Category: Africa

Source: APO

The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Nomalungelo Gina, says Africa must increase its participation in the green hydrogen value chain over the next three years.

Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Africa Green Hydrogen Summit in Cape Town on 15th September 2026, the Deputy Minister said Africa’s green hydrogen sector was entering a critical new phase, as projects move beyond feasibility studies and planning towards investment, implementation and large-scale deployment.

“Every major project should be viewed as an opportunity to develop local supply chains, technology capability, manufacturing and skills,” said Dr Gina, during a Ministerial Plenary titled “Powering gigawatt-scale green hydrogen”.

“From the perspective of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, our focus is to ensure that this growth is accompanied by the development of technology capability, intellectual property, skills and local industrial capacity,” she said.

South Africa has made significant investments in building these capabilities. Through Hydrogen South Africa, the country has developed expertise across the hydrogen and fuel-cell value chain, including catalysts, fuel cells, electrolysers, hydrogen storage, metal hydrides, compression and refuelling technologies.

This has resulted in the country’s hydrogen intellectual property being filed in 14 countries, including South Africa, with approximately 70% linked to commercial products.

In addition, several catalyst products are already being sold to local and international customers, while work is underway with the Technology Innovation Agency towards establishing local manufacturing capacity.

“These examples demonstrate that the journey from research to market is possible. But they also show us that RDI alone is not enough,” she said. This is why collaboration between government, industry, academia, investors and international partners is so important, she added.

The Deputy Minister, alongside the Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane, unveiled the Eastern Cape Green Hydrogen Strategy.

The strategy details how the Eastern Cape intends to leverage its renewable-energy and industrial advantages to attract investment, develop new industries, create jobs and strengthen its position in the emerging global green economy.

A partnership between the DSTI, Nelson Mandela University and the South African National Energy Development Institute, the strategy is ultimately about using green hydrogen as a catalyst for industrialisation, economic growth and long-term regional competitiveness.

Premier Mabuyane said the strategy provided a roadmap to attract investment, deepen value chains, support localisation and skills development, and ensure that existing automotive, manufacturing and export industries remain competitive as global markets transition to lower-carbon production.

The Eastern Cape has more than 2.4 Gigawatts of renewable-energy projects operational or under construction and a renewable-energy pipeline exceeding 10 Gigawatts. The ports of Ngqura and East London, Coega SEZ and East London IDZ, together with an established automotive and manufacturing base, provide industrial and export infrastructure close to potential production sites.

Deputy Minister Gina said government must continue to create an enabling policy and institutional environment. Research institutions must increasingly understand and respond to market requirements.

The event saw the announcement of the First Wave of South Africa’s national green hydrogen and Power-to-X (PtX) projects by the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, and the launch of the inaugural Hydrogen Deal Book.

This marked a milestone in the implementation of the country’s Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy and the development of a pipeline of investment-ready projects in South Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, Republic of South Africa.

Source: APO

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The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through its Sub-Regional Office for West Africa, is providing high-level technical support to Niger to strengthen the operational capacity of officials of the Directorate General of Taxes (DGI) in transfer pricing.

Launched on 14 September 2026 in Niamey by the Government of Niger, through the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the initiative is part of ECA’s continued support to Niger’s domestic resource mobilization reform efforts.

This high-level technical support follows a comprehensive assessment of Niger’s domestic resource mobilization system conducted by ECA in 2025. The assessment identified the strengthening of international taxation, tax risk analysis and specialized tax audits as priority areas for reform. Its findings and reform priorities were subsequently validated in 2026.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the programme, Mr. Sama Mamane, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, highlighted the practical importance of strengthening specialized expertise within the DGI.

“This training module is particularly important. It will enable DGI officials to gain a solid understanding of the fundamentals of the arm’s-length principle, master the methodology for conducting a functional analysis of associated enterprises, and become proficient in the various internationally recognized transfer pricing methods.”

He stressed that “once effectively applied, these tools will provide a concrete lever to improve the effectiveness of our tax audits and secure revenues that currently partly escape our tax administration.”

For Ms. Ngone Diop, Director of ECA’s Sub-Regional Office for West Africa, the initiative responds to significant challenges identified through ECA’s diagnostic of Niger’s domestic resource mobilization system.

“The results of this assessment highlight the scale of the challenges, but also the significance of the existing potential.”

The assessment estimated Niger’s tax-to-GDP ratio at approximately 8.05 per cent, below the international minimum benchmark of 15 per cent for developing countries and the regional target of 20 per cent set within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).

