Category: English

Source: APO

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The Council today appointed Ms. Birgitte Nygaard Markussen as the new European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Sahel region. She will take up her duties on 1 September 2026 for an initial mandate of 12 months, until 31 August 2027. She succeeds João Cravinho, who has served as the EUSR for the Sahel since November 2024.

The EUSR for the Sahel will support the High Representative in implementing the 2025 EU’s renewed approach to the region and contribute to promoting lasting peace, security, stability, and sustainable development across Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger and the broader region. The EUSR leads the EU’s political dialogue with partners in the Sahel and contributes to the coherence, coordination and visibility of the EU’s political, security and development engagement.

The EUSR also works closely with the governments of the Sahel, neighbouring countries, regional organisations, the United Nations, the African Union and other international partners to advance the EU’s objectives, support conflict prevention and resolution, and strengthen regional cooperation in addressing the complex security, humanitarian and governance challenges facing the region.

Ms. Markussen is a Danish diplomat with extensive experience in African affairs and EU external relations, both at Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European External Action Service (EEAS). Currently, she serves as Denmark’s Special Envoy to the Sahel and Great Lakes. Between 2016 and 2023, she held several senior positions within the EEAS, most notably as Head of the EU Delegation to the African Union and EU Ambassador to the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Previously, she served as Denmark’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad and the Central Africa Republic, as well as Director for Africa at Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Background

EU Special Representatives promote the EU’s policies and interests in certain regions and countries as well as issues of particular concern or interest for the EU. They play an active role in efforts to consolidate reforms, stability and the rule of law. The first EU Special Representatives were appointed in 1996.

Currently, eleven EUSRs support the work of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to the African Union.

Source: APO

A proposal by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to temporarily halt the issuance of special certificates of title for three months sees legislators divided.

A special certificate of title is a replacement land tile that is issued by the Registrar of Titles when the original owner’s copy is lost, destroyed or completely damaged.

While justifying the intervention during a plenary sitting on Tuesday, 01 September 2026, the State Minister for Lands, Hon. Harriet Ntabazi said the ministry received complaints that special certificates of title had, in some cases, been obtained or issued notwithstanding the continued existence of the original duplicate titles.

“These allegations strike at the integrity of Uganda’s land registration system. A certificate of title is not merely an administrative document, it represents a registered proprietary interest and is relied upon by citizens, courts, banks, investors, purchasers and other institutions in making decisions involving substantial economic value,” Ntabazi said.

She added that the intervention is not intended to deprive genuine registered proprietors who have lost or destroyed their duplicate certificate of title, of the statutory mechanism for obtaining a replacement.

“Our responsibility is to reconcile security with accessibility, due diligence with efficiency, and administrative oversight with the statutory independence of the Registrar. The three-month intervention provides government with an opportunity to address weaknesses that have persisted for too long,” Ntabazi added.

Hon. Sumayah Nabawanuka (NUP, Mubende Municipality) also the Shadow Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development said the suspension puts genuine land owners at risk.

She urged the ministry to carry out a targeted audit of previously issued special certificates, while prioritising cases with complaints of fraud or double titling.

“We need a strong land information system to enable registrars instantly verify a title’s transaction history, mortgages, and caveats,” Nabawanuka said.

Hon. Cohen Amanya (NRM, Igara County West) challenged the ministry’s intervention noting that it impacted on sections 70 and 71 of the Registration of Titles Act.

“The minister’s statement is trying to circumvent a clear provision of the law. Can this Parliament be told why there is a suspension of those sections? There are members of the public who have land cases in court, what will happen to those cases?” Namanya asked.

Hon. Richard Senteza (Indep., Lugazi Municipality) also disagreed with the intervention citing the pending fate of individuals seeking to get loan facilities but may require special certificates of title.

Kazo District Woman MP, Hon. Molly Nawe said the clean-up of the land registry ought to be done without the proposed suspension noting that land is key factor of production and investments could be affected by the move.

Hon. Edson Rugumayo (NRM, Ntoroko County) commended the minister for the decisive action noting that 21 per cent of cases and 41 per cent of case backlog in courts of law are premised on land matters.

“Let us allow the minister to use the three months to ensure they establish guidelines that can allow for new controls,” Rugumayo said.

Sheema Municipality MP, Hon. Dicksons Kateshumbwa said the ministry is on the right track of rooting out issues related to double titling and other fraudulent or irregular dealings associated with the special certificates.

Hon. Amelia Kyambadde (NRM, Mawokota County North) welcomed the move saying that the three-month intervention is a brief period and as such, the Ministry of Lands should be allowed to clean-up the sector.

The Deputy Attorney General, Hon. Jackson Kafuuzi, clarified that the intervention did not breach the law.

“Legally, we cannot suspend the law, and we have not suspended the law. While everybody is free to apply for a special certificate of title, you may not get it immediately as the Ministry of Lands needs this time to clear its house. Thereafter, the process will get back to normal,” Kafuuzi explained.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

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The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, David Maynier, visited the Bontebok National Park on 29 August 2026, to receive a briefing on the park’s recovery following severe flooding on the Breede River in the Western Cape in May 2026.

The flood resulted in severe damage to some of the park’s chalets, the picnic site, and the near complete destruction of the main access road to the accommodation area.  The total cost of repairing the damage is estimated to reach R12.3 million.

Minister Maynier congratulated the SANParks management team on their speedy response to the flooding: “Given the rate at which the river rose, the team had to act quickly to safely evacuate guests and save some of the park’s furnishings. The rapid emergency response is a real credit to the entire management team.”

The road has been repaired in record time, with stronger reinforcing forming part of the rehabilitation project, and a large amount of the debris carried by the flooding river has been removed from the accommodation area. 

Six of the park’s chalets, along with the campsite and three hiking trails (Aloe Hill, Acacia, and Termite trails), have now been reopened to the public. Work is underway to repair the remaining chalets, two hiking trails (Bushbuck and Ou Tuin), and the picnic site.

Minister Maynier encouraged the public to visit the park: ‘While there is still much work to be done, the park is open and is well worth a visit this beautiful part of the Western Cape. We look forward to seeing the Bontebok National Park go from strength to strength as repairs are completed and exciting new offerings become available for visitors.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.

Source: APO

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The Department of Health would like to assure the public and stakeholders on medicine availability and changes in appearance and packaging in the public health sector.

The Department has been made aware of concerns regarding medicines that may appear to be “out of stock” at public healthcare facilities in several provinces, as well as instances where patients receive medicines that are different from those they have been issued with from health facilities.

The Department wishes to reassure the public that a change in the colour, shape, packaging or manufacturer of a medicine does not mean that the medicine itself has changed. Public healthcare facilities procure medicines only from suppliers that meet stringent regulatory and quality standards. Where more than one approved supplier provides the same medicine, patients may receive products from different manufacturers over time.

Although these medicines may look different, they contain the same active ingredients, are of the same strength/quality, and provide the same therapeutic benefits.

They are approved as safe, effective and interchangeable. Healthcare professionals may therefore dispense an equivalent medicine to ensure that patients continue receiving uninterrupted treatment.

Patients who have questions or concerns about changes to the look of their medicines are encouraged to speak to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse, who can explain the reason for the change and confirm that the medicine remains appropriate for their treatment.

The Department also wishes to clarify that reports of medicine shortages do no necessarily mean that patients are unable to receive treatment. In many cases, a specific brand, pack size or supplier’s product may be temporarily unavailable, while an equivalent medicine remains available and accessible. Healthcare professionals routinely manage these situations by providing clinically appropriate alternatives to ensure continuity of care.Like many countries, South Africa’s medicine supply chain can occasionally be affected by factors beyond the control of the health system, including manufacturing disruptions, global shortages of raw materials, increased international demand, transport delays and changes between procurement contracts. Despite these challenges, the Department works continuously to minimise any impact on patients.

Medicine availability is monitored through the National Surveillance Centre and other established reporting systems including a web-based digital tool called Stock Visibility System (SVS). These systems provide early warning of potential supply challenges across levels of healthcare delivery and enable the National Department of Health to work closely with provinces, healthcare facilities, suppliers and regulatory authorities to address risks promptly and maintain access to essential medicines.

The Department remains committed to ensuring that patients continue to receive safe, effective and quality-assured medicines through the public health system.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.

Source: APO

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UNAIDS, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Global Health Innovation Institute (GHII) have brought together the Government of South Africa, the Government of China, Chinese pharmaceutical companies and regional and global partners in a major new collaboration to strengthen pharmaceutical manufacturing across Southern Africa.  

