Category: Africa

Source: APO – Report:

The Office of the President has today announced the appointment of the Board of Directors of the Seychelles International Mercantile Banking Company Limited (Nouvobanq), for a three-year period effective 15th September 2026.

The Board will be chaired by Mr Conrad Benoiton, with Ms Jennifer Morel serving as Vice Chairperson.

The full composition of the Board is as follows:

Mr Conrad Benoiton — Chairperson
Ms Jennifer Morel — Vice Chairperson
Mr Christophe Edmond — CEO/Executive Member
Mr Philippe Pierre — Deputy CEO/Executive Member
Ms Emmaline Camille — Member
Ms Odile Vidot — Member
Mr David Howes — Member
Mr Michael Bluemner — Member

The Board will be responsible for providing strategic direction and oversight of Nouvobanq, ensuring sound corporate governance and supporting the Bank in the effective delivery of its mandate and continued contribution to the development of Seychelles’ financial sector.

The President has wished the Chairperson and members of the Board every success in the discharge of their responsibilities.

– on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO – Report:

KoçSistem (https://KocSistem.com) and KoçDigital, two of the leading players in Türkiye’s technology ecosystem, have strengthened their growth plans in the Saudi market with two new strategic partnerships. The agreements were announced at LEAP 2026, held in Riyadh from August 31 to September 3. KoçSistem signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GAPP, a Saudi ICT and digital signage solutions provider, to accelerate the rollout of its digital publishing platform Pixage in the country. KoçDigital entered a strategic partnership with Mannai Information Technology Saudi Arabia to develop new opportunities in artificial intelligence, IoT, cloud and industry-specific digital transformation solutions.

LEAP 2026 brought more than 200,000 attendees to Riyadh, along with global technology companies, investors and public sector representatives. For KoçSistem and KoçDigital, the event served as a platform where technology and expertise developed in Türkiye met new applications in the Gulf market, and where new partnerships with the local technology ecosystem took shape.

A new growth opportunity for Pixage in Saudi Arabia

The Memorandum of Understanding KoçSistem signed with GAPP aims to expand the range of applications for Pixage in Saudi Arabia and to position the platform in a variety of digital communication projects. The partnership is intended to bring Pixage into wider use across Saudi institutions and projects, and to strengthen KoçSistem’s technology portfolio in the region. It forms part of the company’s strategy to broaden its operations in the Gulf and to increase the international use of the technology it develops in Türkiye.

Developed by KoçSistem, Pixage is a cloud-based solution that allows digital screens in different locations to be managed from a single central platform. It supports the planning, distribution and simultaneous publishing of content across settings such as airports, hospitals, retail outlets and corporate campuses. Its ability to integrate with IoT systems gives organizations a way to run large screen networks from one point and to vary content by location, time and target audience.

KoçDigital and Mannai focus on digital transformation

The strategic partnership KoçDigital has launched with Mannai Information Technology Saudi Arabia brings together complementary capabilities from both companies. KoçDigital’s expertise in technology, solution architecture and industrial transformation meets Mannai’s local market knowledge, integration capability and managed services experience. The two companies aim to develop new client opportunities in artificial intelligence, the internet of things, cloud technologies and industry-specific solutions, and to deliver scalable offerings for the digital transformation needs of organizations in Saudi Arabia.

A local partnership model for growth in the Gulf

With these two agreements, KoçSistem and KoçDigital are carrying the technology and expertise they have built in Türkiye into the Saudi market through regional partnerships, while building a closer relationship with the local technology ecosystem in line with their long-term growth plans in the Gulf.

Mehmet Ali Akarca, CEO of KoçSistem and Vice Chairman of KoçDigital, said:

“Taking the technology we develop in Türkiye and the experience we have accumulated into different markets around the world is an important part of our growth strategy. Saudi Arabia holds a significant place in that strategy, with its strong economic transformation, its technology investments and its digitalization vision. The two partnerships we announced at LEAP 2026 are concrete steps toward our goal of establishing a long-term technology presence in the Gulf by combining our strengths with the local ecosystem.

Our aim here is not simply to export technology. It is to build a structure that understands the needs of the region, develops solutions together with local partners and creates long-term value.”

The two agreements extend a regional growth strategy that KoçSistem has been pursuing through local partnerships and offices across the Middle East. KoçSistem and KoçDigital are part of Koç Group, Türkiye’s largest industrial and services conglomerate.

– on behalf of KoçSistem.

