A l’occasion de la douzième session du Forum régional africain pour le développement durable (FRADD12), la Commission économique des Nations Unies pour l’Afrique (CEA), en partenariat avec Convergence Blended Finance et l’International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), a organisé la Session II du Forum du secteur privé sur le financement mixte et les instruments financiers innovants émergents.
Cette session a réuni des acteurs des secteurs public et privé afin d’identifier des actions concrètes pour mobiliser des investissements à grande échelle en faveur des Objectifs de développement durable (ODD). Les échanges ont porté notamment sur les mécanismes de financement mixte, les instruments de dette innovants ainsi que surle renforcement des pipelines de projets structurants et bancables capables d’attirer des capitaux privés.
Les discussions ont mis en évidence la nécessité de dépasser les initiatives fragmentées pour évoluer vers des approches coordonnées, structurées et investissables, permettant d’accélérer de manière tangible la mise en œuvre des ODD au cours des 12 prochains mois.
Ouvrant la session, Directrice du Bureau de la CEA pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest, Ngone Diop, a souligné les contraintes fiscales croissantes auxquelles font face les économies africaines et l’urgence d’adopter de nouvelles approches de financement :
« La réduction de l’espace budgétaire en Afrique limite de plus en plus la capacité des pays à financer le développement durable. Nous devons impérativement renforcer les solutions de financement innovantes et les partenariats public-privé afin de mobiliser les investissements et d’accélérer la réalisation des ODD sur le continent. »
Replaçant ces enjeux dans leur contexte macroéconomique, Soumaya Iraqui, chef de section au Bureau sous-régional pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest de la CEA, a attiré l’attention sur le durcissement des conditions budgétaires dans la région : « L’espace budgétaire en Afrique de l’Ouest s’est fortement resserré entre 2020 et 2025, passant de 36 % à près de 50 % du PIB. La dette extérieure représente désormais plus du quart du PIB, ce qui en fait non seulement un défi macroéconomique, mais aussi une contrainte structurelle au financement du développement durable. »
Elle a souligné que ces dynamiques renforcent l’urgence de développer des solutions de financement innovantes et de consolider les partenariats afin de libérer des trajectoires d’investissement durables et attractives pour la réalisation des ODD.
Dans ce contexte, la session a particulièrement mis en exergue les initiatives d’échanges dette-climat et dette-développement social en Afrique de l’Ouest, actuellement en cours de mise en œuvre au Sénégal, en Gambie et au Ghana. L’approche portée par la CEA, en collaboration avec ses partenaires techniques et financiers, vise à accompagner ces pays dans la structuration d’opérations crédibles et bancables, reposant sur une analyse approfondie de la soutenabilité de la dette, l’identification de projets d’investissement à fort impact, ainsi que la mobilisation coordonnée des créanciers et des investisseurs. Ces mécanismes offrent des perspectives concrètes pour élargir l’espace budgétaire, réduire le coût du capital et financer des investissements structurants en faveur du climat et du développement social.
La session a également mis en evidence que le financement mixte, les mécanismes de partage des risques et l’amélioration de la préparation des projets constituent des leviers essentiels pour mobiliser les capitaux privés et combler le déficit de financement des ODD en Afrique.
Les participants ont convenu que le renforcement de la coordination entre institutions publiques, acteurs du financement du développement et secteur privé sera déterminant pour transformer les initiatives prometteuses en solutions bancables, capables de générer des impacts rapides e et à grande échelle.
Cette session s’inscrivait dans le cadre du Forum du secteur privé du FRADD12, placé sous le thème « Aller plus vite : renforcer les partenariats avec le secteur privé pour accélérer les ODD en Afrique »
Distribué par APO Group pour United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Government of the Republic of Madagascar, through the Ministry of Industrialization and Private Sector Development, have signed a five-year Programme for Country Partnership (PCP) for the period 2026–2030.
The agreement was signed at UNIDO Headquarters in Vienna by UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller and Minister of Industrialization and Private Sector Development of Madagascar, Ny Riana Nampoina Raharimanjato, in the presence of representatives from both UNIDO and the Government of Madagascar.
