Category: Africa

Source: APO

An African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) video highlighting Bank President Akinwumi A. Adesina’s commitment to gender equality in Africa has been named a “Bronze Winner” recipient in the 46th Annual Telly Awards and a “Gold Winner” in the 2025 AVA Digital Awards. The two international competitions recognize excellence in communications.

The Bank’s award-winning online video entry, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina honored as UN Women #HeForShe champion (https://apo-opa.co/4m2pH04), was shown during the 2024 United Nations General Assembly as part of a celebration of Dr. Adesina and other global champions of gender equality.  The two awards bring to eleven the international honors won by Bank communications related to agriculture, human and social development in the last decade.

The Telly Awards, which honor achievement in video and television across all screens, received more than 12,000 submissions from five continents. Other winners this year include Pixar Animation Studios, ESPN, LinkedIn and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

“I am blown away by this year’s submissions. The Tellys are unique in our ability to lift up truly excellent video work, no matter the platform, the screen or the method of production,” said Telly Awards Managing Director Amanda Needham.

The Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) produced the 75-second video to highlight some of President Adesina’s gender achievements including the creation of AFAWA, which has disbursed more than $1.33 billion in financing through 185 financial institution partners to women-led businesses in 45 African countries.

Earlier in 2025, the U.S.-based Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals presented the Bank Group with a gold AVA Digital Award in its short-form web video tribute category. The awards celebrate exceptional work by creative professionals involved in the concept, direction, design and production of media that advances digital communication.

In a February 2025 statement about the award, the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals congratulated the African Development Bank Group for its tribute video honoring African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi A. Adesina’s commitment to advancing gender.

“We aimed to succinctly visualize how President Adesina made mainstreaming gender central to his African Development Bank Group presidency, including hearing from women who have benefitted from initiatives created by the twice-elected leader of the Bank Group. We are thrilled to be recognized by the Telly Awards and AVA Digital Awards,” said Dr. Beth Dunford, the Bank’s Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development.

“Africa’s women entrepreneurs are the engines of African economies. Our digital communications help showcase the real-world impact of how AFAWA is scaling up access to finance to the continent’s women-led businesses – and demonstrates how the Bank is transforming demographic into dividend,” said Dr. Jemimah Njuki, the Bank’s Director for Gender, Women and Civil Society.

Watch the Bank’s award-winning video tribute to Dr. Adesina: https://apo-opa.co/4m2pH04

To learn more about AFAWA: www.AFAWA.AfDB.org

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media contact:
Alphonso Van Marsh
Chief Digital Content and Events Officer
Email: media@afdb.org

Source: APO

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Reacting to the ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, (Maputo Protocol) on 26 August by the Central African authorities, Abdoulaye Diarra, Senior Researcher at Amnesty International, said:

“The Central African authorities ratification of the Maputo Protocol is a welcome and long-awaited step in promoting and protecting women and girls’ rights in the country, including from all forms of gender-based violence (GBV) such as early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation that have long hindered their education, health, and well-being.”

“However, actions speak louder than words and Central African authorities must now follow through to take necessary measures to ensure the full implementation of the Maputo Protocol by adopting a comprehensive law to address GBV and promote gender equality, strengthening the justice system, improving support services for survivors, and raising awareness in communities, including in rural areas.”

“According to the UNFPA latest figures, 61% of Central African girls are still married before the age of 18, and 22% of girls and women aged 15 – 49 suffer from a form of genital mutilation.” 

“We urge the adoption of a holistic approach that addresses the root causes of gender-based violence to change attitudes and norms in order to empower women and girls in the Central African Republic.”

“We also urge Niger and Chad, the two countries in West and Central Africa who have not yet ratified the Maputo Protocol, to do so without delay.” 

Background

The Maputo Protocol is an international human rights instrument established by the African Union that went into effect in 2005.

As of 28 August 2025, out of the 55 member countries in the African Union (AU), 46 have ratified the Maputo protocol. The AU states that have neither signed nor ratified the Protocol yet are Egypt and Morocco. The states that have signed but not yet ratified are Burundi, Chad, Eritrea, Madagascar, Niger, Somalia, and Sudan.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.

Source: APO

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“To achieve lasting peace, we must build trust and bridge the gap between leaders and their communities. By actively listening to one another, we can unite and move forward as a nation,” said Rodah Nyankiir Makuei at a “Citizens’ Talks” forum in Bor.

And this, achieving a greater sense of South Sudanese citizens’ ownership of their country’s peace agreement and its implementation, was at the forefront when some 60 people from all walks of life got together to discuss how that can be achieved.

Talks covered several aspects of the peace deal, from the drafting of a new constitution and electoral reforms to security sector arrangements and political power-sharing – and not least how to make it possible for ordinary people to have their say in the process.

Dialogue, several attendees pointed out, is key, for peace, reconciliation and real political participation. One of these voices belonged to John Mayol Nhial.

“When people communicate, they cultivate a listening heart and create space for the mutual forgiveness we need to unite,” he said, with Simon Manyok, both a representative of the Jonglei State government and a Human Rights Advisor, making a similar point about a shared responsibility.

“Political parties may have signed our peace agreement, but it will only succeed when citizens are actively involved in implementing it,” he affirmed.

The forum, organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), resulted in a commitment to establish a statewide early-warning system to be coordinated by civil society and the Ministry of Local Government, and a recommendation to hold a conference for all relevant stakeholders in Jonglei.

“We hope that initiatives like this forum and other inclusive platforms will promote mutual trust, come up with practical solutions, and improve accountability,” commented Samuel Sarpong, a Civil Affairs Officer serving with the peacekeeping mission.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Source: APO

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The Directorate of Industry, in collaboration with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF, convened a meeting of the ECOWAS Committee for Conformity Assessment, ECOCONF, from the 25th to 27th August 2025 in Accra, Republic of Ghana, to examine and approve under the ECOWAS Quality Certification Mark, ECOQMARK, new Regional Certification Schemes, RCS, relating to iodized salt, fortified edible oils and fortified wheat flour.

The meeting gathered delegates from National Organizations for Quality of Member States, Representatives of the Federation of West African Employers’ Organizations, FOPAO, the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry, FEWACCI, Consumer protection associations; Industry Directorate of the ECOWAS Commission, the Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food, RAAF, the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, ECREEE, and UNICEF.

According to Mr. Lassane Kabore, Director of Industry, representing Mrs. Massandjé Toure-Litse, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, the adoption of the fortified foods RCS will equip the region for combatting micronutrients deficiencies, ensuring safe and quality products for consumers and enhancing the competitiveness of our local industries.

Speaking on behalf of UNICEF, Dr. Simeon Nanama, Regional Advisor for Nutrition and Child Development for West and Central Africa, applauded the efforts of the Commission in large-scale food fortification, a key solution to better meet the nutritional needs of the population malnutrition in West Africa, especially among pregnant women and young children.

During the meeting, participants examined and enriched the draft RCS for iodized salt, enriched wheat flour, and enriched vegetable oils, building on earlier achievements of ECOCONF, which has approved RCS for several key products including, among others, drinking water, palm oil, cashew nuts, garri, mango juice, dried mango, and cassava starch.

The adoption of these new RCS represents a significant milestone for the implementation of the ECOWAS Quality Certification Mark, ECOQMARK. By ensuring that fortified foods meet harmonized regional standards, the ECOQMARK will not only protect consumers and promote public health, but also boost intra-regional trade, enhance competitiveness, and reinforce trust in West African products on the global market.

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

Source: APO

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A cultural presentation and experience-sharing program was conducted in connection with the 64th anniversary of the beginning of the armed struggle for Eritrea’s independence.

Accordingly, members of the cooperative association of the 61st Division conducted a history transfer program on 28 August at the ‘Kierta’ Entertainment Center in Edaga Hamus under the theme “It’s Everyone’s Responsibility to Document Our History.”

At the event, veteran fighters shared their experiences and recounted the daily lives of the liberation fighters.

Explaining the heroic feats demonstrated by the liberation fighters during the 30 years of armed struggle, Ms. Saliha Mohammed-Ali, Chairperson of the Association, called for the continuity of such programs with a view to transferring the gallant history to future generations.

Likewise, a musical performance in connection with the 64th anniversary of the armed struggle for independence was organized at Cinema Roma by the visually impaired cultural troupe. The program was organized by the National Association of the Visually Impaired of Eritrea.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

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The Police and Security Forces Training Center has provided a one-month training program on administration to 25 members of the Eritrean Police Force.

Maj. Andom Mehari, head of police professional education, indicated that the training covered administration, law, public relations, and reporting. He also expressed appreciation to the trainees for the strong interest they demonstrated during the program.

Col. Habtemariam Tesfamariam, head of administration and finance at the Eritrean Police, called on the trainees to apply the skills they acquired practically in their respective workplaces.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

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The Minister of Employment and Labour, Ms. Nomakhosazana Meth, welcomes the judgement handed down on 28 August 2025, by the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria, in the matter of NEASA & Sakeliga NPC against Minister of Employment and Labour & Others (Case No. 107022/2025).

The application had two parts. In part A of the application, the Applicants approached the court for an order, on an urgent basis pending the relief sought in Part B, interdicting and/or suspending the operation and implementation of the sectoral numerical targets published by the Minister in Government Notice No. 6124 in Government Gazette No.52514 on 15 April 2025 (“the Sectoral targets”); and the Regulations 9(1), 9(2), 9(5)(b), and 9(7) to 9(14) of the General Administrative Regulations published in Government Notice No. 6125 in Government Gazette No. 52515 on 15 April 2025 (“the Administrative Regulations”).

In Part B of the application, they sought an order – declaring sections 15A, 20(2A), 42(1)(aA), 53(6)(a) and 53(6)(b) of the Employment Equity Act, 55 of 1998 as amended (“the Employment Equity Act”) unconstitutional and invalid; declaring the sectoral targets unlawful, and reviewing and setting them aside; and Declaring Regulations 9(1), 9(2), 9(5)(b), and 9(7) to 9(14) of the Administrative Regulations unlawful, and reviewing and setting them aside.

The High Court judgement focused on Part A of the NEASA and Sakeliga NPC Application, which the Court dismissed.

The Court dismissed Part A of the urgent application brought by the National Employers’ Association of South Africa (NEASA) and Sakeliga NPC, which sought to interdict and suspend the implementation of the sectoral numerical targets and specific provisions of the General Administrative Regulations published by the Minister on 15 April 2025.

This ruling confirms the legality and procedural integrity of the Employment Equity (EE) Regulations, which are designed to promote equitable representation across all sectors of the economy. The judgement is a significant affirmation of the Department’s commitment to fostering inclusive and fair labour practices in South Africa.

In his ruling, Judge Graham Moshoana disagreed with the applicants that the alleged mayhem will be caused by the setting of numerical goals as opposed to the setting of numerical targets stating that; “numerical goals are set by the designated employers and not the Minister. The Minister has already done so and no untold mayhem is alleged to have taken place.”

The applicants have indicated their intention to proceed with Part B of their application, which challenges the constitutionality of certain provisions of the Employment Equity Act and seeks to have the sectoral targets and regulations declared unlawful. However, the ruling provides a strong legal foundation for the continued implementation of these transformative measures.

The Court also dismissed an application by the Solidarity trade union to be admitted as amicus curiae (friend of the court), following opposition from the respondents.

Minister of Employment and Labour, Hon. Nomakhosazana Meth, welcomed the judgement, stating, “This ruling is a victory for equity, justice, and the rule of law. It affirms that the Department has acted within its legal mandate to advance transformation in the workplace. We urge all employers to comply with the Employment Equity Regulations and to prepare for the submission of their 2025 EE reports. The time for meaningful change is now.”

Employers are reminded that the reporting period for the 2025 EE submissions opens on 1 September 2025 and closes on 15 January 2026. Compliance with the published regulations is not only a legal obligation but a moral imperative in building a more inclusive economy.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.

Source: APO

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A WHO-supported house-to-house Mpox nationwide campaign in Sierra Leone, valued at a cost of USD 300,000, has significantly reduced the number of Mpox cases countrywide by 50% in one month. This successful campaign, named “Enhanced Integrated Mpox Response (EIMR),” conducted over four weeks from July 9 to August 3, 2025, was led by the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Agency, and District Health Management Teams.  WHO provided direct financial and technical assistance, including the deployment of nine technical officers and 35 national African Volunteers Health Corps – Strengthening and Utilizing Response Group for Emergencies (AVoHC-SURGE) responders to sixteen districts, marking a turning point in the fight against the outbreak. 

The house to house campaign was aimed at strengthening district-level response systems by equipping Incident Management Teams with a multidisciplinary capacity to proactively detect cases, isolate them rapidly, and interrupt community transmission. The WHO teams collaborated with national and district teams to identify, investigate, and report unrecognized mpox cases; engaged with private and public health practitioners in surveillance and reporting; enhanced community awareness campaigns that promoted prevention and early detection; and identified and safely transferred suspected and confirmed cases to isolation and treatment centers. Other support that the teams provided includes timely sample collection, transportation, and feedback on laboratory results; as well as comprehensive contact tracing, vaccination, and follow-up for twenty-one days.

“This campaign demonstrated how strong coordination, community engagement, and partner collaboration can turn the tide of an outbreak. From frontline health workers going door to door, to district leaders mobilizing resources, and partners aligning efforts behind national priorities, the media playing their social cooperative responsibility, the response was a testament to resilience and solidarity,” said Dr George Ameh, WHO Representative, Sierra Leone. 

“WHO is immensely grateful to our partners, FCDO, GAVI, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Netherlands, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Germany, who ensured that our teams had funds to reach the communities in the most remote places in Sierra Leone,” added Dr Ameh. 

Before the launch of the campaign, Sierra Leone was reporting an average of seventeen new cases per day. But by the end of the campaign, the figure had dropped to seven, representing a 58% reduction. The WHO teams visited more than 250,000 households, reaching and educating over 600,000 people on mpox prevention and reporting. Seven hundred and four suspected cases were investigated for mpox, of these 395 (56%) tested positive and were transferred to treatment centers to reduce community transmission. More than 6,500 contacts were listed and vaccinated to prevent them from contracting the infection. Additionally, the teams reached more than 12,000 high-risk individuals with targeted education on how to prevent and manage diseases. 

To achieve the highest outcomes from this campaign, WHO collaborated with several partners, including the World Food Program (WFP) for logistical support, Africa CDC for technical expertise, HEADA for community engagement and logistical support, US CDC for disease surveillance, UNICEF for vaccination support and community engagement, GOAL for community mobilization, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) for treatment, and Population Services International (PSI) for health education and logistical support. These partners, along with the local communities, contributed resources, expertise, and personnel, demonstrating the power of collaboration in public health emergencies. 

While the results are encouraging, Sierra Leone wants to achieve zero cases of mpox. To consolidate progress, the Ministry of Health and its partners launched phase two of the Enhanced Integrated Mpox Response on August 11, 2025. This phase, which will also run for four weeks, will replicate the successful strategies of the initial response, ensuring sustained technical and financial support across all 16 districts with a focus on strengthening surveillance, improving case management, and enhancing community engagement to prevent future outbreaks.

As Sierra Leone enters the next phase of its mpox response, WHO will continue to provide technical expertise, logistical backing, and community engagement support. The experience serves as a reminder of the power of collective action in protecting public health. By building on the lessons learned from the initial phase, which include the importance of early detection, rapid response, and, most importantly, community involvement, Sierra Leone aims to end the Mpox transmission and safeguard communities nationwide. 

Since January 10, 2025, when Sierra Leone confirmed its first case of mpox, and the disease declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization in 2022, the outbreak spread rapidly across the country, affecting all 16 districts. By epidemiological week 19 (5-11 May 2025), more than 600 confirmed cases were reported in that single week, with Western Area Urban and Western Area Rural among the hardest-hit districts.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization – Sierra Leone.

Source: APO

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The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has raised concerns over the current approach to roadblocks conducted across the province by Metro Police Departments and the Gauteng Traffic Police.

During a meeting held yesterday, where Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni appeared before the Committee, Members questioned the widespread practice of roadblocks that appear to focus primarily on checking and printing outstanding traffic fines and forcing motorists to pay fines, particularly those with enforcement orders.

The Committee expressed concern that these operations are increasingly being used as a revenue collection exercise and a substitute for the Post Office in distributing traffic fines, especially following its closure in many areas.

Instead of targeting criminals, illegal firearms, drugs, and unroadworthy vehicles, some of these roadblocks merely hand motorists notices of unpaid fines, often creating severe traffic congestion and frustration without meaningfully contributing to the fight against crime.

The Committee is of the view that Gauteng residents want to see roadblocks that make them safer, not roadblocks that feel like mobile Post Offices. Every roadblock should be a crime-fighting tool—arresting wanted suspects and illegal foreign nationals, recovering dangerous weapons, and ensuring general compliance with the law.

The Committee reaffirmed its support for roadblocks as a vital tool in crime prevention, but insists that they must be impactful, intelligence-driven, and crime focused.

Members further called on motorists to play their part by respecting the rules of the road and settling outstanding fines timeously, thereby freeing law enforcement officers to direct their energy towards fighting core criminality.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.