Category: Africa

Source: APO

A senior Eritrean delegation composed of Mr. Hagos Gebrehiwet, Head of PFDJ Economic Affairs, and Mr. Nesredin Mohammed Saleh, Minister of Trade and Industry, held talks with Mr. Majid bin Abdullah, Minister of Commerce of Saudi Arabia.

The meeting, held this afternoon, focused on enhancing trade and investment.

The senior Eritrean delegation held similar meetings with Mr. Waleed Alkhereiji, Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, on 15 September, and with senior officials of the Saudi Ministry of Energy and the Saudi National Oil Company (ARAMCO) on 14 September.

The meetings featured extensive discussions on issues and developments of mutual interest to the two countries.

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

Source: APO

The Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has resolved to summon businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba to appear in person after he failed to attend its Wednesday sitting to explain a disputed Shs140 billion Bank of Uganda guarantee.

The decision, taken after a lengthy debate over a request for more time from Basajjabalaba’s lawyers, Magina Advocates, on Wednesday 16th September 2026.

The committee chaired by Kyandondo East MP Hon. Muwada Nkunyingi, examined the roles of Basajjabalaba’s Haba Group, the Central Bank and other parties that may emerge during the investigation.

Basajjabalaba had been expected to answer questions concerning the recovery of the Shs140 billion guaranteed by the bank in 2017.

Instead, a legal representative, Calvin Ojambo appeared and requested for another time of appearance. The lawyer said that they received Parliament’s invitation late on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, and that their client was indisposed and required additional time to access documents relating to transactions conducted between 2009 and 2011.

The lawyer noted that the issues raised had previously been the subject of litigation and requested that their client appears on 23 or 24 September, 2026.

While some MPs supported granting additional time, others questioned whether the delay could become a means of avoiding parliamentary scrutiny.

Hon. Martin Kisule (Buzaaya County) questioned why Parliament had served the summons through a law firm and not directly to Basajjabalaba, whose address was known.

The Chairperson, Hon. Nkunyingi, said that the immediate question, was whether the committee should grant the request for more time and determine the appropriate next steps.

“At this level it is investigative level,” Nkunyingi said, emphasising that the committee would examine the roles of all parties before making findings.

The MPs urged caution over what they described as a recurring pattern of non-attendance.

Hon. Nkunyingi, stressed that the committee’s central concern was to establish what happened to the public funds and the circumstances surrounding the Bank of Uganda guarantee.

The committee has now scheduled Basajjabalaba to appear on 23 September 2026. The new summons will be served through a police officer and will require Basajjabalaba to appear in person.

At the heart of the inquiry is the recovery of Shs140 billion guaranteed by Bank of Uganda in 2017. The precise contractual terms of the guarantee, the parties’ obligations, the basis for the central bank’s involvement and the status of recovery are matters that require clarification through the committee’s investigation.

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

Source: APO

The Ministry of Education, through the Excellence in Learning in Liberia (EXCEL) Project, has completed a stakeholder review and validation of the revised Academic Calendar for Kindergarten through Grade 2 and primary schools under the Foundational Learning Program.

The one-day EXCEL Project activity brought together Ministry technical teams, county education officials, representatives of public and private school systems, development partners, and project staff to review the proposed calendar and ensure it responds to the practical needs of schools.

Participants examined key academic periods, holidays, examinations, major school activities, and proposed timetables, while identifying areas requiring adjustment before final approval.

The validated calendar will now move toward finalization, publication, and nationwide dissemination. Once approved, it is expected to guide academic planning and school operations for the next three years, providing schools with greater consistency and predictability in organizing teaching and learning.

The activity forms part of the EXCEL Project’s support to foundational learning, helping the Ministry strengthen how instructional time is planned, protected, and used across schools.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Education: Republic of Liberia.

Source: APO

Becoming a soldier and serving his country had always been Captain Mengistu Mathius’s dream. But along the way, he took up mechanics, a skill that has become just as central to who he is today.

The Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) officer leads the maintenance unit for Sector 3 troops under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) in Baidoa.

