Category: Africa

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Rugby Africa Appoints Former National Basketball Association (NBA) Africa Executive Aïcha Diop as Chief of Staff to the President

Source: APO

Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com), the continental governing body for rugby union in Africa, is pleased to announce the appointment of former NBA Africa executive Aïcha Diop as Chief of Staff to the President.

In this strategic leadership role, Aïcha Diop will work and support  Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa, Executive Board Member of World Rugby, and Chairman of World Rugby Regions—the body uniting the presidents of all six continental rugby associations: Rugby Europe, Asia Rugby, Rugby Americas North (RAN), Sudamérica Rugby, Oceania Rugby, and Rugby Africa. In his capacity, Mr Mensah operates at the intersection of continental and global sports governance, engaging with heads of state, ministers, and leaders of development finance institutions to advance the role of sport as an engine for economic growth and social development. These combined mandates place him among the most influential sports administrators in Africa.

A seasoned international executive, Aïcha brings over 18 years of experience across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North America, combining strategic leadership, operational execution, and high-level expertise in marketing, brand development, and audience growth. She has held senior roles at NBA Africa and the Basketball Africa League, part of the team who launched the Basketball Africa League (BAL) where she led multi-market initiatives, coordinated cross-functional teams, and contributed to the growth and visibility of the organisation through impactful campaigns and programmes.

Her career also includes senior positions at IBM, where she managed regional initiatives across multiple African markets, aligning strategy with execution and supporting business growth. In addition, she has been involved in the delivery of major international sports and entertainment events, including Formula 1, UFC, and global football competitions, and broader sports ecosystem on the continent further strengthening her ability to operate in high-performance, international environments.

Aïcha holds a Master’s degree in Sport & Lifestyle Management from Rome Business School, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Her combined academic and professional background provides a strong understanding of sports ecosystems, organisational dynamics, and audience engagement, supporting Rugby Africa’s ambitions to expand its reach and impact across the continent.

Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Aïcha Diop to Rugby Africa. Her exceptional track record, international exposure, and deep understanding of the sports and commercial landscape make her a remarkable addition to our leadership team. Attracting talent of this calibre reflects our ambition to elevate rugby across Africa and position Rugby Africa as a modern, high-performance organisation on the global stage.”

Aïcha Diop added: “It is a great honour to join Rugby Africa at such an exciting time for the sport across the continent. Under the leadership of President Herbert Mensah, Rugby Africa is playing an increasingly important role on both the African and global stage. The continued success of African rugby, exemplified by South Africa’s Rugby World Cup victories in 1995, 2007, 2019, and most recently in 2023, reflects the immense potential of the continent. I look forward to contributing to this momentum, supporting the delivery of Rugby Africa’s strategic priorities, and working alongside its stakeholders to further unlock the power of rugby as a driver of opportunity, unity, and sustainable development across Africa.”

In her role as Chief of Staff, Aïcha will work closely with the President to drive strategic initiatives, enhance coordination across member unions and stakeholders, and support the delivery of Rugby Africa’s long-term vision, including the continued expansion of competitions, partnerships, and youth engagement across the continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.

Media Contact:
Nicole Vervelde
Communications Manager
nicole.vervelde@rugbyafrique.com

About Rugby Africa:
Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is the governing body of rugby in Africa and one of the regional associations under World Rugby. It unites all African countries that play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women’s rugby. Rugby Africa organises various competitions, including qualifying tournaments for the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. With 40 member unions, Rugby Africa is dedicated to promoting and developing rugby across the continent. World Rugby has identified Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia as three of the six emerging nations experiencing strong growth in rugby.

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Government condemns vandalism of road infrastructure

Source: Government of South Africa

Government condemns vandalism of road infrastructure

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has strongly condemned the destruction and vandalism of public road infrastructure and indicated that it is a criminal offence.

This follows acts of destruction and vandalism along the (R550) Heidelberg–Alberton route in the vicinity of Zonkizizwe and Palm Ridge in the City of Ekurhuleni during the ongoing service delivery protest.

Protesting community members deliberately dug up and damaged sections of the road, leading to its closure.

The MEC has appealed to communities to refrain from committing these acts and indicated that “damage, theft and vandalism of road infrastructure is clearly defined as a criminal offence under the Gauteng Transport Infrastructure Act (2001).”

“While the right to peaceful protest is constitutionally protected, as the Department of Roads and Transport, we denounce these criminal acts as reckless, unlawful, and unacceptable. 

“They endanger lives, damage much-needed public infrastructure and disrupt economic activity. These acts pose a security risk and lead to disruptions in the movement of goods, emergency services, public transport operations and broader economic activity,” she said.

The Gauteng Transport Infrastructure Act (2001) clearly defines theft and vandalism to road infrastructure as a criminal offence. 

In terms of Section 52 (d) of the Act, no person or institution, including any organ of state, may, unless authorised, damage a provincial road or any transport infrastructure, or spill fuel, chemicals, or gas on such infrastructure in a manner that may cause damage.

Public infrastructure destruction also places unnecessary financial burden on the provincial coffers through costly repairs and restoration work.

“The cost of repairing vandalised infrastructure places unnecessary pressure on public finances and delays projects intended to improve road safety and public transport services. 

“The destruction and theft of transport infrastructure is not a victimless crime. It affects every commuter, every motorist, and every community that depends on safe and reliable roads and public transport systems,” the MEC said.

The department has urged motorists to avoid using the (R550) Heidelberg–Alberton route until further notice. 

They are advised to use alternative routes until further appraisal by law enforcement authorities and technical teams assessing the situation.

Therefore, the department calls on community leaders, protest organisers, and residents to pursue lawful and peaceful engagement with government structures in addressing grievances, without endangering lives or damaging infrastructure intended to serve communities.

Road users are specifically advised to approach the area with caution or make use of alternative routes, where possible.

Diale-Tlabela has called for closer collaboration between the department, communities, law-enforcement authorities, and stakeholders to identify those responsible and hold them to account.

She has also instructed maintenance teams to secure the affected area, assess the damage, and resume restoration work to facilitate safe mobility. –SAnews.gov.za

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La Global Africa Business Initiative fait passer ses Digital and Health Action Pathways à la vitesse supérieure pour accélérer la transformation économique du continent

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

La Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) (https://GABI.UNGlobalCompact.org) vient de faire passer ses nouvelles Digital and Health Action Pathways à la vitesse supérieure afin d’accélérer la transformation économique du continent grâce à l’identification et à la promotion de solutions aux problèmes qui ralentissent le progrès.

Convoqué en marge de l’Africa CEO Forum à Kigali, au Rwanda, le 15 mai, le GABI Solutions Lab a mis au défi certains des principaux chefs d’entreprise africains d’élaborer un plan de travail ambitieux et réalisable pour surmonter les obstacles qui freinent les progrès du continent.

« L’Afrique n’est pas confrontée à une pénurie d’idées, mais à un déficit important d’exécution et de financement nécessaire pour déployer des solutions à grande échelle », a déclaré Sanda Ojiambo, sous-secrétaire générale et directrice générale du Pacte mondial des Nations unies. « Le GABI Solutions Lab a été une session de travail ciblée au cours de laquelle des dirigeants des secteurs public et privé ont élaboré conjointement des solutions concrètes, des partenariats structurés bancables et des axes de financement viables pouvant être déployés immédiatement. L’objectif est de veiller à ce que les engagements se traduisent par des résultats mesurables et concrets à grande échelle. »

Les Action Pathways de la GABI pour la transformation numérique et la santé ont été lancés lors de l’événement Unstoppable Africa en septembre dernier par une coalition de dirigeants africains et mondiaux engagés à passer de l’idéation à l’exécution. Le Solutions Lab à Kigali a fait progresser et connecté ces deux axes, en utilisant la technologie numérique dans le domaine de la santé comme test pratique pour relever le défi plus large de l’apport de capitaux privés dans les infrastructures d’intérêt public à grande échelle. En tant que co-architectes de solutions, les participants ont travaillé sur les conditions spécifiques qui rendraient chaque défi bancable et réalisable, en s’appuyant sur des scénarios concrets présentés par des dirigeants des secteurs public et privé.

Parmi les principaux thèmes abordés figurent la manière d’accélérer les investissements dans les infrastructures publiques numériques, la connectivité, les compétences et la gouvernance afin que l’IA devienne un catalyseur du développement de l’Afrique ; la question de la réduction du délai d’adoption de solutions d’infrastructure éprouvées ; et le déploiement de modèles de financement soutenant des infrastructures numériques souveraines à grande échelle sur plusieurs marchés africains.

Caitlin Burton, CEO de la société d’IA et de robotique Zipline Africa, basée au Rwanda, a souligné la nécessité d’aller au-delà des programmes pilotes vers la mise en œuvre à grande échelle de technologies éprouvées : « Dans une grande partie de l’Afrique, l’adoption se fait toujours au rythme des cycles d’aide traditionnels et des calendriers de mise en œuvre du secteur public plutôt qu’à la vitesse du déploiement des technologies modernes. Nous avons besoin de modèles de financement, de mesures incitatives, de mécanismes de responsabilisation et de partenariats capables de compresser le calendrier d’adoption d’infrastructures éprouvées de plusieurs décennies à quelques années, et de générer une plus grande urgence d’action ».

Kate Kallot, fondatrice et CEO d’Amini, une société d’infrastructure de données basée au Kenya, a souligné l’importance d’une infrastructure d’IA souveraine et du renforcement des capacités numériques sur l’ensemble du continent : « Beaucoup de développeurs et de créateurs sur l’ensemble du continent ne disposent pas des outils ni de l’accès nécessaires pour élaborer des solutions qui reflètent les réalités locales. Le manque de données est un symptôme d’une fracture numérique beaucoup plus profonde, notamment causée par une connectivité limitée et des infrastructures disparates. Le défi consiste désormais à déployer des modèles de financement pour des infrastructures numériques souveraines à grande échelle, sur plusieurs marchés, d’une manière qui permettra aux gouvernements et aux citoyens de disposer de capacités réelles au cours des 12 prochains mois ».

Le ministre nigérian des Communications et de l’Économie numérique, Bosun Tijani, s’est exprimé sur la vitesse d’adoption de l’IA : « Sans une connectivité pertinente, des personnes qualifiées et des systèmes de gouvernance capables de soutenir l’adoption à grande échelle, nous risquons d’accumuler notre retard. Le véritable défi n’est pas de savoir si l’Afrique adoptera l’IA, mais si nous avons construit la capacité d’absorption nécessaire pour transformer nos économies et nos secteurs clés ».

Des dirigeants de la Fondation Aig-Imoukhuede, Afreximbank, Ecobank, McKinsey, PMI, mPedigree, ServiceNow, Safaricom et des Nations unies ont également répondu présent pour alimenter le débat sur la transformation.

La GABI, qui souffle cette année sa cinquième bougie, est une plateforme mondiale qui rassemble des chefs d’entreprise, des décideurs politiques et des investisseurs afin de stimuler la croissance économique de l’Afrique. L’initiative est construite sur une prémisse simple : le potentiel de l’Afrique est concrétisé lorsque l’ambition publique est en phase avec les capitaux privés, et cet objectif est atteint lorsque l’Afrique devient un acteur commercial à part entière.

Unstoppable Africa, l’événement phare de la GABI, se tiendra au Marriott Marquis à New York les 20 et 21 septembre. Suivez toute l’actualité sur la chaîne YouTube d’Unstoppable Africa (http://apo-opa.co/4nO8nOz).

Pour plus d’informations sur la Global Africa Business Initiative, visitez GABI.UnglobalCompact.org/. 

Distribué par APO Group pour Global Africa Business Initiative.

Relations avec les médias :
Ekene Nwakonobi
Ekene.nwakonobi@apo-opa.com

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Global Africa Business Initiative shifts Digital and Health Action Pathways into higher gear to accelerate continent’s economic transformation

Source: APO

The Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) (https://GABI.UNGlobalCompact.org) has shifted its new Digital and Health Action Pathways into a higher gear in order to accelerate the continent’s economic transformation by identifying and driving solutions to problems that slow progress.

Convening on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda on 15 May, the GABI Solutions Lab challenged some of Africa’s top business leaders to develop an ambitious, actionable work plan to overcome the roadblocks holding the continent back.

“Africa does not face a shortage of ideas, but a significant gap in execution and the financing required to scale solutions,” said Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact. “The GABI Solutions Lab was a focused working session where public and private sector leaders co-developed practical solutions, structured bankable partnerships, and unlocked viable financing pathways that can be advanced immediately.  The aim is to ensure that commitments are translated into measurable, real-world outcomes at scale,” she added.

The GABI Action Pathways for Digital Transformation and Health were launched at Unstoppable Africa last September by a coalition of African and global leaders committed to advancing transformation from aspiration to delivery. The Solutions Lab in Kigali advanced and connected those two pathways, using digital technology in health as a practical test case for the broader challenge of bringing private capital into public-interest infrastructure at scale. As co-architects of solutions, participants worked through the specific conditions that would make each challenge bankable and implementable, drawing on real-world scenarios presented by public and private sector leaders.

Among the key discussion themes were how to accelerate investment in digital public infrastructure, connectivity, skills, and governance to ensure that AI becomes a force multiplier for African development; how to reduce the adoption timeline for proven infrastructure solutions; and how to deploy financing models for sovereign digital infrastructure at scale across multiple African markets.

Caitlin Burton, CEO of AI and robotics company Zipline Africa, headquartered in Rwanda, highlighted the need to move beyond pilot programmes towards the scaled implementation of proven technologies. “Across much of Africa, adoption is still moving at the pace of traditional aid cycles and public sector implementation timelines rather than the speed of modern technology deployment. We need financing models, incentives, accountability mechanisms, and partnerships that can collapse the adoption timeline for proven infrastructure from decades to years and create greater urgency for action,” she said.

Kate Kallot, Founder and CEO of Kenya-based data infrastructure company, Amini, emphasized the importance of sovereign AI infrastructure and digital capability development across the continent, saying, “Many developers and builders across the continent lack the tools or access required to build solutions that reflect local realities. The lack of data is a symptom of a much larger digital divide, including limited connectivity and infrastructure gaps. The challenge now is how to deploy financing models for sovereign digital infrastructure at scale, across multiple markets, in a way that delivers real capability into the hands of governments and citizens within the next 12 months.”

Nigeria’s Federal Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani, spoke about the speed of AI adoption. “Without meaningful connectivity, skilled people, and governance systems that can support adoption at scale, we risk falling further behind. The real challenge is not whether Africa will adopt AI, but whether we have built the absorptive capacity required to use it to transform our economies and key sectors,” he said.

Senior industry leaders from the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Afreximbank, Ecobank, McKinsey, PMI, mPedigree, ServiceNow, Safaricom, and the United Nations were also present to drive the transformation conversation.

Now in its fifth year, GABI is a global platform that brings together business leaders, policymakers, and investors to drive Africa’s economic growth. It is built on a simple premise: Africa’s potential is unlocked when public ambition aligns with private capital — and that happens by doing business with Africa, not just in Africa.

Unstoppable Africa, GABI’s flagship event, will take place at the Marriott Marquis in New York on 20-21 September. Follow the latest developments at Unstoppable Africa – YouTube (http://apo-opa.co/4nO8nOz).

For more information on the Global Africa Business Initiative, visit GABI.UNGlobalCompact.org/. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Global Africa Business Initiative.

Media Enquiries:
Ekene Nwakonobi
Ekene.nwakonobi@apo-opa.com

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A Global Africa Business Initiative coloca as Vias de Ação Digital e de Saúde numa velocidade superior para acelerar a transformação económica do continente

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

A Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) (https://GABI.UNGlobalCompact.org) acelerou as suas novas Vias de Ação Digital e de Saúde, a fim de acelerar a transformação económica do continente, identificando e impulsionando soluções para os problemas que atrasam o progresso.

Reunido à margem do Fórum de CEOs de África em Kigali, Ruanda, a 15 de maio, o Laboratório de Soluções da GABI desafiou alguns dos principais líderes empresariais de África a desenvolverem um plano de trabalho ambicioso e útil para ultrapassar os obstáculos que impedem o continente de avançar.

“África não enfrenta uma escassez de ideias, mas sim uma lacuna significativa na execução e no financiamento necessário para escalar as soluções”, afirmou Sanda Ojiambo, Secretário-Geral Adjunto e Diretor Executivo do Pacto Global das Nações Unidas. “O Laboratório de Soluções da GABI foi uma sessão de trabalho orientada em que os líderes dos setores público e privado codesenvolveram soluções práticas, estruturaram parcerias financeiramente atrativas e desbloquearam vias de financiamento viáveis que podem ser avançadas imediatamente.  O objetivo é garantir que os compromissos se traduzam em resultados mensuráveis e reais à escala real”, acrescentou.

As Vias de Ação da GABI para a Transformação Digital e a Saúde foram lançadas em Unstoppable Africa, em setembro último, por uma coligação de líderes africanos e mundiais empenhados em fazer avançar a transformação desde a aspiração à concretização. O Laboratório de Soluções em Kigali avançou e ligou estes dois caminhos, utilizando a tecnologia digital na saúde como um caso de teste prático para o desafio mais vasto de trazer o capital privado para infraestruturas de interesse público à escala. Como coarquitetos de soluções, os participantes trabalharam nas condições específicas que tornariam cada desafio financiável e implementável, com base em cenários do mundo real apresentados por líderes dos setores público e privado.

Entre os principais temas de discussão estavam a forma de acelerar o investimento em infraestruturas públicas digitais, conetividade, competências e governação para garantir que a IA se torne um multiplicador de forças para o desenvolvimento africano; como reduzir o prazo de adoção de soluções de infraestruturas comprovadas e como implementar modelos de financiamento para infraestruturas digitais soberanas à escala em vários mercados africanos.

Caitlin Burton, diretora executiva da empresa de IA e robótica Zipline Africa, com sede no Ruanda, salientou a necessidade de ir além dos programas-piloto e avançar para a implementação em escala de tecnologias comprovadas. “Em grande parte de África, a adoção continua a ser feita ao ritmo dos ciclos tradicionais de ajuda e dos calendários de implementação do setor público, e não à velocidade da implantação de tecnologias modernas. Precisamos de modelos de financiamento, incentivos, mecanismos de responsabilização e parcerias que possam reduzir o prazo de adoção de infraestruturas comprovadas de décadas para anos e criar uma maior urgência de ação”, afirmou.

Kate Kallot, fundadora e CEO da Amini, empresa de infraestruturas de dados sediada no Quénia, salientou a importância de infraestruturas soberanas de IA e do desenvolvimento de capacidades digitais em todo o continente, afirmando: “Muitos programadores e construtores em todo o continente não dispõem das ferramentas ou do acesso necessários para criar soluções que reflitam as realidades locais. A falta de dados é um sintoma de um fosso digital muito maior, que inclui conetividade limitada e lacunas nas infraestruturas. O desafio agora é saber como implementar modelos de financiamento para infraestruturas digitais soberanas à escala, em vários mercados, de forma a proporcionar uma verdadeira capacidade nas mãos dos governos e dos cidadãos nos próximos 12 meses.”

O Ministro Federal das Comunicações e da Economia Digital da Nigéria, Bosun Tijani, falou sobre a rapidez da adoção da IA. “Sem uma conetividade significativa, pessoas qualificadas e sistemas de governação que possam apoiar a adoção em grande escala, corremos o risco de ficar ainda mais para trás. O verdadeiro desafio não é saber se África vai adotar a IA, mas sim se criámos a capacidade de absorção necessária para a utilizar para transformar as nossas economias e setores-chave”, afirmou.

Líderes sénior do setor da Fundação Aig-Imoukhuede, Afreximbank, Ecobank, McKinsey, PMI, mPedigree, ServiceNow, Safaricom e das Nações Unidas também estiveram presentes para conduzir a conversa sobre transformação.

Agora no seu quinto ano, a GABI é uma plataforma global que reúne líderes empresariais, decisores políticos e investidores para impulsionar o crescimento económico de África. Baseia-se numa premissa simples: O potencial de África é desbloqueado quando a ambição pública se alinha com o capital privado – e isso acontece quando se faz negócio com África e não apenas em África.

Unstoppable Africa, o principal evento da GABI, terá lugar no Marriott Marquis, em Nova Iorque, a 20 e 21 de setembro. Acompanhe os últimos desenvolvimentos em Unstoppable Africa – YouTube (http://apo-opa.co/4nO8nOz).

Para mais informações sobre a Global Africa Business Initiative, visite GABI.UnglobalCompact.org/. 

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Global Africa Business Initiative.

Questões à Comunicação Social:
Ekene Nwakonobi
Ekene.nwakonobi@apo-opa.com

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Le Conseil d’Administration du Prix Al-Sumait pour le Développement de l’Afrique annonce le lauréat pour l’année 2025 ; Le prix a été décerné à une institution africaine et à un chercheur dans le domaine de la sécurité alimentaire

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Le Conseil d’Administration du Prix Al-Sumait pour le Développement de l’Afrique, présidé par Son Excellence le Ministre des Affaires Etrangères, Cheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Sabah, a annoncé que le Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo (CIMMYT) a remporté le prix Al-Sumait 2025 dans le domaine de la sécurité alimentaire, qui reconnaît les organisations dont le travail a eu un impact transformateur et salvateur en Afrique. Cette distinction célèbre les décennies de contributions scientifiques du CIMMYT à la sécurité alimentaire, à la résilience agricole et aux moyens de subsistance de millions de petits agriculteurs à travers le continent.

Selon le Conseil d’Administration, le CIMMYT, dirigé par son Directeur Général Bart Govaerts, a remporté le prix pour les contributions du CIMMYT à l’amélioration génétique des cultures de base telles que le maïs et le blé, qui ont eu un effet transformateur sur la sécurité alimentaire et la résilience des petits agriculteurs et de leurs proches. Le CIMMYT a œuvré pendant plus de cinq décennies pour transformer l’innovation scientifique en impact humanitaire réel. Grâce au développement et à la mise à l’échelle de variétés de cultures tolérantes au stress (y compris le maïs tolérant à la sécheresse et le blé résistant au climat), l’organisation a aidé les communautés agricoles à survivre et à se remettre de catastrophes, comme les sécheresses, les inondations et les épidémies de ravageurs. Rien qu’en 2025, le CIMMYT a aidé des dizaines de milliers d’agriculteurs africains à planter des cultures résilientes pour résister aux effets d’El Niño, démontrant ainsi le lien direct entre la science agricole et la réponse humanitaire.

Le Conseil d’Administration a ajouté que le CIMMYT est un lauréat distingué, et que peu d’organisations égalent son excellence et son rayon d’influence dans l’écosystème agricole africain. Sa mission, « Science et innovation pour un monde sûr en matière d’alimentation et de nutrition », est parfaitement en phase avec les objectifs du prix Al-Sumait. Les réalisations du CIMMYT en matière de recherche sur le maïs et le blé sur l’ensemble du continent représentent une contribution énorme et durable à la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle en Afrique.

De son côté, la Fondation Koweïtienne pour l’Avancement des Sciences (KFAS), qui supervise le prix, a déclaré que le CIMMYT, lauréat du prix, a démontré un impact positif à long terme et a introduit des programmes innovants pour de nombreux africains, en plus de sa réponse créative aux problèmes et défis de sécurité alimentaire.

La KFAS a également ajouté que, par le biais de ce prix, l’État du Koweït a aidé les organisations travaillant en Afrique et pour l’Afrique à se distinguer par leurs projets et programmes exemplaires et efficaces, sans parler de leur dévouement à renforcer la sécurité alimentaire des communautés à travers l’Afrique. Selon la KFAS, le prix a reçu 81 nominations de 27 pays pour l’année concernée.

Il convient de noter que le prix Al-Sumait annuel pour le développement de l’Afrique a été lancé à la noble initiative de feu l’émir Cheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, qu’Allah lui fasse miséricorde, lors du Sommet Afro-Arabe organisé par le Koweït en 2013. Le lancement du prix est venu en l’honneur du regretté Dr Abdul Rahman Al-Sumait, le médecin koweïtien qui a consacré sa vie à relever les défis liés à la santé, à l’éducation et à la sécurité alimentaire auxquels l’Afrique est confrontée.

Le prix vise à reconnaître et à apprécier les meilleures études, projets scientifiques, recherches appliquées et initiatives qui ont un impact significatif sur l’avancement des ressources économiques, sociales et humaines et le développement des infrastructures sur le continent africain.

Le cycle actuel du prix Al Sumait se concentre sur l’éducation, vise à reconnaître et à apprécier les meilleures études, projets scientifiques, recherches appliquées et initiatives à fort impact pour l’avancement du développement économique, social, des ressources humaines et des infrastructures sur le continent africain. Les candidatures seront acceptées jusqu’au 31 août 2026.

Pour plus d’informations sur les candidatures, veuillez consulter le site web du prix Al-Sumait (www.AlSumaitPrize.org) ou contacter : info@alsumaitprize.org.

Distribué par APO Group pour Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).

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The Board of Trustees of the Al-Sumait Prize for African Development announces the award winner for the year 2025; It has been awarded to an African institution and researcher in the field of food security

Source: APO

The Board of Trustees of Al-Sumait Prize for African Development, chaired by His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Sabah, announced that Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo (CIMMYT) won the 2025 Al-Sumait Prize in the field of food security which recognizes organizations whose work has produced transformative, life-saving impact in Africa. This distinction celebrates CIMMYT’s decades of science-driven contributions to food security, agricultural resilience, and the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers across the continent.

According to the Board of Trustees, CIMMYT, led by its Director General Bart Govaerts,  won the Prize for CIMMYT’s contributions to the genetic improvement of staple crops such as maize and wheat have had a transformative effect on food security and resilience for smallholder farmers and their families. CIMMYT has worked for more than five decades to turn scientific innovation into real-world humanitarian impact. Through the development and scaling of stress-tolerant crop varieties (including drought-tolerant maize and climate-resilient wheat) the organization has helped farming communities survive and recover from shocks such as droughts, floods, and pest outbreaks. In 2025 alone, CIMMYT supported tens of thousands of African farmers in planting climate-resilient crops to withstand the effects of El Niño, demonstrating the direct link between agricultural science and humanitarian response.

The Board added  that CIMMYT is a distinguished and worthy laureate, with few organizations equaling its pedigree or scale of influence within Africa’s agricultural landscape. Its mission, “Science and innovation for a food and nutrition secure world,” aligns directly with the objectives of the Al-Sumait Prize. CIMMYT’s achievements in maize and wheat research across the continent represent an enormous and lasting contribution to food and nutrition security in Africa.

On its part, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), which supervises the Prize, stated that CIMMYT, winner of the Prize, has demonstrated a long-term positive impact and introduced innovative programs for many Africans, in addition to its creative response to food security issues and challenges.

KFAS also added that, through this Prize, the State of Kuwait has aided organizations working in and for Africa to distinguish themselves through their exemplary and effective projects and programs, not to mention their dedication to improving food security for communities across Africa. According to KFAS, the Prize, the current year, received 81 nominations from 27 countries.

It is noteworthy that the annual Al-Sumait Prize for African Development was launched at the noble initiative of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may Allah rest his soul, during the Arab African Summit hosted by Kuwait in 2013. Launching the Prize came in honor of the late Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sumait, the Kuwaiti doctor who devoted his life to address the challenges related to health, education and food security facing Africa.

The Prize aims to recognize and appreciate the best studies, scientific projects, applied research and initiatives that have a significant impact on the advancement of economic, social and human resources and the development of infrastructure on the African continent.

The current cycle of the Al Sumait Prize focus on Education, aims to recognize and appreciate the best studies, scientific projects, applied research, and initiatives with high impact for the advancement of economic, social, human resources, and infrastructure development in the African continent. Nominations will be accepted until August 31st, 2026.

For more applications information, please visit Al-Sumait Prize’s website (www.AlSumaitPrize.org) or contact the following email: info@alsumaitprize.org.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).

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O Conselho de Administração do Prémio Al-Sumait para o Desenvolvimento Africano anuncia o vencedor do prémio para o ano de 2025; O prémio foi atribuído a uma instituição e a um investigador africano no domínio da segurança alimentar

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

O Conselho de Administração do Prémio Al-Sumait para o Desenvolvimento Africano, presidido por Sua Excelência o Ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros, Xeque Jarrah Jaber Al-Sabah, anunciou que o Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo (CIMMYT) ganhou o Prémio Al-Sumait 2025 no domínio da segurança alimentar, que reconhece organizações cujo trabalho produziu um impacto transformador e salvador de vidas em África. Esta distinção celebra as décadas de contribuições científicas do CIMMYT para a segurança alimentar, a resiliência agrícola e os meios de subsistência de milhões de pequenos agricultores em todo o continente.

De acordo com o Conselho de Administração, o CIMMYT, liderado pelo seu Diretor-Geral Bart Govaerts, ganhou o Prémio pelas contribuições do CIMMYT para o melhoramento genético de culturas de base, como o milho e o trigo, que tiveram um efeito transformador na segurança alimentar e na resiliência dos pequenos agricultores e das suas famílias. O CIMMYT trabalha há mais de cinco décadas para transformar a inovação científica em impacto humanitário no mundo real. Através do desenvolvimento e da expansão de variedades de culturas agrículas resistentes a pressões ambientais (incluindo milho tolerante à seca e trigo resistente ao clima), a organização tem ajudado as comunidades agrícolas a sobreviver e a recuperar de choques como secas, inundações e surtos de pragas. Só em 2025, o CIMMYT apoiou dezenas de milhares de agricultores africanos na plantação de culturas resistentes ao clima para resistir aos efeitos do El Niño, demonstrando a ligação direta entre a ciência agrícola e a resposta humanitária.

O Conselho de Administração acrescentou que o CIMMYT é um distinto e digno vencedor, havendo poucas organizações que igualem a sua capacidade ou escala de influência no panorama agrícola de África. A sua missão, “Ciência e inovação para um mundo seguro em termos de alimentação e nutrição”, está diretamente relacionada com os objetivos do Prémio Al-Sumait. As conquistas do CIMMYT na investigação do milho e do trigo em todo o continente representam uma contribuição enorme e duradoura para a segurança alimentar e nutricional em África.

Por seu lado, a Fundação do Kuwait para o Avanço das Ciências (KFAS), que supervisiona o Prémio, declarou que o CIMMYT, vencedor do Prémio, demonstrou um impacto positivo a longo prazo e introduziu programas inovadores para muitos africanos, para além da sua resposta criativa às questões e desafios da segurança alimentar.

O KFAS acrescentou ainda que, através deste Prémio, o Estado do Kuwait ajudou as organizações que trabalham em e para África a distinguirem-se através dos seus projetos e programas exemplares e eficazes, para não mencionar a sua dedicação à melhoria da segurança alimentar das comunidades em toda a África. De acordo com o KFAS, o Prémio do ano em curso recebeu 81 candidaturas de 27 países.

É de salientar que o Prémio Al-Sumait anual para o Desenvolvimento Africano foi lançado por nobre iniciativa do falecido Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, que Alá guarde a sua alma, durante a Cimeira Árabe Africana organizada pelo Kuwait em 2013. O lançamento do Prémio foi feito em homenagem ao falecido Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sumait, o médico kuwaitiano que dedicou a sua vida a enfrentar os desafios relacionados com a saúde, a educação e a segurança alimentar com que África se depara.

O Prémio visa reconhecer e valorizar os melhores estudos, projetos científicos, investigação aplicada e iniciativas que tenham um impacto significativo no avanço dos recursos económicos, sociais e humanos e no desenvolvimento de infraestruturas no continente africano.

O atual ciclo do Prémio Al-Sumait, centrado na Educação, visa reconhecer e valorizar os melhores estudos, projetos científicos, investigação aplicada e iniciativas de grande impacto para o avanço do desenvolvimento económico, social, dos recursos humanos e das infraestruturas no continente africano. As nomeações serão aceites até 31 de agosto de 2026.

Para mais informações sobre as candidaturas, visite o website do Prémio Al-Sumait (www.AlSumaitPrize.org) ou utilize o seguinte e-mail: info@alsumaitprize.org.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).

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SADC pushes for regional self-reliance amid energy, debt and migration pressures

Source: Government of South Africa

SADC pushes for regional self-reliance amid energy, debt and migration pressures

Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders have called for greater regional self-reliance, collective investment and deeper economic integration as the region confronts mounting geopolitical and economic pressures.

This emerged during a media briefing at the conclusion of the SADC Ministers of Foreign Affairs Retreat held at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park, where ministers and regional officials reflected on the impact of global instability on Southern Africa.

Speaking during a media briefing, SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi said one of the key outcomes of the retreat was the recognition that the region must increasingly mobilise and invest its own resources rather than depend heavily on external financing.

“There are resources that are plenty within our space, your pension funds, your insurance funds, your private equities, including even funds that are sitting in the diaspora that can actually be brought back into our region.

“Therefore, it’s not every time that when we do projects, when we do activities that require funding, that we should always be looking outside,” Magosi said.

Magosi said ministers acknowledged that many pension funds from the region continue to be invested externally instead of supporting development within Southern Africa.

“What we need to do is determine what type of projects and programs can actually absorb those resources domestically, so they can help us to develop even the financial services sector of our region,” he said.

Energy security also emerged as a central issue during the retreat, with ministers emphasising the need for SADC countries to collectively utilise regional oil and gas resources.

Magosi said Angola and Mozambique’s energy capabilities should be viewed as strategic regional assets rather than national resources in isolation.

“There is a bigger market of close to almost 400 million in SADC, and therefore when you look at oil in Angola, oil in Mozambique, and gas in Mozambique, perhaps that should be the conversation and the picture that emerges,” he said.

He added that ministers agreed the region should explore joint investment and regional partnerships in the energy sector to ensure broader benefits across member states.

“How best can we exploit this together? The retreat actually felt like it enhanced the integration that we talk about,” Magosi said.

The Executive Secretary further highlighted the importance of strengthening regional cooperation in agriculture and veterinary systems, particularly in response to outbreaks such as Foot and Mouth Disease, which have negatively affected exports and small-scale farmers.

“We realised that there is a need for collective action. So, what do we need to do for Botswana to assist Botswana as a region so it’s able to produce enough vaccines for the region to address that?” he said. 

Meanwhile, South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said SADC ministers had also prioritised discussions around debt management and regional financing mechanisms. 

Lamola said member states were working with institutions such as the African Development Bank and AUDA-NEPAD to establish a “Borrowers Club” aimed at strengthening cooperation among developing countries engaging international financial institutions.

“One of the issues that came through there was the Borrowers Club that we are encouraging. We have mandated our ministers of finance to work together towards this declaration to achieve the formation of the Borrowers Club,” Lamola said.

He said the initiative would allow African countries to collectively engage creditors and address challenges relating to debt and interest burdens.

On energy cooperation, Lamola revealed that ministers were also exploring possible regional investment into Angola’s Lobito refinery project as part of broader efforts to strengthen regional energy resilience.

“We have also encouraged our ministers of energy and finance to look into the possibility of SADC countries joining hands to invest in the Lobito refinery,” he said.

The Minister further addressed concerns relating to migration and recent anti-immigration protests in South Africa, reiterating that migration management must occur within the framework of the law and regional agreements.

“The free movement protocol also does not call for lawlessness; it calls for managed regular migration,” Lamola said.

He stressed that while SADC supports the free movement of people and goods, migration systems must remain regulated and supported by effective border management and law enforcement.

“There must still be processes of paperwork for proper papers that are required,” he said.

Lamola also linked migration pressures to broader regional economic challenges, arguing that stronger economic growth and industrialisation across Southern Africa would help reduce irregular migration.

“We are dealing mostly with economic migrants, so we need the economy of Zimbabwe to grow, we need the economy of South Africa to grow, we need the economy of Mozambique to grow,” he said.

He added that ministers had discussed expanding cross-border special economic zones and increasing regional integration to stimulate job creation and economic opportunity.

“This retreat was very key, was very important, it’s an economic solution to the SADC challenges,” Lamola said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Lamola champions bold collective action at SADC Foreign Ministers Retreat

Source: Government of South Africa

Lamola champions bold collective action at SADC Foreign Ministers Retreat

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola says the future of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will be determined by the region’s ability to act collectively in response to growing geopolitical and economic pressures.

Delivering closing remarks at the SADC Ministers of Foreign Affairs Retreat in Skukuza in the Kruger National Park on Saturday, Lamola said the gathering had reinforced the importance of African unity, shared responsibility and coordinated regional action.

Held from 22 to 24 May, the retreat brought together foreign ministers and senior officials from across the region to assess the impact of global geopolitical developments on Southern Africa’s economies, food systems, trade routes and energy security.

Drawing on African traditions of leadership and consultation, Lamola compared the retreat to historic gatherings where elders advised chiefs and kings on matters affecting communities.

“It is no coincidence that this retreat closes on the eve of Africa Day. Our retreat has surely lived up to this rich African tradition of collective wisdom, frank reflection, and shared responsibility in confronting the challenges facing our region and shaping a common future for our people,” he said. 

Lamola said ministers recognised that the region continues to face the effects of global conflicts, weakening multilateralism and increasing geopolitical fragmentation.

“Our retreat further acknowledged that our region continues to feel the harsh aftershocks of conflicts that disregard international law, weaken multilateralism, and inflict devastating humanitarian and economic consequences across the globe,” he said.

At the same time, he stressed that Southern Africa possesses significant natural and economic resources that could help cushion member states against external shocks if countries work together.

“The retreat noted that our region has abundant natural resources… if we work together as a region collectively enhancing all our efforts, skills, and all the natural resources available in our region, we can be able to respond and be able to be cushioned against some of these aftershocks,” Lamola said.

He noted that these pressures have emerged while many economies were still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and confronting rising protectionism and geopolitical rivalry.

“These pressures have also emerged while our economies were still recovering from the scars of COVID-19 and confronting rising protectionism, unilateral tariffs, and intensifying geopolitical rivalry,” he said.

Lamola said ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional resilience, integration and sustainable development through coordinated policies and stronger institutions.

“We reaffirmed our commitment to collective action aimed at strengthening resilience, deepening regional integration, and advancing sustainable development across the member states,” he said.

The retreat focused on five major thematic areas, including financing regional integration, industrialisation, infrastructure and logistics, energy and mineral resources, as well as agriculture and food security.

Lamola said discussions produced concrete proposals aimed at strengthening regional value chains, expanding energy security and accelerating industrialisation.

“Concrete proposals emerged on how SADC can strengthen regional value chains in oil and gas, accelerate mineral beneficiation, fast-track land and maritime corridors, deepen agro-processing, expand energy security initiatives, share industrial expertise, and establish cross-border special economic zones capable of driving industrialisation and regional integration,” he said.

He added that ministers also discussed the need to strengthen regional financial institutions and improve domestic resource mobilisation to finance strategic infrastructure and development priorities.

“This retreat has reminded us that while global tensions may shape the environment around us, the future of our region will ultimately be determined by the boldness of our collective action, the strength of our regional solidarity, and our willingness to act together in pursuit of our shared destiny,” Lamola said.

The Minister concluded by emphasising the interconnected nature of SADC economies, saying growth in one member state would ultimately benefit the entire region.

“We are interlinked. We have a shared destiny. We also have to have a shared journey together to achieve prosperity,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za 

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