Media contact:
Merve Güngör, Brand Director
mervegungor@cpartner.com.tr

Source: APO – Report:

The Office of the President has today announced the appointment of Mrs Muriel Morgan as the new Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA), following the resignation of Ms Wendy Boniface. 

Mrs Morgan brings extensive experience in management, administration, strategic planning, marketing, communications and stakeholder engagement, gained across both the public and private sectors.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Management and Marketing from Curtin University of Technology, obtained in 2009. 

Mrs Morgan began her professional career with Mauritius Commercial Bank (Seychelles), where she served as Marketing, PR and Communications Manager from 2010 to 2015. She subsequently joined Cable & Wireless (Seychelles) Ltd as Marketing Communications Manager and later served as Brand Manager at Seychelles Breweries Limited. Her private-sector experience has provided her with a strong background in strategic planning, brand and product development, communications, market analysis and stakeholder engagement. 

She later worked as a Business Consultant before joining the Ministry of Lands and Housing as Ministerial Attachée. In that role, she was involved in addressing complex land and housing matters, developing customer service initiatives, coordinating with other Government entities and managing the Minister’s Secretariat. 

Mrs Morgan subsequently served as Principal Secretary for Lands from September 2021 to March 2023, where she was responsible for the effective management of State land, oversight of the State land budget and the development of the State Land Policy 2022. Most recently, from May 2023 to June 2026, she served as General Manager of Mahe Design and Build and Associated Companies, with responsibility for the effective administrative management of the companies. 

In her new role, Mrs Morgan will support the Chief Executive Officer in the overall management and administration of the Seychelles Licensing Authority and contribute towards strengthening the Authority’s operational effectiveness and the delivery of efficient and responsive licensing services.

Mrs Morgan’s appointment takes effect on 15th September 2026.

– on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO – Report:

A seminar on eradicating harmful practices was organized for members of the committee overseeing efforts to eliminate harmful practices and protect the rights of children and women in Afabet.

Mr. Mahmud Mohammed-Seid, head of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare office in the sub-zone, commended the committee’s activities in administrative areas and schools, as well as its work with the National Union of Eritrean Women, religious leaders, and other institutions. He said that the seminar will contribute significantly to achieving better results.

At the seminar, participants received an extensive briefing on harmful practices that adversely affect health and are prohibited by law.

Highlighting the importance of the seminar in reviewing efforts to protect children’s rights and eliminate underage marriage, female genital mutilation, and other harmful practices, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed-Nur Rejib, administrator of the sub-zone, called for similar seminars to continue.

The participants called for stronger involvement by the Ministries of Health and Education, the Police, and the National Union of Eritrean Women in efforts to prevent underage marriage.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO – Report:

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“We simply can’t turn our back on the people of Sudan when they need us most,” Director General of the UN migration agency (IOM) Amy Pope said on Monday. The entire humanitarian system could collapse within weeks if we don’t act now.”

Sudan has been embroiled in a brutal civil conflict since 2023 between rival militaries and their backers. Some 8.6 million people remain internally displaced and 19.5 million people currently face crisis levels of food insecurity, which has been compounded by maritime disruptions and drought caused by the El Niño weather pattern.

Speaking to reporters on Monday following an eight-day trip to Sudan, WFP Acting Director Carl Skau said the crisis in Sudan “by far does not get the attention it deserves.”

He added that WFP has the presence and capacity to deliver an effective humanitarian response but is mostly constrained by funding.

“It is possible to make a difference,” he said. “Our main problem is funding. There is a risk we will have to scale back quite significantly in the next few weeks unless more funding is provided.”

Aid reaching millions

The Common Humanitarian Pipeline system – managed by IOM and allowing more than 100 partners to provide aid – has reached 2.84 million people since July 2023. But its reach has shrunk each year due to falling donations as other crises dominate global attention.

IOM warned that current shelter, sanitation and emergency household relief items will run out by the end of September, while warehouses will close without additional funding by December.

Meanwhile, WFP reaches 4 to 5 million people in Sudan each month with humanitarian aid, including agricultural support and cash and food assistance.

Amid access challenges by road, Mr. Skau said WFP recently expanded its humanitarian aid service in Sudan. With additional humanitarian funding, the UN and its partners could expand the air service and reach more civilians in need.

“We need to step up,” Mr. Skau said. “We cannot continue to fail these people.”

Thousands displaced

Well into its fourth year, the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to endanger civilians and drive people from their homes, according to the UN’s aid office (OCHA).

Over the weekend, drone strikes displaced thousands across the states of Blue Nile, North Darfur and West Darfur. Local sources reported civilian casualties.

