Category: Africa

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Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9): African Development Bank signs agreement with Shimizu Corporation, Kao Corporation and Nippon Road Co Ltd to advance climate-resilient road maintenance solutions for Africa

Source: APO – Report:

The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI)with the Shimizu Corporation, Kao Corporation and The Nippon Road Co Ltd to advance cooperation in the deployment of innovative, climate-resilient road maintenance solutions in Africa.

The agreement was signed by Solomon Quaynor, African Development Bank Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure & Industrialization, and executives from Shimizu, Kao, and Nippon Road on Thursday 21 August, on the sidelines of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan.

The LoI will formalize a framework for mutual cooperation, information and knowledge sharing, as well as the exploration of co-financing opportunities for sustainable infrastructure solutions across Africa.

The consortium’s PET Asphalt Concrete technology, a reinforced asphalt mixture with recycled PET plastic bottles, was selected in June 2025 through a competitive call for proposals under the Bank’s Sustainable Road Maintenance Program for Africa (SRMPA). The solution demonstrates strong potential to enhance sustainability in Africa’s road maintenance sector, while supporting circular economy principles.

Under the agreement, the African Development Bank will facilitate coordination with governments, lead awareness-raising campaigns, support capacity building for local partners, and explore financing options for deployment of the technology.

Shimizu, Kao, and Nippon Road for their part, will conduct demand and feasibility studies, test the application of PET Asphalt Concrete in various African contexts, and assess investment opportunities for scaling up upon successful results.

“The Sustainable Road Maintenance Program for Africa (SRMPA) is an innovative initiative by the Bank aiming at offering climate resilient solutions to protect infrastructure investments from the impacts of climate change,” Quaynor stated. “Partnering with Shimizu, Kao, and Nippon Road will enable Africa to benefit from cutting-edge circular economy technology while addressing the growing backlog of road maintenance needs.”

Mr. Kazuya Osako, Managing Officer and Director, International Civil Engineering Division, Shimizu Corporation, said: “We believe that the key to successfully spreading this technology in Africa is a collaboration with local companies and partners.”

Shimuzu has already begun  testing the PET Asphalt Concrete in Kenya since May this year, Osaka added.

– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contact:
Amba Mpoke-Bigg
Communication and External Relations Department
email: media@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

About Shimizu Corporation:
Shimizu engages in civil engineering and construction, committed to deploying innovative solutions for sustainable infrastructure. Website: https://www.Shimz.co.jp/en/

About Kao Corporation:
Kao engages in consumer and chemical products, committed to providing innovative solutions for the infrastructure sector through its chemical business. Website: https://www.Kao.com/global/en/

About Nippon Road Co., Ltd.:
Nippon Road, a group company of Shimizu Corporation, primarily engages in road construction and paving work, alongside general civil engineering, sports facilities and related businesses. Website: https://www.NipponRoad.co.jp/english/

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Buffer Zone Approaches Highlighted at Southern African Development Community (SADC) Meeting

Source: APO – Report:

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The second day of the Regional Stakeholders’ Meeting on the Establishment of a Buffer Zone against Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in the SADC Region is focusing on the technical and institutional prerequisites necessary to advance the global objective of eradicating PPR by 2030.

The necessity of synchronising vaccination campaigns, surveillance, and reporting systems throughout the region was emphasised by experts, who also noted persistent breaches in cross-border coordination and inadequate laboratory capacity. The technical presentations elucidated the methods by which buffer zones, which are geographically defined areas that separate infected from disease-free regions, can prevent the spread of PPR. These methods include public awareness campaigns, stringent surveillance, movement control, and blanket vaccination.

In addition, the session examined the regulatory frameworks of compartmentalisation and zoning under the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Southern Africa’s most practicable and cost-effective approach was emphasised as zoning, while compartmentalisation could provide support for high-value and export-oriented enterprises.

Speakers underscored that buffer zones are not only valuable instruments for disease control, but also facilitate trade, livelihoods, and food security, particularly for small ruminant farmers. In an effort to guarantee success, the discussions emphasised the significance of sustainable financing, community compliance, and law enforcement engagement.

The session established the groundwork for the afternoon working groups, which are examining the following topics: (i) Surveillance and Diagnostics; (2) Vaccination and Cold Chain Logistics; (3) Animal Movement and Quarantine; (4) Stakeholder Engagement and Communications; and (5) Regional Coordination and Governance. To safeguard Southern Africa from the menace of PPR and to contribute to global eradication efforts, all of these are necessary for resourcing, coordination, and operational planning. Stay tuned.

– on behalf of The African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).

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Mode et L’Art avec un But : CEO de la Fondation Merck exploite la créativité pour impulser un changement significatif et sensibiliser aux enjeux sociaux et sanitaires critiques en Afrique

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

La Fondation Merck (www.Merck-Foundation.com), branche philanthropique de Merck KGaA Allemagne, célèbre la « Journée Mondiale de l’Art 2025 » à travers sa communauté panafricaine « Art et Mode avec un But », créée par la Sénatrice Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO de la Fondation Merck. Grâce à cette communauté dynamique, le Dr Kelej continue de sensibiliser le public aux problèmes sanitaires et sociaux cruciaux, tout en permettant aux artistes d’Afrique et d’ailleurs d’utiliser leur créativité comme un puissant outil de plaidoyer, d’éducation et de promotion d’un changement culturel au sein de leurs communautés.

Sénatrice, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO de la Fondation Merck et l’Une des 100 Africaines les Plus Influentes en 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 et 2024, a souligné : « Je suis ravie de célébrer la Journée Mondiale de l’Art 2025, car je crois fermement que l’art, la mode et les médias ont un pouvoir immense pour sensibiliser et résoudre les problèmes sociaux et sanitaires critiques, créant ainsi un changement de culture au sein des communautés. L’art et la mode, pour moi, vont bien au-delà de l’esthétique ou du divertissement, ils servent d’outils significatifs pour l’éducation et le plaidoyer. Forts de cette vision, nous avons lancé de nombreuses initiatives, notamment notre toute première émission télévisée panafricaine, Notre Afrique par la Fondation Merck, qui met en lumière de manière unique les problèmes urgents à travers le continent à travers les voix de notre communauté « Mode et Art avec un But ». Grâce à ce spectacle unique en son genre et à nos autres initiatives uniques, nous continuons à sensibiliser aux problèmes sociaux cruciaux tels que la lutte contre la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, le soutien à l’éducation des filles, mettre fin aux mariages des enfants et mutilations génitales féminines, lutte contre les violences sexistes, autonomisation des femmes, ainsi que sur des questions de santé telles que le diabète, l’hypertension et bien plus encore. »

« Notre Afrique par la Fondation Merck » est une émission télévisée panafricaine conceptualisée, produite, réalisée et co-animée par la Sénatrice, Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO de la Fondation Merck. Elle met en vedette des créateurs de mode, des chanteurs et d’éminents experts africains de divers domaines, dans le but de sensibiliser et de créer un changement de culture en Afrique. L’émission a captivé l’attention et le cœur de millions de téléspectateurs à travers l’Afrique.

Le programme télévisé a été diffusé sur les principales chaînes de télévision de nombreux pays comme KTN HOME (Kenya), GH One & TV3 (Ghana), NTV (Ouganda), BTV (Botswana), Mashariki TV (Burundi), QTV (Gambie), KTN (Kenya), LNTV (Libéria), Mibawa TV (Malawi), Deffi Media (Maurice), AYV (Sierra Leone), NTV (Ouganda), ZNBC (Zambie), ZTN (Zimbabwe), NTV (Namibie) et plus encore.

L’émission télévisée « Notre Afrique » est actuellement diffusée sur les réseaux sociaux de la Sénatrice, Dr. Rasha Kelej [Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/47fDfBA), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4pbtyuz), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/41Wn5tb) et YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/41UlyUs)] et de la Fondation Merck [Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4lPay1Q), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/47g24gC), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/3HucKhl) et YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4mF6KBI)].

Regardez la promotion de l’émission ici : https://apo-opa.co/4oRg070

Au-delà de l’émission télévisée « Notre Afrique », la Fondation Merck, en partenariat avec les Premières Dames d’Afrique, annonce chaque année 8 prix importants, sous deux thèmes : les médias, les créateurs de mode, les cinéastes et les musiciens/chanteurs, ainsi que les jeunes talents africains potentiels dans ces domaines. Les thèmes des deux catégories de prix sont : 1) Briser la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, soutenir l’éducation des filles, mettre fin au mariage des enfants, mettre fin aux MGF, mettre fin à la violence sexiste et/ou à l’autonomisation des femmes à tous les niveaux et 2) promouvoir un mode de vie sain et sensibiliser à la prévention et au dépistage précoce du diabète et de l’hypertension. Les éditions 2025 ont été annoncées lors de la 11ème édition du Fondation Merck Africa Asia Luminary, qui s’est tenue en Tanzanie en octobre 2024.

Dr. Kelej a souligné : « Il est bien connu que la créativité de l’Afrique reflète son riche patrimoine, exprimé sous forme d’art, de tissus, de musique et de récits, et se transmet de génération en génération. C’est pourquoi nous lançons ces prix chaque année, avec mes chères sœurs, les Premières Dames Africaines, qui sont également les Ambassadrices de la Fondation Merck « Plus Qu’une Mère ». Grâce à nos Prix, nous souhaitons inspirer la jeunesse du continent à utiliser ses talents innés pour répondre à nos enjeux sociaux et sanitaires importants et critiques, en sensibilisant le public à travers leur travail créatif à tous les niveaux. »

Les candidatures pour les Prix peuvent être envoyées à : submit@merck-foundation.com

De plus, dans le cadre de ses Programmes de Sensibilisation Communautaire, la Fondation Merck a créé plus de 30 chansons avec de nombreux artistes africains, en anglais, français, portugais et dans les langues africaines locales, pour aborder des questions cruciales telles que la lutte contre la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, l’autonomisation des femmes, le soutien à l’éducation des filles, mettre fin aux mariages des enfants, la sensibilisation au diabète, la promotion d’un mode de vie sain, et plus encore.

La Fondation Merck, en partenariat avec les Premières Dames d’Afrique, a également lancé 8 livres d’histoires pour enfants en trois langues : anglais, français et portugais. De plus, la Fondation Merck a adapté ces livres d’histoires pour créer des films d’animation captivants afin de sensibiliser les communautés aux enjeux importants et d’instaurer un changement au niveau local.

Pour écouter les chansons de la Fondation Merck, lire les livres d’histoires de la Fondation Merck et regarder les films d’animation de la Fondation Merck, cliquez sur les liens ci-dessous :  

https://apo-opa.co/47JD4P2

https://apo-opa.co/4mzhpgY

Distribué par APO Group pour Merck Foundation.

Contact :
Mehak Handa
Responsable du programme de sensibilisation communautaire
Téléphone : +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
E-mail : mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

Rejoignez la conversation sur nos plateformes de réseaux sociaux ci-dessous et faites entendre votre voix :
Facebook : https://apo-opa.co/4lPay1Q
X : https://apo-opa.co/3HucKhl
YouTube : https://apo-opa.co/4mF6KBI
Instagram : https://apo-opa.co/47g24gC
Threads : https://apo-opa.co/4oUwlbc
Flickr : https://apo-opa.co/41Lf8qX
Site Web : www.Merck-Foundation.com
Télécharger l’Application de la Fondation Merck : https://apo-opa.co/4p8rW4G

À propos de la Fondation Merck : 
La Fondation Merck, créée en 2017, est la branche philanthropique de Merck KGaA Allemagne, vise à améliorer la santé et le bien-être des populations et à faire progresser leur vie grâce à la science et à la technologie. Nos efforts sont principalement axés sur l’amélioration de l’accès à des solutions de soins de santé de qualité et équitables dans les communautés mal desservies, à renforcer les capacités de recherche sur les soins de santé et la recherche scientifique, l’autonomisation des filles à travers l’éducation et l’autonomisation des personnes en STEM (Science, Technologie, Ingénierie et Mathématiques) avec un accent particulier sur les femmes et les jeunes. Tous les communiqués de presse de la Fondation Merck sont distribués par e-mail en même temps qu’ils deviennent disponibles sur le site Web de la Fondation Merck. Veuillez visiter www.Merck-Foundation.com pour en savoir plus. Pour en savoir plus, contactez nos réseaux sociaux de la Fondation Merck : Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4lPay1Q), X (https://apo-opa.co/3HucKhl), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/47g24gC), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4mF6KBI), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4oUwlbc) et Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/41Lf8qX).

La Fondation Merck se consacre à l’amélioration des résultats sociaux et sanitaires pour les communautés dans le besoin. Bien qu’elle collabore avec divers partenaires, y compris des gouvernements, pour atteindre ses objectifs humanitaires, la fondation reste strictement neutre sur le plan politique. Elle ne s’engage pas et ne soutient pas d’activités, d’élections ou de régimes politiques, se focalise uniquement sur sa mission d’élever l’humanité et d’améliorer le bien-être tout en maintenant une position strictement apolitique dans toutes ses activités.

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Moda e Arte com Propósito: CEO da Fundação Merck utiliza a criatividade para impulsionar mudanças significativas e conscientizar sobre questões sociais e de saúde críticas em toda a África

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

A Fundação Merck (www.Merck-Foundation.com), braço filantrópico da Merck KGaA Alemanha, celebra o “Dia Mundial da Arte 2025” por meio da sua Comunidade Pan-Africana “Arte e Moda com Propósito”, criada pela Senadora Drª Rasha Kelej, CEO da Fundação Merck. Por meio dessa comunidade dinâmica, a Drª Kelej continua a conscientizar sobre questões críticas de saúde e sociais, ao mesmo tempo em que empodera artistas em toda a África e em outros lugares a usar a sua criatividade como uma ferramenta poderosa para advocacia, educação e promoção de uma mudança cultural nas suas comunidades.

A Senadora, Drª Rasha Kelej, CEO da Fundação Merck e uma das 100 africanas mais influentes em 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 e 2024, enfatizou: “Estou muito feliz em celebrar o ‘Dia Mundial da Arte 2025’, pois acredito firmemente que a arte, a moda e a mídia têm um imenso poder na conscientização e no enfrentamento de questões sociais e de saúde críticas, criando, em última análise, uma mudança cultural nas comunidades. A Arte e a moda, para mim, vão muito além da estética ou do entretenimento; elas servem como ferramentas significativas para a educação e a defesa de direitos. Com essa visão, lançamos muitas iniciativas, incluindo o nosso primeiro programa televisivo pan-africano, Nossa África da Fundação Merck, que destaca de forma única questões urgentes em todo o continente por meio das vozes da nossa comunidade ‘Moda e Arte com Propósito’. Por meio deste programa único e de nossas outras iniciativas exclusivas, continuamos a conscientizar sobre questões sociais críticas, como Quebrar o Estigma da Infertilidade, o Apoiar a Educação de Meninas, Acabar com o Casamento Infantil e a Mutilação Genital Feminina, Acabar com a Violência do Género, Empoderamento Feminino e também sobre questões de saúde como diabetes, hipertensão e muito mais.

“A Nossa África da Fundação Merck” é um programa televisivo pan-africano idealizado, produzido, realizado e coapresentado pela Senadora Drª Rasha Kelej, CEO da Fundação Merck, que apresenta estilos de moda africanos, cantores e especialistas renomados de diversas áreas, com o objectivo de conscientizar e promover uma mudança cultural em toda a África. O programa atraiu a atenção e o coração de milhões de telespectadores em todo o continente.

O programa televisivo foi transmitido nas principais estações televisivas de muitos países, como KTN HOME (Quénia), GH One & TV3 (Gana), NTV (Uganda), BTV (Botswana) Mashariki TV (Burundi), QTV (Gâmbia), KTN (Quénia), LNTV (Libéria), Mibawa TV (Malawi), Deffi Media (Maurícias), AYV (Serra Leoa), NTV (Uganda), ZNBC (Zâmbia), ZTN (Zimbabwe), NTV (Namíbia) e muito mais.

O Programa Televisivo “Nossa África ” está actualmente nas redes sociais da Senadora Drª Rasha Kelej [Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/47fDfBA), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4pbtyuz), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/41Wn5tb) e YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/41UlyUs)] e Fundação Merck [Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4lPay1Q), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/47g24gC), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/3HucKhl) e YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4mKr58o].

