Category: Africa

Source: APO

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The President of the Republic, Dr. Patrick Herminie, today presented Instruments of Appointment to six newly appointed Ambassadors of the Republic of Seychelles during a formal ceremony held at State House.

The Ambassadors appointed are Mr. Jacques Belle, Mr. Terry Romain, Mrs. Jacqueline Moustache-Belle, Mr. André Pool, Mr. Patrick Victor, and Mr. Nicholas Prea. Their nominations to the post of Ambassador were approved by the National Assembly in December 2025.

The presentation of Instruments of Appointment formally confers upon the Ambassadors the authority to represent the Republic of Seychelles abroad, advance the country’s foreign policy objectives, and contribute to the strengthening of Seychelles’ diplomatic presence and international partnerships.

Addressing the Ambassadors, President Herminie congratulated them on their appointments and expressed confidence in their ability to discharge their responsibilities with distinction, integrity, and professionalism. He emphasised that the central role of diplomacy is in promoting Seychelles’ national interests, fostering bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and enhancing the country’s standing within the international community.

The President further encouraged the Ambassadors to actively advance Seychelles’ key priorities and to be guided in their work by what best serves the interests of the nation. He emphasised the importance of navigating complex geopolitical dynamics with sound judgement, ensuring that all decisions taken contribute to the betterment and long-term development of Seychelles.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mr. Barry Faure, and the Principal Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Ian Madeleine.

The Government of Seychelles extends its best wishes to the newly appointed Ambassadors as they assume their duties in service of the Republic.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO

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The ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) GHANCOY 9, stationed in Barra in the North Bank Region of The Gambia, on the 22nd of December, 2025 extended a kind gesture by donating household items to SOS Children’s Village in Bakoteh, the Gambia.

The support package included food items, drinks, clothing, sanitary materials and other basic necessities aimed at improving the daily welfare of the children at the facility.

Major Abdul Samed Vincent Dawuda the Second in Command, on behalf of the Officer Commanding, Lt Col Ronne Yaw Agbemafle, said the initiative forms part of the Company’s civil-military activities to support host communities beyond their core security mandate. He noted that over the years, Ghanaian troops under ECOMIG have built a positive relationship with Gambian communities through consistent humanitarian and community-based interventions.

Receiving the items on behalf of the SOS Children’s Village, the Alternative Care Coordinator, Cordelia Pratt, expressed appreciation to the Ghanaian contingent, stressing the importance of the donation to the children’s wellbeing.“Every child needs to be properly clothed and cared for,” she said. “These items will go a long way in supporting the children in their everyday lives, and we are very grateful for this kind gesture.”

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Margett Camara also welcomed the support, describing it as timely and impactful.

In addition to the donation, the Ghanaian troops conducted an outreach program to educate the children about the role and responsibilities of the military. The session focused on interpreting military work and highlighting the military’s role in peacekeeping and community support.

The visit reinforced ECOMIG’s commitment to civil-military cooperation and its continued support to vulnerable communities across the country.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO

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• EUR 25 million Shariah-compliant Line of Financing facility to support private sector growth in Benin
• Four-year facility to facilitate access to finance for the private sector enterprises, mainly SMEs and Large corporates.
• Expected to create 600 new jobs and support sustainable economic development
• Expanding ICD’s successful partnership with Coris Holding across West Africa

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) (www.ICD-PS.org), the private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, and Coris Bank International Benin (CBI Benin) have signed a EUR 25 million (16.4 billion CFA) Shariah-compliant Line of Financing (LOF) agreement. The four-year facility is designed to enhance access to finance for private sector enterprises in Benin, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

This strategic financing facility will enable CBI Benin to provide much-needed capital to SMEs and corporate clients across Benin, supporting the country’s economic diversification efforts and private sector development. The facility is expected to create approximately 600 new jobs while benefiting a portfolio of seven SMEs and one corporate entity, in addition to supporting 13 existing jobs.

The agreement represents a continuation of ICD’s successful collaboration with Coris Holding, which has seen the establishment of Islamic banking windows and the extension of similar LOFs in neighboring West African countries, including Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal, and Togo. This partnership underscores ICD’s commitment to promoting Islamic finance and fostering inclusive economic growth across the region.

The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). By channeling Shariah-compliant financing to the private sector, ICD and CBI Benin aim to strengthen Benin’s economic resilience and create sustainable employment opportunities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

For media inquiries, contact:
icd.communication@isdb.org

About Coris Bank International Benin:
CBI Benin commenced operations in 2017 as a branch of Coris Bank Burkina Faso. It subsequently became a fully owned subsidiary of Coris Bank Holding in 2019. As part of the Coris Holding group, CBI Benin is committed to providing innovative banking solutions and supporting economic development in Benin through enhanced access to financial services for individuals and businesses.

CBI Benin is a vital pillar of the Coris Holding Group- the third largest banking group in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) which maintains a robust presence across eight countries.

About the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector:
ICD, a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, is a multilateral financial institution established in 1999. ICD promotes economic development in member countries by financing private sector projects, fostering competition and entrepreneurship, offering advisory services, and encouraging cross-border investments. It holds strong credit ratings, including A2 by Moody’s, A+ by Fitch, and A by S&P. ICD focuses on Shari’ah-compliant financing for projects like infrastructure and private equity funds, aiming to create jobs and boost exports.

For more information, visit: www.ICD-PS.org.

Source: APO

Emirates (www.Emirates.com) will continue rolling out its retrofitted Boeing 777 and new A350 aircraft to key destinations across Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia, bringing Premium Economy and its latest onboard products to more cities across its network.

The recently-announced third daily service on the Dubai-Cape Town route will now be served by an A350, bringing Emirates latest aircraft type to the market for the very first time. The deployment enhances travel options between South Africa and Dubai, with Emirates’ full suite of products and services available for customers to enjoy – from the iconic A380 and the fully-retrofitted Boeing 777 to the next-gen A350.

Commenting on the deployment, Emirates’ Regional Manager of Southern Africa, Afzal Parambil said, “With the deployment of the next-gen A350 on the third daily service between Dubai and Cape Town, South Africa becomes the only African nation on our network to be served by all three aircraft types on the Emirates fleet. This fleet mix provides the greatest flexibility for our customers to travel in and out of our three gateways, while still providing travellers with the world-renowned Emirates’ experience, on every flight.”

Emirates also announced additional A350 deployments on new daily services to Copenhagen and Phuket, offering customers greater connectivity alongside an elevated onboard experience, ahead of the anticipated surge in winter travel demand. The airline will deploy its Premium Economy retrofitted A380, Boeing 777 and A350 aircraft with the latest cabin interiors on more than 84 routes by 1 July, underscoring its focus on delivering a premium and consistent experience across its network.

Additional flights and capacity to Copenhagen, Phuket and Cape Town

From 1 June, a second daily service will be introduced between Dubai and Copenhagen; a third daily service between Dubai and Phuket and the third daily to/from Cape Town will come into effect from 1 July. All three services will be operated with the airline’s latest A350 aircraft, featuring its award-winning Premium Economy, in addition to the latest Business and Economy Class cabins.

From 1 June, Emirates’ flight EK153 will depart Dubai to Copenhagen at 14:50hrs, arriving at 19:45hrs. The return flight, EK154, will depart Copenhagen at 21:35hrs, arriving in Dubai at 5:55hrs the following day.** The new service is optimally timed to provide seamless connections from Copenhagen to popular destinations via Dubai, to East Asia including, Bangkok, Bali, Manila, Tokyo Haneda and Phuket as well as convenient links to Colombo and Male. In addition, the service introduces new connections to key African cities such as Nairobi and Entebbe. Passengers travelling from key global cities, such as Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Auckland, Delhi and Bangalore will also benefit from the additional frequency to the Danish capital, with convenient onward connection times through Dubai.

From 1 July, Emirates’ flight EK778 departing Dubai at 10:25 hrs, arriving in Cape Town at 18:05 hrs; the return flight, EK779, will depart Cape Town at 20:00 hrs and arrive in Dubai at 07:25 hrs the following morning. The third frequency offers travel options with optimised connections from/to London, Dublin, Bombay, Brussels, Australasia and key Asian markets, serving both leisure and corporate travel demand.

Emirates’ double daily Cape Town service has seen consistently high load factors over the past year, particularly during peak periods. Inbound demand from the GCC continues to grow, while outbound traffic to Europe and the US East Coast remains strong.

From 1 July, Emirates’ flight EK390 will depart Dubai to Phuket at 22:40hrs, arriving at 08:10hrs the following day. The return flight, EK391, will depart Phuket at 10:00hrs, arriving in Dubai at 13:05hrs. Travellers will benefit from additional travel options to the popular resort destination, which offers an early morning arrival ideal for those connecting from Europe including Manchester, Amsterdam, London, Paris and Frankfurt as well as Kuwait and Bahrain via Dubai. The new flight will also provide convenient onward connection times from Phuket to key gateways across Europe and the Middle East, including Madrid, Munich, Birmingham, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Edinburgh, Zurich and Amman.

The airline will also operate its A350 to Rome and Taipei from 1 May.

Planned Premium Economy route expansions:

Africa 

• Addis Ababa: From 1 March*, the retrofitted 3-class Boeing 777-200LR will operate daily on EK723/724.
• Cape Town: the third daily flight on the Dubai-Cape Town route, announced at the 2025 Dubai Airshow, will now operate with a next-gen Emirates A350 from 1 July 2026.

Europe & North America

• Barcelona and Mexico City: Emirates will operate its EK187/188 service with a retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from 1 February. EK255/256, the linked service between Barcelona and Mexico City, will operate with a Premium Economy retrofitted three class Boeing 777-200LR daily from 15 February* onwards.
• Rome: The EK099/100 daily service will operate with A350 aircraft from 29 March.
• Copenhagen: Addition of a second daily service from 1 June with an Emirates A350, as EK153/154.           

Asia

• Cochin: From 29 January, two of the seven-weekly services (Thursday and Sunday) on EK530/531 between Dubai and Cochin will operate with a retrofitted Boeing 777-200LR.
• Karachi: Starting 1 March*, Emirates’ retrofitted three-class Boeing 777-200LR will begin operating daily on EK606/607.
• Taipei: Emirates will operate its retrofitted Boeing 777-200LR on the EK386/387 daily service from 15 March* until 30 April and, from 1 May onwards, those services will operate with the airline’s A350 aircraft.
• Phuket: A third daily service between Dubai and Phuket will come into effect from 1 July on EK 390/391.

Australia

• Brisbane: From 29 March, daily flights on EK EK430/431 will be operated by a retrofitted four-class Boeing 777-300ER, joining the A380 retrofitted service introduced last year.

Middle East

• Basra: The Thursday service on EK947/948 will transition to a retrofitted four-class Boeing 777-300ER from 29 January.
• Kuwait City: The EK859/860 daily service between Dubai and Kuwait City will operate with a retrofitted Boeing 777 from 1 February until 30 April and from 1 May onwards the service will operate with an Emirates A350. 
• Tehran: Effective 29 March, the retrofitted B777 in a four-class configuration will operate daily flights on EK979/980.

Tickets can be booked on www.Emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via both online and offline travel agents as well as Emirates’ retail stores.

* Aircraft deployment may be advanced if released earlier from refurbishment.

** All times are local.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Emirates Group.

Source: APO

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Masoud M. Suleman, Chairman of Libya’s state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC), will participate as a speaker at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES) 2026, scheduled for January 24-26, 2026, in Tripoli. The summit will bring together national and international energy stakeholders, including major operators such as bp, Eni, Shell, Chevron and TotalEnergies, to discuss strategies for Libya’s oil and gas sector, focusing on production growth, infrastructure investment and energy transition initiatives.

Under Chairman Suleman’s leadership, the NOC has embarked on a strategic revitalization of Libya’s oil sector. As of early January 2026, Libya’s production has stabilized at 1.38-1.4 million barrels per day (bpd), with a target of 1.6 million bpd by the end of 2026 (https://apo-opa.co/4svIncJ). Looking ahead, the NOC aims to achieve 2 million bpd within three to five years, contingent on stable funding and security. In 2025, the country’s oil revenues reached $21.26 billion, an increase from $18.61 billion in 2024, demonstrating resilience amid fluctuating global prices.

A central focus for 2026 is the completion of the first competitive licensing round in 18 years, including 22 blocks – 11 onshore and 11 offshore. Offshore exploration remains a strategic priority for the NOC, with bp and Eni, in partnership with the Libyan Investment Authority, preparing to drill an exploratory deepwater well in the Sirte Basin (https://apo-opa.co/4q9JKw5). These initiatives are complemented by infrastructure investment plans, with the NOC estimating $3-4 billion in 2026 will be needed to modernize aging pipelines, restore lost capacity and enhance operational efficiency across its network.

Domestic refining and petrochemicals are also key pillars of the NOC’s agenda. Zallaf Libya, an NOC subsidiary, is advancing construction of a 30,000-bpd refinery in the southern town of Ubari to meet local fuel demand and reduce imports. Meanwhile, the Ras Lanuf ethylene plant (https://apo-opa.co/4sAHQGM) and a second methanol plant at Sirte Oil Company have recently resumed operations, reinforcing Libya’s refining and downstream capacity.

Environmental and gas sector strategies are integral to sustainable growth. For 2026, the NOC is targeting a reduction in gas flaring of 120 million cubic feet per day, with previously-flared gas directed toward stabilizing the national power grid and supporting domestic energy needs. Structural reforms, introduced following Suleman’s formal appointment as Chairman in October 2025, focus on improving governance, transparency and audit practices across all subsidiaries, including Akakus Oil Operations, now producing 325,000 bpd, and Waha Oil Company, peaking at 371,000 bpd.

“We are honored to welcome Chairman Masoud M. Suleman as a keynote speaker at LEES 2026,” states James Chester, CEO, Energy Capital & Power. “His participation underscores Libya’s commitment to transparency, sector reform and investment-ready projects, offering attendees unique insights into the country’s energy growth and strategic opportunities.”

At LEES 2026, Chairman Suleman will be positioned to engage with international operators to discuss mature and marginal field strategies, technical partnerships and investment opportunities, reinforcing Libya’s position as a stable and attractive destination for global energy investment.

Join industry leaders at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit 2026 in Tripoli and explore investment opportunities in one of North Africa’s most dynamic energy markets. LEES 2026 offers a premier platform for partnerships, innovation and sector growth. Visit www.LibyaSummit.com to secure your participation. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.