In North Kordofan, El Obeid has acted as a haven for people fleeing violence elsewhere in the country. But the RSF has surrounded the city, and camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) are stretched beyond their capacities, putting increasing pressure on essential services.

“We once again call on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to allow rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access to all those in need across Sudan,” OCHA said.

Skau: ‘Urgent’ to end the war

On a recent eight-day trip to Sudan, Mr. Skau visited communities and local displacement camps in El Obeid, El Fasher, Khartoum and other areas.

He told reporters that he spoke with women who had to return home without water after a tank ran out and people who walked up to five days to reach IDP camps after their villages were destroyed.

In the North Darfur town of Tawila, Mr. Skau said he saw hundreds of thousands who had fled violence in El Fasher living in “an endless ocean of grass huts.” WFP has reached nearly the entire population with assistance but is only able to provide half rations.

It took Mr. Skau three days to travel by car from El Obeid to El Fasher – a journey which he said used to take six hours.

Upon his arrival in El Fasher, Mr. Skau found a “daunting city” hollowed out by the RSF’s brutal 18-month siege on the city, which ended in late October.

“I have seen a lot in this job and beyond. El Fasher was quite special,” Mr. Skau said. “It illustrates what conflict leaves behind, and it underlines the urgency of bringing an end to the conflict.”

‘People deserve to be supported’

When displaced families do not receive adequate shelter, they face increased risk of gender-based violence, family separation and eviction from overcrowded IDP camps.

IOM requires $15 million to maintain its humanitarian pipeline at minimum capacity for 12 months, though additional funding would allow it to reach more people.

WFP is only about one-third funded in Sudan, according to Mr. Skau. More donations would allow the agency to more effectively provide for locals’ needs and adequately protect civilians.

“People deserve to be supported with basic humanitarian assistance,” Mr. Skau said.

– on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO – Report:

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The President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. General Birame Diop, on Friday, 11 September 2026,   received the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Nigeria, Mr. Igor Ivannikov, who led a high-level Russian delegation on a courtesy visit to the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja.

During the meeting, Mr. Ivannikov conveyed a congratulatory letter from the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Andrey Podyolyshev, to President Diop on his assumption of office as President of the ECOWAS Commission for a four-year term. The Ambassador also conveyed his best wishes to President Diop and his team for a successful tenure and reaffirmed Russia’s interest in maintaining bilateral engagement with the ECOWAS Commission.

Mr. Ivannikov further delivered a formal invitation from the President of the Russian Federation, H.E. Vladimir Putin, inviting President Diop to participate in the 3rd Russia–Africa Summit, scheduled to take place in October 2026 in Moscow, Russian Federation.

The Summit is expected to provide an important platform for further advancing Russia–Africa relations and strengthening engagement between the Russian Federation and African regional institutions, including ECOWAS.

Discussions around the Summit are expected to focus on priority areas of cooperation, including trade and investment, energy and food security, infrastructure development, science and technology, artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals, education, cultural exchanges and security cooperation.

As part of efforts to establish a more structured framework for engagement, an ECOWAS–Russia Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a joint declaration are expected to be concluded.

In his response, President Diop expressed appreciation to the Government of the Russian Federation and welcomed its continued interest in strengthening relations with ECOWAS.

The President underscored the importance of international partnerships that are anchored in mutual respect, shared interests and tangible outcomes for the peoples of West Africa.

 “ECOWAS welcomes partnerships that are anchored in mutual respect, shared interests and tangible outcomes for our peoples. We are committed to engaging with the Russian Federation and other international partners in areas that advance peace and security, regional integration, economic growth and sustainable development in West Africa.”

President Diop emphasised that partnerships with international partners should contribute meaningfully to the priorities and aspirations of the West African region, particularly in the areas of regional integration, peace and security, economic development, trade and investment, infrastructure, human capital development, technology and innovation.

He further highlighted the importance of identifying practical areas of cooperation that can support sustainable growth, strengthen regional resilience and improve the socio-economic well-being of the peoples of West Africa.

Both sides acknowledged the importance of sustained high-level dialogue and agreed on the need to explore practical and mutually beneficial areas of cooperation capable of delivering tangible results for the peoples of West Africa and contributing to broader African development objectives.

The meeting underscored the shared interest of ECOWAS and the Russian Federation in deepening engagement and developing a more structured partnership based on mutual respect, common interests and concrete outcomes.

