Category: Africa

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Oman’s Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, Foreign Minister and Dr Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, held a joint press conference  marking the conclusion of the 16th session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee in Cairo.

During the press conference, Sayyid Badr expressed full alignment with his Egyptian counterpart regarding Omani-Egyptian cooperation matters and both countries’ positions on regional issues. He noted both countries’ commitment to enhancing trade, strengthening the role of the Business Council, and increasing mutual investments, while praising the contributions of the Egyptian community to Oman’s development.

On regional matters, he emphasised Oman’s support for Egypt’s efforts to halt the aggression on Gaza, reject forced displacement attempts, and adhere to the two-state solution leading to an independent Palestinian state.

Sayyid Badr reiterated Oman’s support for Egypt’s position on the Renaissance Dam issue, stressing the importance of respecting Arab states’ sovereignty and territorial integrity while rejecting all forms of foreign interference in their internal affairs.

He also stated that resuming negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue is essential for regional stability, underscoring the importance of confidence-building measures to avoid escalation and to reach a fair, consensual solution to this issue while focusing efforts on regional development and cooperation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Foreign Ministry of Oman.

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The 16th session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee was held in Cairo at the level of the two countries’ foreign ministers.

The Omani delegation was chaired by Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, Foreign Minister while the Egyptian side was chaired by Dr Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

In his speech during the opening session, Sayyid Badr expressed his deep gratitude to the Egyptian delegation for their warm welcome and hospitality. He emphasised the profound historical ties and enduring bonds between Oman and Egypt, adding: “This session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee is yet another blessed addition to the record of our positive cooperation, reinforcing the deep-rooted ties that have been shaped and distinguished throughout history. Today, we reap the fruits of these relations for the benefit of our two brotherly nations.”

The Minister highlighted the significant progress in economic relations between the two countries, stressing the importance of enhancing investment partnerships in real estate, tourism, renewable energy, manufacturing, logistics, food security, and pharmaceutical industries.

He called for activating the role of the Omani-Egyptian Business Council and the private sector, as well as focusing on startups, digital transformation, and innovation, affirming that “this would enhance economic sustainability and keep pace with global developments.”

On regional issues, the Foreign Minister reiterated Oman’s full support for Egypt’s efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, firmly rejecting plans to displace the Palestinian people and endorsing the Arab initiative for Gaza’s reconstruction. He reaffirmed Oman’s steadfast stance in supporting the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the  borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.

He also emphasised that “Arab national security is indivisible,” expressing Oman’s support for Egypt’s rights to the Nile River waters based on international law and the principle of fair and equitable use, fostering cooperation through mutual understanding and peaceful solutions.

Sayyid Badr stressed Oman’s commitment to contributing to regional stability and shielding the peoples of the region from obstacles to development. He underscored the importance of resuming efforts to reach a just and lasting agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue, based on international law and the Non-Proliferation Treaty, while rejecting solutions imposed by force, which only lead to destruction and instability. He affirmed that dialogue and negotiation remain the only path to resolving disputes and mitigating risks.

He praised the efforts of senior officials from both Oman and Egypt in preparing for the session, expressing hope that its outcomes would “serve as a qualitative addition to strengthening cooperation and fulfilling the aspirations of the two countries’ leaderships and peoples.”

Dr Badr Abdelatty commended the depth of Egyptian-Omani relations and their tangible progress under the guidance of both countries’ leaderships, who seek to elevate cooperation to wider horizons.

He noted that the current session reflects the shared commitment to building on the outcomes of the mutual visits by the two countries’ leaders. He pointed out that discussions with his Omani counterpart explored ways to enhance economic, trade, and investment relations. Politically, he praised the depth and alignment of views on regional issues and their peaceful resolution.

The session included the signing of several memoranda of understanding and executive programmes in investment, labour, training, media cooperation, food safety, endowments, mineral resources, and human capital development, along with the minutes of the 16th session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee.

The session concluded with both sides stressing the importance of continued coordination and consultation across various fields, strengthening the Omani-Egyptian partnership for the mutual benefit of the two nations and their peoples, and contributing to regional security, stability, and development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Foreign Ministry of Oman.

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Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi held a closed meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, on the sidelines of the 16th session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee in Cairo.

The meeting, reaffirmed the close cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the Arab Republic of Egypt and their shared commitment to developing it strategically across various fields, in a manner that deepens mutual interests and brings greater shared benefits to both brotherly countries.

The two Ministers also discussed a number of regional issues and developments of mutual political and security concern.

They underlined the importance of maintaining coordination, aligning their visions and combining efforts to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy in addressing challenges, defusing tensions and tackling the root causes of conflict, in the interest of the region as a whole.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Foreign Ministry of Oman.

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Alarmingly, 110 million children in the region live in countries affected by war, with homes, schools and health facilities damaged or destroyed in fighting.

“A child’s life is being turned upside down the equivalent of every five seconds due to the conflicts in the region,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, on Tuesday.

UNICEF estimates indicate that 45 million children across the region will require humanitarian assistance in 2025, a 41 per cent increase since 2020.  

Funding shortfalls  

However, funding gaps are affecting vital programmes across the region.

For instance, as of May, Syria faced a 78 per cent funding gap and the State of Palestine a 68 per cent gap for their 2025 appeals. UNICEF’s regional programmes are also under increasing financial strain.

The outlook for 2026 also remains bleak, UNICEF said, noting that its funding for Middle East and North Africa is projected to decline by 20 to 25 per cent, potentially resulting in shortfalls of up to $370 million.

Conflicts must stop  

This would jeopardize lifesaving programmes across the region, including treatment for severe malnutrition, safe water production in conflict zones and vaccinations against deadly diseases.

“As the plight of children in the region worsens, the resources to respond are becoming sparser,” said Mr. Beigbeder.

“Conflicts must stop. International advocacy to resolve these crises must intensify. And support for vulnerable children must increase, not decline.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

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The Powers and Privileges Committee this afternoon resolved to refer the matter, at the request of the Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), relating to the conduct of Mr Visvin Reddy during the sitting of the 4 March 2025, to Parliament’s Disciplinary Committee.

The committee agreed that although Mr Reddy’s actions do not constitute contempt of Parliament as per Section 12 of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, his actions do constitute misconduct.

The matter was referred to the committee by the Speaker of the National Assembly in terms of rule 214 of the NA Rules. The committee will table its report to the NA for consideration.

The committee also considered another matter referred by the Speaker relating to the conduct of Mr Marlon Daniels on 2 April 2025. The committee resolved to proceed with a formal inquiry to determine, through oral evidence, whether Mr Daniels’ actions constituted contempt of Parliament in terms of the Act and NA Rules.

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

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The recent peace agreement signed between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda fails to address justice for the victims of serious crimes by not including any provisions aimed at holding their perpetrators to account, Amnesty International said today.

“Without addressing impunity for the horrific crimes committed in eastern DRC, the agreement missed an opportunity to decisively tackle a long-standing driver of the conflict,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.

“When human rights abusers are not investigated and held to account, it leads to a vicious cycle of abuses in which civilians pay the price. This must stop for security to be sustainable.”

Since the agreement was signed in Washington DC on 27 June, Amnesty International has received credible reports that the Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement (M23) and Wazalendo armed groups – many of which are supported by the Congolese army – have continued to clash in North and South Kivu provinces, resulting in the deaths of civilians. In addition, M23 continues to abduct young men and take them to unknown locations. M23, which is negotiating with the DRC government in a separate mediation process led by Qatar, “took note” of the US-facilitated peace deal on 30 June but stated recently that it did not concern them.

Rwanda and the DRC must urgently press M23 and Wazalendo groups to prioritize civilian protection.

“The people of eastern Congo have had their hopes for justice and security raised and then dashed by the signing and failure of numerous peace agreements over the last 25 years. DRC and Rwanda owe it to the people of eastern Congo – who continue to face untold suffering at the hands of the Wazalendo and M23 – to push the armed groups they support and collaborate with to protect civilians and to respect international humanitarian law,” said Agnès Callamard.

Background

The human rights situation in eastern DRC has deteriorated since Rwandan-backed M23 fighters entered the country in November 2021 and went on to capture large areas of North and South Kivu provinces.

The United Nations (UN) Group of Experts and Human Rights Watch have documented Rwanda’s support of the M23, the latest in a series of armed groups operating in DRC that Rwanda has backed since the late 1990s.

On 27 January 2025, M23 declared that it had captured Goma after residents and displaced people fled to safety in other parts of DRC or neighbouring countries.  On 16 February, M23 seized Bukavu, a key trading hub and capital of South Kivu province. The UN confirmed cases of summary killings and had received reports of “arbitrary arrests and detentions, degrading treatment and alleged forced returns of Congolese young men fleeing violence in neighbouring countries.”

Amnesty International has documented how the M23 killed, tortured and forcibly disappeared detainees, held some as hostages, and subjected them to inhumane conditions at detention sites in Goma and Bukavu, which may amount to war crimes. The Wazalendo are a loose coalition of armed groups fighting the M23 and backed by the Congolese army. The UN and other human rights organizations have documented human rights abuses committed by the Wazalendo.

On 27 June 2025, Rwanda and DRC signed a peace deal in Washington, DC, aimed at ending the conflict between the two neighbours.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.

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On July 1, 2025, Senegal officially launched the introduction of the hexavalent vaccine into its Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). Following in Mauritania’s footsteps, Senegal is part of this regional dynamic of vaccine innovation. This vaccine is a combination that protects against six diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), and poliomyelitis. It replaces the pentavalent and inactivated polio vaccines (IPV), previously administered separately.

The introduction of hexavalent meets three major scientific objectives. Firstly, to reduce the number of injections infants undergo at each visit: a single injection now replaces the two previously required for Penta and IPV. Secondly, to reinforce protection against polio by increasing the number of doses of inactivated vaccine from two to three before the age of 6 months. Thirdly, to introduce an essential booster dose at 15 months, in line with the latest recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), to consolidate herd immunity and optimize the vaccination schedule.

