Category: Africa

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Camarões e Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento adotam um plano para acelerar e recuperar o desempenho da carteira do país

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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No final da 55.ª revisão da carteira, organizada de 23 a 26 de fevereiro de 2026 em Kribi, na região Sul, o governo da República dos Camarões e o Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (www.AfDB.org) validaram um plano de ação conjunto para melhorar o desempenho da carteira de projetos financiados pela instituição neste país da África Central. Esta revisão, marcada por uma vontade de rotura, pretende introduzir uma mudança de ritmo e de método na execução das operações.

O plano aprovado enfatiza o reforço da responsabilização através da introdução de contratos de desempenho entre os coordenadores dos projetos, os ministérios setoriais e o Ministério da Economia, Planeamento e Ordenamento do Território (MINEPAT). Prevê igualmente a realização de revisões setoriais mensais orientadas para soluções concretas, a antecipação de bloqueios nas aquisições, os desembolsos, um acompanhamento rigoroso dos projetos a fim de acelerar a sua implementação e otimizar o seu impacto, e o reforço das capacidades das unidades de gestão de projetos sobre as regras e procedimentos do Banco, nomeadamente em matéria de salvaguarda ambiental e social e de gestão financeira.

Além disso, os participantes na revisão identificaram ações prioritárias. Assim, recomendaram o tratamento prioritário dos projetos assinados, mas que não receberam qualquer desembolso há mais de 15 meses; o acompanhamento rigoroso das operações em perigo de encerramento; a tomada de decisões rápidas em matéria de prorrogação ou cancelamento parcial dos financiamentos e o respeito rigoroso da produção de relatórios de conclusão, para garantir uma melhoria sustentável e mensurável do desempenho da carteira. 

Na abertura dos trabalhos, o prefeito do departamento do Oceano, na região Sul, Bouba Haman, em representação do ministro da Economia, Planeamento e Ordenamento do Território, governador do Banco para o Camarões, saudou a realização deste exercício estratégico, que desejou que fosse mais regular, e recordou a importância de uma execução diligente dos projetos para responder às expectativas das populações.

“Estes trabalhos visam um objetivo político e social importante: melhorar a taxa de absorção dos financiamentos. Cada projeto que sofre atrasos é um serviço público de que as populações são privadas. Temos o dever de gerir estes recursos com a maior transparência e um rigor orçamental infalível”, afirmou.

O diretor-geral do Grupo Banco para a África Central, Léandre Bassolé, apelou, por seu lado, a uma mudança profunda de abordagem: “Estamos aqui para encarar a realidade, sem complacência, mas também sem espírito de reprovação, com um único objetivo: melhorar de forma sustentável o desempenho dos nossos projetos e programas”, afirmou.

“Mudar de paradigma significa passar de uma lógica de procedimentos para uma cultura de resultados; de uma gestão fragmentada para uma responsabilização claramente assumida; e de um acompanhamento pontual para uma gestão rigorosa e contínua do desempenho”, acrescentou.

Momento-chave do diá. estratégico entre os Camarões e o Banco, esta 55.ª revisão da carteira marca o ponto de partida de um processo reforçado de gestão do desempenho. Ambas as partes reafirmaram o seu compromisso em tornar a carteira uma alavanca eficaz para a transformação económica e a melhoria tangível das condições de vida das populações camaronenses.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contacto para os media: 
Frédérique Pascale Essama Messanga
Departamento de Comunicação e Relações Externas
media@afdb.org

Sobre o Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento:
O Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento é a principal instituição financeira de desenvolvimento em África. Inclui três entidades distintas: o Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (AfDB), o Fundo Africano de Desenvolvimento (ADF) e o Fundo Fiduciário da Nigéria (NTF). Presente no terreno em 41 países africanos, com uma representação externa no Japão, o Banco contribui para o desenvolvimento económico e o progresso social dos seus 54 Estados-membros. Mais informações em www.AfDB.org/pt

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Mau Mau: how Kenya’s history of colonial violence speaks through living bodies and graves

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Rose Miyonga, Researcher, University of Warwick

Between 1952 and 1963, Kenya experienced one of the most violent chapters in its modern history. The Mau Mau uprising, rooted in land dispossession and political repression under British colonial rule, escalated into a brutal counterinsurgency war.

An estimated 50,000 Kenyans died during the violent conflict between Mau Mau guerrillas and British forces, and from disease and starvation. Torture, sexual violence and forced detention were widespread. Over a million people were displaced into villages and detention camps in the 1950s.

Many victims of the uprising were buried in unmarked mass graves. Others survived, but were permanently scarred.

As Britain prepared to leave in the early 1960s ahead of Kenya’s independence in 1963, officials took painstaking efforts to hide the evidence of their brutality. They destroyed some archival material that described their violent conduct and secretly took other documents back to the UK.

Further, after independence, Kenya’s own government pushed Mau Mau survivors to “forgive and forget” the past.

This created a profound historical gap. So if archives were destroyed and public history suppressed, where else might the past be found?

As an oral historian, I set out to answer this question. I embarked on an oral history project, speaking to 60 Mau Mau survivors, visiting memory sites such as mass graves, and collecting material from archives in the UK and Kenya.