The courtesy visit forms part of the ECOWAS Commission’s ongoing diplomatic engagements with international partners aimed at strengthening cooperation and mobilising support for peace, stability, regional integration and sustainable economic development across West Africa.

– on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO – Report:

The Blue Africa Conference & Exhibition (BACE) (www.BlueEconomy.Africa) will return to Lagos from 12–14 August 2027, under the theme “Sea to Scale,” bringing together the businesses, investors, governments, innovators and institutions shaping Africa’s blue economy.

BACE 2027 will focus on a simple but urgent proposition: Africa’s blue economy must move beyond potential, policy and conversation—and into investment, ownership, implementation and scale.

The announcement follows the inaugural Blue Africa Conference & Exhibition, held in Lagos in August 2026. The first edition convened a curated group of 100 VIP delegates and senior decision-makers from 18 countries, including government representatives, maritime administrations, port authorities, financiers, technology providers and development partners.

In strategic partnership with the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), BACE 2026 established a serious regional platform for the business of the ocean.

The inaugural conference began to identify practical pathways toward that objective. Participants examined a potential three-vessel door-to-door cargo service for West and Central Africa, explored the prospect of ferry connectivity between Lagos and Monrovia, and highlighted investment opportunities in Sierra Leone across ports, logistics, digitalisation, fisheries, skills and sustainable ocean industries.

BACE 2027 is designed to answer that demand.

“SEA TO SCALE”

“Sea to Scale” captures the journey from an idea, enterprise, project or policy intervention to the scale necessary to create jobs, move goods, attract capital, build infrastructure, strengthen food security and retain greater value within Africa.

As the Honourable Minister of Transport and Aviation of the Republic of Sierra Leone Ambassador Alhaji Fanday Turay observed: “Africa does not lack blue potential. What we need are investment-ready projects capable of converting that potential into prosperity.”

That principle will be at the heart of BACE 2027.

BACE 2027 will open its platform to the wider African business community and to international partners seeking meaningful participation in Africa’s blue economy.

Investors, banks and development finance institutions will find projects and investment opportunities, ports, shipping lines and logistics companies will engage around connectivity, while innovators will demonstrate solutions capable of transforming maritime operations, logistics, fisheries and environmental management.

Entrepreneurs and emerging businesses will meet customers, and investors, while governments and development institutions will showcase opportunities and investment conditions necessary for sustainable growth.

WHY LAGOS. WHY NOW.

As one of Africa’s largest commercial centres and a major maritime gateway, Lagos sits at the intersection of capital, enterprise, trade, technology, culture and maritime ambition.

The Gulf of Guinea is central to this proposition. Its ports, coastal cities, production centres and hinterlands have the potential to become far more than separate points on a map.

Properly connected, they can form an integrated Atlantic trade corridor linking African producers to African consumers and connecting West and Central Africa to global markets.

Recent disruptions affecting major global maritime chokepoints have provided another reminder of the vulnerability of concentrated trade routes—and of the strategic value of diversification.

BLUE IS BUSINESS

Africa possesses an extraordinary coastal asset base.

But natural potential does not automatically become economic value.

That transformation requires capital, infrastructure, technology, skills and sound governance.

The question is therefore no longer: Does the opportunity exist? It does.

The questions are:

Who will build it?

Who will finance it?

Who will own it?

Who will connect it?

And how quickly can it scale?

BACE 2027 is being convened to help answer those questions.

AFRICA’S NEXT BLUE CHAPTER

From 12–14 August 2027, Lagos will become a meeting point for Africa’s blue economy ambitions—where capital meets opportunity, policy meets enterprise, technology meets markets and regional ambition meets practical implementation.

The story has begun. Africa comes together to scale it.

– on behalf of Blue Africa Conference & Exhibition (BACE).

FOR PARTICIPATION, EXHIBITION, PARTNERSHIP AND MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
​Kachinga Phiri
Project Manager
Blue Africa Conference & Exhibition 
kachinga@blueeconomy.africa  
+260 750 586 138 | +27 78 300 1755
 www.BlueEconomy.Africa

ABOUT THE BLUE AFRICA CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION: 
The Blue Africa Conference & Exhibition (BACE) is a business and leadership platform dedicated to advancing Africa’s blue economy through investment, enterprise, technology, infrastructure, skills, trade, regional connectivity and responsible ocean stewardship.

Organised by Bahari Network, in collaboration with Afro Chamber and Emerge Media, the platform brings together the businesses, governments, investors, development institutions, innovators and maritime leaders required to move Africa’s blue opportunity from potential to implementation—and from sea to scale.