Category: English

Source: APO – Report:

.

At the meeting, held under the chairmanship of Liberian president Joseph Boakai on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Bourita noted that Morocco and Liberia are following increasingly convergent paths, driven by shared commitments to advancing women’s leadership in the areas of peace and security.

In his address, the minister congratulated Liberia on the efforts it has made in advancing this Agenda, commending the proven experience of Liberian women who have been mobilized since 2003 as part of the “Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace” movement.

“Liberia’s experience reminds us that women’s role in peace is not defined by their vulnerability to conflict, but by their ability to prevent conflict, play a role in mediation, and support societies in resolving crises,” Bourita stressed.

“For Morocco, this conviction is fundamental. In accordance with the High Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, the Kingdom has sought to translate this conviction both through its diplomatic action and its continued international engagement,” he added.

At the heart of this approach, the minister went on, “lies the conviction that women’s participation must extend across the entire peace continuum,” recalling that Morocco, as a long-standing peacekeeping actor, has committed to strengthening the participation of Moroccan women among peacekeepers, as well as enhancing women’s capacities in mediation and conflict prevention.

During the meeting, Bourita announced that Morocco will host the 6th Ministerial Conference on Feminist Foreign Policy in 2027, the first such conference to be held on African and Arab soil. He underlined that Africa has much to contribute to the “Women, Peace and Security” Agenda, as well as to the broader debate on feminist foreign policy.

As part of its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the 2028-2029 term, the Kingdom intends to make this issue a priority within the Council and to advance its Agenda, the minister pointed out.

He also stressed the need for collective reflection on the next steps to be taken under the “Women, Peace and Security” Agenda, taking into account emerging challenges related to women, peace and cybersecurity.

The minister noted that Morocco and Liberia could make a “distinctive” joint contribution by consolidating the gains achieved over the past 25 years in implementing this Agenda, while addressing the requirements of the next 25 years.

– on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

Source: APO

Behind every service member stands a family whose encouragement, understanding and support contribute significantly to the resilience required for military service. Recognising this important relationship, personnel from various military dioceses, together with their families, gathered at the Defence Headquarters Camp Administration Unit (DHQ-CAU) for the Roman Catholic Family Day Celebration.

The occasion provided a platform for military families to interact, strengthen relationships and share in fellowship away from the demands of routine duties. It also highlighted the important role of faith and family support in promoting the welfare, morale and resilience of military personnel.

Providing spiritual guidance during the celebration, the Bishop of the Catholic Military Ordinariate of Kenya, Rt Rev Wallace Ng’ang’a, emphasised the importance of faith, family unity and mutual support in strengthening the well-being of military personnel and their loved ones.

He observed that strong and supportive families provide personnel with a dependable foundation from which they can draw encouragement and strength as they undertake the unique responsibilities and demands associated with military service.

Representing the Kenya Army Commander and the Roman Catholic Patron,Lieutenant General David Ketter, the Deputy Army Commander, Major General John Nkoimo, underscored the central role of the family in sustaining the morale, welfare and resilience of military personnel. He noted that healthy family relationships provide stability and encouragement, enabling personnel to remain focused on their responsibilities while maintaining a balance between service and family life.

“The strength of our military community is deeply rooted in the strength of our families. When families support, encourage and stand together, they give our personnel the confidence and resilience required to serve with dedication and commitment,” said Major General Nkoimo.

The celebration further recognised the sacrifices made by military families as they support personnel through deployments, training commitments and other demands of service. Their emotional support, patience and encouragement remain integral to sustaining morale and strengthening the overall well-being of personnel.

Drawing inspiration from 1 Samuel 26:2, 7–9, 12–13, participants reflected on the theme of a family that respects and serves generously. The biblical account of David exercising restraint and respecting Saul despite having an opportunity to harm him highlighted the virtues of respect, self-control, integrity and service—values that are equally important in nurturing strong families and building a cohesive military community.

Beyond fellowship and spiritual reflection, the Roman Catholic Family Day Celebration reinforced the understanding that military effectiveness is supported by strong families and communities. Families provide an enduring support system that helps personnel navigate the demands of service while remaining grounded, motivated and resilient.

By bringing personnel and their families together, the celebration strengthened fellowship, mutual support and a shared sense of belonging, affirming the family as an important pillar of personnel welfare, resilience and mission readiness.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Defence – Kenya.

Source: APO

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to bring together 60 of West Africa’s most promising startups for the 2nd ECOWAS Startup Awards, taking place from 21–30 September 2026 at the new ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja. Under the theme “Scaling West African Startups for Digital Transformation, Regional Integration and Sustainable Value Chain Ecosystem Development to drive Market Access,” the initiative will spotlight home-grown solutions with the potential to transform businesses, create opportunities and accelerate regional integration.

The 10-day programme will move from a Virtual Masterclass (21–25 September) to a high-energy Pitching, Exhibition and Awards programme (28–30 September), connecting startups with investors, business leaders and development partners. The 60 startups span six strategic sectors — FinTech, HealthTech, AgriTech and Food Systems, EdTech and Skills Development, CleanTech, Climate and Green Innovation, and Tourism, Hospitality and Travel Tech — with the top three startups set to receive US$30,000, US$20,000 and US$15,000 in seed funding. The programme also targets US$5 million in deals across the thematic tracks.

Building on the inaugural Awards held in Niamey in 2021, the 2nd ECOWAS Startup Awards goes beyond a competition to create a lasting regional platform for entrepreneurship and innovation. A key legacy will be the ECOWAS Private Sector Development Academy, a permanent digital learning platform designed to strengthen the capabilities of startups, entrepreneurs and policymakers in enterprise development, trade and competitiveness. With support from partners including ITC, GIZ, ASKY, UNIDO and the Bank of Industry of Nigeria, ECOWAS is working to turn West Africa’s entrepreneurial energy into scalable enterprises, stronger regional value chains and greater access to markets across the region and beyond.

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

Source: APO

The donation formed part of the GHANCOY’s planned Civil-Military-Cooperation activities aimed at sustaining the goodwill that exists between the contingent and the populace. It was also to win hearts and minds as well as reaffirm the importance of partnership in promoting peace, security and economic stability.

The Director of the HMP, Colonel (Col) Ramalho Cunda expressed his appreciation to the CT Comd and the GHANCOY for the gesture. He revealed that the hospital virtually offers free healthcare, as many patients are unable to pay for outpatient services. Col Cunda assured the CT Comd that the medication will be put to good use and he is positive it will save lives as well as bring some relief to patients and their families.

The medical items donated included Antibiotics, Hypertension medication, diabetes medication, non-medical consumables among others.

Lt Col Danful, during the presentation, said the gesture was to support patients, both military and civilian, who are unable to afford medication. He expressed hope that the medical items would help alleviate some financial burdens on patience and bring relief to their families.

The CT Commander was accompanied by the CT Second-in-Command Major (Maj) Collins Nkansah, the Senior Medical Officer, Maj Sylvester Alhassan, the Logistics Officer, Maj Prince Opoku Agyemang and other personnel of the GHANCOY.

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