Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: APO

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Today, the nation witnessed the official launch of the Triple Elimination Strategy at Capitol Hill, targeting HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B. The launch of Liberia’s Triple Elimination Strategy during the 2025 World AIDS Day aims to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B while demonstrating the government’s commitment to strengthening the health system and advancing national and global public health goals.

Dr. Louise Mapleh Kpoto delivered the keynote address on behalf of Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung, underscoring the government’s renewed obligation to expand domestic financing for HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and program coordination, an intervention she described as essential to safeguarding the nation’s health security. “Government remains firmly committed to increasing domestic financing for HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and program coordination,” she declared, reaffirming the administration’s push for stronger national ownership of the HIV response.

Representing the Vice President, Dr. Kpoto emphasized that Liberia must take full responsibility for the health and well-being of its people. She announced Vice President Koung’s commitments on the matter: “Liberia must take full responsibility for the health and well-being of its people. I, Jeremiah K. Koung, commit to the following: strengthening domestic financing to secure the future of our HIV response; extending community-led initiatives to reach vulnerable populations and eliminate stigma; and integrating HIV services into the broader health system for sustainable lives.”

Dr. Kpoto performed the formal launch: “Ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to officially launch the triple elimination of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B in Liberia.” She noted that Liberia has made remarkable progress in HIV testing coverage over the past seven years. Testing rates have surged from 10 percent in 2017 to nearly 90 percent in 2024, a leap that has prevented more than 1,000 newborn babies from acquiring HIV at birth. “Liberia has increased HIV testing from 10 percent in 2017 to nearly 90 percent in 2024. This means over 1,000 newborn lives have been protected from HIV,” she highlighted.

Dr. Kpoto added that the country remains committed to improving maternal and neonatal outcomes through integrated care: “We want to protect mothers and newborn babies through integrated care,” she said. She concluded with a call for collective resolve in achieving an AIDS-free future: “Ending AIDS is not an aspiration but a promise, one that requires unity, leadership, and sustained commitment.”

Delivering the day’s welcome statement, Dr. Cecelia J. Nuta, Chairperson of the National AIDS Commission, commended Liberia’s progress in its HIV response but cautioned that the fight was far from over. “This day carries profound meaning for our country,” she said. “AIDS is a human reality, and the estimated 36,000 people living with HIV in 2025 reflect both progress and a continuing challenge. Fewer people are dying because care has improved, but inclusion from all fronts remains essential if we are to end AIDS in Liberia.”

On behalf of H.E. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, President of the Republic of Liberia, Emma K. Appleton, a student of Zoe Louise Preparatory School, read the Proclamation, which reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to global health goals.

The document recalled that, since AIDS was first diagnosed in 1981, it has posed “a serious threat to the well-being of the human race,” and that December 1 each year is observed globally “to honor those who have lost their lives and show solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS.” It noted Liberia’s progress through “national policies, community-based programs, and partnerships with civil society, international donors, and healthcare professionals,” while calling for renewed efforts to strengthen health systems, promote inclusion, and protect human rights.

Meanwhile, Alieu Dia, UNDP Resident Representative to Liberia, speaking on behalf of UN Resident Coordinator Christine N. Umutoni, emphasized the need for equality, inclusion, and sustained investment.

“Despite the shocks of recent years, the commitment to end AIDS as a public-health threat remains unwavering,” he said. “Communities continue to lead innovation in prevention and care. Yet stigma and inequality still block progress. Liberia’s response must build local capacity and ensure that every person, no matter who they are, has access to services and the rights they deserve.”

He urged partners to “renew our commitment,” adding, “Working alongside the government and networks of people living with HIV, we can achieve an inclusive response.”

Dr. Jonathan Flomo, Program Manager of the National AIDS and STI Control Program, presented an update on Liberia’s clinical progress.

Citing UNAIDS data, he reported that about 36,000 Liberians are currently living with HIV. He outlined the global 95-95-95 targets for 2030: 95 percent of people living with HIV should know their status, 95 percent of those who know their status should be on treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment should achieve viral suppression.

“Liberia has reached 86-99-95 percent,” Dr. Flomo said proudly, noting that 32,596 people are on treatment nationwide.

He highlighted new prevention strategies: “We have introduced Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP, which helps prevent HIV infection,” he said. “We are ensuring that Injectable PrEP is available in the country to optimize HIV prevention.”

The ceremony also drew a range of speakers representing LibNeP+, LPRIDE, faith-based organizations, the United Nations, the Swedish Embassy, and the Liberia Coordinating Mechanism. Lawmakers from both the House and Senate Committees on Health pledged to strengthen healthcare funding and ensure accountability in the national HIV response.

This year’s celebration was held under the global theme, “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” and re-cast nationally as “Mobilizing Domestic Support, Transforming the AIDS Response.” The observance seeks to galvanize national momentum by fusing political resolve, local engagement, and sustainable investment in Liberia’s HIV response.

The Ministry of Health reiterates its resolve to maintain the momentum, ensuring that Liberia not only keeps pace with global health priorities but ultimately prevails in the enduring quest to end AIDS as a public health threat.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Liberia.

Source: APO

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Uganda has been elected to the Industrial Development Board (IDB) of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for the period 2025- 2027 at elections conducted during the 21st UNIDO General Conference held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 23rd to 27th November 2025.

The Industrial Development Board is composed of 53 Members and is responsible for reviewing implementation of UNIDO’s work programme, the regular and operational budgets, and makes recommendations to the General Conference on policy matters, including the appointment of the Director-General. Uganda’s Delegation to the General Conference was led by H.E. Isaac Sebulime, Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and comprised of officials from the Uganda Permanent Mission in Vienna and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives. 

In his address to the General Conference, Amb. Sebulime commended UNIDO for promoting inclusive and sustainable industrial development worldwide. He noted that Uganda is particularly interested in accelerating the country’s national development agenda by using UNIDO’s expertise in transformative partnerships, knowledge transfer, and agro-industrialization. ‘Uganda’s focus on promoting innovation, improving productivity, and increasing the level of value addition from primary processing of raw materials to secondary and tertiary manufacturing of medium to high technology products for exports, aligns closely with UNIDO’s mission’, he added.

According to UNIDO, 125 million people worldwide depend on coffee for their livelihoods. Uganda is currently one of five countries (Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Ethiopia, Tanzania) earmarked to receive assistance in the coffee value chain development through the UNIDO-Italy programme for Advancing Climate-Resilience and Transformation in African Coffee (ACT). The programme worth €15 million is aimed at improving the lives of the people at the beginning of the coffee supply chain by providing better jobs and better incomes for families and communities.  The General Conference was held as the Global Industry Summit under 3 key thematic areas, namely: Investment and Partnership; Women and Empowerment; and Generation Future. The Session on Women Empowerment focused on the essential role women play in the economy and industry, and the importance of equal rights, equal access to education, training and finance, and equal opportunities in the workplace and in professional life.

Delivering the Key note address, Her Highness Princess Mashael Saud Al-Shalaan, founder of AEON Collective, highlighted the fast progress that has been made in Saudi Arabia’s development and the significant progress made in providing equal opportunities for women – from equal pay to more female participation in STEM education. She emphasized that both equality and gender equity should be at the heart of industrial policy and called upon governments to truly listen to women’s voices, ‘to understand their needs, recognize the barriers they confront, and support them in rewriting those stories – keeping what empowers them and changing what holds them back’.

During the General Conference, Nature Bio Foods, an Indian Company with operations in Uganda was announced winner of the UNIDO One World Sustainability Awards under the Category of Sustainable Supply Chains. The Award was received by Mr. Amit Singh, Sustainability Lead, who noted that one cannot talk about sustainability without talking about agriculture. Therefore, sustainability is about ‘how to increase the income of the farmers, how to reduce the cost of cultivation, and how take the farmers to the stage where they can grow and prosper.’

