Category: Africa

Source: APO – Report:

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Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met in El Alamein with Prime Minister Dr. Moustafa Madbouly and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Eng. Karim Badawi.

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the President reviewed the status of crude oil and natural gas production in various exploration areas across Egypt’s governorates, the availability of strategic reserves of petroleum products and the future plan for ensuring their supply, thereby guaranteeing market stability and the continued availability of these essential products for all productive and service sectors. The Minister of Petroleum presented a comprehensive overview of crude oil and natural gas production indicators, in light of the five-year plan for crude oil and natural gas production. This plan encompasses seismic survey programs, modern technologies, contracting systems, and the development of untapped discoveries. The Minister emphasized the commitment to doubling Egypt’s oil and condensate production and to consolidating Egypt’s role as a hub for petroleum product trading and gas liquefaction and export.

The Minister of Petroleum also reviewed efforts to intensify exploration, development, and production activities, as well as the new projects and wells expected to be brought to the production plan between now and December 2026, noting the continued implementation of programs to improve the efficiency of the natural gas system and enhance energy security. The Minister also reviewed the ongoing efforts to encourage international companies operating in Egypt to expand their investments, given the state’s success in settling outstanding payments to investment partners, in addition to maintaining regular payments on current dues. He further highlighted the incentive measures that have contributed to boosting confidence in the investment climate and improving cash flow in the petroleum sector. This was confirmed by reports issued by foreign companies operating in Egypt, which emphasized Egypt’s strategic importance in the oil and gas sectors.

Eng. Badawi also reviewed the status of a number of strategic projects underway in the oil and natural gas sectors in partnership with major international companies, citing plans for exploration, development, and drilling of development wells in the Mediterranean region. He also reviewed the latest developments pertinent to regional cooperation in the oil and gas sector, noting in this regard the announcement by the alliance of Italy’s Eni and France’s TotalEnergies of their final investment decision to develop the Cypriot Cronos gas field and connect it to the Egyptian infrastructure. This underscores Egypt’s growing position as a regional hub for gas trading and distribution.

With regard to the refining sector, the Minister of Petroleum indicated a plan to develop and maximize the utilization of existing oil refineries through the implementation of six projects with total investments exceeding $4 billion. This aims to boost production, add value, and reduce the fuel import bill, supported by an increase in crude oil volumes available to refineries.

President El-Sisi emphasized the need to provide the necessary incentives to encourage partners to expand their exploration and development activities, increase field production rates, and address any challenges that might hinder the implementation of work programs aimed at achieving a tangible increase in production. The President stressed the importance of turning the petroleum sector’s objectives into clear implementation programs and measurable performance indicators. The President also gave directives to achieve a qualitative leap in maximizing the added value of mineral resources and increasing their contribution to the national economy.

– on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Source: APO – Report:

The CANEX Book Factory, a publishing incubator by Afreximbank’s (www.Afreximbank.com) Creative African Nexus (CANEX) Programme, has announced a three-member jury for the 2026 CANEX Prize for Publishing. This announcement comes ahead of CANEX WKND 2026, taking place from 5–8 November in Lagos, Nigeria.

Renowned Nigerian author and academic Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade will chair the jury, alongside South African literary scholar, Professor Polo Moji, and Kenyan poet-broadcaster, Khainga O’Okwemba. The panel will review all eligible entries and select the winning publisher from a competitive longlist.

Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade’s chairmanship brings decades of literary expertise to the competition. His leadership will sharpen the conversations on the role of publishers of Global African ideas in reclaiming the narrative, ultimately boosting Africa’s valuation and accelerating sustainable development across the diaspora and beyond.

In his comments, Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade said: “It is an honour to chair this distinguished jury and to experience the breadth and quality of publishing from Africa and its diaspora,” said Professor Raji-Oyelade. “The CANEX Prize offers an important opportunity to recognise the work publishers do in bringing books and ideas to readers and strengthening our literary cultures. I look forward to our deliberations, and to celebrating the finalists and eventual winner at CANEX WKND in Lagos this November.” 

The 2026 edition also marks an important development for the Prize. The CANEX Prize for Publishing (formerly the CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa) reflects an expanded eligibility that now includes publishers from Africa’s diaspora, specifically from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states.

The jury will assess eligible submissions and announce a long list of ten publishers in September, followed by a shortlist of five finalists in October. The winning publisher will receive US$20,000, while each of the four finalists will take home US$2,000. The 2026 programme will culminate in an award ceremony during the CANEX WKND showcase in Lagos, Nigeria.

– on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Manager, Communications and Events (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com

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About the Jury:
Prof Aderemi Raji–Oyelade is Professor of English and Africana Studies at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, where he teaches Literature of the African Diaspora, Creative Writing and New Media. A multiple award-winning poet and scholar, he is the author of seven poetry collections, including A Harvest of Laughters (1997), Lovesong for My Wasteland (2005) and Wanderer Cantos (2021). He previously served as Secretary of PEN Nigeria Centre and later as President of the Association of Nigerian Authors.

Prof Polo B. Moji is Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town. Her monograph Gender and the Spatiality of Blackness in Contemporary AfroFrench Narratives (Routledge, 2022) won the 2024 African Literature Association First Book Award. She is also co-editor of Cinematic Imaginaries of the African City (Routledge, 2023) and Conversational Bridges in African Feminisms: Weaving Knowledge Together (HSRC Press, 2025),and is a co-investigator on the African Literary Cities research project.

Khainga O’Okwemba is a Kenyan poet, essayist and travel writer. He is the producer and presenter of The Books Café on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation and serves as Sub-Editor of The Mast, a publication of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.

ABOUT CANEX:
Given the relevance and opportunities provided by the creative economy as a key driver for development and job creation, Afreximbank has developed the Creative Africa Nexus programme to facilitate the development and growth of the creative and cultural industries in Africa and the diaspora. The initiative provides a range of financing and non-financing instruments /interventions aimed at supporting and developing Africa’s production, trade, and investment in the creative sector.

The key strategic objectives under the CANEX Programme include:

• Increasing Africa’s share of global cultural trade flows through trade and investment promotion activities
• Deploying specialised financial products to support the CCI ecosystem
• Facilitating technical capacity programs that enable export-grade production
• Facilitating market access to high-value demand hubs (through partnerships)
• Advocating for harmonized regulatory reform, especially concerning IP rights and incentives

Register for free to attend CANEX WKND 2026 here: https://apo-opa.co/4ine5q4

About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A strong supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2025, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$48.5 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$8.4 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), GCR (A), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-), Moody’s (Baa2) and S&P Global Ratings (BBB+). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com 

Source: APO – Report:

The Speaker, Jacob Marksons Oboth warns that he will name and shame persons who threaten committee chairpersons as they carry out their roles.

While chairing the plenary sitting on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, the Speaker said that the chairpersons have a constitutional mandate to process parliamentary work on behalf of the House and the public.

“This is therefore, to caution those who are sending covert or overt threats to the chairpersons during the course of their work, to refrain. I am not a Speaker who will shield those attempting to evade accountability,” Oboth warned.

The Speaker emphasised that such intimidation tactics must cease immediately. 

Reaffirming a commitment to transparency, the Speaker declared that he would not be a leader who seeks to shield those attempting to evade accountability signaling a robust stance against any interference in the legislature’s oversight functions.

The new caution buttresses the one by the Speaker in a plenary sitting on Wednesday, 19 August 2026 where he tasked accounting officers to honour summons by committees in a bid to ensure effectiveness of parliamentary scrutiny.

The Speaker advised accounting officers that it is their constitutional obligation to account to the citizens through Parliament, where they are represented.

Relatedly, Speaker Oboth has urged committees to process all business before them and make it available for consideration by the House ahead of a three-week recess from 03 to 29 September 2026.

“I equally encourage the Leader of Government Business to ensure that all Bills planned for the first meeting are brought forward early enough to allow for their timely consideration,” Oboth added. 

– on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO – Report:

The newly appointed ECOWAS Resident Representative to Cabo Verde, Ambassador João Butiam Co, has stepped up engagement with national authorities and the diplomatic community as part of efforts to strengthen the visibility and strategic relevance of ECOWAS in Cabo Verde.

Since taking up his position, Ambassador Butiam Co has held a series of meetings with senior members of the Cabo Verdean Government and representatives of the diplomatic corps, providing an opportunity to exchange views on regional cooperation, shared priorities and the role of ECOWAS in supporting Cabo Verde’s development and integration within the West African region.

Ambassador Butiam Co further engaged with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Communities and National Defense, Ambassador Manuel Amante da Rosa, reaffirming the importance of maintaining close institutional dialogue and strengthening Cabo Verde’s engagement with the ECOWAS integration agenda.

Among the engagements held in August was a meeting with the Minister of Health, Dr. Lúcio Miranda Fernandes, with the participation of the West African Health Organization (WAHO), the ECOWAS specialized institution responsible for coordinating and supporting regional cooperation in health. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss areas of mutual interest and explore opportunities for stronger collaboration in the health sector within the ECOWAS framework.

The Resident Representative also met with the Minister of Environment, Climate Action and Energy, Mr. Carlos Varela. The engagement also provided an opportunity to underline the role of ECOWAS institutions, including the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), in supporting regional and national priorities.

The Resident Representative also met with the Minister of Family, Social Inclusion and Labor, Ms. Adelsia Almeida, to discuss Cabo Verde’s role within ECOWAS and opportunities to strengthen cooperation in areas directly linked to citizens and regional integration. The meeting underscored the importance of ensuring that regional integration translates into tangible benefits for people and communities across West Africa.

The Representative has also begun consultations with the diplomatic community, including a meeting with the two Ambassadors of ECOWAS countries in Cabo Verde (Ambassador of Senegal, Dean of Diplomatic Corps, and Ambassador of Guinea Bissau). These engagements are intended to strengthen coordination and promote a better understanding of the opportunities that regional cooperation offers to Cabo Verde and the wider ECOWAS community.

These initial meetings form part of a broader programme of consultations that will continue in the coming days with additional members of the Government, national institutions and representatives of the diplomatic corps.

According to Ambassador Butiam Co, “the ongoing consultations also reflect the importance of stronger coordination between the ECOWAS Commission, its institutions and agencies and national authorities in advancing the objectives of ECOWAS Vision 2050 and building a more integrated, peaceful and prosperous West Africa.”

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

Source: APO

Lesotho is hosting the Africa State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Corporate Governance Summit from 24–26 August 2026 in Maseru under the theme, “Corporate Governance as a Tool for Transforming African SOEs into Global Competitors.”

The three-day summit brought together Cabinet Ministers, senior Government officials, SOE leaders, policymakers, governance experts and industry leaders to deliberate on strengthening corporate governance, accountability and performance of SOEs, while exploring ways to transform them into sustainable and globally competitive institutions.

The summit has attracted experts and industry leaders from Lesotho, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Mauritius, Tanzania, Malawi, Eswatini, Namibia and Kenya, providing a platform for the exchange of experiences, expertise and best practices in SOE governance across the continent.

The strong representation of Government at the summit demonstrates its commitment to strengthening the governance and performance of public enterprises as part of Lesotho’s broader socio-economic transformation agenda.

The first day of the summit is held under the theme, “Architecting the Sovereign Mandate: Align Policy, Ethics, and Capital to Build Sustainable State Enterprises.

”Officially opening the summit, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Justice Nthomeng Majara, said the transformation agenda of the summit rests on four key pillars aimed at strengthening the governance and performance of SOEs.

The first pillar is improving the corporate governance regime, with a focus on strengthening governance systems and accountability within State-Owned Enterprises.

The second is professionalizing the State as a shareholder by strengthening discipline in the management and oversight of public enterprises.

The third pillar is depoliticizing SOE boards while promoting operational excellence, ensuring that boards are constituted and operate in a manner that prioritizes competence, professionalism and the effective delivery of institutional mandates.

The fourth pillar is institutionalizing the social mandate and intergenerational value, ensuring that SOEs not only contribute to present national development priorities but also create sustainable value that benefits future generations.

Justice Majara said these pillars are critical to moving beyond administrative compliance towards outcome-based governance, where institutional integrity, accountability and performance become central to the management of public enterprises.

The Deputy Prime Minister further said the summit should draw practical lessons and best practices from fellow African countries, including Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Zambia, as well as international countries such as Singapore, Norway, South Korea and Germany, benchmarking structural management, strong governance and the separation of the State’s ownership role from the day-to-day management of key SOEs.

This approach is intended to strengthen professional management while allowing Government to exercise effective shareholder oversight without interfering in the daily operations of enterprises.

Her keynote address, titled “Corporate Governance as a Tool for Transforming African SOEs into Global Competitors,” further underscored the importance of anti-corruption measures, regulatory reforms and values-driven accountability in protecting public resources and strengthening the integrity of State-Owned Enterprises.

In her welcome remarks and role of introducing the Principal Dignitary, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Dr Retselisitsoe Matlanyane, underscored the importance of good governance to the success of State-Owned Enterprises, noting that SOEs are arms of Government through which the State delivers services and advances national development objectives.

Dr Matlanyane said Government must establish clear mandates for SOEs, set measurable timelines and performance expectations, and appoint competent persons to the boards of these institutions. She emphasized that clearly defined mandates and measurable expectations are essential for holding SOEs accountable for their performance and assessing their contribution to national development.She further stressed that citizens have a responsibility to ensure that the right representation is placed at the highest levels of governance, highlighting the importance of capable, accountable and ethical leadership in public institutions.

The summit provides an important platform for African countries to exchange practical experiences, benchmark governance models and identify reforms that can strengthen the sustainability, efficiency and competitiveness of public enterprises.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Government of Lesotho.

Source: APO

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The Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources has resolved to undertake further engagements with relevant institutions following a briefing on a petition from the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) and its partners concerning mining accountability, capital flight and the abandonment of mining-affected communities.

The committee heard the petition during a virtual meeting on Tuesday, where MACUA and partners outlined concerns relating to the socio-economic and environmental consequences of mining operations and closures, corporate accountability, rehabilitation obligations and the impact of corporate disinvestment on mining-affected communities, especially Kriel in Mpumalanga and Jagersfontein in Free State.

The committee agreed that further information and responses should be obtained from relevant institutions whose roles and responsibilities were raised during the presentation. Some of the institutions involved are the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), Seriti Coal Proprietary Limited, Anglo American, and affected municipalities, among others.

The committee Chairperson Mr Mikateko Mahlaule said that the committee would prepare a report on the outcome of the meeting for consideration by the House Chairperson, who would then determine the appropriate parliamentary mechanism to take the matter forward.

“We will write a report based on this meeting for the House Chairperson to determine a way forward on whether a full inquiry should be conducted by this committee alone, by the Select Committee on Public Petitions and Executive Undertakings, or jointly between the two committees,” Mr Mahlaule said.

Mr Mahlaule further said that the committee would, in the immediate future, engage with the DMPR to establish the status of the review of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, as one of the issues raised by petitioners.

He noted that the review of the legislative framework presents an opportunity to consider whether existing provisions sufficiently address issues raised by mining-affected communities, including accountability, rehabilitation, mine closure, social and labour obligations and the protection of communities affected by mining activities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO

Ministers of Health from the 47 Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region today opened the Seventy-sixth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Addis Ababa, launching three days of deliberations on policies and priorities that will guide the region’s health agenda in the coming year and beyond.

The Regional Committee, WHO’s highest decision-making body in the African region, brings together ministers of health, senior government officials, development partners and technical experts to review progress, address emerging health challenges and endorse regional strategies aimed at strengthening health systems and improving people’s health across the continent.

Opening the session, H.E Taye Atske Selassie, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, called for stronger regional cooperation and sustained investment in resilient health systems to improve people’s health and support Africa’s development.

“Africa’s next health chapter must be defined by ownership over dependency, integration over fragmentation and practical action over words. Let us act not only with declarations, but with firm commitment and measurable actions,” said President Taye.

Dr Mekdes Daba, Ethiopian Minister of Health, called for efforts to build sustainable health systems for Africa’s future, noting that the region faces new challenges including persistent inequalities, resource constraints, emerging technologies, climate issues, demographic transitions and complex health emergencies.

“If we act in solidarity, invest with purpose, and innovate with equity at the centre, we can build an Africa that is healthier, more resilient, more self-reliant and better prepared to shape its future,” Dr Daba said. 

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, noted that the Regional Committee reflects Member States’ shared commitment to building stronger, more resilient and self-reliant health systems through collective action and African-led solutions.

“It is particularly fitting that we gather in Addis Ababa, the diplomatic capital of Africa and home of the African Union, where generations of African leaders have come together to strengthen solidarity and shape our continent’s future,” said Dr Janabi. “The decisions we take this week will shape policies, guide investments and influence future generations. Let us therefore be bold in vision, practical in action and accountable for results.”

Key agenda items include a strategy to strengthen sustainable health financing; the Africa Health Workforce Agenda 2026–2035 to help countries educate, employ and retain more health workers; and a regional strategy to give every child the best start in life through greater investment in early childhood development.

Ministers will also consider proposals to strengthen regulation of medical products, and reinforce health security and emergency preparedness, in a region that experiences more public health emergencies than any other globally. As the Democratic Republic of the Congo responds to its largest Ebola outbreak, ministers will review a regional framework to strengthen national emergency medical teams so that countries can respond more rapidly and effectively to outbreaks, disasters and other public health emergencies. 

They will also consider a framework to safeguard Africa’s hard-won gains against polio by preserving the surveillance systems, laboratories, skilled workforce and emergency response capacities built through decades of eradication efforts.

The Committee will consider how better data can improve people’s health through a new Regional Health Data Hub, designed to help countries detect health threats earlier, target resources more effectively and make better-informed decisions. Ministers will also consider A New Era of Health for Africa: United Action for Vision 2035, a long-term strategic framework to guide African-led health transformation through stronger primary health care, resilient health systems, sustainable financing, digital transformation and greater country ownership.

The decisions and resolutions adopted during the Regional Committee will help shape national health policies, strengthen regional collaboration and guide WHO’s support to Member States in the year ahead, while advancing longer-term efforts to build stronger health systems and improve people’s health across the African region.

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

Source: APO

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Monday, August 24, 2026, met with a Tanzanian delegation led by Mr. Abdulhalim Hafidh Ameir, son of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, at State House, Entebbe.

The delegation also included Mr. George Nkya, Mr. Amal Garang, and Mr. Mundhir Mohammed Nassor.

The meeting focused on matters of mutual interest between Uganda and Tanzania, including areas of cooperation aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and regional development.

President Museveni welcomed the delegation and held discussions with them on the issues presented.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Uganda.