Assista à promoção do programa aqui: https://apo-opa.co/4oRg070

No programa televisivo Além da Nossa África, a Fundação Merck, em parceria com as Primeiras-Damas Africanas, anuncia anualmente 8 importantes prémios, divididos em dois temas: Mídia, Moda, Cinema e Canção, além de jovens talentos africanos em potencial nessas áreas. Os temas das duas categorias de prémios são: 1) Quebrar o Estigma da Infertilidade, Apoiar a Educação de Meninas, Acabar com o Casamento Infantil, Acabar com a MGF, Acabar com a VBG e/ou o Empoderamento Feminino em todos os níveis; e 2) Promover um estilo de vida saudável e conscientizar sobre a prevenção e o diagnóstico precoce de Diabetes e Hipertensão. As edições de 2025 foram anunciadas durante a 11ª edição da Luminária África Ásia da Fundação Merck, realizado na Tanzânia em outubro de 2024.

A Drª Kelej enfatizou: “É amplamente sabido que a criatividade da África reflete a sua rica herança, expressa na forma de arte, tecidos, música e narrativas, e é transmitida de geração em geração. Por isso, lançamos esses prêmios anualmente, com minhas queridas irmãs, as Primeiras-Damas Africanas, que também são Embaixadoras da Fundação Merck “Mais Que uma Mãe”. Através dos nossos prémios, buscamos inspirar os jovens do continente a usar os seus talentos inatos para abordar as nossas importantes e críticas questões sociais e de saúde, conscientizando-os através do seu trabalho criativo em todos os níveis.

”As candidaturas para os prémios podem ser enviadas para: submit@merck-foundation.com

Além disso, como parte dos Programas de Conscientização Comunitária, a Fundação Merck criou mais de 30 músicas com diversos artistas africanos, em inglês, francês, português e também em línguas africanas locais, para abordar questões críticas como quebrar o estigma da infertilidade, empoderamento das mulheres, apoiar a educação de meninas, acabar com casamento infantil, conscientização sobre a diabetes, promover um estilo de vida saudável e muito mais.

A Fundação Merck, em parceria com as Primeiras Damas Africanas, também lançou 8 livros de histórias infantis em três línguas: inglês, francês e português. Além disso, a Fundação Merck adaptou esses livros de histórias para criar filmes de animação interessantes com o objectivo de alcançar as comunidades e conscientizar sobre questões importantes, com o objectivo de promover mudanças a nível local.

Para ouvir as músicas da Fundação Merck, ler os livros de histórias da Fundação Merck e assistir aos filmes de animação da Fundação Merck, clique nos links abaixo:

https://apo-opa.co/47JD4P2

https://apo-opa.co/4mzhpgY 

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Merck Foundation.

Contato:
Mehak Handa
Gerente do Programa de Conscientização Comunitária
Telefone: +91 9310087613 / +91 9319606669
Email: mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

Junte-se à conversa nas plataformas das nossas mídias sociais e deixe a sua voz ser ouvida:
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4lPay1Q
X: https://apo-opa.co/3HucKhl
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Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/47g24gC
Threads: https://apo-opa.co/4oUwlbc
Flickr: https://apo-opa.co/41Lf8qX
Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com
Baixar a Aplicação da Fundação Merck: https://apo-opa.co/4p8rW4G

Sobre a Fundação Merck:
A Fundação Merck, criada em 2017, é o braço filantrópico da Merck KGaA Alemanha, tem como objectivo melhorar a saúde e o bem-estar das pessoas e aprimorar as suas vidas atravez da ciência e da tecnologia. Os nossos esforços estão focados principalmente na melhoria do acesso a soluções de saúde de qualidade e equitativas em comunidades carenciadas, no desenvolvimento da capacidade de saúde e na investigação científica, no empoderamento das raparigas na educação e no empoderamento de pessoas em STEM (Ciência, Tecnologia, Engenharia e Matemática) com foco especial em mulheres e jovens. Todos os comunicados de imprensa da Fundação Merck são distribuídos por e-mail ao mesmo tempo em que são disponibilizados no site da Fundação Merck. Visite www.Merck-Foundation.com para ler mais. Siga a mídia social da Fundação Merck: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4lPay1Q), X (https://apo-opa.co/3HucKhl), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/47g24gC), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4mF6KBI), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4oUwlbc) e Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/41Lf8qX).

A Fundação Merck está dedicada a melhorar os resultados sociais e de saúde para comunidades necessitadas. Embora colabore com vários parceiros, incluindo governos, para atingir os seus objectivos humanitários, a Fundação permanece estritamente neutra em questões políticas. Ela não se envolve ou apoia nenhuma actividade política, eleições ou regimes, concentrando-se exclusivamente na sua missão de elevar a humanidade e melhorar o bem-estar, mantendo uma postura estritamente apolítica em todos os seus esforços.

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Christians and the British empire: how a church NGO got entangled in colonial violence in Kenya

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Poppy Cullen, Lecturer in International History, Loughborough University

In the 1950s, Kenyans fought against colonial control in what came to be known as the Mau Mau rebellion. In response, the British government announced a state of emergency in 1952 and engaged in a brutal counter-insurgency campaign to secure control of colonial Kenya.

During the emergency, tens of thousands of Kikuyu, Embu and Meru – tribal groups predominantly from central Kenya – were detained without trial in camps. These detention camps relied on torture sanctioned by government to get detainees to renounce their nationalistic ambitions.

More than one million other Kenyans were forcibly relocated into new and controlled villages. These were frequently sites of forced labour, coercion and violence.

This was supported by the colonial policy of “rehabilitation”. The objective was to get Mau Mau adherents to “confess” their Mau Mau activities, give up their ties to the movement and receive education to become valuable colonial subjects.

But rehabilitation became a cover for excessive violence perpetrated against those in camps and villages.

It was not just the colonial state which engaged in rehabilitation. NGOs also employed people and spent money to help enact rehabilitation policies. These organisations included Save the Children and the Red Cross.

Read more: Academic sleuthing uncovered British torture of Mau Mau fighters

My recent research looks at another organisation that became actively involved: the Christian Council of Kenya. I am a historian of the relationship between Kenya and Britain before and after independence, and interested in the intersection between humanitarianism and decolonisation.

The Christian Council of Kenya was established in 1943 as an ecumenical group of missions and churches based in Kenya. It involved all the major Anglican churches, but few African Independent Churches. It was mostly made up of white European Church leaders and missionaries.

It was not a very powerful organisation until the 1950s. This all changed with the Mau Mau emergency. The council viewed its involvement in Mau Mau rehabilitation as an opportunity to evangelise and win converts to Christianity.

The council’s involvement reveals the variety of ways that NGOs became involved – and sometimes implicated – in policies of colonial violence.

The emergency provided the Christian Council of Kenya the opportunity to grow through a process of “NGO-isation”. This involved the transformation of missionary organisations into NGOs during the period of decolonisation.

As secular NGOs emerged, and policies of development increased, missions expanded their activities. This included employing new staff, fundraising, organising ambitious development projects, and working with governments and other NGOs. These were all things the council first did during the emergency.

In the process, the council became part of the colonial system of violence and mass incarceration. While sometimes directly criticising the government, it came to support the government and sanction its violence.

This was especially clear in later years when violence and torture increased but the council spoke out less against them. Through its place on a rehabilitation advisory committee and its direct connection to the governor, the council positioned itself as an ally of government rather than a critic.

The council’s involvement

In 1954, the Kenya colonial government invited the Christian Council of Kenya to help with the project of rehabilitation. This involved employing staff who could work in detention camps and new villages.

The council worked with Christian Aid in Britain, which raised funds for its activities. Christian Aid was at the time expanding from its roots in Europe. Working with the council in Kenya was Christian Aid’s first major project in Africa. The council also received colonial government grants.

The Christian Council of Kenya appointed a general-secretary, Stanley Morrison, a British national who led council efforts in the rehabilitation programme. Morrison believed that detainees would feel a spiritual lack after renouncing Mau Mau and that Christianity could fill the gap.

He saw working with Christian Aid and the government as a chance for growth and actively set about pursuing these opportunities. A key part of this involved sending priests into prisons and detention camps. This was a vast and literally captive audience for evangelism.

The council also designed a “cleansing ceremony” for detainees. This was intended to follow an extensive programme of Christian instruction, in which detainees would renounce their adherence to Mau Mau and embrace Christianity.

But the Christian revival it hoped for did not take place. The council’s activities and influence were limited, mainly due to the fact that there were hundreds of thousands in detention and over a million people in new villages. The council did not have the funds to employ enough people to meet this need. This meant that interventions like the cleansing ceremony weren’t widespread.

The complexities

The Christian Council of Kenya’s relationship with the colonial government was complicated.

On the one hand, it shared common aims with the government. On the other, the council was also concerned about the violence and abuses that occurred in the emergency.

This raised a challenge frequently faced by NGOs working in sites of violence: whether and how to voice criticism while ensuring access to their intended recipients.

Council members had different views. The group criticised the government publicly several times, but more often preferred to raise concerns privately. In this way, it ensured its friendly relationship with the colonial government.

The biggest clash was between Anglican bishop Leonard Beecher and David Steel, the moderator of the Church of Scotland. Steel favoured a direct approach against the violence, preaching a sermon that was broadcast on radio to raise awareness of abuses. Beecher criticised this as likely to damage the Christian Council of Kenya’s relationship with the government.

The government invited the council to join the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee in October 1954. This gave it the chance to mitigate excesses, but also meant it was implicated in government policy.

The council’s criticisms decreased further over the final years of the emergency. For example, when told of the “dilution technique”, which involved beating detainees who refused to confess their Mau Mau oaths, the council shrugged it off with the view that those men were probably psychiatric cases.

As the fighting wound down from 1957, the council no longer focused on rehabilitation, but on long-term development activities, such as training church leaders, running youth training programmes and working with industry.

By the official end of the emergency in 1960 when the colonial government lifted restrictions, the Christian Council of Kenya was well established as a development-focused NGO, with an active portfolio of activities, supported by Christian Aid in the UK, and with close relations to the Kenya government.

The opportunity that the council expected from the emergency – more converts – did not arise. But there was an opportunity for it in its own expansion.

The consequences

My findings highlight the need to pay more attention to missions and churches as major actors at the end of empire. They are often overlooked in favour of political actors, but could have played significant roles behind the scenes.

The council, with Christian Aid’s ongoing support, continued working in Kenya past independence, and still exists. It was renamed the National Council of Churches of Kenya. In 1963, the year of Kenya’s independence, the council appointed its first African general-secretary. Its role in the emergency helped set up its later success.

– Christians and the British empire: how a church NGO got entangled in colonial violence in Kenya
– https://theconversation.com/christians-and-the-british-empire-how-a-church-ngo-got-entangled-in-colonial-violence-in-kenya-262566

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What makes Lake Iro in Chad so special? It’s not just a viral sunglint photo

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Pierre Rochette, Emeritus professor in geophysics, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU)

Lake Iro in Chad was in the news in early August 2025 after a picture taken by a NASA astronaut was published showing it looking like a large, circular silver mirror as sunlight reflected off its surface and into space. The phenomenon is known as a sunglint and can happen to any water surface under the right conditions. The startling picture led The Conversation Africa to find out more about the lake. Pierre Rochette is an emeritus professor in geophysics from Aix-Marseille University in France. He has studied the lake, and navigated it too for a geophysical study. He answers questions about its properties as an impact crater from an ancient meteor.

What’s there to know about Lake Iro?

The lake is in south-eastern Chad, about 120 km from the border with the Central African Republic.

Lake Iro lies in the middle of an “inland delta”, which was formed by river waters diverging from the Bahr Salamat, a river which flows in the wet season, with very limited flow in the dry season.

It has a semi-circular shape and is about 12 km in diameter. A number of rivers meander around it.

Iro Lake is a vital resource for people living in the area. It provides permanent water and fodder for the large herds of cattle migrating from the Sahelian zone when it’s too dry to keep the animals up north.

People there also produce dried smoked fish, which is exported.

What’s unique about the lake?

Iro may be the largest extraterrestrial impact crater lake in Africa. Volcanic or karstic (where rock has dissolved) crater lakes are much more abundant on Earth.

When an asteroid or comet strikes the Earth’s surface at a speed of about 10km per second, it excavates a crater about ten times larger than itself. So the extraterrestrial body must have been 1km wide in the case of Iro Lake.

My research shows several examples of such impact craters in Chad. Their age is unknown, but likely older than ten million years.

The crater that is home to Lake Iro is a bit larger than the better known Bosumtwi Lake in Ghana. Bosumtwi crater was also excavated by an asteroid strike, but more recently, about one million years ago.

Africa has only 20 proven impact craters (among which seven have a diameter larger than 10km). That corresponds to one tenth of the total proven craters on Earth.

Since 2014, no new crater has been discovered in Africa. A large number (around 49, according to some studies) and a few other potential impact structures have been proposed in Africa, mostly based on satellite imagery and topography.

But solid proof for impact in these proposed structures, including Iro lake, is lacking due to limited or non-existent field studies.

As a group of scientists we have been heavily involved in tracking down impact craters on the continent. Our most recent work involves an ongoing study of the 40km diameter Velingara structure in Senegal.

Studying large impact craters is important to better evaluate the future threat of asteroid impacts. They also provide potential resources (like water, petrol and metals) and a record of ancient climates in the sediments accumulated in the crater lake.

Crossing the river to reach the Iro lake. Author supplied

How do you know it started off as a meteor crater?

Proving the impact nature of a circular structure requires traces of either extraterrestrial matter or of very high pressures endured by the target material.

Due to the likely old age and thus strong erosion of Iro’s circular depression, hardly any rock can be found on the surface. Only drilling for several hundred metres can reach the impacted rocks and thus provide definitive proof. This is a very hard task in such a remote area.

Nevertheless, the known geological features of the area provide no other explanation for the presence of this circular depression, apart from an impact.

That’s why we consider Iro Lake as a potential impact structure. It’s still unproven, but likely.

Can you spot the hippo in the Iro lake? Author supplied

What are its distinctive geological features?

The area around Iro is extremely flat, as demonstrated by the slope of the Bahr Salamat river, south of the lake, of the order of 0.2 metres per kilometre. This explains the meandering nature of the river, highlighted by the published sunglint image.

Topographic map of Iro area, indicating drainage and flow direction. Author supplied

Bahr Salamat’s altitude south of Iro is 396 metres, higher by only 40 metres from its altitude 160km to the west-south-west. In fact the Bahr (“river” in the local language) seems to go around the Iro lake depression (the average altitude of the lake is 387 metres).

This is odd as the river should have been attracted towards the depression, but can be explained by the fact that the impact generated a regional uplift that resulted in the Bahr changing its course to the south, to avoid the uplifted region.

What is a sunglint?

Depending on the angle of view, any body of water can behave as a mirror for a light source, such as the sun.

Completely still water just reproduces the object emitting the light, like a perfectly still mountain lake reproduces the rocky landscape above it.

But if the water surface is disturbed by wavelets, the perfect reflection vanishes, and is replaced by blurred light – in this case from the sun. This is the sunglint.

Anybody can experience it in clear weather from an aeroplane or from the top of a mountain, looking at a landscape containing water surfaces riddled by a breeze, in the direction of the sun.

Spectacular examples of sunglints, especially when the sun is not at its highest point (at noon), are reported from satellite imagery, as can be seen here.

The visual phenomenon is not limited to satellite imagery. The term sunglint has been in use since the 1960s. Earlier mentions of the phenomenon used the term “sun glitter”.

– What makes Lake Iro in Chad so special? It’s not just a viral sunglint photo
– https://theconversation.com/what-makes-lake-iro-in-chad-so-special-its-not-just-a-viral-sunglint-photo-263228

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Fashion and Art with Purpose: Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) harnesses creativity to drive meaningful change and raise awareness of critical social and health issues across Africa

Source: APO

Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, marks ‘World Art Day 2025’ through their Pan African ‘Art and Fashion with Purpose’ Community, established by Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation. Through this dynamic community, Dr. Kelej continues to raise awareness on critical health and social issues while empowering artists across Africa and beyond to use their creativity as a powerful tool for advocacy, education, and fostering a cultural shift within their communities.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and One of 100 Most Influential Africans 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 emphasized, “I am delighted to mark ‘World Art Day 2025’ as I strongly believe that art, fashion, and media hold immense power in raising awareness and addressing critical social and health issues—ultimately creating a culture shift in the communities. Art and fashion, to me, go far beyond aesthetics or entertainment, they serve as meaningful tools for education and advocacy. With this vision, we have launched many initiatives including our first-ever pan-African TV program, Our Africa by Merck Foundation, which uniquely highlights pressing issues across the continent through the voices of our ‘Fashion and Art with Purpose’ community. Through this one-of-a-kind show and our other unique initiatives, we continue to raise awareness about critical social issues such as Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Ending Child Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation, Stopping Gender-Based Violence, Women’s Empowerment, and also about health issues like diabetes, hypertension, and much more.”

‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation’ is a pan African TV program that is conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation to feature African Fashion Designers, Singers, and prominent experts from various domains with the aim to raise awareness and create a culture shift across Africa. The program has captured the attention and hearts of millions of viewers across Africa.

The TV program has been broadcasted on prime TV stations of many countries like KTN HOME (Kenya), GH One & TV3 (Ghana), NTV (Uganda), BTV (Botswana) Mashariki TV (Burundi), QTV (The Gambia), KTN (Kenya), LNTV (Liberia), Mibawa TV (Malawi), Deffi Media (Mauritius), AYV (Sierra Leone), NTV (Uganda), ZNBC (Zambia), ZTN (Zimbabwe), NTV (Namibia) and more.

“Our Africa” TV Program is currently on social media handles of Social Media handles of Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej Dr. Rasha Kelej [Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/47fDfBA), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4pbtyuz), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/41Wn5tb) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/41UlyUs)] and Merck Foundation [Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4lPay1Q), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/47g24gC), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/3HucKhl) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4mF6KBI)].

Watch the Promo of the Program here: https://apo-opa.co/4oRg070

Beyond Our Africa TV Program, Merck Foundation in partnership with The First Ladies of Africa announces annually 8 important Awards, under two themes, for Media, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers and Musicians/ Singers, and potential young African talents in these fields. The themes of the two categories of awards are: 1) Breaking Infertility Stigma, Support Girls’ Education, End Child Marriage, End FGM, Stopping GBV and/ or Women Empowerment at all levels and 2) promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. The 2025 editions were announced during the 11th edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary held in Tanzania in October 2024.

Dr. Kelej emphasized, “It is very well known that Africa’s creativity reflects its rich heritage, expressed in the form of art, fabrics, music, and storytelling and is carried forward through generations. Hence, we launch these awards annually, with my dear sisters, the African First Ladies who are also the Ambassadors of Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother”. Through our Awards, we aim to inspire the continent’s youth to use their innate talents to address our important and critical social and health issues, by raising awareness through their creative work at all levels.”

Entries for the Awards can be sent to: submit@merck-foundation.com

Also, as a part of the Community Awareness Programs, Merck Foundation has created over 30 songs with many African Artists, in English, French, Portuguese and also local African languages to address critical issues like breaking infertility stigma, empowering women, supporting girl education, ending child marriage, diabetes awareness, promoting a healthy lifestyle, and more.

Merck Foundation in partnership with The First Ladies of Africa has also launched 8 Children’s Storybooks in three languages: English, French and Portuguese. Additionally, Merck Foundation has adapted these storybooks to create interesting animation films with the purpose of reaching out to the communities to raise awareness on the important issues with an aim of instilling change at grassroot levels.

To listen to the Merck Foundation songs, read Merck Foundation storybooks and watch Merck Foundation animation films, click on the below links:  

https://apo-opa.co/47JD4P2

https://apo-opa.co/4mzhpgY 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

Contact:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager 
Phone: +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
Email: mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard:
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4lPay1Q
X: https://apo-opa.co/3HucKhl
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/4mF6KBI
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/47g24gC
Threads: https://apo-opa.co/4oUwlbc
Flickr: https://apo-opa.co/41Lf8qX
Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com
Download Merck Foundation App: https://apo-opa.co/4p8rW4G

About Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare & scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4lPay1Q), X (https://apo-opa.co/3HucKhl), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/47g24gC), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4mF6KBI), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4oUwlbc) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/41Lf8qX).

The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors.

Media files

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Justice DG, DDG face disciplinary proceedings over delayed Madlanga Commission

Source: Government of South Africa

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has instituted disciplinary proceedings against the department’s Director General (DG), Advocate Doc Mashabane.

This as the department grapples with the circumstances leading to the delay in the commencement of the Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System – known as the Madlanga Commission.

The Minister made the announcement during a media briefing on Tuesday afternoon.

She explained that she was notified on Friday that the commission would not be able to commence hearings on 1 September as previously announced due to delays on the side of the department.

“It was clear at the end of the day that it is practically impossible to intervene in procurement process without compromising what is required by law as compliance with PFMA and SCM policies.

“I immediately reported the situation to…President [Cyril Ramaphosa] who was travelling…[and] we immediately agreed that I will do a full report to him which was done by Friday.

“In the process, the President then delegated to the Minister of Justice…powers to institute disciplinary proceedings against the [DG] and this decision has been communicated to him this afternoon,” Kubayi said.

The department’s ICT Deputy Director General (DDG), Jabu Hlatshwayo, has also been placed on immediate suspension pending an investigation and disciplinary process.

“This is because of the failures and lapses on the system and also not being able to do due diligence in ensuring that the commission starts on time,” she added.

Ploughing ahead

Kubayi emphasised that despite these delays, the commission “has commenced with preliminary work that includes interaction with their witnesses”.

“We remain committed to ensuring that the commission begins its work without further delays and to strengthening the operational efficiencies of the department to prevent similar setbacks in the future,” Kubayi said.

During the question-and-answer session, the Minister expressed disappointment that the commission would not begin hearings as previously announced.

“I am disappointed like many South Africans. If you remember, General Mkhwanazi made reference even to prosecutors. What we are looking for, including myself as the Minister, is to look at rebuilding the brand of NPA [National Prosecuting Authority] for example and also building confidence in the JCPS [Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster].

“If this [commission] is not done and concluded in time, it will continue to have a cloud over our heads and it will also impede on our work. It can act as demoralising for the men and women who are committed in the [cluster] to work effectively.

“The President is committed and that’s why he…asked us to go public and explain in the most transparent and accountable manner to say what has led to where we are and the consequences. [We are] rebuilding public confidence in our work,” Kubayi said.

A look back

The establishment of the commission – chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga – was announced by President Ramaphosa following allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Mkhwanazi made several allegations about an alleged criminal syndicate that has spread influence into law enforcement, the NPA and intelligence services.

Mkhwanazi also made allegations against the Police Minister – alleging that Mchunu colluded with criminal elements to disband the Political Killings Task Team based in KwaZulu-Natal.

Mchunu has since been placed on leave of absence with Professor Firoz Cachalia sworn in as Police Minister earlier this month. 

The commission’s hearings will be held at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College starting at a date to be announced by the commission. – SAnews.gov.za

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Commission gears up for 2026 local government elections

Source: Government of South Africa

The Electoral Commission (IEC) is gearing up for the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE)  with the Commission having  begun consultations with the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

At a media briefing on Tuesday, IEC Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, said the law provides that the term of a municipal council is five years and that elections must be held no later than 90 days following the end of the term. 
The current municipal councils were elected on 1 November 2021. 

“This means that the current term will end on 2 November 2026. Therefore, the general elections of municipal councils fall due between 2 November 2026 and the end of January 2027. The authority to set a date and call an election lies with the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs following consultation with the Commission.

“Consultations between the Minister and the Commission have commenced, but are yet to be concluded,” he said at the briefing held in Centurion, Pretoria.

WATCH | IEC briefing
 

[embedded content]

He added that the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) plays a pivotal role in shaping the political geography of the country through the determination of both municipal and ward boundaries.

Municipal wards are the political boundaries within which a single councillor is elected based on the first-past-the-post principle. 

“The MDB has indicated that it is about to conclude the process of ward delimitation. Crucially, the MDB will hand over final ward boundaries to the Commission at the end of October 2025. There will, however, be a residual of eighteen municipalities that will be handed over at a later stage. The latter case relates to municipalities that were subject to requests for the review of external municipal boundaries.”

Mamabolo said engagements with the MDB are planned to agree on the precise date for the receipt of wards for these residual municipalities.

Once the MDB provides the final set of wards to the Commission, the Commission will analyse its network of voting districts to ensure that they are geographically aligned to the final ward boundaries in preparation for voter registration ahead of LGE 2026- 2027.

Meanwhile, the Commission said the 2024 National and Provincial Elections met international standards for freeness and fairness and met the constitutional and legal standards.

Elections report 

This as the Commission tabled the 2024 elections report in the National Assembly in early July. The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs invited the Commission to a presentation of the report on 15 July.

It said that of  2024 elections that were held in May,  there were 27.78 million registered voters, which is the highest since 1999 when the voters’ roll was first introduced.

There was also increased litigation with 88 cases challenging various aspects of the electoral process. 

“The Electoral Commission prevailed in all except one, which relates to establishing special voting stations outside of the official foreign missions of the Republic. An appeal is pending in the Supreme Court of Appeal on this matter,” said the Commission.

At the conclusion of the session in July, the Portfolio Committee welcomed the report, acknowledged that there were areas for improvement, and commended the Commission for delivering free, fair, and credible elections. –SAnews.gov.za

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Thailand: Director-General of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs Department visits Republic of Côte d’Ivoire

Source: APO – Report:

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On 31 July – 1 August 2025, Ms. Sasirit Tangulrat, Director-General of the Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs, together with delegates from the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) and Thai agricultural experts, visited the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. They met with high-level Ivorian officials to strengthen bilateral relations and development cooperation, of which both sides agreed to move forward three areas of cooperation: food security, energy security and human security, with related details as follows:

(1) H.E. Mr. Léon Kacou Adom, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and the Ivorians Aboard, expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by the Thai side during his official visit to Thailand in February 2025. The Director-General reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to advancing cooperation in the three areas outlined and provided clarification on the situation along the Thai – Cambodian border, reiterating Thailand’s position in seeking to ease tensions and resolve issues through peaceful means.

(2) H.E. Mr. Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, Minister of State for Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Production of Côte d’Ivoire agreed to strengthen development cooperation to enhance Côte d’Ivoire’s food security. The Thai rice experts had the opportunity to visit rice fields and discuss further cooperation on regional rice research and rice production technology transfer with Cote d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Production with the Africa Rice Center.

(3) Dr. Coulibaly-Koné Soltie Aminata, Chief of the Cabinet of the Minister of Health, Public Hygiene, and Universal Health Coverage of Côte d’Ivoire agreed to promote cooperation in public health and health management, which constitutes a vital foundation for human security, particularly in the areas of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) management, food security, and pharmaceutical production.

(4) H.E. Mr. Evariste Koffi Yapi, Secretary-General for Foreign Affairs of Côte d’Ivoire and representatives from relevant Ivorian government agencies jointly discussed follow up on the outcomes of the Ivorian Foreign Minister’s official visit to Thailand, where both sides agreed to hold the first meeting of Thailand – Côte d’Ivoire Political Consultations in 2026.

– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand.