Category: Africa

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La Banque africaine de développement approuve un nouveau programme pour aider les pays africains à transformer leurs promesses énergétiques en électricité pour des millions de personnes

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Le Conseil d’administration de la Banque africaine de développement (www.AfDB.org) a approuvé un nouveau projet d’assistance technique, doté de 3,9 millions de dollars sur deux ans, pour aider les pays africains à mettre en œuvre leurs Pactes nationaux pour l’énergie dans le cadre de la Mission 300. Cette initiative, portée par le Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement et le Groupe de la Banque mondiale, vise à raccorder 300 millions d’Africains à l’électricité d’ici à 2030.

Les pactes énergétiques sont des plans nationaux dans lesquels les gouvernements définissent la manière dont ils vont étendre l’accès à l’électricité, renforcer leur secteur énergétique et attirer des investissements. Au cours de l’année écoulée, des dizaines de pays africains ont lancé ces pactes, soutenus par des engagements politiques forts et des promesses des partenaires du développement.

Le nouveau projet, dénommé « AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II », fournira une assistance technique directe à 13 pays de la Mission 300 au cours des 24 prochains mois afin de leur permettre de passer de plans énergétiques écrits à de véritables raccordements à l’électricité pour les foyers, les écoles, les hôpitaux et les entreprises. Les pays bénéficiaires sont le Tchad, le Gabon, la Tanzanie, la Mauritanie, la République démocratique du Congo, le Kenya, le Nigéria, Madagascar, l’Éthiopie, le Malawi, le Lesotho, la Namibie et l’Ouganda.

Concrètement, le nouveau projet va :

  • Aider les gouvernements à améliorer la réglementation, la planification et les tarifs de l’électricité afin que les investissements puissent se concrétiser.
  • Renforcer les services publics afin qu’ils puissent fournir une énergie plus fiable et réduire les pertes.
  • Soutenir l’amélioration de la qualité des données, de la recherche et de l’apprentissage dans les pays grâce à des outils tels que l’Indice de réglementation de l’électricité en Afrique et les forums régionaux sur l’énergie.
  • Déployer des conseillers experts au sein des Unités nationales de mise en œuvre et de suivi des pactes afin d’aider les gouvernements à coordonner les réformes et à suivre les progrès accomplis.

« Les pays ont pris des engagements audacieux dans le cadre de leurs pactes pour l’énergie, a souligné Wale Shonibare, directeur des solutions financières, de la politique et de la régulation de l’énergie à la Banque africaine de développement, Aujourd’hui, grâce à l’AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II, nous les aidons à mettre en œuvre ces engagements afin que davantage de ménages, d’entrepreneurs et de communautés aient effectivement accès à l’électricité. »

Cela fait suite à l’approbation de la phase I de l’AESTAP Mission 300 en décembre 2025, qui a fourni environ un million de dollars américains pour aider les pays à mettre en place et à gérer leurs Unités de mise en œuvre et de suivi des pactes (CDMU). Ces unités siègent au sein des gouvernements et sont chargées de la coordination des réformes énergétiques entre les ministères et du suivi des progrès.

La phase I du projet s’est concentrée sur la création et le renforcement de ces équipes de mise en œuvre : formation du personnel, mise en place d’outils de suivi et accompagnement des pays dans la planification de leurs prochaines étapes. La phase II s’appuiera sur ces acquis en fournissant l’assistance technique nécessaire à la mise en œuvre des réformes prévues. Le nouveau projet sera mis en œuvre en coordination avec d’autres partenaires de la Mission 300, notamment le Groupe de la Banque mondiale, les gouvernements et les organisations de développement, afin de garantir une action coordonnée.

Distribué par APO Group pour African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contact médias :
Alexis Adélé
Département de la communication et des relations extérieures
media@afdb.org

À propos du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement :
Le Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement est la première institution de financement du développement en Afrique. Il comprend trois entités distinctes : la Banque africaine de développement, le Fonds africain de développement et le Fonds spécial du Nigéria. Présente dans 44 pays africains et disposant d’un bureau de représentation extérieure au Japon, le Groupe de la Banque contribue au développement économique et au progrès social de ses 54 pays membres régionaux.  

Plus d’informations : www.AfDB.org

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President El-Sisi Visits the Egyptian Military Academy in the New Capital

Source: APO


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Early this morning, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi conducted an inspection visit to the Egyptian Military Academy in the New Capital. Upon his arrival, the President was received by the Director of the Egyptian Military Academy Lieutenant General Ashraf Zaher.