I set out my findings in a recent paper.

My research shows that many Mau Mau survivors are living with permanent wounds and disabilities, which serve as constant reminders of the past. During interviews, people were keen to show me their scars and wounds, using them to illustrate their painful histories. These included bullet wounds (and sometimes bullets still lodged in the body), scars from torture and amputations.

My study showed that the body can become evidence in contexts where written documentation is absent or contested. Physical scars authenticate memory. These injuries also ensure that the past is never fully forgotten. Chronic pain and disability materially shape everyday life, tying the present to wartime violence.

My research also included understanding the Mau Mau war through human remains. I visited memory sites where communities mourn and remember, such as mass graves. I also researched the contents of boxes at the National Museum of Kenya on Mau Mau victims.

Read more: Kenya: the shameful truth about British colonial abuse and how it was covered up

By sharing their experiences, survivors reclaim agency over their histories. Rather than being passive victims of silence, they become active custodians of memory.

My findings suggest that archives are not limited to documents stored in state repositories. In post-conflict contexts where records are incomplete or destroyed, memory often persists through bodies and landscapes.

Custodians of memory

Through my study, I was able to observe how people use their bodies to tell their histories. I noticed this most powerfully in the 2002 BBC documentary Kenya: White Terror.

In one section, Mau Mau survivor Mwangi Kinyari goes with presenter John McGhie to a detention camp, and takes him to the cell where he was tortured and held for eight days during a three-year imprisonment.

Ignoring McGhie’s urges to be careful, Kinyari removes his jacket and insists on acting out a scene of torture, manoeuvring himself into a handstand position with his feet up on the wall and his hands on the dirt floor to demonstrate how he was hung upside down during torturous interrogations in that cell.

He then removes his belt and lifts his shirt to show the scars from the operation he had for the internal bleeding that resulted from beatings.

The descriptions of brutality he endured at the hands of white guards were powerful enough. Kinyari gives testimony of having his testicles beaten until he urinated blood, and his eyes seared with hot coals.

His words and descriptions communicate the facts of what happened, but there is something more that his body conveys through acting out the scene of his torture, using his body to write into the missing record of his experiences, and recentring himself in the frame of historical memory.

Aged 80, Kinyari seized an opportunity to speak back to the historical forces that had forgotten him. He used his entire body as a vehicle to do this.

Read more: Kenya’s female freedom fighters were the silent heroes of the anti-colonial movement – here are some of their stories

Mass grave sites also deserve greater recognition as spaces of history and remembrance. These mass graves are a visceral reminder of Mau Mau history, countering attempts to silence and sanitise the past. They offer insights into the brutality and devastation of the war.

Even though they are not marked or honoured in an official capacity, community members have found ways to tend to them as sites of mourning and remembrance.

Violence has profoundly shaped the past and present of Mau Mau survivors. This is evident both in survivors’ bodies and in the remains of those who were killed. These are archives in their own right.

Unhealed wounds aren’t only symbolic. They continue to shape survivors’ economic opportunities, health and wellbeing decades later. Embodied memory also strengthens contemporary justice claims. Survivors seeking compensation rely not only on testimony but on visible physical evidence of abuse.

What should be done

Bodies have powerful stories to tell. Unhealed wounds have resonance in the present, materially affecting survivors’ lives, illustrating the legacies of war. They are also record-keepers, offering evidence for people who still hope to have their stories heard and maybe even get compensation for their suffering.

Tending to these wounds would be literally and figuratively healing for the Kenyan nation. Ignoring these embodied archives risks reproducing historical erasure.

First, there needs to be urgency in recording survivors’ testimonies through oral histories and community memory work. The Mau Mau generation is ageing, and embodied memory will not last indefinitely.

Second, mass grave sites and human remains deserve formal recognition as spaces of national history and mourning.

Third, continued engagement with reparations processes is essential as it allows survivors of Mau Mau traumas to seek justice and closure.

Acknowledging embodied suffering is central to meaningful justice. Addressing these wounds – both literal and historical – could contribute to broader national reflection in a country still shaped by colonial violence and inequality.

– Mau Mau: how Kenya’s history of colonial violence speaks through living bodies and graves
– https://theconversation.com/mau-mau-how-kenyas-history-of-colonial-violence-speaks-through-living-bodies-and-graves-277118

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Gulf attention is turning inward: why the Iran war could destabilise the Horn of Africa

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Brendon J. Cannon, Associate Professor, Khalifa University

Gulf states have become increasingly prominent in the squabbles, civil wars and inter-country tensions in the Horn of Africa over the past decade. The countries in this region include Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somaliland, Somalia and Djibouti.

As a result, the US-Israel war on Iran matters for the Horn, where Gulf money, Gulf diplomacy and Gulf defence equipment have become part of the operating environment of conflict and rivalry.

For over a decade, I have researched the interactions of sub-Saharan Africa with Arab Gulf states, as well as Turkey, Japan, China and others. In my view, Gulf states may scale back their engagement in the Horn as the security situation in the Middle Eastern region deteriorates.

This could potentially reshape conflicts, alignments and diplomacy across the Horn of Africa – if the war drags on.

Gulf states like the United Arab Emirates and Qatar – important partners for Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia – will likely begin focusing inward on their own security. The strategic importance of Horn of Africa states for Saudi Arabia or the UAE will diminish.

In practical terms, this could mean a drop in high-level visits, a reduction in arms flows and a weakening of political loyalty as Horn actors adjust.

For the Horn, this could lead to two outcomes. One, an escalation in conflict, with states and armed groups seeking to settle scores while external patrons are distracted. Or second, a temporary cooling-off period as actors reassess the implications of reduced Gulf funding, arms and mediation.

Either way, the Horn is unlikely to grow calmer. Instead, longstanding grievances, between Ethiopia and Eritrea for instance, may become more pronounced.

Sudan’s war and Gulf backing

For Sudan, the implications of the ongoing conflict in the Gulf could be significant. The two warring parties – the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudan’s military – have relied heavily on external support.

Both may find themselves suddenly without the largesse and military equipment from Gulf backers, depending on how the Iran war unfolds. This drawback of support could hit the RSF particularly hard as its biggest external backer, the UAE, focuses on its own security. Sudan’s military, however, may continue to benefit from Turkish and Egyptian support.

Much recent commentary has focused on evolving “alliances” and “blocs” that pit the UAE/Israel/Somaliland/Ethiopia against Turkey/Saudi Arabia/Egypt/Somalia within Sudan’s civil war.

This framing, however, often misses two basic facts. First, these are not alliances but rather opportunistic alignments that bring together diverse actors and interests from outside the Horn. These alignments have always been opportunistic on the part of external state actors, such as Turkey, the UAE and Qatar.

They hold only as long as external patrons can plausibly deliver resources, arms and diplomatic attention without unacceptable reputational damage to themselves.

Second, state leaders in the Horn of Africa have largely steered these relationships themselves. They have used external patrons to advance domestic and regional interests.

Read more: Middle Eastern monarchies in Sudan’s war: what’s driving their interests

Gulf states’ opportunistic interventions were possible largely because they were at peace with one another and with Iran. That is no longer the case.

Sudan’s civil war may last even longer now that Gulf states are focused elsewhere. Neither side in the civil war will have the ability to land a knock-out punch.

Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Somaliland’s recognition

The Iran war could affect Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Somaliland in a number of ways.

Firstly, the diplomatic flurry of visits by Gulf leaders to Ethiopia and Somalia may slow. From 2023 to early 2026, Gulf leaders sought to shape political outcomes and advance investment and logistics interests. If this tempo slows, Horn actors will face less patronage and mediation, which may lead either to a pause in tensions or to quick escalation.

Secondly, Israel’s recognition of Somaliland – which Qatar and Saudi Arabia (as well as Egypt and Turkey) have taken a stand against – is now likely to be far from their agendas. Somalia’s long-standing ambition of reabsorbing Somaliland may also find waning external support.

Thirdly, Ethiopia’s interest in gaining access to the Red Sea has been one of the central issues in recent diplomatic manoeuvring in the Horn. With Saudi Arabia, in particular, focused on Iran, Addis Ababa may feel emboldened to formalise access through Somaliland (with which it had signed an agreement in 2024).

Turkey and Egypt may remain engaged

Two non-Gulf states, however, are likely to remain active in the Horn: Turkey and Egypt.

Turkey can still afford foreign policy opportunism in the region, as long as it does not become directly involved in the Iran war. For Ankara, the Gulf states’ distraction may create an opportunity to expand its influence. This could be through trying to help Somalia reassert control over Somaliland and other autonomous regions. It could also encourage Ethiopia to reduce tensions with Eritrea, or help balance relations between Ethiopia and Egypt. These would all enhance Turkey’s reputation outside its region and reinforce the image it has of itself as a rising, global power.

Read more: Egypt-Ethiopia hostilities are playing out in the Horn – the risk of new proxy wars is high

Egypt’s involvement is driven by existential concerns over the Nile. This is particularly about a dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. This is a massive project on the Blue Nile that Egypt fears could reduce the flow of water on which its agriculture, economy and population depend.

For both Turkey and Egypt, curtailing Israel’s growing influence across the wider Middle East and the Horn of Africa remains a strategic priority. A stronger Israel would dilute Turkey’s desired role as a broker and patron in the Horn, and complicate Egypt’s efforts to constrain Ethiopia.

An emboldened Israel, however, could also reshape Egypt’s engagement with Ethiopia. Egypt and Turkey might offer Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed diplomatic incentives – including limited or symbolic access to the Red Sea in Somaliland’s port of Berbera, for instance. This would be in return for Addis Ababa’s agreement to reaffirm Somalia’s territorial integrity (and never recognise Somaliland). But this seems unlikely as neither Egypt nor Turkey possesses the power to put Somalia back together again.

The Horn’s own agenda

The real powers in the Horn of Africa remain the region’s own states and rival centres of authority. Horn states have the agency and interests to shape outcomes. They have long drawn external patrons into the region, playing them off against one another to extract resources, recognition and diplomatic support.

What the Iran war changes is not who sets the Horn’s agenda, but the external conditions under which Horn actors pursue it.

Gulf states have been opportunistic precisely because they had the capacity to act in the Horn when the Gulf itself was stable. That capacity may now be constrained.

This is not a new finding. In work published over five years ago, my colleague Federico Donelli and I argued that enduring security burdens at home limited the reach of Gulf ambitions in the Horn.

The Horn’s underlying conflicts and rivalries will therefore continue to interact in unpredictable ways.

– Gulf attention is turning inward: why the Iran war could destabilise the Horn of Africa
– https://theconversation.com/gulf-attention-is-turning-inward-why-the-iran-war-could-destabilise-the-horn-of-africa-277855

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Call for stronger cooperation to drive development in Ehlanzeni

Source: Government of South Africa

Call for stronger cooperation to drive development in Ehlanzeni

Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts says stronger cooperation between government, traditional leaders and communities is essential to improving service delivery and advancing development in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality in Mpumalanga.

Swarts was addressing stakeholders during a District Development Model oversight visit to the district on Monday, where she emphasised the importance of coordinated governance guided by the National Development Plan 2030.

The District Development Model (DDM) was introduced to improve how government plans, budgets and delivers services by promoting a unified approach across all spheres of government.

“The DDM encourages us to work as ‘One Government, One Plan, One Budget’ ensuring that communities receive services more efficiently and that development happens in a coherent and inclusive manner,” Swarts said.

According to the Deputy Minister, the model seeks to align national, provincial and local government planning while strengthening collaboration with traditional leaders, civil society, the private sector and communities.

She said the DDM also serves as a mechanism for implementing the goals of the National Development Plan by enabling integrated planning at district level, coordinated investment across government spheres and stronger alignment between national goals and local realities.

Swarts noted that as District Champion for the Ehlanzeni District Municipality, her responsibilities include ensuring alignment of planning, budgeting and implementation across government, supporting the development and monitoring of the district’s One Plan, and addressing service delivery challenges.

The One Plan is a single, integrated development plan for a district that aligns the priorities, budgets and projects of national, provincial and local government, together with stakeholders, to coordinate service delivery and development in that area.

Swarts highlighted the important role of traditional leaders in the district’s development processes, saying Amakhosi are central partners in both the District Development Model and municipal Integrated Development Plans.

Traditional leaders provide community leadership and guidance, contribute indigenous knowledge on land use and environmental management, help strengthen social cohesion and assist in identifying local priorities such as infrastructure needs and service delivery gaps.

“They also play a key role in unlocking land for development, supporting local economic development initiatives and guiding community-based projects,” Swarts said.

She noted that during Phase II of the District Development Model, the district had made encouraging progress, including improved coordination of service delivery projects, better alignment of sector programmes with the One Plan and stronger stakeholder forums and intergovernmental structures.

However, she said several challenges remain, including infrastructure backlogs in key service areas and municipal financial constraints.

The upcoming Ehlanzeni District Municipal Investment Indaba, scheduled for 12 to 13 March, is expected to help unlock new investment opportunities and support efforts to address socio-economic pressures affecting households in the district.

The council-approved Phase III One Plan for the district focuses on strengthening integrated planning and budgeting, improving coordination across government and stakeholders, enhancing partnerships with the private sector and supporting opportunities for local small business development.

Other priorities include implementing and monitoring catalytic projects contained in the One Plan and ensuring that youth, women and persons with disabilities are prioritised in development interventions.

The District Development Model and the National Development Plan provide a framework for building capable, inclusive and resilient communities through collaboration between government, traditional leaders, communities and private partners. – SAnews.gov.za

Janine

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Morolong kicks off Kenya visit

Source: Government of South Africa

Morolong kicks off Kenya visit

Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong has arrived in Kenya on a working visit to the East African nation.

The Deputy Minister will also attend the TikTok Safer Internet Summit.

“Kenya is the largest trading partner of South Africa, outside of the SADC region. Its exports are primary products, while South Africa exports semi- and manufactured products to Kenya.

“We continue to enjoy close ties since 1994 and these engagements are meant to strengthen the bilateral engagements that continue to be enjoyed by both countries.

“Our similarities with Kenya are that of a government of national unity and the coalition government that has been formed… through the outcomes of various elections held in Kenya,” the Deputy Minister said. 

Morolong is accompanied on the visit by officials from the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) and Brand SA.

“We are here with GCIS, which is responsible for government communication and coordination, to share best practices between ourselves and Kenya. 

“We are here to share best practices in government communications. We have brought with us Brand SA, which is the custodian of our nation’s image and reputation. Brand SA continues to showcase on international platforms our country’s strength, our cultural diversity and our economic potential,” Morolong stated.

Another major focus of the Deputy Minister’s agenda is the 2026 TikTok Safer Internet Summit, scheduled for 10 to 11 March.

The Deputy Minister struck an optimistic note about the creative potential of digital platforms for creators.

However, he quickly warned of the substantial risks accompanying technological advancement.

“TikTok is one of the most empowering platforms in the hands of creatives. But of course, technology comes with its own challenges. The evolution of AI has brought with it misinformation, disinformation and deep fakes. Our own country, research shows that 21% of our population in 2025, could differentiate between authentic content and deepfakes. 

“That is why its important to interact with TikTok on the digital safety challenges. As a result, express our own concerns as a country, because deepfakes, disinformation and misinformation have a potential to erode public trust in our government,” Morolong said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB

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Streamline Your 2026: Getting On Top of Repetitive Payroll Tasks

Source: APO

Many payroll employees must deal with persistent and repetitive tasks that drain their schedules. Ensuring that workers are paid accurately and promptly requires complex and time-consuming diligence, where even minor errors can have big consequences. It’s one thing Heinrich Swanepoel, Head of Business Development at Deel Local Payroll (www.PaySpace.com) doesn’t miss.

“I remember getting to my desk fresh from a holiday, only to be overwhelmed by the many manual tasks waiting for me, such as tax calculations or chasing employee information. I love managing payrolls. But doing things manually and then double-checking everything to find errors was exhausting and left little time for the more interesting and strategic work.”

Many payroll professionals appreciate those feelings. A recent survey revealed payroll teams lose around 11 hours each week on inefficient tasks and processes (https://apo-opa.co/4roNxWq). Their ability to work well also affects other employees, 64% of whom say they experience major stress (https://apo-opa.co/46Q3Eor) when there are errors in their pay cheques. Nearly half of businesses are also hit by penalties and fines because of payroll errors (https://apo-opa.co/4aXU9Gh).

The source of payroll errors

Payroll errors are staggeringly common, affecting one out of every five employees. It’s a source of stress and disharmony, since 98% of workers regularly look at their payslips and a third notice payroll errors (https://apo-opa.co/47kw3mI). How companies resolve those errors influences employee attitudes towards their employer. Payroll mistakes may be clerical, but they affect unity, culture, and professionalism.

If these errors are so problematic, why do they occur? The simple answer is payroll complexity. Apart from payment calculations and payroll runs, administrators must also keep track of changing legislation and maintain records around timesheets, leave allocation, bonuses, taxes, and other data points that determine salaries. Then there are the interruptions from other people for salary breakdown reports, onboarding, and other business tasks that require payroll’s involvement.

“Payroll is super complex. Individual tasks may seem simple, but they combine into various processes and responsibilities that require a lot of time and focus where you don’t want any errors. This is why many payrolls still use outdated systems and manual processes. When you have a system that works, even if it doesn’t work well, you don’t want to mess with it because payroll is that delicate,” says Swanepoel.

Fix payroll through repetitive tasks

Fortunately, modern payroll systems are helping companies navigate those delicacies and claw back time for their payroll teams. The best strategy is to focus on streamlining and automating repetitive tasks.

  • Payslip distribution: Automated processes deliver payslips automatically to employees, and self-service portals such as the Pacey WhatsApp bot (https://apo-opa.co/4btEqPn) let employees get payslips, leave allowances and applications, and other information by themselves.
  • Legislative updates: Payroll teams that use cloud-native payroll platforms get automatic updates for legal changes and the affected calculations, pushed by experts who monitor legislative changes in different countries and industries.
  • Automated data sharing: By integrating payroll platforms with HR and finance systems, they can share workforce and financial information securely to maintain up-to-date and singular records.
  • Error detection: The leading payroll platforms include data analytics, machine learning, and other types of artificial intelligence to spot errors.

Other examples include faster report generation, streamlined onboarding, managing different employee categories, termination calculations, and many of the time-consuming moving parts inherent to payroll.

Leading cloud-native payroll platforms have the native capabilities to streamline and automate crucial tasks. Software modules, often provided at no extra cost as part of the platform subscription, cover many common payroll processes. Payroll teams can also design custom forms and automations.

Swanepoel recommends starting with highly common and repetitive tasks.

“Look for the big time sinks and find out what you can do about them. Pick a few, set goals, and get approval from those who will benefit from improving those processes. Use off-the-shelf features in your payroll software to automate those, or work with the payroll vendor to help you design custom processes. Payroll is complex and won’t change overnight. But a clear focus and the support of a skilled vendor will deliver quick results that you can build on. You’ll be surprised by what is possible.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Deel Local Payroll, powered by PaySpace.

About Deel Local Payroll:
Deel Local Payroll, powered by PaySpace, revolutionises payroll management. It offers online, multi-country payroll and HR management for businesses from start-ups through to enterprise in over 40 African countries, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Brazil.

Cloud-native, Deel Local Payroll, is scalable, configurable, highly secure, and easy-to-use—delivering anytime, anywhere access. It features payroll automation, self-service features, automatic legislation and feature updates, customised reporting, and more.

Since 2024, Deel Local Payroll has been part of Deel, operating as an independent subsidiary, serving its customers through the PaySpace platform. 

Media files

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US Federal Court Dismisses All Claims Against Binance in Anti – Terrorism Lawsuit

Source: APO


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Court rejects allegations that Binance (www.Binance.com) assisted, participated in, or conspired with terrorists. This represents a decisive legal dismissal of all claims

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by registered users, announced today that a U.S. federal court in the Southern District of New York has dismissed all claims brought against the company under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The lawsuit involved 535 plaintiffs who alleged that Binance provided material support related to 64 terrorist attacks.

In a 62-page decision, the Court found that plaintiffs failed to establish any of their central allegations: that Binance assisted terrorists, that Binance associated itself with terrorist attacks, that Binance participated in or sought to advance those attacks, or that Binance engaged in any conspiracy with terrorist organizations.

“This dismissal is a complete vindication of all false allegations,” said Eleanor Hughes, Binance’s General Counsel. “The court has unambiguously rejected the false and damaging narrative that Binance assisted terrorists. We have always maintained that these claims were without merit, and today’s ruling confirms that. We will continue to defend ourselves aggressively against any litigation or reporting that misrepresents who we are and how we operate.”

A Full and Complete Legal Victory

The Court’s decision to dismiss all claims — across every allegation, represents a decisive legal victory.

While the Court has allowed plaintiffs 60 days to file an amended complaint in light of a recent appellate decision, Binance is confident that no amended pleading will be able to cure the fundamental deficiencies the Court identified. The underlying claims have been thoroughly examined and rejected.

Commitment to Compliance and Legal Integrity

Binance has consistently invested in industry-leading compliance infrastructure, regulatory engagement, and legal governance. Today’s ruling affirms that Binance’s operations do not support, facilitate, or enable terrorism in any form.

The company will continue to engage constructively with regulators worldwide, operate within established legal frameworks, and pursue vigorous legal action where necessary to correct false and misleading narratives about its business.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Binance.

About Binance:
Binance is a leading global blockchain ecosystem behind the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and registered users. Binance is trusted by more than 310 million people in 100+ countries for its industry-leading security, transparency, and unmatched portfolio of digital asset products. For more information, visit: www.Binance.com

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La Charte de la jeunesse appelle à un partenariat Commonwealth-Afrique-Caraïbes pour un héritage durable pour la jeunesse après Glasgow 2026

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


À l’occasion de la Journée du Commonwealth, la Charte de la jeunesse (www.YouthCharter.org/), organisation internationale de développement de la jeunesse, a appelé à un renforcement du partenariat entre le Commonwealth, l’Union africaine (UA) et la Communauté caribéenne (CARICOM) afin de garantir que les Jeux du Commonwealth de Glasgow 2026 laissent un héritage significatif et durable pour les jeunes d’Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Commonwealth.

Représentant 56 nations du Commonwealth et plus de 2,5 milliards de citoyens, la communauté du Commonwealth a une occasion unique de faire preuve de leadership mondial en utilisant le sport comme catalyseur de développement durable, de cohésion sociale et d’autonomisation des jeunes.

La Charte de la jeunesse souligne toutefois que la valeur à long terme des événements sportifs internationaux doit être mesurée non seulement en termes d’infrastructures ou d’impact économique, mais aussi en fonction de leur contribution effective à la création d’opportunités sociales et économiques durables pour les jeunes. Depuis plus de trois décennies, la Charte de la jeunesse travaille dans toutes les régions du Commonwealth en utilisant le sport, les arts et l’engagement culturel comme outils de développement de la jeunesse, de consolidation de la paix et de régénération communautaire, y compris les partenariats développés grâce aux précédents héritages des Jeux du Commonwealth à Manchester (2002) et à Birmingham (2022).

Un moment stratégique pour la coopération entre le Commonwealth, l’Union africaine et les Caraïbes

Les prochains Jeux du Commonwealth de Glasgow 2026 arrivent à un moment crucial pour les jeunes d’Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Commonwealth.

Dans ces régions, les jeunes sont confrontés à des défis structurels croissants, notamment :

  • le chômage et le sous-emploi des jeunes
  • l’aggravation des inégalités socio-économiques
  • les problèmes de santé mentale
  • la transformation numérique rapide et les déficits de compétences
  • la vulnérabilité climatique et l’insécurité environnementale
  • la fragmentation sociale croissante au sein des communautés.

Ces défis s’inscrivent également dans le cadre de l’engagement mondial à atteindre les Objectifs de développement durable (ODD) des Nations Unies d’ici à 2030, où le Sport au service du développement et de la paix (SDP) est reconnu internationalement comme un puissant levier de progrès social.

Dans ce contexte, la Charte de la jeunesse estime que Glasgow 2026 offre une occasion importante d’aligner plus étroitement les grands événements sportifs sur les cadres de développement régionaux, notamment :

  • l’Agenda 2063 de l’Union africaine
  • la Stratégie de développement humain et social de la CARICOM
  • la Charte du Commonwealth et l’Agenda pour le développement de la jeunesse
  • la Stratégie des Nations Unies pour la jeunesse à l’horizon 2030 et les cadres de mise en œuvre des ODD

Modèle de campus communautaire proposé comme cadre d’héritage du Commonwealth

La Charte de la jeunesse propose d’étendre son modèle de campus communautaire comme cadre d’héritage concret susceptible de soutenir le développement de la jeunesse dans les pays du Commonwealth.

Les campus communautaires fonctionnent comme des pôles de développement locaux intégrés, réunissant :

  • la participation sportive et le développement du coaching
  • les parcours d’éducation et d’employabilité
  • l’engagement artistique et culturel
  • l’apprentissage numérique et l’innovation
  • les programmes de leadership communautaire et d’entrepreneuriat social.

Déjà mis en place grâce à des partenariats au Royaume-Uni, en Afrique et dans d’autres pays du Commonwealth, ces campus offrent des plateformes accessibles où les jeunes peuvent développer les compétences, la confiance et le leadership nécessaires pour contribuer à leurs communautés et à leurs économies.

La Charte de la jeunesse estime qu’en associant la planification de l’héritage de Glasgow 2026 à l’expansion des campus communautaires, le Commonwealth pourrait établir un réseau de centres de développement de la jeunesse en Afrique, dans les Caraïbes et dans d’autres régions du Commonwealth.

Un tel réseau constituerait un héritage tangible et mesurable pour les Jeux, tout en renforçant la collaboration régionale en matière de développement de la jeunesse.

Le sport comme moteur de développement et de diplomatie

Au-delà de l’engagement des jeunes, la Charte de la jeunesse souligne le rôle croissant du sport en tant que secteur stratégique de l’économie mondiale et vecteur de coopération internationale et de diplomatie.

En Afrique et dans les Caraïbes, le sport représente un secteur en pleine expansion, capable de soutenir :

  • l’emploi et l’entrepreneuriat
  • l’éducation et le développement des compétences
  • le tourisme et l’organisation d’événements
  • les échanges culturels et la cohésion sociale
  • la santé publique et le bien-être communautaire.

Grâce à des initiatives structurées liées à Glasgow 2026, le Commonwealth a l’opportunité de démontrer comment les grands événements sportifs peuvent contribuer directement à une croissance économique inclusive et à un développement durable.

Message aux dirigeants du Commonwealth et de la région

La Charte de la jeunesse appelle :

  • les gouvernements du Commonwealth
  • les institutions de l’Union africaine
  • les États membres de la CARICOM
  •  les partenaires internationaux de développement
  • les fédérations sportives et les fondations philanthropiques
  • à collaborer pour faire de l’héritage des Jeux du Commonwealth de Glasgow 2026 une plateforme d’autonomisation durable des jeunes et de développement communautaire.

L’organisation souligne que les jeunes du Commonwealth ne recherchent pas seulement l’inspiration dans les grands événements sportifs. Ils aspirent à des opportunités, à la participation et à des parcours de leadership.

En investissant dans des structures durables de développement de la jeunesse, telles que les campus communautaires, le Commonwealth et ses partenaires régionaux peuvent garantir que l’héritage de Glasgow 2026 contribue concrètement à la stabilité sociale, aux opportunités économiques et au développement humain au sein de la famille du Commonwealth.

Distribué par APO Group pour Youth Charter.

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Youth Charter Calls for Commonwealth–Africa–Caribbean Partnership to Deliver a Lasting Youth Legacy from Glasgow 2026

Source: APO


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On the occasion of Commonwealth Day, the international youth development organisation Youth Charter (www.YouthCharter.org/) has called for a strengthened partnership between the Commonwealth, the African Union (AU) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to ensure that the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games deliver a meaningful and sustainable legacy for young people across Africa, the Caribbean and the wider Commonwealth.

Representing 56 Commonwealth nations and more than 2.5 billion citizens, the Commonwealth community possesses a unique opportunity to demonstrate global leadership in the use of sport as a catalyst for sustainable development, social cohesion and youth empowerment.

However, the Youth Charter emphasises that the long-term value of international sporting events must be measured not only in terms of infrastructure or economic impact, but in how effectively they contribute to lasting social and economic opportunity for young people.

For more than three decades, the Youth Charter has worked across Commonwealth regions using sport, arts and cultural engagement as tools for youth development, peacebuilding and community regeneration, including partnerships developed through previous Commonwealth Games legacies in Manchester (2002) and Birmingham (2022). 

A Strategic Moment for Commonwealth, African Union and Caribbean Cooperation

The forthcoming Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games arrive at a critical moment for young people across Africa, the Caribbean and the wider Commonwealth.

Across these regions, youth populations face increasing structural challenges, including:

  • youth unemployment and underemployment
  • widening socio-economic inequality
  • mental health pressures
  • rapid digital transformation and skills gaps
  • climate vulnerability and environmental insecurity
  • rising social fragmentation within communities.

These challenges also intersect with the global commitment to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, where Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) has been recognised internationally as a powerful tool for social progress.

In this context, the Youth Charter believes that Glasgow 2026 presents an important opportunity to align major sporting events more closely with regional development frameworks, including:

  • African Union Agenda 2063
  • CARICOM Human and Social Development Strategy
  • Commonwealth Charter and Youth Development Agenda
  • UN Youth 2030 Strategy and SDG implementation frameworks

Community Campus Model Proposed as a Commonwealth Legacy Framework

The Youth Charter is proposing the expansion of its Community Campus model as a practical legacy framework that could support youth development across Commonwealth countries.

Community Campuses function as integrated local development hubs, bringing together:

  • sport participation and coaching development
  • education and employability pathways
  • arts and cultural engagement
  • digital learning and innovation
  • community leadership and social enterprise programmes.

Already emerging through partnerships in the United Kingdom, Africa and other Commonwealth communities, these campuses provide accessible platforms where young people can develop the skills, confidence and leadership required to contribute to their communities and economies. 

The Youth Charter believes that by linking Glasgow 2026 legacy planning with the expansion of Community Campuses, the Commonwealth could establish a network of youth development centres across Africa, the Caribbean and other Commonwealth regions.

Such a network would provide a tangible and measurable legacy for the Games while strengthening regional collaboration around youth development.

Sport as a Driver of Development and Diplomacy

Beyond youth engagement, the Youth Charter highlights the growing role of sport as a strategic sector within the global economy and as a vehicle for international cooperation and diplomacy.

Across Africa and the Caribbean, sport represents an expanding sector capable of supporting:

  • employment and entrepreneurship
  • education and skills development
  • tourism and event hosting
  • cultural exchange and social cohesion
  • public health and community wellbeing.

Through structured legacy initiatives connected to Glasgow 2026, the Commonwealth has the opportunity to demonstrate how major sporting events can contribute directly to inclusive economic growth and sustainable development outcomes.

A Message to Commonwealth and Regional Leaders

The Youth Charter is calling on:

  • Commonwealth governments
  • African Union institutions
  • CARICOM member states
  • international development partners
  • sporting federations and philanthropic foundations

to collaborate in transforming the legacy of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games into a platform for long-term youth empowerment and community development.

The organisation emphasises that young people across the Commonwealth are not simply seeking inspiration from major sporting events. They are seeking opportunity, participation and leadership pathways.

By investing in sustainable youth development structures such as Community Campuses, the Commonwealth and its regional partners can ensure that the legacy of Glasgow 2026 contributes meaningfully to social stability, economic opportunity and human development across the Commonwealth family.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Youth Charter.

Media and Government Relations:
Youth Charter International
London, United Kingdom
Email: info@youthcharter.org
Website: www.youthcharter.org

About the Youth Charter:
Founded in 1993, the Youth Charter is a UK-based international charity and global advocate for Sport for Development and Peace.

Working with governments, international institutions, universities and community partners, the organisation promotes programmes that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, empowering young people through sport, education, culture and digital innovation.

The Youth Charter’s flagship initiatives include:

  • Community Campus Model
  • Social Coach Leadership Programme
  • Global Call to Action for Youth Development

These initiatives support the creation of sustainable pathways for young people across the Commonwealth, Africa and the Caribbean.

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Partnership with banks to cut queues at Home Affairs offices

Source: Government of South Africa

Partnership with banks to cut queues at Home Affairs offices

The Department of Home Affairs has launched a digital partnership model with banks, allowing people to apply for Smart ID cards directly at participating bank branches.

The initiative officially entered its live operational phase on Sunday, marking what the department described as a significant reform in its history.

Through the programme, South Africans can complete a secure Smart ID application at selected bank branches within minutes using integrated digital systems.

The partnership is part of the department’s broader reform programme, known as Home Affairs @ home, aimed at transforming how citizens access identity and civic services through digital platforms.

Instead of travelling long distances to one of the country’s 349 Home Affairs offices, applicants will be able to access services at bank branches in their communities. 

The Department of Home Affairs said in a statement on Monday that the system allows banks to connect directly to the department’s systems through a secure digital gateway, enabling applications to be processed within 5 to ten minutes without completing paper forms or making prior bookings.

Nine bank branches began offering the service from Sunday, with the number expected to increase to 17 by the end of the week. 

The first participating institutions include Capitec Bank and Standard Bank, while First National Bank is in the final phase of testing. Other banks that joined the partnership last year are also preparing to roll out the service.

The department explained that the new model replaces the previous arrangement in which banks hosted small Home Affairs offices inside their branches where clients had to complete applications on the eHomeAffairs platform and visit primarily for biometric capture.

Under the new system, applications are handled entirely through the banks’ own service environments, integrated directly with Home Affairs through an API-based digital gateway.

Initially, the service will allow South African citizens, qualifying naturalised citizens and permanent residents who still hold the green ID book to convert to the Smart ID card. Existing Smart ID holders will also be able to apply for re-issues.

The department estimates that about 16 million South Africans still use the green ID book, which has been widely identified as one of the most commonly defrauded documents on the continent. Officials say accelerating the shift to Smart IDs is critical for strengthening the country’s identity system and reducing identity fraud.

As the system stabilises during 2026, the department plans to expand services available through the banking partnership. These are expected to include first-time Smart ID applications, passport services, courier delivery of documents and the ability to apply through banking apps.

The rollout will be phased to ensure system stability, with more bank branches expected to join the programme throughout the year.

Government has set a target of expanding the digital partnership to 1,000 participating bank branches across South Africa by 2029 as part of its Medium-Term Development Plan.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber said the launch represents a major milestone in the department’s reform drive.

“By embracing digital transformation, we are redefining what public service delivery looks like in the modern age,” he said. 

“Instead of forcing people to go to Home Affairs to endure long queues and manual processes, we are using technological security and efficiency to bring Home Affairs to the people, delivering access, inclusion and dignity for all.”

The first participating branches include several Capitec branches such as Orange Farm’s Eyethu Mall, Howick, Swellendam, Sandton City, Kathu Village Mall, Matoks, Hermanus and Jeffreys Bay’s Fountains Mall, as well as selected Standard Bank branches including Maponya Mall in Soweto and Rosebank.

Additional branches are expected to be added as the programme expands nationwide. 

Citizens can find participating branches through the Department of Home Affairs website: www.dfa.gov.za. – SAnews.gov.za

Janine

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