The PCP is UNIDO’s innovative flagship model for accelerating sustainable economic and industrial development in a way tailored to a Member States’ unique priorities and needs. The signing marks a key milestone in UNIDO’s longstanding cooperation with Madagascar. It will accelerate the country’s journey towards becoming a competitive industrial hub in the Indian Ocean region. Building on a successful implementation of a Country Programme 2019-2023, this second phase was developed at the request of the Government of Madagascar and represents the first initiative of its kind in the country. The programme aims to diversify Madagascar’s economy, strengthen its industrial competitiveness, promote more local value addition and decent job creation – particularly for youth and women – and support the country’s transition towards a greener and more climate-resilient economy.
Under the leadership of the Government of Madagascar, the PCP will strengthen existing partnerships and forge new ones, including with the private sector, to build a diversified, competitive, inclusive and sustainable industrial economy.
Speaking at the ceremony, UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller said: “This new Programme for Country Partnership marks a new quality of cooperation between UNIDO and Madagascar. It provides a strategic framework to unlock Madagascar’s great industrial potential into concrete results, working together in key sectors such as agro-industry, entrepreneurship, green energy, skills development, and regional integration. The PCP will help create more local value and decent jobs, especially for youth and women, while strengthening Madagascar’s resilience and competitiveness in the region.”
Minister Ny Riana Nampoina Raharimanjato emphasized that the PCP represents a strategic shift, in line with the current vision for the refoundation of Madagascar: “Madagascar is moving from fragmented initiatives to an integrated, coordinated and government-led approach to industrial development. The PCP provides a unified strategic framework to align, structure and guide industrial actions, placing industrialization at the core of economic transformation through local value addition and a competitive productive sector.”
UNIDO and Madagascar will continue to work together to advance inclusive and sustainable industrial development by strengthening local value addition and regional integration.
– on behalf of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with the President of Hiroshima University, Mitsuo Ochi, in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Moustafa Madbouly, Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel Latif, Vice President of the University Shinji Kaneko, and Japan’s Ambassador in Cairo Fumio Iwai.
Spokesman for the Presidency Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy said President El-Sisi expressed that Egypt valued the distinguished relations Egypt and Japan share and their longstanding partnership in the fields of basic and higher education. In this regard, the President commended the fruitful and constructive cooperation between Egypt and Hiroshima University.
The President also affirmed Egypt’s interest to expand cooperation with Japan in the fields of education and pedagogy to support Egypt’s efforts to develop curricula and enhance the quality and standards of education. This includes maximizing the benefits of modern technological applications in the education sector by keeping pace with the latest technological tools, including Artificial Intelligence, thereby contributing to equipping students with the best scientific methods and preparing them for the job market.
The President of Hiroshima University expressed his pleasure at visiting Egypt and meeting with the President, noting that the University highly values the longstanding cooperation with the Egyptian government. He also praised Egypt’s efforts to develop educational programs and the education system in general. The President of Hiroshima University added that during his visit to Egypt, he reviewed efforts related to the application of modern educational methods and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to continuing cooperation with the Egyptian government to strengthen fruitful collaboration and support Egypt’s priorities in this regard.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through its Virtual Learning Center for West Africa (VLC SFW), successfully conducted an online course entitled “Preventive Livestock Healthcare for the Frontline Animal Health Team for West Africa” from 26 January to 26 February 2026. This course aimed to introduce practical ways for veterinary paraprofessionals and veterinarians to shift from simply reacting to disease occurrence towards working with farmers to prevent disease and improve productivity.
A total of 524 participants from both public and private sector from West African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Guinea, Senegal and Togo, were enrolled on the FAO Virtual Learning Centre for West Africa platform to benefit from the technical and social tools necessary to improve farm productivity and community resilience throughout the region.
This four-week course provided 24 hours of intensive training and was delivered through a flexible hybrid format. This model allowed busy frontline animal health professionals to participate in the course while maintaining their field activities. This course combined live webinars with smartphone-compatible self-paced study modules and interactive discussion forums with tutors. The delivery of this course was supported by a team of facilitators from FAO, University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom), Veterinary Services of Ghana.