The partnership, developed through sustained engagement led by UNAIDS, is being advanced this week through a SADC-China strategic exchange taking place from 31 August to 4 September 2026 in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. By applying lessons from the HIV response, it brings together governments, pharmaceutical manufacturers, research institutions, financial and development partners and health experts to explore how stronger partnerships can accelerate regional production of medicines, diagnostics and health technologies. 

“Strengthening pharmaceutical manufacturing is about much more than producing medicines. It is about African countries having greater control over the health products their people depend on including for HIV, while building the skills, investment, technology and systems needed for long-term health security,” said Anne Githuku-Shongwe, UNAIDS Regional Director for East and Southern Africa 

The exchange comes at a time when health security, resilient supply chains and sustainable access to essential medicines are priorities across Africa. For Southern Africa, strengthening regional manufacturing capacity offers an opportunity to reduce vulnerability to external supply disruptions while supporting innovation, skills development, investment and economic growth. 

“Health security requires the capacity to produce. Our partnership with China can help connect African manufacturing capability with the investment, technology and skills needed to strengthen regional pharmaceutical production,” said Dr Lamboly Kumboneki, SADC Secretariat. 

Building regional manufacturing capacity 

A key focus of the exchange will be how a China-Africa collaboration can help unlock technology transfer, investment, manufacturing expertise and innovation to strengthen African pharmaceutical production. 

The programme will include high level policy discussions with government and regulatory stakeholders, engagement with development and financing partners, and visits to pharmaceutical manufacturing and research facilities in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. 

Discussions will explore expanding investment and technology transfer; improving market intelligence, demand visibility and regulatory readiness; strengthening pooled procurement and health commodity security; and identifying practical opportunities for deeper Africa–China collaboration on pharmaceutical manufacturing. 

“China’s healthcare industry has grown and matured significantly over the last few decades, and companies are looking for opportunities beyond, globally. Africa is the market of the future. Being here has shown us the willingness and readiness of South African companies and policy makers. I believe this is a perfect opportunity to bring accessible health products through a mutually beneficial partnership” said Gary Yang, Head of Business Development and Innovation, GHII 

At the conclusion of the exchange, partners will identify priority opportunities and practical next steps to strengthen regional pharmaceutical manufacturing and health commodity security.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

Source: APO

Parliament has condoled with Tooro Kingdom following the death of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV with the Speaker, Jacob Marksons Oboth describing the king’s demise as ‘deeply painful’.

Oboth eulogised the Omukama in his communication to the House on on Tuesday, 01 September 2026.

“In this moment of sorrow, let Parliament stand with the people of Tooro to share in their grief as they mourn a king whose life touched generations,” Oboth said.

He added, ‘when a king departs, it is not only a family that mourns, a kingdom mourns, a people mourn and the nation feels the loss’.

He said that a motion will be moved to pay tribute to King Oyo and honour his contribution to Tooro and Uganda.

“Today a throne stands in mourning, a kingdom grieves its king and the nation bids farewell to one of its remarkable sons,” Oboth added.

The Speaker said that whereas Oyo died at a young age, he lived an impactful life.

“A king who came to the throne as a child has now departed. He departed far too soon. His life reminds us that the measure of a life is not only its length but the legacy it leaves behind,” Oboth said.

He praised the late king for promoting culture, even at a young age.

“His Majesty’s story was truly remarkable; he ascended the throne at only three years and for more than three decades grew before the eyes of his people into a respected and admired traditional leader,” Oboth said.

He further recognised the late king’s contribution towards promotion of tourism and environmental conservation. 

“Most notably he climbed the Margherita peak to promote the Rwenzori and raise awareness about climate change,” said Oboth.

He added that King Oyo will be remembered for promoting youth empowerment. 

“He supported opportunities for young people and used his international engagements to promote Tooro, his people and Uganda to the world,” Oboth remarked.

The Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without portfolio, Hon. Rukia Nakadama also condoled with the Tooro kingdom. 

“I condole with Tooro and the royal family for losing such a brilliant young king, and I know we are going to get time and talk about him but it is sad that we have lost him at such a young age,” said Nakadama.

The Members of Parliament observed a moment of silence in honour of the departed Omukama of the Toro Kingdom.

The body of King Oyo is expected to arrive in Uganda on Thursday, 03 September 2026 and it will be transported to the Karuziika Palace in Fort Portal District upon which a nine-day mourning period will commence.