Spokesman for the Presidency Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy stated that President El-Sisi began his visit by performing Fajr prayer with the academy’s students. Then the President observed the morning lineup’s physical fitness and witnessed the marching, equestrian, cycling, and cross-country parade passing the podium.

President El-Sisi also delivered a speech prior to the start of the morning lineup.

Following this, the President met with female students of the College of Medicine and female participants in the Ministry of Transport course, before heading to the equestrian club at the academy.

Along the way, President El-Sisi passed by fitness and cycling groups, challenge fields, and team-work activity areas, where students demonstrated various skills. The President was received at the club by its director and a number of officers. The President was briefed on the latest developments related to the equestrian club, observed archery and show jumping demonstrations. The President then headed to the equestrian track to follow up on the horse breeding nucleus experiment.

The President had breakfast with the academy’s students and engaged in dialogue with them, emphasizing the importance of practicing sports and of instilling a culture of physical activity among the Egyptian people. The President stressed the importance of academy students continuing to practice sports after graduation.

President El-Sisi reiterated that the curricula taught at the academy ensure educational merit, explaining that the academy’s education and examination system was designed according to the highest standards following thorough study and review.

The President noted that consideration is being given to establishing specialized, high-level military colleges that would teach civilian subjects such as politics, economics, medicine, and engineering.

President El-Sisi stressed the importance of respecting cultural differences among people and avoiding polarization. The President pointed out that the academy’s programs consolidate concepts of coexistence and acceptance among students. The President reaffirmed his keenness to personally follow up on students’ conditions and the state of the academy, with the aim of continuously improving and enriching the experience. The President advised academy students on the importance of making good use of time and social media.

President El-Sisi further emphasized that appointment to government positions must be based on objective, neutral, and abstract criteria, without any favoritism, to ensure justice and credibility, stressing his firm keenness to ensure the application of this principle.

The President concluded his inspection tour of the Egyptian Military Academy by viewing a presentation of the academy’s electronic historical record by the Director of the Academy.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

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‘AmaPanyaza’ crime prevention wardens declared Peace Officers

Source: Government of South Africa

‘AmaPanyaza’ crime prevention wardens declared Peace Officers

The Crime Prevention Wardens (CPWs) – popularly known as amaPanyaza – have been formally declared as Peace Officers in terms of Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Act.

This was announced by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, during a joint media briefing with Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.

The wardens were disbanded last year following an investigation by the Public Protector (PP), which found that the CPWs’ establishment, appointment and deployment were not underpinned by an appropriate legislative framework and directed remedial actions to be taken.

Briefing the media on Friday, Kubayi assured that all the remedial actions directed by the PP have been acted upon.

“Government has worked collaboratively across spheres to address the legal deficiencies identified and to align the process with the applicable legislative framework. In this regard, over 9 000 wardens will be declared Peace Officers.

“[The] Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development has Gazetted and declared the Gauteng traffic wardens as Peace Officers and therefore making them lawful to operate,” she said.

The CPWs will receive specialised and accredited training, and then absorbed by the Community Safety Department in Gauteng.

“Government… confirms that training is a critical requirement in the process of declaring any category of persons as Peace Officers. Such training must attest to the competency of individuals to exercise powers contemplated in section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, and is considered by the Minister of Police when assessing requests for declaration. 

“We confirm that the wardens are currently undergoing a second phase of training to qualify in line with their designated functions, following recommendations contained in the relevant technical report.

“This process is being undertaken alongside engagements with the relevant stakeholders to ensure full compliance with all legal and statutory requirements,” Kubayi said.

The Peace Officers may only exercise powers within a “specified jurisdiction, in relation to defined offences, and strictly within the scope set out in the declaration published in the Government Gazette”.

“These duties may only be exercised when an officer is properly appointed and in possession of a valid certificate of appointment, failing which, any action taken has no legal force or effect.

“Government has therefore ensured compliance with the legal and policy basis underpinning this declaration, including alignment with the National Road Traffic Act, 1996, the steps taken to give effect to the Public Protector’s remedial actions, and clarity on the scope of authority, powers and limitations applicable to the wardens,” Kubayi explained.

Force multiplier

Cachalia described the declaration as a “significant milestone in strengthening law enforcement capacity”.

“These Peace officers will play a critical role in supporting the criminal justice system. They will serve as a force multiplier for the SAPS by assisting with law enforcement functions within their designated powers.

“Their role enhances visibility, improves response capacity, and contributes to the prevention and detection of crime, particularly in high-pressure environments such as our road networks.”

He praised the Gauteng Provincial Government for creating innovative ways to fight crime.

“The rule of law is a core value of our constitutional order. But it’s not a straight jacket. It allows for innovative responses to public needs, including what is a core interest of our people, public order and safety.

“We are now in a position to implement this brainchild of Premier Lesufi in a way that is lawful and constitutionally compliant. It’s going to make a difference to the communities in Gauteng,” he said.

The Gauteng Premier echoed the Police Minister’s sentiments, stating that the province is determined to push back against criminality.

“This is a victory for the rule of law and for integrated crime fighting that helps align our efforts and strengthen the hand of the State against criminality. Our decision to support the SAPS was nothing else but to ensure that we push back crime in our province.

“Every time statistics were released, we knew that Gauteng was the epicentre of crime in our country.

“As the economic hub of our country, there was no way we could fold our arms when children are killed, women are attacked [and] people are mugged. We felt we must go beyond words… to push back crime in our province,” Lesufi asserted. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB

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South Sudan’s White Army explained: what it is – and what it isn’t

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Jan Pospisil, Researcher at the Austrian Institute for International Affairs

The UN issued warnings of potential mass violence between the South Sudanese government and the White Army in January 2026. A peace agreement ended a five-year civil war in the country in 2018. This was followed by a period of relative calm that ended in 2025 in the wake of clashes between the government and White Army. Attempts to bring peace since have faltered. The government has charged and suspended first vice-president Riek Machar over claims he commanded the White Army during the violence in Nasir, Upper Nile State. Jan Pospisil, who has studied South Sudan’s conflict dynamics, explains the origins of the White Army and its political impact.

What is the White Army?

The White Army is best understood as a set of temporary, community-mandated self-defence mobilisations, organised along sectional and clan lines.

The term “White Army” refers to the ash traditionally used in Nuer cattle camps to repel mosquitoes. The ash is smeared on the bodies and faces of young men and gives them a whitish appearance. The Nuer are one of South Sudan’s largest ethnic groups. They primarily keep cattle and inhabit the greater Upper Nile region.

Authority in the White Army flows upward from communities, not downward from political leaders.

The White Army’s orientation is primarily defensive: protecting cattle, land and local autonomy in an environment where the state is experienced less as a provider of security than as a source of threat.

But this defensive logic coexists with raiding and inter-communal violence.

Its history explains its ambivalent role.

The White Army grew out of Nuer youth self-defence formations that had existed since the 1960s.

In 1991, the White Army started to pro-actively use this name and was drawn into national conflict around the so-called Nasir split. This is when suspended vice-president Riek Machar and other predominantly Nuer commanders broke with John Garang’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. Garang, who died in 2005, was from another of South Sudan’s major ethnic groups, the Dinka.

White Army forces fought alongside the Nasir faction (led by, among others, Machar) and were central to a massive attack on Bor later in 1991. The Bor massacre led to the death of several thousand Bor Dinka, a sub-group of the Dinka people who primarily inhabit Jonglei State.

Attacks were carried out largely by White Army fighters pursuing revenge over cattle raids and local objectives that aligned only partially with Machar’s political aims. This is an episode Machar apologised for in 2011, saying he

was responsible for both the good things and the bad things that came as a result of the Nasir Declaration.

The apology was revealing. It acknowledged political responsibility without implying operational command.

The Bor massacre remains a dominant lens through which many Bor Dinka understand the White Army: as an organised anti-Dinka force opposing the ruling party. This is understandable, but is also a source of lasting misperception about how the group operates.

What’s the relationship between Riek Machar and the White Army?

Machar has benefited politically from White Army mobilisation. But he does not direct it.

His current prosecution is therefore deeply ironic. Machar is accused of commanding a force that has, time and again, demonstrated its structural resistance to sustained external control, including his own.

He is now being tried for exercising a form of command that he has long sought but never fully possessed.

From the 1991 Nasir split to the civil war between the government and the Machar-led opposition that erupted in December 2013 and the renewed violence of 2025, White Army forces have repeatedly fought alongside Machar’s forces.

However, the White Army exists as an amalgamation of community militias that are tied to particular areas rather than as one organised force. Their size depends on the capacity of regional leaders to mobilise the youth at a given time.

During the civil war, White Army mobilisations delivered some of the opposition’s most significant battlefield successes.

Yet these forces often withdraw once immediate objectives – such as the defeat of militias aligned with the government in a certain territory – are achieved. This leaves opposition units unable to hold territory.

The assumption that’s made is that these temporary alliances equate to control of the White Army. They don’t. Confusing the two has repeatedly distorted how South Sudan’s conflicts are understood – and mismanaged.

Conflating the White Army with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-in-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) serves a political purpose. It legitimises state counterinsurgency, including airstrikes over the course of 2025 that hit civilian areas. It recasts local resistance as elite manipulation.

But it also obscures deeper drivers of South Sudan’s violence: the collapse of civilian protection, the outsourcing of force to allied ethnic militias such as the Agwelek or the Abushok, and the ethnicisation of political belonging since 2013.

If the White Army continues to be misunderstood, the danger is further ethnicisation of South Sudan’s politics. This is where complex communal violence is reduced to criminal conspiracy and used to legitimise militarised state responses.

Treating political crises as matters for prosecution rather than compromise risks deepening the very dynamics that have fuelled South Sudan’s wars since 2013.

The state portrays the White Army as a terrorist group: why is this a problem?

In the case it has brought against Machar, the government is advancing a familiar claim: that the White Army is an armed wing of the SPLM/A-IO acting on Machar’s orders.

The charge matters. It underpins not only Machar’s prosecution, but also a wider narrative that treats community mobilisations as opposition conspiracy in South Sudan.

The claim rests on a fundamental misunderstanding of what the White Army is, and has been for more than three decades.

Firstly, the group draws on long-standing Nuer community self-defence traditions, even if it became politically visible in national conflict in the early 1990s. It is neither purely protective nor purely predatory. This makes the White Army difficult to incorporate into elite peace agreements, and easy to mischaracterise as irrational or terrorist.

Secondly, the White Army is not a standing militia, nor an insurgent organisation with a central command. Authority flows from the community.

To understand why the White Army mobilises as it does, it is important to consider December 2013. The mass killing of Nuer civilians in Juba at the outbreak of civil war marked a decisive rupture in South Sudan’s political order. Violence that had previously been mediated through elite rivalry and fragmented local conflicts became overtly tribalised.

For many Nuer communities, December 2013 was experienced not as a power struggle within the ruling party, but as an existential attack marked by mass killings, displacement and the collapse of civilian protection.

This interpretation – whether accepted or rejected by external observers – has shaped mobilisation ever since. White Army fighters interviewed by journalists and researchers over the past decade have been consistent: they did not fight because Machar was removed from office, but because Nuer civilians were killed.

And since 2013, Nuer diaspora networks across North America, Europe and east Africa have played a role in supporting White Army mobilisations. This support has taken multiple forms: fundraising, advocacy and social media campaigning, logistical assistance, and political pressure on opposition leaders.

Diaspora involvement reinforces White Army mobilisation by amplifying narratives of collective victimhood and unfinished justice, often from a distance that strips away the everyday constraints faced by communities on the ground.

As a result, South Sudan’s 2013 war did not merely fragment the state; it reshaped political identities far beyond its territory.

– South Sudan’s White Army explained: what it is – and what it isn’t
– https://theconversation.com/south-sudans-white-army-explained-what-it-is-and-what-it-isnt-274656

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Closing remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative (PICI) Heads of State and Government Meeting

Source: President of South Africa –

Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Ministers,
Representatives of Member States,
Ladies and gentlemen,

As we conclude our deliberations today, allow me to extend my sincere appreciation to all of you for the depth of engagement and the renewed sense of collective purpose that has defined this meeting.

Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its development journey.  

Through the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative, we are charting a course to accelerate the continent’s transformation by placing strategic infrastructure at the heart of our shared vision.  

This initiative is not simply about building roads, bridges, and energy corridors. It is about connecting our people, our economies and our aspirations.  

We need to ensure that these projects translate into tangible progress for every community, every region and every citizen. This means we need to mobilise resources and unite governments, partners and the private sector.  

Our discussions today have reaffirmed the tangible progress being made across the continent.  

The highways, bridges, corridors and cables that are being built are lifelines of trade, integration and opportunity. They represent the arteries of a modern, interconnected and competitive Africa.

This meeting has confronted the persistent challenges that continue to slow our momentum, including financing constraints, weak coordination mechanisms, limited secretariat capacity and security risks.  

These are real and pressing obstacles. But they are not insurmountable.

As we look ahead to the forthcoming African Union Summit in mid-February, our task is clear: to translate today’s reflections into a strong, coherent and actionable mandate.  

We seek a mandate that re-energises political support for the initiative, that strengthens its institutional base, and that secures the sustainable financing and partnerships necessary to deliver the next generation of transformative infrastructure.

Let us continue to ensure that PICI remains fully aligned with the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area, so that every road we pave, every bridge we build, every data link we connect contributes directly to deeper integration, expanded trade and shared prosperity.

The spirit of unity and practical solidarity displayed here today gives us confidence that, together, we will overcome the barriers before us and accelerate Africa’s infrastructure transformation.

Let us leave this meeting not only with a report to adopt, but with a renewed conviction that Africa’s development is, and must remain, championed by Africans.  

It must be driven by our leadership, financed through our ingenuity and sustained by our shared vision for a continent that is connected in every sense.

I thank you.

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ConstructAfrica Announces Appointment of Tadiwanashe Taimu to Its Advisory Board

Source: APO

ConstructAfrica (https://ConstructAfrica.com) is delighted to announce the appointment of Tadiwanashe Taimu to the ConstructAfrica Industry Advisory Board (CIAB) as the Board’s Youth Representative.

Tadiwa is a highly accomplished construction project manager and emerging industry leader with experience spanning large-scale, mixed-use, and infrastructure-led developments across public and private sectors. She brings strong expertise in project coordination, cost and scope alignment, and multidisciplinary stakeholder engagement throughout the project lifecycle. Her work across hospitality, commercial, residential, and retail sectors reflect a holistic understanding of the built environment and its role in sustainable development.

Dr. Ogunshakin OBE, chair of the Advisory Board, said, “I am delighted to welcome Tadiwanashe on board as a member of the ConstructAfrica) Industry Advisory Board (CIAB). Her energy, passion, insightful and innovative perspective on how best to engender capacity building and sustainable development within the African construction industry sector would be invaluable to the Board. The CIAB is keen to ensure the youth of tomorrow across the African continent are fully engaged in the future direction of CA activities. We are looking forward to Taimu’s contributions as we progress with the rollout of the CA strategic plan, Ambassador programme, and youth stakeholders’ engagement over the coming years.

In addition to her professional practice, Tadiwa has held prominent leadership roles within the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), including service as the Tomorrow’s Leaders Representative for Sub-Saharan Africa and as a member of the CIOB Member Engagement Committee. In these capacities, she has contributed to governance initiatives, regional capacity building, and the advancement of emerging professionals in the construction industry.

“We are honoured to welcome Tadiwa to the ConstructAfrica Industry Advisory Board,” said Dr. Segun, Founder and Publisher of ConstructAfrica. “Her insight, technical expertise, and commitment to nurturing the next generation of construction professionals will be invaluable as we deepen our engagement across Africa’s built environment. Tadiwa’s perspective as a dynamic, emerging leader will help ensure that the Board reflects the diversity of voices shaping the future of infrastructure and development.”

Tadiwa’s appointment reflects ConstructAfrica’s commitment to advancing thought leadership, strategic insight, and actionable intelligence across Africa’s construction and infrastructure landscape. As the youngest member of the CIAB, she brings a future-focused perspective that will inform the Board’s work in strengthening industry capability, shaping informed dialogue, and supporting the next phase of sector transformation.

Commenting on her appointment, Tadiwa said, “I am deeply honoured to join the ConstructAfrica Industry Advisory Board and grateful for the opportunity to contribute at such a pivotal time for Africa’s built environment. My journey in the industry has reinforced the importance of integrity, accountability, and collaboration rooted in the African principle of Ubuntu — the understanding that progress is strongest when it is collective and inclusive. I look forward to contributing a youth-informed, future-focused perspective while supporting ConstructAfrica’s mission to strengthen transparency, capability, and long-term value creation across Africa’s construction and infrastructure sectors.”

ConstructAfrica looks forward to Tadiwa’s contributions to the CIAB as it continues to enhance data-driven decision-making, support strategic partnerships, and provide critical market intelligence to stakeholders across Africa’s infrastructure and construction sectors.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of ConstructAfrica.

About ConstructAfrica:
ConstructAfrica is a data-driven platform dedicated to enhancing transparency, efficiency, and collaboration across the African construction and infrastructure ecosystem. By integrating project data with market insights, ConstructAfrica supports investors, developers, governments, and industry stakeholders in making more informed decisions that accelerate sustainable development across the continent.

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Nigeria to Host 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo Under the Patronage of the Office of the Vice President

Source: APO – Report:

Preparations are underway for the 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo (RACE 2026) (https://RegTechAfrica.com), Africa’s flagship platform on regulatory technology, digital innovation, and policy reform, scheduled to hold from 20–22 May 2026 at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Conference will be held under the Patronage of the Office of the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, in partnership with the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI), and in collaboration with the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA)—underscoring its strategic importance to Nigeria’s and Africa’s economic transformation agenda.

Anchored on the theme “Building Trust, Infrastructure, Inclusion, and Policy for a Borderless Economy,” RACE 2026 will convene regulators, policymakers, technology leaders, innovators, investors, and development partners to shape the future of Africa’s digital and regulatory landscape in an era of accelerating cross-border trade and financial integration.

As Africa advances the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)—a single market of over 1.4 billion people and a projected value of US$3.4 trillion—the Conference will address one of the continent’s most pressing challenges: how to align technology, regulation, and policy to enable seamless, trusted, and inclusive economic activity across borders.

“RACE 2026 is positioned as a strategic policy and innovation platform—where technology-enabled regulation becomes a catalyst for trust, inclusion, and sustainable economic growth across Africa,” Cyril Okoroigwe, Chair Organising Committee.

A Platform for Regulatory Innovation and Economic Empowerment

The Conference will spotlight how RegTech, SupTech, artificial intelligence, digital identity, interoperable payment systems, cybersecurity, and data-driven compliance solutions can reduce friction, lower risk, and unlock opportunities for governments, businesses, startups, and citizens.

Key outcomes will focus on:

  • Building trust through technology-enabled regulation and smarter supervision
  • Strengthening digital infrastructure for interoperable payments, identity, and data exchange
  • Driving inclusion for SMEs, startups, women, and underserved populations
  • Modernising policy frameworks to support innovation while safeguarding financial integrity

High-Level Engagement and Global Participation

RACE 2026 will feature 50+ world-class speakers, 10 thematic tracks, and over 1,000 in-person and virtual participants from across Africa and the global financial and technology ecosystem. The hybrid event will include ministerial dialogues, regulators’ CEO forums, innovation showcases, and curated B2B and B2G networking sessions.

A major highlight will be the Global Startup World Cup – Regional Challenge, positioning Abuja as a launchpad for Africa’s most promising technology startups to compete on the global stage.

Speaking on the partnership, Dr. Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, Technical Adviser to the President / Executive Secretary, Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI):

“The 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo aligns strongly with Nigeria’s commitment to economic and financial inclusion. By bringing together regulators, innovators, and policymakers, the Conference provides a critical platform to harness technology and smart regulation as tools for trust-building, inclusion, and sustainable economic growth—both within Nigeria and across Africa.”

Call to Action: Registration and Partnerships

Attendance at the 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo is strictly by registration, which is mandatory for all participants. Early registration is strongly encouraged due to limited capacity and high-level security protocols at the venue.

Organizations interested in partnerships, sponsorships, exhibitions, or strategic participation are invited to engage with the Organising Committee.

Partnership & Sponsorship Enquiries:
Email: info@regtechafricaconference.com

Registration & Event Information:
Website: www.RegTechAfricaConference.com

Positioning Africa for a Borderless Future

Through strategic media engagement and the #BorderlessAfriconomy and #RACE2026 campaigns, the Conference aims to reshape global narratives—presenting Africa not as a high-risk market, but as a policy-aware, innovation-ready, and investment-attractive continent.

The 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo is expected to play a defining role in advancing Africa’s journey toward borderless economic empowerment, where trust, technology, and policy work together to deliver shared prosperity.

Event Details:
Venue: State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja
Date: 20–22 May 2026
Format: Hybrid (In-person & Virtual)
Website: www.RegTechAfricaConference.com

– on behalf of RegTech Africa.

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Basketball Africa League to Tip Off Sixth Season on March 27 in South Africa

Source: APO – Report:

  • BAL Will Return to Morocco for Group Phase and Rwanda for Playoffs and Finals
  • Fans Can Visit https://BAL.NBA.com to Register Their Interest in Tickets 

The Basketball Africa League (BAL) (https://BAL.NBA.com) today announced that the league’s sixth season will tip off on Friday, March 27 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, and culminate with 2026 BAL Finals on Sunday, May 31 at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. The 2026 BAL season will feature the top 12 club teams from 12 African countries playing 42 games in Pretoria; Rabat, Morocco; and Kigali.

This season, the 12 teams will be divided into two conferences of six teams each.  Each conference will play a 15-game group phase during which each team will face the other five teams in its conference once. The Kalahari Conference group phase will take place from March 27 – Sunday, April 5 in Pretoria.  The Sahara Conference group phase will take place from Friday, April 24 – Sunday, May 3 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat.  Eight teams from across the two conferences will qualify for the Playoffs in Kigali from Friday, May 22 – May 31. Fans can visit https://BAL.NBA.com to register their interest in tickets.     

“Returning to South Africa, Morocco and Rwanda for our sixth season speaks to the strong sporting cultures and rapidly growing basketball ecosystems in those countries,” said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall. “The BAL continues to inspire fans across the continent and drive opportunities and global recognition for African talent. We look forward to welcoming fans to BAL games in all three markets and to showcasing incredible competition and energy on and off the court to a global audience when the season tips off.”

“As we approach the tip off of the sixth Basketball Africa League season, we can celebrate the league’s growing impact and the way this competition continues to elevate the game across the region,” said FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave. “We also continue to see the importance of the Road to the BAL as a pathway that expands access and strengthens competition across the continent.  Entering the sixth season with such momentum is a testament to the BAL’s influence on players, clubs and communities, and we look forward to another year of exceptional basketball.”

In addition to the games, the BAL will celebrate the convergence of basketball and African culture through the music, fashion, lifestyle and entertainment that surrounds today’s game, highlighted by appearances from leading celebrities and influencers. The league will also collaborate with its partners to host basketball development and social impact programming in the three host markets as well as Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal, including youth, coach and referee clinics, children’s literacy and educational initiatives, media networking, and a series of camps and workshops for young women as part of BAL4HER, the league’s platform for advancing gender equality in the African sports ecosystem. 

Rwanda Development Board will return as BAL Foundational Partner. Additional BAL partners include Afreximbank, Air Senegal, Amazon Web Services, Castle Lite, the French Embassy in Senegal, and RwandAir.

On June 14, 2025, Libya’s Alahli Tripoli became the first Libyan team to win the BAL Finals after previous champions from Angola, Egypt and Tunisia. The 2025 BAL season reached fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages, set an attendance record of more than 140,000 fans, and generated more than 1.2 billion impressions across NBA and BAL social media channels. 

The 12 participating teams and additional information about the 2026 BAL season will be announced at a later date.

– on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).

Contact:
Marie-Pierre Anamba Onana
Basketball Africa League
+221 78 637 70 62
Manamba@thebal.com

About the BAL:
The Basketball Africa League (BAL), a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that will tip off its sixth season in March 2026. Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, the BAL builds on the foundation of club competitions FIBA Africa has organized across the continent and marks the NBA’s first collaboration to operate a league outside North America. Fans can follow the BAL (@ theBAL) on Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4a3e6cP), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/49QviUl), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4te8eGO), X (https://apo-opa.co/4rhzdiB), and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4a964zj) and register their interest in receiving more information at https://BAL.NBA.com.

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President Ramaphosa welcomes FIFA World Cup Trophy to South Africa

Source: Government of South Africa

President Ramaphosa welcomes FIFA World Cup Trophy to South Africa

By Dikeledi Molobela 

A sense of pride, joy and quiet awe filled the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre at the Union Buildings on Friday, as President Cyril Ramaphosa officially welcomed the FIFA World Cup Original Trophy to South Africa, marking a historic and emotional moment in the country’s football journey.

Bathed in sunshine and framed by the seat of government, invited guests, football legends, government leaders and members of the Bafana Bafana World Cup squad gathered in anticipation as the most coveted prize in world football was unveiled during the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola.

The atmosphere was jubilant as the trophy, rarely seen and even more rarely touched, was revealed and handed to President Ramaphosa – one of the few individuals globally permitted to physically handle the Original Trophy.

“It’s really a joyful moment to be here at the Union Buildings. I’m rather glad that we brought the cup here to the Union Buildings… We have unveiled and touched it. It feels very good. It’s got a nice touch and feel to it,” the President said, drawing warm applause from the audience.

The FIFA World Cup Original Trophy is the one presented to the winning team at the conclusion of the tournament, before returning to the FIFA Museum in Zurich. Outside of the tournament itself, the only time the trophy leaves Switzerland is during the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola, the only FIFA partner authorised to activate the Original Trophy globally.

For South Africa, the trophy’s arrival carried meaning far beyond spectacle.

After first qualifying for the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and famously hosting the historic 2010 tournament, South Africa has now qualified again for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending a 16-year absence from the global stage. 

The moment symbolised not just a return but a renewal, placing the hopes, pride and aspirations of the nation firmly back into the international football conversation.

“We are going to lend it out, but it’s going to come back. We’ll allow it to go for a while, and then after the FIFA World Cup, the boys are going to bring it back, and we will have it here at the Union Buildings again,” President Ramaphosa said.

Addressing the Bafana Bafana squad, the President offered words of encouragement and national backing as they prepare to compete in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

“I want to applaud you and wish you well on your journey to go and do battle in the United States, Mexico and Canada, and we do have full confidence that you’re going to bring the cup back. The South African public – the entire population – wishes you well, and this is the one moment when you must feel the full support of South Africans behind you.

“We are going to fill your sails with a great deal of luck, confidence and best wishes as you go out to represent the country and when you are there, just know that you are representing the 62 million people of South Africa,” the President said. 

The ceremony also underscored the Union Buildings’ symbolic role as the heart of South Africa’s democracy and leadership.

“This is a beautiful, sunny day in Pretoria. This is the seat of our government, and this is where we make things happen,” President Ramaphosa said, thanking Coca-Cola for bringing the global moment home.

The event featured key photo moments with the President, FIFA World Cup-winning legend Marcel Desailly, South African football icons Siphiwe Tshabalala, members of the Bafana Bafana World Cup squad, government leadership and Coca-Cola system executives, capturing a rare convergence of sport, State and history.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola in South Africa is more than a tour: it is a homecoming for South Africa, marking the symbolic beginning of the country’s return to the world’s biggest sporting stage. 

As the trophy was carefully returned to its case and the ceremony drew to a close, one message resonated clearly – South Africa’s football story is once again being written, and the journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially begun. – SAnews.gov.za 

DikelediM

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Meeting assesses impact of Zuikerbosch water plant explosion on supply systems

Source: Government of South Africa

Meeting assesses impact of Zuikerbosch water plant explosion on supply systems

Government has acknowledged the significant hardship and disruption experienced by households, businesses and communities across Gauteng, following the explosion of a motor connected to one of the pumps at the Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant.

The explosion on Tuesday, 27 January 2027, had a ripple effect and affected the entire Engine Room 4, resulting in the temporary shutdown of operations, particularly in the metropolitan municipalities of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.

Government expressed regret for the inconvenience, distress and economic impact caused by low water pressure, temporary outages, and widespread supply interruptions, which were exacerbated by high water consumption during this period.

In response, the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, led by Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, convened an urgent stakeholder meeting on Thursday evening.

The meeting brought together Rand Water, the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Gauteng Provincial Government, the City of Johannesburg and Johannesburg Water.

The meeting was also attended by Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, and City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero, who provided detailed updates on the ongoing recovery efforts and the local impact of the incident.

Stakeholders received a comprehensive briefing on the cause of the explosion, assessed its impact on water supply systems and coordinated measures to accelerate recovery while strengthening long-term system resilience.

The meeting commended Rand Water for its swift and effective response, noting that emergency repair teams worked around the clock to complete emergency repairs.

“Government is pleased to confirm that full operations at Zuikerbosch have been restored, with all booster stations – Palmiet, Eikenhof, Mapleton, and Zwartkopjes – now pumping at full capacity. Reservoir levels in the affected systems are recovering steadily, and customers should see gradual improvements in water pressure and supply over the coming hours and days as the network stabilises,” government said in a joint statement on Friday.

The meeting also commended Johannesburg Water for its proactive intervention in deploying additional water tankers to alleviate pressure on businesses and communities during the disruption.

While welcoming the rapid recovery, government said the incident underscores the urgent need to strengthen the resilience of Gauteng’s bulk water supply system. 

Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to supporting infrastructure upgrades, including expanded reservoir capacity, to ensure a more reliable and robust bulk water system for the province.

Over R32 billion investment in JHB water infrastructure

The meeting noted that Johannesburg, in particular, requires increased water storage capacity in reservoirs to better buffer against unpredictable events like as infrastructure failures.

In this regard, Johannesburg Water plans to invest more than R32 billion over the next 10 years in water services infrastructure across the city, with a portion of this funding earmarked for expanding storage capacity.

“Enhancing storage will ensure that accidents or technical failures have minimal impact on communities, preventing severe disruptions even during high-demand periods or unexpected incidents,” the statement said.

Government extended its sincere apology to all affected residents, businesses and stakeholders, and thanked the public for their patience and cooperation shown throughout this challenging time.

“Rand Water and Johannesburg Water will continue their close collaboration to restore uninterrupted supply fully and provide ongoing updates. Residents are encouraged to contact their local water utility or Rand Water’s Customer Care line for assistance.” – SAnews.gov.za

 

GabiK

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