Empowering the frontline animal health professional: Shifting the paradigm from reactive emergency responses to a proactive preventive approach
By advocating for a “prevention is better than cure” philosophy, the training encouraged veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs) to work in closer partnership with farming families to mitigate health risks at the source. The course also emphasized the importance of teamwork- between public and private sectors, and between animal health professionals and the farming families they serve.
This approach not only safeguards animal welfare but also ensures the economic sustainability of animal health businesses and the livelihoods of small-scale producers. The course specifically addressed the needs of private-sector providers, emphasizing how a holistic preventive approach improves productivity and creates long-term value for small-scale livestock producers.
Participants who successfully completed the assessments, covering topics from biosecurity principles to gender-sensitive extension services, were awarded certificates of completion. Over the four-week period, learners explored a comprehensive range of topics, beginning with the economic benefits of preventive care and moving into gender-responsive service delivery.
The technical core of the course focused on practical biosecurity principles, vaccine and cold chain management, and sustainable strategies for parasite control, including the mitigation of drug resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes.
This Preventive Livestock healthcare course equips frontline services providers with knowledge to grow their businesses by ensuring the success of the communities they serve. It helps to move from emergency response and to a sustainable business model that benefits both the provider and the farmer.
The initiative marks a significant shift from reactive “firefighting” to proactive prevention, strengthening regional animal health systems and supporting small-scale producers.
“Prevention is truly the foundation of a resilient livestock sector,” stated Dr Joseph Abuh, from the Veterinary Services of Ghana. “By equipping our frontline teams with these competencies, we are ensuring that animal health services are not just a cost for the farmer, but a value-adding investment”, he insisted.
As a vetenary Officer serving at the frontline, this experience further deepens my commitment to advancing resilient animal health systems and contributing to the broader One Health agenda across Nigeria and West Africa.
Preventive Livestock Healthcare remains essential not only for animal welfare but also for public health, economic stability, and sustainable agricultural development. I am grateful to FAO for this important capacity-building initiative and remain committed to applying these insights to improve veterinary service delivery and support farming communities”, declared one of the participants after completing this course.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.
On the 28th of April 2026, the Republic of Seychelles and the Republic of Moldova established diplomatic relations in the spirit of promoting bilateral cooperation and the strengthening of friendship.
The establishment of diplomatic relations is founded on the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and respect for fundamental norms of international law. Similarly, to Seychelles, Moldova is a fellow member of the Forum of Small States and the Organization of La Francophonie.
The signing of the Protocol took place in New York between the Permanent Representative of Seychelles to the United Nations, Ambassador Vivianne FOCK TAVE, and the Permanent Representative of Moldova to the United Nations, Ambassador Gheorghe Leucă.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Republic of Seychelles.
In addition, the country has seen waves of military interventions by outside players like France, the US and most recently Russia. All have invested heavily in trying to contain the extremist threat in Mali.
But groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have continued to expand their influence. And in late April 2026 the military government found itself having to fend off coordinated attacks from separatists and jihadists across the country. The defence minister, General Sadio Camara, was killed.
Foreign interventions over the past decade have often misunderstood what was happening on the ground. Extremist groups have capitalised on issues such as land disputes, corruption, and resource competition to gain legitimacy, often aligning with the community’s tensions. The weakness of state institutions and security forces has allowed groups such as Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) to consolidate power.
These groups have adapted by forming alliances and tailoring their narratives to local grievances, prioritising immediate issues over ideological objectives.
We are political scientists who have researched the security situation in Mali and the Sahel. Our recently published paper showed that non-state armed groups in the Sahel, particularly in Mali, have emerged as key power brokers, shaping local governance by filling gaps left by weak state institutions.
While external actors such as France, the US and Russia have prioritised counter-terrorism and state-building, they often overlook the governance functions of non-state armed groups. These groups often provide essential services and gain local legitimacy.
Recognising the role of armed groups as local power holders does not mean accepting or legitimising their actions. However, ignoring this reality has led to policies that miss the mark. When interventions focus only on military solutions, they risk misunderstanding why people interact with these groups in the first place.
Our findings challenge conventional interventions that focus solely on defeating non-state armed groups or reinstating centralised state control. We argue that security solutions alone are insufficient. We advocate for a more nuanced approach that integrates the potential for non-state armed groups when it comes to governance, legitimacy and local agency. Non-state armed groups have provided governance over territories in countries like Colombia, Syria and South Sudan, among others.
Armed groups as de facto authorities
Armed groups in Mali are not just fighting forces. In many parts of the country, they play a more complex role. It is difficult to estimate the exact number of groups operating within Mali. The largest and best known, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen, is a coalition of five organisations and claims to have over 10,000 fighters in the country.
In central and northern Mali, bordering Algeria, the state is often distant, absent or mistrusted. Armed groups step into this vacuum. They settle disputes, enforce rules, collect taxes, and sometimes provide a basic sense of order.
For communities living with daily insecurity, these functions are not abstract; they shape everyday life.
Our study established that this does not necessarily mean the population agrees with these groups or supports their ideology. Many do not. However, when there are few alternatives, people adapt. They follow the rules because they need to survive, not because they believe in them.
This distinction is important. This helps explain why these groups are so difficult to dislodge. Their strength does not come only from weapons but also from how deeply they are embedded in local realities.
Why military strategies fall short
International efforts have largely focused on fighting these groups and rebuilding the authority of the Malian state. Although well intentioned, these kinds of interventions often overlook something essential: what happens to the spaces these groups leave behind?
An example is France’s 2013 intervention. The French army helped the Malian army to regain control of the northern part of the country from advancing Islamists during Operation Serval. The aim was to stop extremist forces from advancing to Bamako. This did not end the conflict. Many fighters moved to rural areas where the state had little presence and built ties with local communities.
In central Mali, where cattle farming is a key source of income, this dynamic contributed to the spread of violence between Fulani and Dogon communities, reinforcing grievances exploited by extremist groups.
Faced with this reality, people often turn to whoever can offer some level of predictability and protection, even if that actor is an armed group.
External involvement has also become increasingly fragmented. France’s withdrawal, rising anti-western sentiment, and the arrival of Russian-linked forces have created a crowded and sometimes conflicting intervention landscape.
Different actors bring different agendas, and their presence does not always translate into greater security. In some cases, it can even worsen things by reinforcing tensions or weakening trust in already fragile institutions.
Caught in the middle, civilians make difficult choices daily. Their decisions are rarely ideological but rather about survival.
Rethinking the response
We conclude from our findings that a more grounded approach would begin by listening to local realities. It would address the gaps that allow armed groups to take root. This means improving access to justice and security, supporting local institutions, and taking grievances seriously. It also means recognising that legitimacy is built from the ground up, not imposed from above.
Mali’s experience shows that there are clear limits to what military force can achieve on its own. As long as interventions overlook the everyday realities of governance and survival, they are unlikely to bring about lasting change. Until that shift happens, armed groups will remain hard to dislodge, not only because they can fight but also because, in many places, they have become part of how life is organised.
– Mali’s armed groups fill a government vacuum – addressing this is key to ending the violence – https://theconversation.com/malis-armed-groups-fill-a-government-vacuum-addressing-this-is-key-to-ending-the-violence-281648
Rock paintings are found throughout Zimbabwe. They were made during the last 10,000 years by hunter gatherer groups and later by farming communities.
These came to the attention of the ERC Artsoundscapes project, based in Spain, in 2021. The project brings together experts in archaeology, ethnography, psychology and acoustic engineering to explore how humans understood sound in prehistoric times. Our team has studied some of the rock art of South Africa in which dance scenes are depicted, and we have begun work on documenting and analysing similar rock art in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s rock paintings are concentrated in the country’s eastern provinces, which is where we’ve focused so far. More can be found in the Matobo World Heritage Cultural Landscape in Matabeleland South, which will be the focus of future study.
We have published an article describing dance scenes in this rock art and comparing them with information from ethnographic sources to understand what kinds of dances they depict. The ethnographic research was done by anthropologists and focused on hunter gatherer groups in the broader southern African region (Botswana and Namibia).
We found that all the kinds of dances that have been described in living cultures – dances for ritual, entertainment or special circumstances – are depicted in Zimbabwe’s rock art. But ritual is a central theme.
This points to the need to refine our classification of rock art scenes. We’ve been using features like the body posture of depicted figures to classify a scene as a dance. But ritual dances often involve going into a trance state – and this alters a person’s ability to control their body, move in synchrony with other people and follow “rules” of a dance. Therefore, it may be necessary to reconsider whether some rock art scenes in Zimbabwe, and in the whole of southern Africa, depict dances or not.
Here we will discuss some examples of the rock art in Zimbabwe and explain how we categorised them.
Analytical method
We reviewed published works by archaeology researchers such as the late Peter Garlake and university professor Ancila Nhamo. We also used online resources, including the British Museum online collection by rock art photographer and author David Coulson, which features rock art from Zimbabwe and other southern African countries.
Our inquiry aimed to determine whether all dances that have been recognised ethnographically, in living people, in Zimbabwe as well as in other countries of southern Africa, are also represented in Zimbabwe’s rock art.
We analysed the scenes by applying six attributes that have proved useful in studies in other parts of the world, such as the Middle East and the western Mediterranean. The attributes are divided into those related to the dancers themselves and those related to the type of dance. They are:
dancers’ body posture (including bent figures, outstretched arms and flexed legs)
items they hold, such as sticks, rattles, or headgear
interaction between dancers
evidence of synchrony
direction of movement
gender of the figures represented.
Dance scenes in Zimbabwe rock art
Using these attributes, we can say that a scene such as this one found at Lake Chivero is a dance because it has several men all wearing aprons, displaying the same body posture, and positioned in synchrony with outstretched arms.
Lake Chivero dance.Picture by Ancila Nhamo (with permission), Author provided (no reuse)
Yet, in other scenes we encountered unexpected problems with the second group of attributes (type of dance). Those were designed to analyse dance scenes in other parts of the world with different belief systems. But they are not always valid when dancers engage in trance dances.
One example of this type of scene that does not follow the norm is found at a site called Chivhu. A series of therianthropes (figures with both human and animal features) were painted associated with a large snake bearing two animal heads. In the scene we analysed there, the interaction between dancers is irregular, their movements are not synchronised, and the direction of the dance is not homogeneous, as would be expected in a regular dance. But regular interaction, synchronisation and uniform direction are simply not possible when dancers are in an altered state of consciousness. So, this scene might not look like a dance but it probably is one, based on what we know from studies of living people in cultures associated with the makers of the rock art.
Chivhu danceHuffman 1983, Author provided (no reuse)
Other dances recognised ethnographically as being of ritual character are initiation dances. An example of a dancing scene which may indicate a boys’ initiation dance can be found at a rocky outcrop in Glen Norah, Harare. American anthropologist Lorna Marshall, who undertook fieldwork among the !Kung people of the Kalahari Desert in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, described how the !Kung boys from Nyae Nyae in Namibia in the 1950s sometimes bent their upper bodies into an almost right-angle posture while dancing. The dancers in the painted scene are accompanied by other men who are not participating in the dance. These kinds of initiation dances are not documented or practised in Zimbabwe, however. So although the painted scene looks like an initiation dance, it probably isn’t one.
Rock art may also depict eland dances, the girls’ initiation dance. For example, dancing scenes depicting only women that may be interpreted as eland dances are found in Chipinge and Mudadi in Zimbabwe’s Chivi district.