King Oyo died on 27 August 2026 at a hospital in the United States where he was receiving treatment. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

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More than 162 million children, over two-thirds of all children in Eastern and Southern Africa, live in areas exposed to the impact of the strengthening 2026/2027 El Niño, UNICEF warned today. Intensifying drought, extreme heat and flooding threaten children’s nutrition, health, access to safe water and sanitation, education and safety. Forecasts provide a narrow but critical window to act before the most severe consequences are felt.

“The threat from El Niño is growing, and the risks for children are already clear,” said Etleva Kadilli, UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa. “Across the region, children are facing food and water insecurity, overstretched health services and disrupted learning. Further, major climate shocks will likely push children and the systems they rely on to breaking point.”

UNICEF assessments point to urgent and overlapping risks for children in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. For example, in Somalia, flooding could directly affect up to 2.5 million people under the most severe scenario mapping, driving displacement and impacting children’s access to food, healthcare, safe water and education; in Ethiopia, tens of thousands of children are likely to be affected, particularly in areas already facing severe food insecurity and vulnerability; and in South Sudan, drought, extreme heat and localized flooding threaten to deepen food insecurity and malnutrition, increase disease outbreaks and compound famine risks and large-scale displacement.

Yet less than one per cent of international humanitarian assistance is currently available for anticipatory action, even though this is key to saving lives, reducing humanitarian needs and protecting hard-won development gains. UNICEF is calling for urgent investment in child-critical response gaps before the impacts peak;

· Scale up nutrition services: Pre-position life-saving supplies and expand early screening and treatment.

· Support health and WASH systems: Strengthen disease surveillance, essential vaccination campaigns and health services, and secure safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

· Keep children learning: Reinforce school infrastructure and prepare safe, alternative learning spaces before disruption occurs.

· Protect children from violence and exploitation: Expand psychosocial support, family tracing and reunification, and measures to prevent gender-based violence.

· Strengthen shock-responsive social protection: Link early-warning systems to anticipatory cash assistance and other social protection measures, while building the capacity of government-led systems to respond to future shocks.

UNICEF urgently requires US$173 million, within its existing 2026 Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) requirements, to reach children and families with anticipatory and life-saving assistance across 13 priority countries. Early, flexible financing is critical now before the effects of El Niño intensify.

Acting on forecasts – before images of crisis emerge – protects children and delivers significant value: every US$1 invested in disaster risk reduction can save up to US$15 in future recovery costs.

“We know what is coming, which children are most at risk and how to protect them,” continued Kadilli. “The choice is whether the world responds now, or waits until the crisis escalates, and children pay an even greater price.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Source: APO

WIOCC Group, Africa’s leading carrier-neutral digital infrastructure platform, today announced the signing of a Shareholder Subscription Agreement (SSA) with Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org) and Vision International Investment Company (Vision Invest), through which the two investors will make a combined US $300 million investment in the company. Signed at the LEAP 2026 Global Technology exhibition in Riyadh, the agreement represents a significant milestone in WIOCC Group’s growth journey, supporting its mission to build and operate open-access, critical infrastructure across Africa and to strengthen the digital ecosystems that underpin Africa’s economic transformation.

The investment comes at a pivotal moment for Africa’s digital development as demand for data, cloud services and artificial intelligence continues to grow. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), only 35.7% of Africa’s population was using the internet in 2025, compared with a global average of 73.6%, highlighting the scale of the continent’s digital infrastructure needs and growth potential. Meanwhile, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) projects the global AI market will reach US $4.8 trillion by 2033, while warning that access to AI capabilities and digital infrastructure remains concentrated in a limited number of countries and companies. These trends underscore the importance of investing in resilient, high-capacity infrastructure that can expand digital access, support cross-border data flows and help narrow the digital divide.

Operating in more than 30 African countries, WIOCC Group today is a key enabler for further expansion, having established one of the continent’s most extensive, open-access digital infrastructure platforms that supports its clients in accessing new markets and delivering reliable digital services at scale. Since its establishment, WIOCC Group has been supported by a group of African telecommunications operators and strategic investors, alongside leading international development and investment institutions including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and African Capital Alliance (ACA). Its shareholders include Uganda Telecom, Dalkom Somalia, Djibouti Telecom, Mozambique Telecom (TMCEL), Zanzibar Telecom (Zantel), Botswana Fibre Networks (BoFiNet), Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA), ONATEL, TelOne and Telkom Kenya. The backing of these leading investors and operators has been instrumental in WIOCC’s growth into one of Africa’s most extensive and trusted digital infrastructure platforms, delivering connectivity services across the continent and contributing to the continued growth of Africa’s digital economy.

Commenting on this investment, Samaila Zubairu, President & Chief Executive Officer of AFC, said, ‘The Africa we build must be connected, competitive and equipped to create value from the digital economy, not only consume it. Just as transport corridors enable trade and energy networks power industry, fibre, data centres and subsea cables are now essential infrastructure for growth, innovation and AI. Our investment in WIOCC will expand the open-access digital backbone African businesses and communities need to integrate, innovate and compete globally.’

Chris Wood, Group Chief Executive Officer of WIOCC Group, further explained, ‘Africa is uniquely positioned to capitalise on the next phase of global digital growth. As demand for cloud, AI and digital services accelerates, robust and scalable infrastructure will be essential to unlocking the continent’s potential. This investment enables WIOCC to execute its long-term growth strategy by accelerating data centre deployment and consolidation, expanding the continent’s open-access terrestrial fibre footprint and investing strategically in new subsea assets, strengthening Africa’s digital infrastructure platform and enhancing connectivity between the continent and key international markets.’

President & Chief Executive Officer of Vision Invest, Omar N. Al-Midani, added, ‘WIOCC Group has built one of Africa’s leading digital infrastructure platforms, and we are proud to partner together with AFC and WIOCC’s existing shareholders as the company enters its next phase of growth. Home to the world’s youngest population and expected to account for more than one-quarter of the global population by 2050, demand for digital services in Africa will continue to rise, necessitating impactful investments in connectivity and digital ecosystems to unlock new opportunities for innovation, economic diversification and sustainable growth as well as opportunities for businesses, innovators and communities across Africa.’

Joshua Smythwood, Group Chief Strategy and M&A Officer of WIOCC Group, concluded, ‘The successful completion of this investment marks an important step in WIOCC Group’s evolution, enhancing the Group’s financial strength and enabling the management team to strengthen our market position, accelerate growth, enhance our ability to meet the evolving needs of customers across Africa, and generate long-term value for investors and stakeholders.’

The investment brings together AFC’s long-standing commitment to advancing Africa’s economic development, Vision Invest’s experience in developing strategic and impactful infrastructure investments, and WIOCC Group’s established digital footprint and extensive client relationships. Together, AFC, Vision Invest and WIOCC aim to contribute to accelerating the development of Africa’s digital ecosystem and supporting the continent’s growing role in the rapidly evolving global digital economy.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Media Contacts:
Greg Sellars
Director Global Brand & Communications, WIOCC
Email: greg.sellars@wiocc.net

Yewande Thorpe
Communications, Africa Finance Corporation
Mobile: +234 1 279 9654
Email: yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

Suha Matar
VP Corporate Communications, Vision Invest
Email: smatar@visioninvest.com

About Africa Finance Corporation (AFC):
AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

Nineteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of energy, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 48 member countries and has invested over US$19 billion in 36 African countries since its inception.

About Vision Invest:
Vision Invest is a leading Saudi Arabian infrastructure investment and development company at the forefront of public and private sector partnerships in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and beyond. Contributing to sustainable economic development and growth, the company operates across a wide range of vital sectors, including energy transition, advanced digital infrastructure, resource recovery and preservation, transport and logistics, and social and economic infrastructure. Its portfolio footprint spans five continents, including Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America.

About WIOCC:
Africa’s Digital Infrastructure Leader
WIOCC Group is Africa’s leading digital infrastructure platform, building and operating the critical infrastructure that enables intra-African and international connectivity.

Through strategic investments in subsea assets, terrestrial networks, metro infrastructure, hyperscale data centres and digital platforms, WIOCC Group underpins the expansion and scalability of digital services across the continent.

Its carrier-neutral, open-access approach connects businesses, communities and digital ecosystems, supporting connectivity, cloud, AI, content delivery and the continued growth of Africa’s digital economy.

End-to-End Enabler of Africa’s Interconnected Digital Ecosystem

Trusted in Africa since 2008, WIOCC Group delivers reliable, scalable and future-ready digital infrastructure that strengthens connectivity, expands access and creates the foundations for sustainable digital and economic growth across the continent.