It also found that the informal sector accounts for an estimated 55–65 per cent of GDP, while tax expenditures represent approximately 49.3 per cent of tax revenues. Tax arrears were estimated at CFA franc 225 billion, while the collection rate for amounts identified through tax audits remains at 19.1 per cent.

Ngone Diop stressed that: “Strengthening the administration and oversight of transfer pricing is an essential tool for protecting Niger’s tax base, reducing the risk of artificial profit shifting and ensuring fairer taxation of economic activities carried out within its territory.”

Bringing together more than 30 DGI officials from 14 to 25 September 2026, the technical support aims to strengthen the effectiveness of the tax administration, better protect the tax base and increase domestic resource mobilization, thereby helping to expand fiscal space and strengthen Niger’s economic resilience.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

Source: APO

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Effective leadership remains central to military readiness, ensuring personnel can make sound decisions, manage resources and translate operational requirements into decisive action.

The Kenya Air Force (KAF) continues to strengthen this critical capability through professional military education and leadership development programmes designed to prepare personnel for increased command, supervisory and management responsibilities.

This focus was demonstrated through the successful completion of the Senior Leadership Command and Management Course (SLC) at the Kenya Air Force Training Wing, Moi Air Base. The course culminated in a closing ceremony presided over by Base Commander Moi Air Base, Brigadier Herbert Wafula.

Brigadier Wafula commended the graduates for their discipline, determination, teamwork and commitment throughout the demanding training, noting that the knowledge and practical skills acquired had strengthened their capacity to perform effectively in their respective appointments.

The participants underwent theoretical and practical training in Leadership, Command and Management, Drill and Duties, Skill at Arms, Radio Communication, Map Reading and Navigation, Service Law, Security and Airfield Procedures, Supply Management, Health and Hygiene, among other areas. The broad curriculum was designed to sharpen leadership judgement, strengthen supervisory competence and enhance the participants’ ability to operate effectively within diverse military environments.

Brigadier Wafula challenged the graduates to translate the knowledge gained into professional leadership, sound decision-making and effective management of personnel and resources. He also acknowledged the KAF leadership, Commandant KAF Training Wing, instructors, Service members and families whose support contributed to the successful conduct of the course.

Outstanding participants were recognised with Certificates of Merit for exceptional performance in various areas of training.

The successful completion of the course strengthens the Kenya Air Force’s leadership pipeline by developing competent, disciplined and adaptable leaders capable of translating professional knowledge into action, inspiring those under their command and sustaining a capable, resilient and mission-ready Force.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Defence – Kenya.

Source: APO

• 7.8 million South Sudanese face high levels of acute food insecurity.
• El Niño is already threatening farming output.
• Sudan’s war is driving more refugees and returnees into South Sudan.
• Funding shortages and access constraints threaten life-saving food assistance.

“Conflict, displacement, economic hardship, climate shocks, and the situation in neighbouring Sudan are all converging to push millions of people deeper into vulnerability” just as humanitarian resources are starting to run out, said Matthew Hollingworth, WFP Assistant Executive Director for Programme Operations. 

Some 7.8 million people, or more than half of the country’s population, struggle to find enough food each day, while 2.2 million children and 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding mothers require urgent nutrition support, he told reporters in Geneva. 

October deadline

A further million vulnerable people could lose access to life-saving food and nutrition assistance by October without additional resources.

After returning from a visit to the country last week, Mr. Hollingworth insisted that the impact of the “super El Niño” is already immediately clear in South Sudan; even the most fertile agricultural areas have been affected, with crops failing and low yields due to drought.

Beyond South Sudan itself, the regional impact of extreme weather is also being felt in neighbouring Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya, causing a “bigger effect on food security in the entire area”, the WFP official warned.

El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern that typically occurs every two to seven years, when waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific become unusually warm, with impacts on rainfall and temperature patterns thousands of miles away. This year, El Niño is developing as the oceans are already exceptionally warm. Earlier this month UN chief António Guterres said that the phenomenon is “being supersized before our eyes”.

War in Sudan 

Over the border in Sudan, the proximity of what UN humanitarians have called the world’s worst hunger and displacement crisis is making the dire situation even worse.

Each week, the country sees the influx of 3,000 refugees and South Sudanese who were formerly refugees in Sudan, “looking for safety, looking for food, looking for water, looking for shelter”, Mr. Hollingworth said. 

The WFP official spoke of meeting women, children and older people in Renk, Upper Nile State, South Sudan, last week, who had “travelled for days, sometimes weeks on foot” to escape fighting between Government and opposition forces, arriving exhausted and hungry “into communities that are already struggling significantly to feed themselves and look after themselves”.

Access challenges continue to compound the crisis. Aid and commercial food transported along the River Nile “face illegal checkpoints and illegal taxation by soldiers across the entirety of the journeys that they take,” increasing operational costs and slowing down the delivery of assistance. 

Illegal levies

In Upper Nile State’s capital Malakal, Mr. Hollingworth noted, “if a family is eating something other than tomatoes, okra, chilies and onions that are grown locally, anything else they are eating has been flown into Malakal” as it is too expensive to bring it in by road or by barge, including because of the illegal taxes that have to be paid along the way. 

“This is starting not just to raise costs, it’s starting to be a cost in terms of people’s lives,” he concluded.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO

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Personnel welfare remains a critical pillar of military readiness, providing the financial stability and peace of mind that enable Service members to remain focused on their operational responsibilities.

Commander Kenya Air Force, Major General Bernard Waliaula, recently presided over a sensitisation programme on the KDF Mortgage Scheme at Sina Makosa Grounds, Moi Air Base, aimed at empowering KAF personnel to make informed decisions on home ownership and long-term financial planning.

The engagement brought together Base and Formation Commanders, senior officers, officers and Service members, alongside representatives from Defence Headquarters, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), the Affordable Housing Board and the Civil Servants Housing Scheme.

Major General Waliaula underscored the importance of investing in personnel welfare alongside training, equipment and operational capability, noting that secure housing contributes to family stability, financial security, morale and overall readiness.

“A strong and capable Defence Force is built on personnel who are supported to live with dignity, stability and confidence. Home ownership is therefore not only a welfare initiative, but an investment in the people who serve the nation,” he said.

The KDF Mortgage Scheme provides eligible personnel of the rank of Colonel and below with access to home financing at a favourable interest rate of four per cent through a partnership involving the Civil Servants Housing Scheme Fund, KCB and the Affordable Housing Board.

The interactive session enabled personnel to seek clarification on eligibility, application procedures, financing options and other requirements under the scheme.

Major General Waliaula encouraged commanders to enhance awareness, promote financial literacy and support personnel seeking to access the scheme, reinforcing the connection between personnel welfare, family stability and a professional, resilient and mission-ready Force

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Defence – Kenya.

Source: APO

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OCHA says the UN and its partners continue to support authorities in scaling up the response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Speaking to reporters at the Palais in Geneva on 15th September 2026, Special Ebola Coordinator Julien Harneis said that tomorrow, he will be traveling to Bunia and areas affected by the epidemic, which he said remains deadly and massive. He noted that while there has been progress in some places, cases continue to increase in other locations.

Harneis stressed the need to do more in areas with new transmission of the disease, as well as the urgency of much greater international solidarity through funding and the deployment of specialized medical teams.

The Ebola outbreak has now affected seven provinces across the DRC. As of Sunday, health authorities reported more than 7,200 confirmed cases and over 3,500 deaths.

However, they note encouraging signs in six health zones, which have now gone more than 42 days without reporting a new Ebola case. Four others have recorded no new infections for more than 21 days. More than 2,000 frontline health workers have been vaccinated in Tshopo and Bas-Uélé provinces.

The UN and its partners continue to strengthen surveillance and community engagement in areas at heightened risk of spread. In North Kivu Province, OCHA recently convened local authorities, community leaders and armed actors to support community outreach, contact tracing efforts and response activities. 

OCHA reiterates the need for sustained international support to help contain the outbreak and ensure the delivery of life-saving assistance to affected communities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

Source: APO

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Ethiopia has achieved a major milestone in strengthening national health emergency preparedness and response following the successful World Health Organization (WHO) verification of its National Emergency Medical Team (EMT), positioning the country as the first civilian Emergency Medical Team in the WHO African Region to achieve international WHO classification, alongside Senegal’s classified military EMT.

The achievement marks the culmination of years of leadership, investment, training, and partnership led by the Government of Ethiopia through the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), with technical support from WHO and partners across the Emergency Medical Team Network. The verification confirms that the Ethiopian National EMT meets internationally recognized standards for quality, readiness, deployment capacity and emergency medical response.

“Today is the day our people ask: ‘Are you there for us? Are you prepared for us?’ This is the moment we have been working toward, and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together. The successful WHO verification of Ethiopia’s National Emergency Medical Team demonstrates our readiness to protect communities when emergencies strike. As we prepare to host the 7th Global Emergency Medical Teams Meeting this November, Ethiopia stands ready to welcome EMTs from around the world. We are prepared, we are committed, and we are ready.”