Mudadi dance in Chivi district in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe.Photo Courtesy of Ancila Nhamo, Author provided (no reuse)
The Makonde dance from Mashonaland West, which features more than 30 performers, is not easy to interpret. It is not clear whether this represents a large dance scene or if the dancers can be divided into different groups. Some individuals are clapping, while others are dancing, which may indicate the presence of trance dancers (group labelled b). Additionally, there are female dancers with tufts on their legs and wearing back aprons (group labelled a). These could be dancing for entertainment, because in reality for an eland dance (a ritual) they would probably remove the aprons.
Makonde dance.Picture from Garlake 1995, Fig. 73, Author provided (no reuse)
Categorising certain dances can be challenging, and some may have been performed purely for entertainment purposes. For example, there is a dancing scene at Charewa that depicts women, men, and possibly children participating. We propose that this could represent an entertainment dance or a dance in some particular circumstance where everyone joined in.
Charewa site, Dance Scene 1.Garlake 1987a, Fig. 10, Fourni par l’auteur
Other elements emerging from the analysis of the dance scenes found in Zimbabwean rock art include the presence of musical instruments and a variety of artefacts associated with the dancers. Hand rattles frequently appear in dancing scenes and have been recognised as the most depicted musical instruments in Zimbabwean rock art, as we’ve discussed in an article about musical instrument representations.
Dance scene at Chikupu northern cave.Garlake 1995, Fig. 76., Author provided (no reuse)
Dancers are sometimes depicted with dancing sticks or other accessories, not only rattles. For instance, some figures appear to be holding round discs that are difficult to identify at Chikupu.
Charewa Dance Scene 2.Garlake, Author provided (no reuse)
Moreover, dancers may be adorned with beads, as observed at Charewa Panel 2, and often wear distinctive headgear, typically resembling antennae, which may symbolise feathers as described in ethnographic accounts.
It’s important to accurately identify and describe these scenes. Our analysis highlights the valuable information that can be gleaned from close examination of the depictions, as well as from the use of ethnohistorical sources related to dance.
– Rock art, dance and ritual: what we learned from paintings in Zimbabwe – https://theconversation.com/rock-art-dance-and-ritual-what-we-learned-from-paintings-in-zimbabwe-279266
Government working to restore order at borders and workplaces
Government says it has noted ongoing public discourse on immigration, particularly on issues related to illegal immigration.
On Wednesday, government reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding South Africa’s sovereignty, security and the rule of law, while upholding the country’s constitutional values and respect for human dignity.
“Government is strengthening measures to address illegal immigration, including tightening border controls to combat unlawful entry, illicit trade, and fraudulent activities that undermine revenue collection and the rule of law.
“These efforts form part of a broader programme to modernise and reform South Africa’s immigration and border management system into one that is secure, efficient, and responsive to the needs of a modern economy.
“Key to this transformation is the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, which will enhance the country’s ability to manage the movement of people in a secure, transparent and efficient manner,” the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said in a statement.
As part of ongoing reforms, government has also taken steps to improve infrastructure at ports of entry, including the planned redevelopment of major land ports through strategic partnerships aimed at improving security, efficiency and service delivery.
Government emphasised that South Africa is a peaceful and responsible member of the international community that is committed to maintaining strong and constructive relations with countries across the region and the world.
South Africa, government said, remains guided by the principles of cooperation, mutual respect and shared development, while firmly upholding the rule of law within its borders. It said all individuals within the country are expected to comply with the law and contribute positively to society.
It urged members of the public to work together with law enforcement authorities in addressing concerns related to illegal immigration and unlawful activities.
“Such concerns should be reported to the South African Police Service, immigration authorities, or other relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure they are addressed lawfully and effectively. In this regard, members of the public are urged not to take the law into their own hands,” said the GCIS.
To date deportations, have increased by 46%. Since April 2023, the Border Management Authority has deported 500 000 people. Immediate steps are being taken to demolish and rebuild South Africa’s six busiest land ports of entry as part of a transformative public-private partnership (PPP). The six ports are Lebombo, Beitbridge, Oshoek, Kopfontein, Maseru Bridge and Ficksburg.
In addition, as per President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2026 announcement, the Department Labour and Employment is in the process of hiring 10 000 additional permanent labour inspectors this year to strengthen enforcement of labour laws, combat exploitation, and ensure compliance alongside the police and Home Affairs. This massive expansion aims to boost the existing +/- 2 300 inspectors and focus on auditing compliance.
“Government will continue working with relevant stakeholders to ensure that immigration is managed in a manner that protects national interests and the safety of citizens, while promoting economic growth and maintaining social cohesion,” the GCIS said. – SAnews.gov.za
Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), has been recognized among the “100 Most Impactful Voices 2026” by ABCD Africa, a prestigious recognition celebrating influential women of African descent who are using their platforms to inspire change, amplify important social conversations, and drive meaningful impact across communities. The list features prominent women leaders and changemakers from 54 African countries and also includes the President of Tanzania. The list came out on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2026.
This latest recognition adds to a series of international accolades received by Dr. Rasha Kelej for her leadership and impactful social initiatives. She was recently named among the “100 Most Influential Africans 2025” by New African Magazine and has also been recognized among the “100 Most Influential African Women” by Avance Media for the seventh consecutive year, alongside Africa’s prominent leaders including Presidents, First Ladies, and Prime Ministers. These recognitions highlight her unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment, girls’ education, and improving access to quality and equitable healthcare across Africa.
Expressing her gratitude, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), CEO of Merck Foundation said, “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition and to be included in the ‘100 Most Impactful Voices 2026’ list. I sincerely thank ABCD Africa for acknowledging my work over the past 14 years to build healthcare capacity, transform the patient care landscape, break infertility stigma, empower women, and support girl education in Africa and beyond. This recognition is truly very special to me, and it inspires me to continue my efforts to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people.
I also congratulate all the deserving women who have been recognized on this list. Together, we will continue to use our voices to inspire positive change and create a better future for our communities.”
Under Dr. Kelej’s leadership, Merck Foundation has transformed the patient care landscape and built healthcare capacity across Africa and other developing regions.
“We have provided over 2600 scholarships for healthcare providers from more than 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties, helping to improve access to quality and equitable healthcare,” shared Dr. Kelej.
Dr. Rasha Kelej is also the creator of the “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” campaign, a pioneering movement that aims to empower infertile and childless women through access to information, education, health and change of mindset. Dr. Kelej works closely with more than 33 African and Asian First Ladies who are the Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” to lead Merck Foundation programs in their countries. “I really enjoy working with dear sisters, the First Ladies of Africa and Asia, we are not just partners, we are more than friends, I enjoy our sisterhood and respect it,” Dr. Kelej emphasized.
Moreover, Dr. Kelej is a strong advocate for education as one of the most critical areas of women’s empowerment. Therefore, in partnership with African First Ladies, Merck Foundation has provided, year to date, more than 1200 annual scholarships to high-performing and underprivileged African schoolgirls from 19 countries, enabling them to complete their studies and reach their potential. The program is actively running across several African countries, including Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe and others.
Dr. Rasha Kelej has established the “Art and Fashion with Purpose” community to address critical health and social issues, including breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, ending female genital mutilation and child marriage, stopping gender-based violence, and raising awareness about diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. She has launched several community awareness programs including Health Media Trainings, Songs, Children Storybooks, Animation Films, Awards for best Media, Song, Film and Fashion design, and also a Pan-African TV program “Our Africa”.
Overview of Merck Foundation’s initiatives and impact under the leadership of Dr. Rasha Kelej:
Merck Foundation is transforming the Patient care landscape and making history together with their partners in Africa, Asia, and beyond, through:
2600+ Scholarships provided by Merck Foundation for healthcare providers from 52 Countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.
Merck Foundation is also creating a culture shift and breaking the silence about a wide range of social and health issues in Africa and underserved communities through:
4000+ Media Representatives from more than 42 countries trained by Merck Foundation to better raise awareness about different social and health issues
8 Different Awards launched annually for best Media coverage, Song, Films, and Fashion.
Around 30 songs to address health and social issues, by local singers across Africa in English, French, Portuguese, and local languages.