“I joined the military 26 years ago. I always dreamed of becoming a soldier and serving my country,” he said.

But his journey didn’t begin in uniform. Before joining the military, Capt. Mengistu worked for three years as a civilian mechanic, skills that would later prove invaluable in his service.

More than two decades on, that early experience continues to shape his work. Even now, despite his leadership role, he is never far from the tools of his trade.

While frontline operations often draw the most attention, Capt. Mengistu’s work is behind the scenes. Every day, he and his team ensure that vehicles run, weapons function, and troops can move when it matters most.

“My role is to maintain and repair vehicles and equipment so that the troops can carry out their duties without interruption,” he explained.

A typical day for Capt. Mengistu begins early in the workshop – he checks in on his team, making sure everything is running smoothly. But he doesn’t just supervise; he rolls up his sleeves and works alongside them.

In a mission like AUSSOM, no unit works alone. Capt. Mengistu’s team coordinates closely with United Nations maintenance personnel and regional partners, sharing skills and support whenever needed.

“We have a good working relationship with the United Nations maintenance team as well as those from the regional administration. We help each other whenever necessary,” he added.

The demands of the mission are constant, and the conditions can be unforgiving. During the El Niño, the challenges intensified. Roads became difficult to navigate, and vehicles struggled to move through mud and floodwater.

“Our biggest challenge came during the rains when most of the vehicles struggle to move about. We had to put a lot of effort into our tasks every day in terms of maintenance and repairs. We learnt a lot of lessons and adapted to the harsh weather conditions,” he said.

It was a test of endurance but also a lesson in adaptation. His team adjusted, learned and kept going. Through it all, what keeps him motivated is a strong sense of responsibility.

“My duty to serve my country and do my work well, that is my biggest motivation,” Capt. Mengistu added.

For him, the impact of his work goes beyond the workshop. By keeping equipment operational, he plays a direct role in supporting peace and security, something he believes is essential for the people of Somalia.

“We have impacted hugely on the community here especially in maintaining peace and security; this is our biggest impact because it’s important for the local community to have peace and stability,” he noted.

Capt. Mengistu’s work is not one that often makes headlines. But without it, much of what happens on the frontlines would be impossible.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

Source: APO

Twenty-four Liberian Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) professionals have departed for advanced training in Kenya and Ghana under the European Union-funded Youth Rising Project, implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

The approximately 18-month training programs will strengthen their technical, pedagogical, and professional competencies in areas directly linked to Liberia’s skills-development and workforce needs.

Participants traveling to Kenya will pursue specialized training in Culinary Arts, Event Management, and Hospitality Operations, while those assigned to Ghana will undertake advanced studies in Welding and Fabrication and Fashion Design.

Speaking at the pre-departure ceremony, Minister of Education Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah thanked the European Union and UNIDO for their continued partnership and described the initiative as an important investment in Liberia’s human capital.

She emphasized that the value of the training will be seen when participants return and apply their knowledge within Liberia’s TVET institutions, strengthening instruction and transferring skills to other instructors and students.

Upon completion, the beneficiaries are expected to serve in selected TVET institutions across the country.

The initiative supports the Ministry of Education’s TVET priority by strengthening the quality of technical instruction and expanding the pool of skilled professionals needed to prepare young Liberians for employment, entrepreneurship, and national development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Education: Republic of Liberia.

Source: APO

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Dementia is increasingly becoming a major public health challenge in Africa, with an estimated 1.9 million people currently living with the condition across the region. The number is expected to rise significantly as populations grow and life expectancy increases. Beyond its health impact, dementia places a heavy economic burden on families and societies, costing an estimated US$15.6 billion annually in the African Region. Much of this burden falls on unpaid caregivers, predominantly women and family members, who spend an average of 12.9 hours per day providing care, far exceeding the global average of 7.8 hours.

Despite the growing burden, dementia remains underdiagnosed and receives limited attention within health systems. 

As of 2024, none of the 47 countries in the WHO African Region had a national dementia plan, either as a standalone framework or integrated into broader health strategies. Only five countries had conducted public awareness campaigns on dementia, while seven were implementing activities aimed at reducing dementia risk.

Against this backdrop, health leaders from 10 African countries met to discuss priority actions to advance national efforts to prevent dementia, improve diagnosis and expand access to care and support.

Meeting in Nairobi from 14-16 September for the 2026 Regional Intercountry Workshop on Dementia, convened by the WHO Regional Office for Africa, the experts from Cabo Verde, Comoros, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe discussed practical actions to strengthen national dementia response. While countries are at different stages of developing national dementia responses, the workshop provided a platform for the participating countries to identify common priorities for advancing action. These included addressing stigma and discrimination, improving dementia risk reduction, building health worker capacity for early diagnosis, treatment and care, integrating dementia services into primary health care, supporting carers, reinforcing data and surveillance systems, and promoting locally relevant research.

“Dementia is a public health priority for Africa. As the number of people affected continues to grow, countries need guidance, tools and data to act. This workshop is an important step towards building capacity in the Region for dementia prevention, care and support and reinforcing the collective response,” said Dr Benido Impouma, Director of the Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control Cluster at the WHO Regional Office for Africa.

The meeting brought together health professionals, people with lived experience, carers, civil society organizations, development partners and academic institutions. The experts diverse perspectives helped identify gaps in existing dementia responses and practical ways to develop and adapt policies and services to meet the needs of people living with dementia and their families. Discussions focused on strengthening pathways for early detection, diagnosis and referral, integrating dementia care into essential health service packages, and expanding training for health and social care workers. Participants also emphasized the importance of coordinated person-centred services that provide sustained support throughout the progression of the condition.

Public awareness and community engagement were identified as essential to tackling the stigma and discrimination surrounding dementia. People living with dementia and carers shared experiences, helping to ensure that the proposed measures reflected their needs and priorities.

Reliable information was also highlighted as critical for planning and monitoring national responses. As of 2024, only 10 countries in the Region reported dementia data to WHO. Discussions highlighted the need to improve dementia surveillance, strengthen the collection and use of disaggregated data, and promote research that reflects local contexts. Delegates will continue to use national assessments conducted prior to the intercountry meeting and the priorities discussed during the workshop to refine roadmaps that will guide the development or revision of dementia policies and plans.

To sustain momentum and collaboration beyond the workshop, attendees established a community of practice on dementia for the African Region. This platform will enable countries, exchange good practices, support peer learning and collaborate in addressing common challenges related to dementia.

“This workshop must translate into concrete action at country level. Our priority is to ensure that dementia is recognized early that people can access quality care and support, and that families are not left to face it alone,” said Dr Catherine Wanjiku Waweru, Focal Person for Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders, Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Source: APO

The International Trade Centre (ITC) and DHL (www.DHL.com) today signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen their long-standing collaboration supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly women-led businesses, to trade across borders.

The agreement combines ITC’s expertise in market intelligence, SME development and inclusive trade with DHL’s global logistics network and technical expertise. SMEs account for around 90% of businesses globally, provide roughly 70% of employment and contribute 70% of global GDP, making them play a critical role in driving growth and job creation, yet many continue to face barriers to participating fully in international trade. This partnership aims to strengthen the ecosystem of support that helps businesses overcome those barriers and access new opportunities.

Under the agreement, ITC and DHL will:

• Support small businesses with cross-border trade, covering exports, supply chains and logistics;
• Work with business support organizations and ITC SheTrades Hubs to improve their services for small and women-led businesses;
• Advocate for small businesses and women entrepreneurs in global discussions and at high-level events, as well as among private sector organizations and government agencies.

Over the past decade, ITC and DHL have worked together through DHL GoTrade (https://apo-opa.co/4gYomrG), ITC SheTrades, (www.SheTrades.com) and the ITC ecomConnect (https://ecomConnect.org/) programme, reaching small businesses across more than 60 countries across Africa, ASEAN, Latin America and the Caribbean.  The partnership has combined training with tailored support, including shipping assistance for SMEs and women-led businesses, and has extended to advocacy and high-level dialogue that amplifies the voice of small businesses in global trade discussions. In July 2025, DHL took part as a private-sector champion at ITC’s inaugural Global SME Ministerial Meeting (https://apo-opa.co/477ihDn) in Johannesburg, South Africa.

ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton (https://apo-opa.co/4AfQePv) said: ‘For small businesses, the main challenge is not in creating quality products for customers, but getting it to them. That’s why we’re deepening our work with DHL to help more small businesses, particularly women-led businesses, to overcome last-mile logistics barriers and reach new markets, and to ensure their perspectives are heard at decision-making tables.’

Hennie Heymans, CEO, DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, said: ‘SMEs are the backbone of economies worldwide, yet their participation in international trade remains disproportionately low. The challenge is rarely a lack of ambition. More often, businesses need access to knowledge, finance, digital capabilities and logistics support. That is why partnerships like this matter. By bringing together the right partners, we can build the ecosystems that help businesses grow with confidence, reach new customers and unlock the opportunities that international trade creates.’

About the ITC and DHL partnership

DHL and ITC have partnered since 2016 to advance inclusive trade. Results to date include:

• DHL GoTrade: Since 2021, projects launched in more than 60 countries, reaching over 26,000 SMEs and 8,000 women-owned businesses through training on logistics, e-commerce and trade.
• ITC SheTrades: Since 2018, ITC SheTrades and DHL have worked together to provide technical assistance, logistics know-how and shipping solutions to women-led businesses, reaching over 4,000 women-led businesses across 60 countries. The partnership has increasingly worked through local ecosystems, engaging SheTrades Hubs in Kenya, South Africa, Mauritius and Trinidad and Tobago to connect women-led businesses with DHL country offices, relevant expertise and opportunities.
• ITC ecomConnect: Between 2020 and 2024, connected more than 400 SMEs with DHL support, including preferential shipping arrangements that cut costs by up to 60% in selected markets.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of DHL.

You can find the press release for download as well as further information on https://apo-opa.co/4rhkaqr

Media Contact:
DHL Group
Media Relations
Dirk Heinrichs
Phone: +49 228 182-9944
E-mail: pressestelle@dhl.com

Follow ITC on:
Twitter: https://apo-opa.co/4Az7v6L 
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4Ab30yN 
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/4Al44As
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/46Z4crF
Flickr: https://apo-opa.co/4xx6BVo

About DHL – The logistics company for the world:
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivaled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With approximately 389,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.

DHL is part of DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of approximately 82.9 billion euros in 2025. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. DHL Group aims to achieve net-zero emissions logistics by 2050.

On the internet: https://apo-opa.co/4hwa4i4

About ITC SheTrades:
The SheTrades Initiative is the International Trade Centre’s flagship women and trade programme. It works with women, business support organizations, policymakers and value chain actors to strengthen the people, ecosystems, and policies that enable women to participate in and benefit from trade.

For more information, please visit SheTrades.com: www.SheTrades.com

About ITC:
The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization (www.WTO.org) and the United Nations (www.UN.org). ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

For more information, visit www.InTraCen.org.

Source: APO

The Uganda High Commission in Kuala Lumpur held a strategic engagement with COFFEX, a major coffee importer and roaster in Malaysia with a strong presence across the ASEAN region.

The engagement was held in preparation for the upcoming Uganda Coffee Cupping Event in Kuala Lumpur, which aims to showcase the quality, diversity and distinctive profile of Ugandan coffee to the Malaysian and ASEAN markets.

H.E. Amb. Dr. Betty Bigombe, High Commissioner of Uganda to Malaysia, welcomed the growing collaboration with COFFEX, noting that the partnership has already contributed to increased exports of Ugandan coffee to Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region.

COFFEX, which currently imports Robusta coffee from Uganda, expressed its intention to increase import volumes from Uganda and to leverage its network to bring on board other coffee importers and roasters in Malaysia and across the ASEAN region to source coffee directly from Uganda.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of High Commission of the Republic of Uganda in Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia.