suggestions of early hunting poisons.

As a researcher in cognitive and Stone Age archaeology, I studied some of the artefacts from Umhlatuzana almost 20 years ago, finding use traces and adhesive residues on some of the quartz backed microliths (small, shaped stone tools) from 60,000 years ago. This showed that they were probably used as arrow tips.

Now, Sven Isaksson in the archaeology laboratory at Stockholm University has been able to identify molecular traces of toxic plant alkaloids (chemical substances), known to be an arrow poison, on a handful of these artefacts.

Left: Front and back of a 60,000-year-old poisoned arrow tip from Umhlatuzana. Middle: Two micrographs of the sharp, top edge that shows impact scars and the direction in which the arrow tip was fixed in the shaft. Right: A 2,000-year-old arrow head with stone tip fixed in the same way as the arrow tip from Umhlatuzana. Marlize Lombard, Author provided (no reuse)

Poison from indigenous plants

This latest research revealed the presence of buphandrine and epibuphanisine toxic alkaloids on five out of ten analysed arrow tips from Umhlatuzana. The same alkaloids were also found on bone arrowheads collected by Swedish travellers in the region 250 years ago. This tells us that the same arrow poison was used for many millennia in southern Africa.

Both alkaloids can be found in several southern African species of Amaryllidaceae, a family of flowering plants growing from bulbs. But only what is colloquially known as gifbol (poison bulb, Boophone disticha) is well-recorded as the source of an arrow poison. The plant’s bulb contains a toxic juice (exudate).

Finding these specific alkaloids on five out of the ten quartz arrow tips studied cannot be coincidental. Ancient hunter-gatherers would have been familiar with the toxic properties of the gifbol exudates. For example, by about 77,000 years ago, people of the same region also understood the insecticidal and larvicidal properties of some aromatic leaves that were used for bedding. So they probably would not have kept the gifbol substance in their living space.

Substances with buphandrine and epibuphanisine molecules are not used commercially or in archaeological conservation, ruling out accidental modern contamination of the arrow tips.

Gifbol bulbs can survive for a century or more, despite drought cycles and fire regimes. The plant is indigenous to South Africa, thriving in grassland, savanna and Karoo vegetation. It is widespread throughout the southern, eastern and northern regions of South Africa, growing within a day’s walk from Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter today. For various reasons, it’s likely that it was also available to the inhabitants of the site thousands of years ago.

The toxic chemicals in the bulb last a long time. They don’t decompose easily, even in wet environments, and they interact well with mineral surfaces like stone arrow tips. That’s probably why they survived for 60,000 years at Umhlatuzana.

Illustration of gifbol being prepared for use in hunting. Gemini generated image, Author provided (no reuse)

Implications of the world’s oldest known poisoned arrow tips

The quartz arrow tips with gifbol poison now represent the first direct evidence for hunting with poisoned arrows in southern Africa, and globally – at 60,000 years ago.

It demonstrates that these ancient bowhunters possessed a knowledge system enabling them to identify, extract and apply toxic plant exudates effectively. They must have also understood prey ecology and behaviour to know that the delayed effect of poison shot into an animal would weaken it after some time. That would make it easier to run down, a technique known as persistence hunting.

Such out-of-sight, long-distance action is a convincing indicator of complex cognition that requires response inhibition (being able to delay an action for a reason). Because poison is not a physical force, but functions chemically, the hunters must also have relied on advanced planning, abstraction and causal reasoning.

Thus, apart from providing the first direct evidence of hunting with poisoned arrows, the findings contribute to the understanding of human adaptation, techno-behavioural complexity and modern human behaviour in southern Africa.

– Arrow tips found in South Africa are the oldest evidence of poison use in hunting
– https://theconversation.com/arrow-tips-found-in-south-africa-are-the-oldest-evidence-of-poison-use-in-hunting-271444

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Minister of State at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Meets Special Representative of African Union for Mali, Sahel Region

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha | January 08, 2026

HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi met on Thursday with HE Special Representative of the African Union Commission for Mali and the Sahel region and Head of the African Union Mission in Mali and the Sahel, Mamadou Tangara, who is visiting the country.

During the meeting, they discussed developments in the African Sahel region, in addition to initiatives to support stability and strengthen regional and international efforts aimed at achieving security and development in the Sahel countries. 

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Weather service debunks “Storm Baron” warning

Source: Government of South Africa

Weather service debunks “Storm Baron” warning

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has confirmed that a message that is currently circulating on social media platforms warning of a storm dubbed “Storm Baron” is false and should be regarded as a hoax.

“There is currently no tropical cyclone activity over the south-western Indian Ocean, and no officially recognised storm named Baron,” the weather service said on Thursday.

However, an intense low-pressure system is expected to develop over the southern parts of Mozambique in the coming days. 

This system is forecast to then move further south and is expected to bring widespread showers and thunderstorms to the north-eastern parts of the country from early morning Saturday, 10 January 2026, persisting until Thursday 15 January 2026. 

The areas’ most likely to be affected include the escarpment and lowveld areas of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, as well as north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal.

“It must be noted that, at present, there remains significant uncertainty regarding the exact placement of the core of the system, which directly influences where the heaviest rainfall is expected. 

“While several numerical weather prediction models place the system’s core to the east of South Africa, over southern Mozambique, there are those models that indicate it could track much closer to the country,” the SAWS said.

The first scenario would result in relatively lower rainfall amounts, while the second would mean very high amounts, potentially totalling several hundreds of millimetres in some places.

The SAWS continues to closely monitor this situation and will be providing regular updates as new information becomes available. –SAnews.gov.za

 

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Deputy Minister Mhlauli leads Community Outreach Programme at Rakatane Place of Safety

Source: President of South Africa –

Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, will on Friday, 09 January 2025 lead a Community Outreach Programme at Rakatane Place of Safety in Tlhabane, North West Province.

The outreach programme, held in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), is hosted under the theme “Strengthening Community Institutions for Social Cohesion and Inclusive Social Protection.” The initiative underscores Government’s commitment to supporting community-based institutions that provide care, protection and stability for vulnerable children and young people.

Rakatane Place of Safety currently provides shelter and care to children and youth, including children with disabilities and toddlers. The programme will include practical, hands-on support activities such as cleaning, painting and restoring the facility to ensure a safe, dignified and functional living environment for its residents.

Through this engagement, the Deputy Minister will reaffirm Government’s view that strengthening community institutions is not an act of charity, but a shared responsibility rooted in dignity, inclusion and nation building.

Media are invited as follows:

Date: Friday, 09 January 2025
Time: 11h30 – 11h40 (Deputy Minister’s address)
Venue: Rakatane Place of Safety, 3292 Lerato Street, Unit 3, Bester, Tlhabane

Media enquiries: Ms Mandisa Mbele, Office of the Deputy Minister in The Presidency, on 082 580 2213 or mandisam@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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República Democrática do Congo (RD Congo) tem mais de 87 mil pessoas desprovidas de ajuda humanitária

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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O Escritório das Nações Unidas para a Coordenação de Assuntos Humanitários, Ocha, soou o alarme face à piora da violência na província de Itúri, na República Democrática do Congo, RD Congo.

A situação continua a causar vítimas civis e a comprometer o acesso humanitário. 

Pessoas deslocadas isoladas da assistência

Um dos exemplos é a insegurança na cidade de Bule e nas áreas circundantes que tem impedido, há mais de um mês, a prestação de assistência vital a dezenas de milhares de pessoas. 

Parceiros humanitários indicam que a insegurança cortou o acesso à ajuda a mais de 87 mil deslocados internos que vivem nessas regiões. As famílias enfrentam escassez crítica de alimentos, cuidados de saúde e água potável.

As autoridades locais relatam que os combates em Bule e zonas vizinhas prosseguem desde 5 de dezembro. Pelo menos 25 civis foram mortos, devido às duras condições de vida, à falta de cuidados médicos e à fome, e mais de 40 ficaram feridos ao longo do último mês.

Operações humanitárias suspensas

A situação de segurança volátil levou à suspensão das operações humanitárias nas áreas afetadas por mais de um mês. 

Paralelamente, a interrupção prolongada da ajuda está a agravar a vulnerabilidade de populações que já foram forçadas a abandonar as suas casas várias vezes.

O Ocha recordou a todas as partes em conflito as suas obrigações ao abrigo do direito internacional humanitário, incluindo a proteção dos civis e a garantia da segurança dos trabalhadores e bens humanitários. 

O Escritório sublinhou que o acesso humanitário seguro, previsível e sem entraves é essencial para prestar assistência vital e evitar um maior agravamento da situação.

A comunidade humanitária disse estar pronta para intensificar a resposta assim que o acesso seja garantido.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para UN News.

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President Herminie Presents Instruments of Appointment to Six New Ambassadors of the Republic of Seychelles

Source: APO


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The President of the Republic, Dr. Patrick Herminie, today presented Instruments of Appointment to six newly appointed Ambassadors of the Republic of Seychelles during a formal ceremony held at State House.

The Ambassadors appointed are Mr. Jacques Belle, Mr. Terry Romain, Mrs. Jacqueline Moustache-Belle, Mr. André Pool, Mr. Patrick Victor, and Mr. Nicholas Prea. Their nominations to the post of Ambassador were approved by the National Assembly in December 2025.

The presentation of Instruments of Appointment formally confers upon the Ambassadors the authority to represent the Republic of Seychelles abroad, advance the country’s foreign policy objectives, and contribute to the strengthening of Seychelles’ diplomatic presence and international partnerships.

Addressing the Ambassadors, President Herminie congratulated them on their appointments and expressed confidence in their ability to discharge their responsibilities with distinction, integrity, and professionalism. He emphasised that the central role of diplomacy is in promoting Seychelles’ national interests, fostering bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and enhancing the country’s standing within the international community.

The President further encouraged the Ambassadors to actively advance Seychelles’ key priorities and to be guided in their work by what best serves the interests of the nation. He emphasised the importance of navigating complex geopolitical dynamics with sound judgement, ensuring that all decisions taken contribute to the betterment and long-term development of Seychelles.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mr. Barry Faure, and the Principal Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Ian Madeleine.

The Government of Seychelles extends its best wishes to the newly appointed Ambassadors as they assume their duties in service of the Republic.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

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The ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) GHANCOY 9 Supports SOS Children’s Village in Bakoteh, The Gambia

Source: APO


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The ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) GHANCOY 9, stationed in Barra in the North Bank Region of The Gambia, on the 22nd of December, 2025 extended a kind gesture by donating household items to SOS Children’s Village in Bakoteh, the Gambia.

The support package included food items, drinks, clothing, sanitary materials and other basic necessities aimed at improving the daily welfare of the children at the facility.

Major Abdul Samed Vincent Dawuda the Second in Command, on behalf of the Officer Commanding, Lt Col Ronne Yaw Agbemafle, said the initiative forms part of the Company’s civil-military activities to support host communities beyond their core security mandate. He noted that over the years, Ghanaian troops under ECOMIG have built a positive relationship with Gambian communities through consistent humanitarian and community-based interventions.

Receiving the items on behalf of the SOS Children’s Village, the Alternative Care Coordinator, Cordelia Pratt, expressed appreciation to the Ghanaian contingent, stressing the importance of the donation to the children’s wellbeing.“Every child needs to be properly clothed and cared for,” she said. “These items will go a long way in supporting the children in their everyday lives, and we are very grateful for this kind gesture.”

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Margett Camara also welcomed the support, describing it as timely and impactful.

In addition to the donation, the Ghanaian troops conducted an outreach program to educate the children about the role and responsibilities of the military. The session focused on interpreting military work and highlighting the military’s role in peacekeeping and community support.

The visit reinforced ECOMIG’s commitment to civil-military cooperation and its continued support to vulnerable communities across the country.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

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Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) Strengthens Partnership with Coris Bank International Benin through EUR 25 Million Shariah-Compliant Line of Financing to Boost Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Development

Source: APO


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  • EUR 25 million Shariah-compliant Line of Financing facility to support private sector growth in Benin
  • Four-year facility to facilitate access to finance for the private sector enterprises, mainly SMEs and Large corporates.
  • Expected to create 600 new jobs and support sustainable economic development
  • Expanding ICD’s successful partnership with Coris Holding across West Africa

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) (www.ICD-PS.org), the private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, and Coris Bank International Benin (CBI Benin) have signed a EUR 25 million (16.4 billion CFA) Shariah-compliant Line of Financing (LOF) agreement. The four-year facility is designed to enhance access to finance for private sector enterprises in Benin, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

This strategic financing facility will enable CBI Benin to provide much-needed capital to SMEs and corporate clients across Benin, supporting the country’s economic diversification efforts and private sector development. The facility is expected to create approximately 600 new jobs while benefiting a portfolio of seven SMEs and one corporate entity, in addition to supporting 13 existing jobs.

The agreement represents a continuation of ICD’s successful collaboration with Coris Holding, which has seen the establishment of Islamic banking windows and the extension of similar LOFs in neighboring West African countries, including Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal, and Togo. This partnership underscores ICD’s commitment to promoting Islamic finance and fostering inclusive economic growth across the region.

The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). By channeling Shariah-compliant financing to the private sector, ICD and CBI Benin aim to strengthen Benin’s economic resilience and create sustainable employment opportunities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

For media inquiries, contact:
icd.communication@isdb.org

About Coris Bank International Benin:
CBI Benin commenced operations in 2017 as a branch of Coris Bank Burkina Faso. It subsequently became a fully owned subsidiary of Coris Bank Holding in 2019. As part of the Coris Holding group, CBI Benin is committed to providing innovative banking solutions and supporting economic development in Benin through enhanced access to financial services for individuals and businesses.

CBI Benin is a vital pillar of the Coris Holding Group- the third largest banking group in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) which maintains a robust presence across eight countries.

About the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector:
ICD, a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, is a multilateral financial institution established in 1999. ICD promotes economic development in member countries by financing private sector projects, fostering competition and entrepreneurship, offering advisory services, and encouraging cross-border investments. It holds strong credit ratings, including A2 by Moody’s, A+ by Fitch, and A by S&P. ICD focuses on Shari’ah-compliant financing for projects like infrastructure and private equity funds, aiming to create jobs and boost exports.

For more information, visit: www.ICD-PS.org.