9 Children’s Storybooks in four languages – English, French, Portuguese, and Swahili
6 Awareness Animation Films in five languages – English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili to raise awareness about breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education and prevention and early detection of Diabetes, Hypertension & Cancer.
Pan African TV Program “Our Africa by Merck Foundation” addressing Social and Health Issues in Africa through “Fashion and ART with Purpose” Community.
1200+ Scholarships provided annually to high performing but under-privileged African schoolgirls from 19 countries, to help them to complete their studies and empower them to reach their full potential.
15 Social Media Channels with more than 8.5 Million Followers.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.
About Merck Foundation:
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Le Bénin poursuit sa dynamique de transformation dans le secteur culturel. C’est ce qu’il convient de retenir au terme des travaux de la Conférence inaugurale organisée le mardi 28 avril 2026 à Cotonou, dans le cadre de la première session de la Commission Nationale de Protection du Patrimoine Culturel (CNPPC). Occasion pour Cadres institutionnels, Experts et Universitaires intervenant dans la sauvegarde et la valorisation du patrimoine culturel, de faire le point des avancées enregistrées, avec un regard sur les défis et les perspectives d’avenir.
À l’ouverture des travaux, le Directeur de cabinet du Ministère du tourisme de la culture et des arts, Monsieur Jacques AGUIA DAHO, a salué le regain d’intérêt des autorités pour le patrimoine culturel. Il a exhorté les membres de la Commission à faire preuve d’engagement pour relever les défis, dans un contexte marqué par la restitution et la circulation des biens culturels, au cœur d’une coopération culturelle dynamique, notamment entre le Bénin et la France. Il a, par ailleurs, réaffirmé le soutien des Institutions étatiques à la CNPPC pour la réussite de sa mission.
Placée sous le thème « Protection du patrimoine culturel au Bénin : acquis, défis et perspectives d’avenir », la rencontre a servi de cadre d’échanges autour des mutations profondes engagées par l’État depuis plusieurs années pour faire du patrimoine culturel un levier de développement.
Instituée par la loi N°2021-09 du 22 octobre 2021 et rendue opérationnelle par des décrets d’application, la Commission Nationale de Protection du Patrimoine Culturel s’inscrit dans une volonté de modernisation du cadre juridique et institutionnel. Elle se veut un organe consultatif chargé d’accompagner l’État dans la définition et la mise en œuvre des politiques de sauvegarde, de protection et de valorisation du patrimoine culturel matériel et immatériel.
Des acquis rassurants
Au cœur de cette conférence, deux communications majeures ont permis d’éclairer les participants. La première, animée par le Professeur Marcel Didier HOUÉNOUDÉ, Enseignant-Chercheur et spécialiste du patrimoine culturel, a porté sur les acquis du Bénin en matière de protection du patrimoine, les enjeux actuels et les perspectives d’avenir, avec un regard comparatif à l’échelle internationale. La seconde communication, présentée par le Directeur général de l’Agence de Sauvegarde de la Culture de l’aire Adja-Tado, Monsieur Paul AKOGNI, s’est appesantie sur les aspects juridiques et institutionnels de la protection du patrimoine culturel au Bénin, en mettant en lumière le cadre normatif existant.
Ces échanges ont permis de mettre en relief les efforts significatifs consentis par le Gouvernement au cours de la dernière décennie. Entre la restitution de biens culturels, la réhabilitation de sites historiques, la construction de quatre musées d’envergure et le renforcement du cadre institutionnel avec la création de quatre agences dédiées aux aires culturelles, le secteur culturel a connu une véritable mutation structurelle.
À noter qu’au terme de la conférence inaugurale, les membres de la Commission sous la présidence de Madame Gwladys GANDAHO, ont poursuivi les travaux de leur première session. Ils ont manifesté leur volonté d’accompagner l’Exécutif dans la poursuite d’une gouvernance plus structurée et ambitieuse du patrimoine culturel béninois, avec en ligne de mire sa préservation durable et sa valorisation au service du développement national.
Distribué par APO Group pour Gouvernement de la République du Bénin.
