Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: APO

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The United States Consulate General in Lagos is pleased to announce the arrival of its new Consul General, Mr. Brandon Hudspeth.  Consul General Hudspeth begins a three-year tenure as the senior U.S. government representative across the 17 states of southern Nigeria.

Mr. Hudspeth, an accomplished diplomat and a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, succeeds Consul General Rick Swart who retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in July.  Mr. Hudspeth is serving in Lagos for the second time having previously been the Political-Economic Section Chief from 2020 to 2022.

“I am honored to return to Lagos as the U.S. Consul General,” Consul General Hudspeth said.  “I know firsthand the strength of the U.S.-Nigeria partnership and the extraordinary energy, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial spirit that Nigerians and Americans share.”  Consul General Hudspeth noted that he looks forward to reconnecting with old friends, building new partnerships, and working alongside Nigerians to expand trade and investment, drive innovation, strengthen collaboration in the technology and creative industries, and create new opportunities that advance shared prosperity for both countries.

Consul General Hudspeth brings two decades of diplomatic experience spanning Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Washington.  Most recently, he served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Windhoek, Namibia.  His earlier assignments include serving as Director of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, where he led U.S. civilian assistance programs supporting law enforcement, rule of law, counter-narcotics efforts, and maritime security cooperation.  He also served as Political-Economic Section Chief in Bamako, Mali; Nonimmigrant Visa Chief in Havana, Cuba; and Political-Military Officer in Kabul, Afghanistan.  In Washington, D.C., he served in the Department of State’s Operations Center, on the Secretariat Staff supporting the Secretary of State, and as a Desk Officer in the Bureau of African Affairs.

A native of Texas, Consul General Hudspeth is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Morehouse College, where he received a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Economics.  He earned a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School.  He was also a Distinguished Graduate of the National Defense University, where he obtained a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria.

Source: APO

Ugandan legislator, Hon. Naome Kabasharira has urged African countries to treat cybersecurity as a national security priority, warning delegates at the 55th CPA Africa Region Conference in Malawi that the continent’s rapid digital growth is outpacing its cyber defences.

Hon. Kabasharira (NRM, Rushenyi), who made a presentation on “Cybersecurity Threats, Digital Misinformation, and the Role of African Parliaments in Protecting the Digital Future,” argued that Africa’s growth in mobile money and artificial intelligence is creating new vulnerabilities that state-sponsored actors and organized crime networks are increasingly seeking to exploit.

“I urge African governments to strengthen regional and international cooperation because cybercriminals operate without regard for national borders; we need timely information-sharing and coordinated law-enforcement action amongst ourselves to build a collective defense against digital threats,” she said on Friday, 14 August 2026.

The lawmaker said Africa’s cybersecurity preparedness remains uneven, urging parliaments to modernise laws to combat emerging threats such as AI-enabled cybercrime, ransomware and identity theft.

Kabasharira called for greater investment in infrastructure, including funding for Computer Emergency Response Teams, digital forensic laboratories and cybersecurity workforce development, alongside stronger data protection frameworks that give citizens rights over their personal information and hold organizations accountable for data breaches.

She further addressed the growing danger posed by AI-generated content and deepfakes, which she said are eroding trust in government, the media and democratic institutions.

Hon. Kabasharira called on African parliaments to enact fair laws governing new technologies that protect citizens from false information without discouraging innovation.

“The result can be a broader erosion of trust in public institutions, the media, and democratic processes,” Kabasharira said, adding that an effective response must combine proportionate regulation with sustained digital literacy and public awareness campaigns.

Concluding her remarks, Kabasharira told fellow delegates that Africa’s prosperity is closely tied to the security of its digital ecosystems.

She urged parliamentarians to position themselves as central actors in building cyber resilience across the continent, ensuring that technology continues to serve as a driver of prosperity, inclusion and democratic progress rather than becoming a tool of exploitation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Santos Simão, today presented to the Security Council the latest report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). The report provides an update on key developments in the region, the activities of UNOWAS, the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, and the implementation of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel.

Addressing the members of the Security Council, Mr. Simão focused his speech on three major trends observed in the region: “the concerning security situation, the renewal of the dynamics of dialogue and cooperation, as well as the democratic developments underway in the region.”

With regard to the security situation, the Special Representative said that “the threat posed by terrorist and other non-State armed groups remains acute”, particularly in the central Sahel and northern Nigeria, while rapidly expanding to the coastal States of the Gulf of Guinea. He noted that these groups are “adapting their tactics”, using “advanced technologies, such as drones, means of communication and cryptocurrencies”, and maintaining increasing links with “transnational organised crime”, with the aim of consolidating their territorial and economic control and “eroding people’s trust in the authority of the state”.

The Special Representative recalled that “the human cost of this violence is devastating”, stressing that millions of people remain displaced across the region. He also warned that “humanitarian access remains severely limited,” while “funding shortfalls are reducing the scope of life-saving assistance.” He added that “women, children and young people continue to bear the brunt of insecurity, rights violations and limited access to essential services” and that “attacks on schools illustrate the heavy toll that insecurity takes on the future of entire communities”.

Despite these challenges, Leonardo Santos Simão noted “a new impetus in terms of dialogue” in West Africa and the Sahel. He welcomed the consultations undertaken between ECOWAS and the countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), the mediation initiatives led by several States in the region as well as “the growing role of the African Union in promoting dialogue, rapprochement between the parties and strategic coherence”.

He said UNOWAS “remained fully committed to encouraging and supporting these developments for dialogue and cooperation.” He cited the reopening of the Kamba border post between Niger and Nigeria, the recent diplomatic exchanges between several countries in the region as well as the decision of Mali and Algeria to normalize their bilateral relations. “These are some examples of regional efforts to promote dialogue leading to cooperation among countries in the region,” he said.

Turning to the political situation, the Special Representative said that “despite multiple challenges, democracy is taking root in the region”, as evidenced by “peaceful elections, reforms and continued progress towards accountable governance”. However, he recalled that, in several countries, “the need to ensure stability, accountability, the rule of law, respect for human rights and inclusive governance remains essential”.

Leonardo Santos Simão also insisted that “security responses alone will not be enough”. To sustainably address the root causes of instability, “investments are needed in the social, economic, and environmental foundations of peace.” He recalled the initiatives carried out by UNOWAS in the fields of water diplomacy, maritime security and dialogue between young people and the authorities on new drugs, while stressing that he had seen in northern Togo “the positive impact on security of an approach combining security measures, development and humanitarian interventions”.

Finally, the Special Representative welcomed the progress of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission in implementing the 2002 judgment of the International Court of Justice, saying it was “an example of how patient and principled engagement can transform potentially conflicting issues into a framework for cooperation”.

In conclusion, Leonardo Santos Simão reaffirmed that “UNOWAS remains fully committed to the implementation of its mandate in the service of peace, constitutional governance and regional cooperation in West Africa and the Sahel”.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).

Source: APO

The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare reported that nationals residing in various countries have made monetary contributions to augment the National Martyrs Trust Fund and support the families of martyrs.

Accordingly, nationals in Edmonton, Canada, contributed 127,606 Nakfa; nationals residing in Logan, Utah, in the United States, contributed 3,440 dollars; nationals in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed 75,579 Nakfa; and nationals in Örebro, Sweden, contributed 36,486 Nakfa to augment the National Martyrs Trust Fund.

Likewise, members of the “Hilinawi Mekete” association in Germany contributed 5,040 Euros; members of the cooperative association of former Corps 491 residing in various European cities contributed 3,300 dollars; members of the cooperative association in southern Sweden contributed 2,100 Euros; the Eritrean community in Gjøvik, Norway, contributed 32,211 Nakfa; nationals in Ostvik, Sweden, contributed 26,300 kronor; and a national residing in Angola contributed 7,800 Nakfa in support of the families of martyrs.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

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President Dr. Patrick Herminie will attend the 46th Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government, taking place in Durban, South Africa, from 15th to 19th August 2026.

The official Opening Ceremony of the Summit will take place on Monday 17th August, where President Herminie will deliver his maiden address to the Summit.

The President will be accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Ambassador Barry Faure, and the Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, Ms. Jeniffer Vel.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO

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The Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development welcomes the stringent internal controls and due diligence measures implemented by the Department of Small Business Development and the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEDFA) to ensure that the Spaza Shop Support Fund reaches its intended beneficiaries: qualifying South African citizens operating legitimate spaza shop businesses.

This follows the committee’s engagement with the department and SEDFA on 12 August 2026 about the allegations that the Spaza Shop Support Fund had been disbursed to spaza shops operated by foreign nationals through South African fronts.

The committee Chairperson, Ms Masefako Dikgale, said the committee was encouraged by the assurance that applications are subjected to stringent verification processes before any funds are disbursed.

She said: “The committee welcomes the robust internal controls put in place by the department and SEDFA to protect public funds and ensure that the Spaza Shop Support Fund benefits the South Africans it was established to support. Where an application reveals an operator mismatch or other indicators of fraud, that application must not proceed to disbursement.”

The committee’s engagement with department and SEDFA follows the Public Protector’s announcement on 17 July 2026 that her office had issued a Section 7(9) notice from a systemic investigation into food-safety regulation and enforcement at spaza shops and other informal food businesses in Gauteng.

The investigation identified verified cases of business fronting, beneficiary mismatches, fraud and misrepresentation, including instances where South Africans were registered as licence holders or beneficiaries while foreign nationals operated the businesses. These findings formed the basis for allegations by members of the public that some funding from the Spaza Shop Support Fund may have reached spaza shops operated by foreign nationals.

Ms Dikgale said the committee regarded the allegations seriously, particularly because the fund is intended to support qualifying South African-owned and operated businesses.

The department informed the committee that its internal due diligence processes had successfully identified and flagged operator mismatches and other fraudulent applications before payment. As a result, no financial disbursements were made in respect of the fraudulent applications identified through the verification process.

According to the department, as at 31 July 2026, a total of 930 disbursements had been made, amounting to approximately R57 million. The department further assured the committee that no single disbursement had been made to a spaza shop owned by a foreign national.

The committee commends the department and SEDFA for strengthening verification mechanisms and expects these controls to remain firmly in place throughout the implementation of the Fund. Ms Dikgale said the committee would continue exercising parliamentary oversight to ensure that the fund achieves its intended objectives.

“We will continue to exercise oversight over the department and SEDFA to ensure that every rand intended for qualifying South African entrepreneurs is protected and accounted for. Support must reach genuine beneficiaries, not fraudulent fronts. The committee will remain vigilant against any attempt to circumvent the rules or defraud the state,” she said.

The committee encourages members of the public and small-business stakeholders to report suspected fraud, fronting or misrepresentation through the appropriate channels. It further calls on all beneficiaries and applicants to comply fully with the Fund’s requirements and to provide truthful information during the application and verification processes.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO

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Across Montserrado, Nimba, and Lofa Counties, an important step toward women’s economic empowerment and the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence is taking place.

For many women and girls, poverty, limited access to education and livelihood opportunities, harmful traditional practices, and gender inequality continue to restrict their ability to participate fully in economic and community life. Survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), former female genital mutilation (FGM) practitioners, girls at risk, women living with disabilities, and female-headed households often face multiple barriers that leave them vulnerable to exclusion and economic hardship.

Today, through the Spotlight Initiative 2.0, supported by the European Union and UN Women Liberia and implemented by Youth Crime Watch of Liberia (YCWL), new opportunities are being created for some of the most vulnerable women and girls in Liberia.

The process began not with training sessions or livelihood support, but with community engagement and dialogue. Between 20–26 May 2026, YCWL convened stakeholder engagement meetings in Vezala, Lofa County; Banquelleh, Nimba County; and Block Path Community, Montserrado County.

The meetings brought together representatives from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, local government authorities, civil society organizations, community leaders, religious leaders, representatives of persons with disabilities, SGBV survivors, girls at risk, former Zoes, practicing Zoes, and women’s groups.

Together, participants discussed community challenges, economic opportunities, and the importance of ensuring that women and girls most affected by violence, harmful practices, and economic exclusion are not left behind. Through these consultations, stakeholders helped shape the beneficiary identification process and strengthened community ownership of the intervention.

Following the consultations, YCWL conducted community-based beneficiary mapping, identification, verification, and validation exercises across the three counties. Community structures, survivor networks, women’s groups, traditional leaders, youth representatives, and local authorities worked together to identify eligible beneficiaries using transparent and agreed selection criteria.

As a result, a total of 826 beneficiaries were identified and validated for participation in upcoming inclusive skills training and livelihood interventions.

Progress Toward Sustainable Empowerment

Although this marks the beginning of the economic empowerment journey, significant progress has already been achieved.

The stakeholder engagement process strengthened collaboration among government institutions, civil society organizations, community leaders, survivor networks, women’s groups, and development partners. More importantly, it established a verified and validated beneficiary database that will guide the delivery of skills training and livelihood opportunities to vulnerable women and girls.

The process also created space for important conversations around women’s rights, economic empowerment, the prevention of SGBV, and the abandonment of harmful practices. Former Zoes, religious leaders, traditional leaders, male allies, and survivors actively participated in discussions about creating safer and more inclusive communities.

Creating Pathways to Opportunity

For many participants, being identified as beneficiaries represents more than enrollment in a future training program; it represents hope, opportunity, and a pathway toward economic independence.

“This process has given us hope. We now feel recognized and included in opportunities that can help us support ourselves and our families. We look forward to learning skills that will improve our lives and strengthen our communities, “Ruth Akoi” A Zoe from Lofa County

For women and girls who have long faced exclusion, access to livelihood opportunities can mean greater financial independence, improved well-being, and a stronger voice within their households and communities.

Looking Ahead

While challenges remain, the foundation for lasting change has now been established. With a verified beneficiary database in place, YCWL and its partners will move forward with beneficiary registration, skills training, and economic empowerment interventions designed to improve livelihoods and reduce vulnerability to violence and harmful practices.

As Spotlight Initiative 2.0 continues its work across Liberia, more women and girls will have opportunities to strengthen their economic resilience, participate meaningfully in community life, and become agents of positive change in their communities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

Source: APO

Legislators have lauded the outgoing ambassador of Sweden to Uganda H.E Maria Hakanson, for promoting good relations between the two countries, which they say have improved several sectors in Uganda.

In his communication to the House during plenary held on Thursday, 13 August 2026, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa said Hakanson has been a strong advocate for support to Uganda’s health sector, focusing on equitable health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights.

“Out of that support, we have got improved and equitable access to basic health and medical care, with a focus on women, children and youth. We have also had great access to and respect for sexual and reproductive health rights and greater health resilience and social security for children,” said Tayebwa.

He added that through the ambassador’s interventions, Sweden has supported Uganda on matters of political and human rights and law and justice, as well as served as a formidable partner in the education sector.

“This week, 10 students left from Uganda for Sweden on full scholarships from the Government of Sweden, and they have trained many of our professors. If it had not been for Sida Sarek and Norad, I think our university education sector would not have made the progress they have now,” Tayebwa added.

Hon. Isaac Modoi (NRM, Lutseshe County) appreciated Swedish efforts to train Ugandans in best practices on government service.

“I thank Sweden and other Nordic countries for helping us during the time of decentralization. They trained us as administrative officers and taught us about ethical conduct and management of government resources,” said Modoi.

Hon. Betty Naluyima (NUP, Wakiso District Woman Representative) also appreciated Sweden’s training support through its International Center for Local Democracy (ICLD), which she said equipped her with governance knowledge and skills which she has used to train local leaders.

“I benefitted from a programme to capacitate women in politics. Many times even to this day, I am called upon under the ICLD, to train other local leaders in the East African region,” Naluyima said.

The Government Chief Whip, Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng, also commended the Swedish government’s partnership and contribution to Uganda’s health and education sectors, noting that maternal health indices have improved, with a big reduction in child and neonatal mortality.

“I would also like to appreciate them for giving scholarships to our students from Makerere University. One of the apps that is used in collecting immunisation data for the Ministry of Health, was developed by Karolinska University with great participation from our own students,” Aceng noted.

The State Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (Cooperatives), Hon. Tom Alero, and Terego District Woman Representative, Hon. Rose Obigah appreciated Sweden’s hospitable nature and openness to opportunities for non-citizens.

“Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland are highly peaceful and social welfare countries. I studied in Sweden between 1991 and 1994, and I later worked in distributing newspapers. One one must run as fast as possible to make more money, that is why I am still a runner up to now,” said Alero.

“The first West Nile Diaspora meeting took place in Sweden, which I personally attended and our group had a meeting with the country’s Prime Minister. We want to thank you for hosting Ugandans in Sweden,” Obigah added.

Ambassador Hakanson’s next tour of duty, after Uganda, will be in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

Members of Parliament have reiterated the need for major changes in the Ugandan education system, with a focus on technical and vocational training.

The call was made during the 55th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa conference in Lilongwe, Malawi on Thursday, 13 August 2026.

Uganda’s delegation, led by the Speaker, Jacob Marksons Oboth, re-echoed the mismatch between the job market and the education system, saying this is denying the youth the much-needed opportunity to attain their potential.

Hon. Emely Kugonza (NRM, Buyanja East County), presented a paper titled “Bridging the Skills Gap: Aligning Education with Labour Market Demands in Africa.”

In his presentation, Kugonza described Uganda’s current educational framework as one which is still carrying the imprint of an inherited colonial model, designed to produce workers for export-oriented production rather than a self-sufficient economy.

As such, Kugonza argued that, Uganda is left with a generation of graduates who hold academic certificates but lack the practical competencies needed by employers.

He said that while Ugandan universities continue to churn out graduates, employers are concerned about a skills gap, citing areas that are lacking such as engineering and vocational skills.

Kugonza warned that this will, in the long run result into loss of demographic opportunity with negative implications on the country’s peace and security.

He commended government for the interventions in place to tackle the widening skills gap among young people, citing the 2020 lower secondary school curriculum’s shift toward competency-based learning and the ongoing expansion of Business, Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions across the country.

He however urged government to reposition citizens from being suppliers of raw materials to producers of high-value goods.  

Hon. Fortunate Nantongo (NUP, Kyotera district Woman representative) advised that skilling of learners ought to be embedded in the education system from primary school level.

She also called for adequate funding of the country’s technical and vocational institutes.

Hon. Bernard Otim (NRM, Maruzi North County) proposed that learning institutions, from primary level to higher institutions should be transformed into skilling centres as a way of absorbing the biggest unemployed youth population.

Hon. Naome Kabasharira (NRM, Rushenyi County) applauded a recent government policy on promotion of science and innovation, stating that hands-on curriculum is one of the strategies in which youths can become competitive in an increasingly shrinking job market.

Hon. Silas Aogon (Ind., Kumi Municipality) on the other hand urged Parliament to play its oversight role in ensuring that the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Act is implemented, saying that policy on paper is not enough.

He also contended that there is a need for adequate budget allocation towards skilling institutions and training hubs, if they are to achieve the intended objective of solving youth unemployment, hence becoming engines of wealth creation.

The MPs framed their reform agenda as essential to renewing the social contract between government and Ugandan citizens.

They stressed that whilst the growing youth population is an asset, it remains untapped, cautioning that without deliberate reform, Uganda risks deepening its cycle of youth unemployment and poverty even as opportunities in oil, minerals, and other sectors expand.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.