This change is also a response to regional issues, as some derived poliovirus variants are still circulating in Africa, and the WHO recommends two-dose IPV coverage to deal with this.

Funding for this introduction is provided mainly by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which covers most of the costs associated with the supply of doses. The Senegalese government is contributing a further 20%, demonstrating its commitment to the sustainability of this program.

This is a game-changer for children’s health in Senegal, as the teams not only protect children more effectively but also strengthen the fight against polio, which remains a global public health emergency of international concern.

In his speech, Dr Ibrahima Sy, Minister of Health and Social Action, underlined the significance of this reform: “For the past 18 months, our teams have been working tirelessly to prepare this transition. Hexavalent embodies our commitment to offering Senegalese children simplified and reinforced protection. Thanks to this vaccine, we expect to avoid 2,300 hospitalizations a year from targeted diseases by 2030.” The Minister also paid tribute to the technical partners and health workers whose dedication has made this breakthrough possible.

The WHO has played a central role in the success of this transition. Nearly 6,000 health workers, including district management teams (ECD) and regional management teams (ECR), have been trained in the specifics of the new vaccine. This intensive training covered the rigorous management of the cold chain, as hexavalent must be kept between +2°C and +8°C and never frozen. Agents were also certified on precise intramuscular administration techniques in the right thigh of infants, and on the protocol for monitoring benign side effects such as local redness or transient fever. To ensure a smooth transition, the WHO provided real-time monitoring tools enabling each vial to be traced throughout the country.

WHO also supported the development of interpersonal communication materials, enabling health workers to better explain the change to parents, reassure them of the vaccine’s safety, and stress the importance of adhering to the vaccination schedule.

Dr Jean-Marie Vianny Yameogo, WHO Representative in Senegal, hailed this historic milestone: “This launch marks 46 years of evolution for the Senegalese EPI. Hexavalent is not simply a scientific advance, it is an act of equity that protects every child, whatever their origin. By reducing the burden of preventable diseases, we are unleashing the potential of an entire generation.”

As a long-standing EPI partner, UNICEF has also contributed to the supply, logistics, and awareness-raising around this essential vaccine. Dr Jacques Boyer, UNICEF Representative in Senegal, underlined: “This introduction marks a decisive turning point for the survival and well-being of children. By strengthening access to a more complete and convenient vaccine, we are bringing Senegal closer to a future where every child has an equal chance to grow up healthy.”

This initiative positions Senegal as a key player in vaccine innovation in sub-Saharan Africa. By merging several antigens into a single product, the country is demonstrating how to optimize healthcare systems with limited resources. Reducing the number of injections not only improves the experience of children and parents, but also simplifies logistics, cuts storage costs, and boosts immunization coverage rates. According to projections, this strategy will make a significant contribution to achieving the goals of the WHO’s IA2030 Agenda, which aims to save 50 million lives through immunization by the end of the decade. Several neighboring countries, such as Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, are already studying this model for their own programs.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Senegal.

Talent from territories from all African National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will have the opportunity to join the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (YOGOC) through the Learning Academy (https://apo-opa.co/3TjYgCR). This will be made possible thanks to the support of Olympic Solidarity and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA). This major new opportunity, aimed at ensuring broad representation and greater capacity-building across the continent, was announced to the IOC (www.Olympics.com/IOC) Executive Board (EB) this week by Coordination Commission Chair Humphrey Kayange.

Learning Academy opens doors for African NOCs at Dakar 2026

Recognising the potential impact of the Dakar 2026 Learning Academy NOC programme on the next generation of sports professionals in Africa, and in line with Olympic Solidarity’s objective to strengthen NOC capacities, Olympic Solidarity and ANOCA will jointly contribute funding for Learning Academy scholarships. These scholarships will contribute towards travel and accommodation costs, ensuring broad engagement from African NOCs and potential participants. Details on the application process will be shared with NOCs after the summer, with selected participants expected to begin the Learning Academy in early 2026 before starting their roles within the YOGOC.

The Learning Academy is designed to give promising young professionals from across Africa hands-on experience in sports management and event delivery. Each African NOC will be invited to nominate young professionals to join the Learning Academy. Selected participants will receive intensive two-week training in Dakar and then take up roles within the Organising Committee, helping to strengthen NOCs and building capacity across the continent. Over the next 16 months, a total of up to 400 young professionals, including the 53 candidates selected via the African NOCs, will be trained and integrated into the YOGOC – the first 41 participants have already taken up their roles. 

Dakar 2026 Coordination Commission Chair Humphrey Kayange said: “Through the Learning Academy, we are creating a lasting legacy for the Olympic Movement, and one that could serve as a model for future host cities of the Youth Olympic Games or the Olympic Games, beginning here in Dakar.”

The YOG Dakar 2026 (https://apo-opa.co/4eDY77e) will take place over two weeks from 31 October, bringing together the world’s best young athletes up to the age of 17. The Games will be held across three host sites: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Additional information:
https://apo-opa.co/44d8tY0