H.E. Dr. Mekdes Daba, Minister of Health, Ethiopia

Emergency Medical Teams are trained groups of health professionals capable of rapidly deploying during health emergencies, disease outbreaks, natural disasters and humanitarian crises. They provide life-saving clinical services, emergency care, outbreak response and public health support while operating as self-sufficient units in challenging environments. WHO classification serves as a global quality assurance mechanism, ensuring that EMTs meet internationally agreed standards for emergency response.

“Today, with an internationally verified Emergency Medical Team, and in two months as host of the Seventh Global EMT Meeting, Ethiopia takes a concrete step toward becoming a center of excellence in emergency preparedness and response. This is not a recognition we claim for ourselves, but one earned through rigorous and independent international verification.”

Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director General of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute

The Ethiopian National EMT underwent a rigorous verification process against WHO standards covering governance, clinical services, logistics, information management, infection prevention and control, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and operational readiness. Earlier pre-verification and simulation exercises demonstrated the team’s ability to establish and operate a fully functional field hospital and effectively respond to complex public health emergencies.

“For the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, and for everyone who has contributed to this effort, this is a moment of genuine pride. It demonstrates what can be achieved when national institutions, health professionals, regional structures, international partners and technical organizations work toward a common purpose.”

Dr. Melkamu Abte, Deputy Director General of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute

“This achievement reflects Ethiopia’s commitment to protecting communities through stronger preparedness and rapid response capacity. The successful verification of the Ethiopian National EMT demonstrates what can be achieved through national leadership, sustained investment, strong partnerships and a shared commitment to health security.”

Dr. Francis Chisaka Kasolo, WHO Representative to Ethiopia, the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

The milestone comes at a pivotal moment for the African Region. Thirty countries are currently developing national EMT capacities, supported by the Regional Framework on Emergency Medical Teams 2026–2030, adopted during the Seventy-Sixth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa held in Addis Ababa in August 2026. The framework reinforces Member States’ commitment to building operational national EMTs capable of responding rapidly and effectively to public health emergencies.

The Ethiopian National EMT has already demonstrated its value through deployments and support to emergency operations within the country, including mobilization during the Gamo Zone landslide response and contributions to preparedness and response efforts for emerging disease outbreaks. These experiences have strengthened operational readiness and highlighted the critical role a nationally owned EMT can play in protecting lives during crises.

The achievement was made possible through the leadership of the Ministry of Health and EPHI and the dedication of EMT members, including clinicians, nurses, logisticians, coordinators and emergency response specialists. WHO recognizes the substantial contributions of UK-Med, the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), EMT Network partners, mentors, technical experts, donors and collaborating organizations that have supported Ethiopia throughout its EMT development journey.

“On behalf of the Government of Ethiopia and the Ministry of Health, I congratulate every member of the Ethiopian Emergency Medical Team, the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, and every partner who made this achievement possible. This recognition belongs to all those who have dedicated their expertise, commitment and hard work to strengthening Ethiopia’s capacity to respond to health emergencies and protect our communities.”

Dr. Dereje Duguma Gemeda, State Minister of Health of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

The Regional EMT Training and Knowledge Hub in Addis Ababa has played an important role in supporting training, simulation exercises and operational readiness activities. Through the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Ethiopia and WHO, the Hub also serves as a regional platform to strengthen EMT capacities across Africa and promote the sharing of expertise among countries.

While verification represents a major achievement, it also marks the beginning of a new phase. Sustaining readiness, maintaining quality standards, investing in continuous training and ensuring rapid deployment capacity will remain essential to preserving the EMT’s operational effectiveness and ability to respond whenever emergencies occur.

Ethiopia’s achievement also comes ahead of the 7th Global Emergency Medical Teams Meeting, scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa from 3–5 November 2026, marking the first time the global gathering of Emergency Medical Teams will be hosted in the WHO African Region. The meeting will bring together governments, emergency responders, technical experts and international partners from around the world to advance collaboration and strengthen global emergency medical response capacities.

As Ethiopia joins the growing global network of WHO-classified Emergency Medical Teams, the country is well positioned to contribute its expertise and experience to other African nations working to strengthen emergency preparedness and response systems.

About Emergency Medical Teams

Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) are groups of health professionals that can rapidly deploy to provide quality medical care during disasters, disease outbreaks, conflicts and other health emergencies. The WHO EMT Initiative supports countries in developing and maintaining high-quality teams that meet international standards and enhance national, regional and global emergency response capacities.

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