Nature Bio Foods is a Subsidiary of LT Foods, which is headquartered in India. The company opened a processing plant in Uganda in 2023 and is currently working with 16000 farmers involved in the production of soyabean, sorghum, chia seeds and sesame seeds for export.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Republic of Uganda – Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Source: APO

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• Across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, over 55% of gender-based violence (GBV) survivors supported in early 2025, have been left without continued access to essential, safe and confidential services for their recovery following broad funding cuts.

• In Menaka, Mali, nearly 90% of survivors’ cases are still waiting for full support.

• In Burkina Faso, 52% of GBV cases remain unaddressed in the Sahel and North regions, with over 500 women and girls at risk of losing access to dignity kits, awareness sessions, and case management at the time of analysis.

• In Nigeria, between 42% and 67% of GBV cases remain “open” following program closures across Borno, Adamawa, Katsina, and Zamfara States, leaving hundreds of women and girls without access to critical support.

• In Niger, 26% of GBV cases in Diffa and Tillabéri are no longer being actively managed. In Balayera, IRC was the only actor providing protection services.

More than half of all survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) have lost access to critical support services following the initial complete suspension of essential funding in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria, according to data collected by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). As the protection gap widens, which leaves women and girls increasingly vulnerable to violence, isolation, and long-term harm, the IRC urges the international community of donor governments to significantly increase funding for organizations responding to GBV.

The abrupt suspension of case management, which came after large funding cuts in the first half of the year, deprived survivors of a vital service that had supported them from the moment they disclosed violence. Many had been accessing safe spaces where they could speak freely and receive life-saving medical care, psychosocial support, and legal assistance. Suddenly, survivors, many still grappling with ongoing trauma or threats, were left without anywhere to turn, their recovery interrupted, their choices curtailed, and their needs unmet.

Services shut down entirely for three to five months, depending on the country. Now, even as some programs have been brought back to partial operation, fewer than 55% of specialized GBV caseworkers have been rehired, meaning there is now limited coverage of GBV services in those locations.

Safiatou,* who lost access to IRC services for women at risk in eastern Mali, said:

“With the end of the project, I feel isolated. I keep my problems to myself because this project was special. It always gave us the opportunity to share our fears and concerns through listening sessions and awareness activities that addressed the challenges we face. The staff always responded to our concerns: they were like doctors to us girls.”

Yolande Longang, Women’s Protection and Empowerment Technical Advisor for IRC in West Africa, said: 

“When services were shut down, survivors were left in the dark. With urgent medical care and emotional support disrupted, survivors were left to endure their trauma in isolation. In contexts where access to comprehensive protection services including health, psychosocial, legal, and community-based support is largely limited or unavailable, their suffering remained invisible and unaddressed. 

And when services finally resumed, in some locations, they were a shadow of what was needed. Even GBV case management was only partially restored, and support was limited to the most critical cases, those involving clinical management of sexual assault or imminent risk to life. This left countless survivors without the help they urgently needed, including girls at risk of child marriage and women experiencing intimate partner violence.”

GBV frontline workers were confronted with cases where survivors accessed services with significant delays; this is particularly troubling in cases of sexual assault, with GBV responders unable to provide the essential care within the critical 72-hour window following the assault. In regions where the IRC was the primary or sole provider of GBV services, the suspension has left a dangerous vacuum. With limited coverage and resources from alternative actors, many communities now rely on under-resourced local mechanisms that struggle to meet the demand for essential GBV support.

As humanitarian actors face severe funding cuts, administrative barriers, and security constraints, many open cases are left without follow-up care. Community-based organizations, though trained, lack the resources to fully assume service delivery, and government structures are too under-resourced to absorb the growing caseload. 

Without urgent action to restore funding or mobilize alternative support, hard-won gains – from having appropriate levels of staffing to respond to GBV to working with communities to see GBV as a rights violation and women and girls as equal actors – risk being reversed. Operating within a broader ecosystem of humanitarian services, continued reductions in foreign aid are placing unprecedented strain on local organizations and decentralized systems already operating at their limits.

Urgent and sustained funding is essential to support GBV response organizations, including local organizations, to help close the widening gap in resources needed to protect women and girls. At the same time, it is essential to strengthen local structures and systems that provide vital support to survivors. In this world of hyper-prioritization in humanitarian response, we remind all actors that GBV prevention and response are lifesaving services and must be included in all response plans.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Rescue Committee (IRC) .

Source: APO

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

On this historic occasion, the African Union honors the valiant struggle of the people of Central African Republic, whose steadfast pursuit of freedom and dignity led to the nation’s proclamation. The Chairperson applauds Central African Republic’s continued efforts in consolidating peace, strengthening stability, and deepening democratic governance, while striving to fulfill the aspirations of its citizens.

The African Union reaffirms its solidarity with the Central African Republic and reiterates its commitment to working hand in hand with the Government and people of Central African Republic in advancing the continental vision of a united, peaceful, and prosperous Africa, as embodied in Agenda 2063.

On behalf of the African Union, the Chairperson conveys his heartfelt wishes for the continued peace, unity, and prosperity of the Central African Republic.

Happy Proclamation Day!

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

Source: APO

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Ethiopia has unveiled its fourth National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), reaffirming its commitment to tackling this pressing global health threat.

The launch places Ethiopia among a growing number of African countries with firm strategies to address AMR, which occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to withstand drugs designed to kill them.

Support for this effort was provided by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the World Bank, and the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC).

“Resistance to infection is rising worldwide. Without decisive measures, by 2050 we could see a 70% increase in AMR-related impacts, costing the global economy an estimated USD 1 trillion,” warned Ethiopia’s Minister of Health, Dr Mekdes Daba. Speaking at the launch event marking World AMR Awareness Week, she described antimicrobial resistance as a growing crisis that demands urgent and coordinated action.

Africa CDC Deputy Director General, Dr Raji Tajudeen, echoed this concern, calling AMR “no longer a silent pandemic.” Ranked among the top ten global public health threats, AMR is already undermining health systems, food safety, economic growth, and environmental stability across Africa. “This is not a distant threat – it is a present reality,” he said.

Africa currently accounts for over one million AMR-related deaths annually, representing approximately 21% of the global toll. Without immediate action, projections indicate that by 2050 AMR-related deaths in Africa could soar to 4.1 million each year, pushing millions into extreme poverty and reversing decades of progress in infectious disease control.

Ethiopia’s new action plan positions the country as a continental leader, setting a model for progress and inspiring other nations to act. Dr Mekdes highlighted Ethiopia’s strong track record, including its active membership in the Global Leaders Group on AMR and its success in increasing AMR awareness among health professionals by 50%. The country has also conducted over 54 public awareness campaigns, mobilising communities to confront this growing threat.

Dr Tajudeen noted Africa’s progress on antimicrobial resistance, citing strengthened national coordination committees, enhanced surveillance and laboratory capacity, and baseline data from the influential Mapping Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Use Partnership (MAAP) study, supported by the AU’s Landmark AMR Report released in 2024.

Yet challenges remain, including poor access to quality diagnostics and medicines, underfunded action plans, weak infection prevention and control, limited data for policymaking, and fragmented One Health surveillance systems.

“I would like to encourage Member States to ensure that AMR remains one of the critical agendas at the highest political levels, including within AU bodies,” said Dr Tajudeen.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Source: APO

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The new Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) headquarters has been officially inaugurated. The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Hon. Beatrice Askul, Cabinet Secretary for East African Community and Regional Affairs and Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers, on behalf of H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Chairperson of the East African Community Heads of State Summit.

Hon. Askul said the new complex symbolises East Africa’s collective vision for a stronger, more integrated, and more prosperous region. She noted that the headquarters is more than a physical structure, describing it as a strategic investment in the livelihoods of the millions who rely on Africa’s largest freshwater ecosystem.

“Today, as we inaugurate this magnificent new building, we reaffirm our commitment to science-based management, environmental conservation, regional cooperation, and inclusive development,” she said.

She further highlighted that in the Republic of Kenya alone, more than 200,000 people benefit directly from Lake Victoria, the second-largest freshwater lake in the world and one of the East African Community’s most treasured resources.

“Millions of people living within the Lake Victoria Basin depend on this critical natural resource for their livelihoods. Communities around the lake benefit through fishing, agriculture, transport, energy, and tourism providing both economic opportunity and social well-being,” she added.

EAC Secretary General Hon. Veronica Nduva praised the Republic of Kenya for its continued support for regional institutions. She noted that the inauguration of the new headquarters strengthens the Commission’s strategic role.

“It is more than a workplace, it is a regional hub for innovation, research, policy coordination, climate resilience, environmental protection, and transboundary water resource management. Within these walls, we envision enhanced action in biodiversity conservation, improved fisheries governance, strengthened water quality management, and expanded blue and green economic opportunities for our communities,” she said.

Hon. Nduva urged partner states to leverage the new facility as a centre for research, innovation, and collaborative solutions.

“The true legacy of this building will be measured not by its architectural beauty, but by the ideas generated and the partnerships forged to improve lives across the Basin,” she noted.

LVBC Executive Secretary Dr. Masinde Bwire said the inauguration marks the culmination of a 17-year journey since the Republic of Kenya donated land for the headquarters.

“This ceremony marks the culmination of a journey that began in 2008 when the Government of the Republic of Kenya generously donated this 2.8-hectare prime land along the shores of Lake Victoria,” he said.

He added that the modern complex will serve as the Commission’s nerve centre for coordination, research, and innovation, enhancing its capacity to promote environmental stewardship, socio-economic transformation, and cross-border cooperation.

Dr. Bwire also thanked development partners including the World Bank, GIZ, KfW, the European Union, UNESCO, and the African Development Bank—for their technical and financial support, which has strengthened LVBC programmes over the years.

“This achievement reinforces our shared responsibility as custodians of the world’s second-largest freshwater lake,” he said.

Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, in remarks delivered on his behalf by Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili, said the new headquarters aligns seamlessly with the county’s development agenda, particularly in fisheries, climate resilience, maritime transport, and the blue economy.

He cited ongoing initiatives, including the acquisition of modern fibreglass fishing vessels, expansion of fish landing sites, promotion of ecotourism, and revitalisation of lake transport corridors in partnership with Kenya Shipyards Limited and Kenya Railways.

The project was fully funded by the EAC Partner States at a total cost of USD 3.54 million, with technical expertise provided by Kenya’s State Department for Public Works under the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development. The 2.8-hectare parcel of land on the shores of Lake Victoria was donated by the Government of Kenya in 2008, and construction officially began in 2020.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of East African Community (EAC).

Source: APO

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The Republic of Congo has officially reaffirmed its desire to accede to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, better known as the ‘United Nations Water Convention’. The announcement was made during a national workshop held on 26–27 November 2025 in Brazzaville, coupled with the inaugural session of the Water Advisory Council. The event was co-hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Hydraulics, the Secretariat of the UN Water Convention and the UN System in Congo. 

Strengthening water governance in Congo 

The inaugural session of the Water Advisory Council was marked by the adoption of the Brazzaville Declaration, in which the Council committed to supporting Congo’s accession to the Water Convention. The Council is a multisectoral body responsible for guiding, coordinating and supporting actions in the field of water in Congo. By supporting this inaugural session, the Convention Secretariat is contributing to strengthening the country’s institutional capacities, enabling Congo to benefit from concrete support as of now. 

The Republic of Congo has significant water potential, notably thanks to the Congo River, its tributaries and its groundwater resources. The Congo Basin is the second largest freshwater reservoir in the world. Despite these assets, inequalities in access to water persist, while urbanisation, population growth and the effects of climate change are increasing pressure on the resource. Integrated and sustainable management is therefore more necessary than ever. 

Cross-border cooperation: an essential lever 

In this context, cooperation between riparian states appears to be an indispensable tool for addressing common challenges. The Congo is already involved in regional water cooperation frameworks, such as the International Congo-Oubangui-Sangha Commission. 

Accession to the Water Convention will enable the Congo to consolidate existing cooperation, in particular by facilitating the establishment of more robust and harmonised regional legal frameworks. 

Speaking at the national workshop, the Minister of Energy and Hydraulics, Mr Émile Ouosso, said: “By acceding to the Convention, the Republic of Congo reaffirms its commitment to cooperate at the international level and to anticipate the risks associated with conflicts of use and the effects of climate change on water resources. ” 

Involved in the work of the Convention since 2020, Congo will, by becoming a Party, continue to benefit from technical support from the community of Parties and the Secretariat. This cooperation will promote, in particular, the adaptation of shared basins to climate change, the fight against pollution and better use of the practical tools developed under the Convention. 

Furthermore, the Convention provides a solid basis – recognised by international financial institutions – for mobilising funding and reducing the risks associated with investments in water infrastructure. 

The Secretary of the Convention, Ms Sonja Koeppel, said ”Accession to the Convention can provide support from the community of Parties, enable the sharing of experiences with basins and countries around the world, facilitate access to financing and raise the country’s profile internationally.” 

The high-level opening session was also attended by the Ambassadors of the European Union and France, as well as the UN Resident Coordinator in Congo. All partners reiterated their support for Congo’s accession to and implementation of the Convention. 

Growing global commitment 

The Congo’s forthcoming accession is part of a growing international political interest in transboundary water cooperation. The 2026 United Nations Water Conference, co-chaired by Senegal and the United Arab Emirates, will be a major opportunity to advance these issues, particularly in the context of the interactive dialogue dedicated to “water for cooperation .” 

Since the Convention was opened for global accession, 16 States have acceded to it, including 13 African countries. Among the States bordering the Congo River, Cameroon is already a Party, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic are in the process of acceding.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

Source: APO

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On the eve of the West African Arts and Culture Festival (ECOFEST), the Commissions of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) convened a meeting of ministers responsible for culture from both organizations’ Member States on Sunday, November 30, 2025.

In her opening remarks, Prof. Fatou Sow SARR, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, underscored that West Africa’s cultural heritage is not only a living testament to its history but also a fundamental pillar of regional identity and a vital source of pride.

“It is therefore essential that, wherever cultural property belonging to our States may be found, we undertake coordinated, sustained, and consistent efforts to secure its return and reinforce the regional heritage that binds us,” she stated.

Mr. Mamadù Serifo JAQUITE, UEMOA Commissioner for Human Development, called on the ministers to embrace their historic responsibility by adopting an ambitious and pragmatic action plan. Such a plan, he emphasized, would enable countries of the region to present a united front in international fora and accelerate the restitution of heritage to their peoples.

In his welcome address, Senegal’s Minister responsible for Culture, the Crafts sector, and Tourism, Mr. Amadou Ba, expressed appreciation for the presence in Dakar of ministers and senior officials from West African countries attending the meeting and ECOFEST. “You are welcome in Senegal, the land of Teranga—not only as political leaders, but above all as members of the same large family, that of West Africa, united by deep historical, linguistic, and cultural ties,” he declared.

He further affirmed that reclaiming the cultural and historical heritage of West African peoples is part of a broader struggle to recover their collective soul and sovereignty—a just cause that requires a coherent action plan and a comprehensive, collective, and coordinated strategy.

During the meeting, ministers examined and endorsed the recommendations put forward by experts who had convened earlier to discuss key issues, including the implementation of the ECOWAS Action Plan (2027-2031); the progress and challenges faced by member states in securing restitution and return of cultural property; and the status of national cultural policies and institutions responsible for heritage protection and the cultural and creative industries.

The ministers also emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation with international organizations, development partners, civil society, and cultural networks to advance the region’s cultural agenda.

As a reminder, the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan follows the Political Declaration adopted by Heads of State and Government at the 54th Ordinary Summit held in December 2018 in Abuja, Nigeria, on the return of African cultural property to their countries of origin. The ECOWAS Cultural Policy serves as a key instrument to promote cultural diversity and foster sustainable socio-economic development and regional integration through support for cultural and creative industries.

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