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Qatar, Indonesia Sign MoU to Establish Political Consultations

Source: Government of Qatar

Jakarta, June 15, 2026

The State of Qatar and the Republic of Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish political consultations between the two countries’ foreign ministries.
The first round of political consultation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar and the Republic of Indonesia was held Monday in Jakarta, Indonesia.
HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi led Qatar’s side, while HE Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Muhammad Anis Matta led Indonesia’s side.
The first round of political consultation discussed the cooperation relations between the two countries, along with ways to support and strengthen them. It also discussed regional and international developments, in addition to a number of topics of common interest. 

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Kenya wants to close refugee camps: the promise and risks of its ambitious new plan

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Edwin Mutyenyoka, Senior Researcher, Arnold Bergstraesser Institute

Kenya hosts nearly a million refugees, mainly from South Sudan and Somalia. Many of them have been living in refugee camps for decades.

Now, the country is attempting a major shift in refugee policy. The Kenyan government and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) developed the Shirika Plan, launching it in March 2025. The policy aims to move refugees away from long-term encampment and integrate them in society.

Drawing on their research on refugee governance and migration in Kenya, Edwin Mutyenyoka and Franzisca Zanker explain the opportunities and challenges the plan presents for refugees and host communities.

What is the Shirika Plan?

The Shirika Plan seeks to shift refugee management away from a camp-based system largely overseen by the UN towards a government-led model centred on inclusion into the local economy. The plan is a by-product of Kenya’s Refugee Act of 2021, which seeks to include and protect refugees better.

The plan builds on the success of two pilot models: the Kalobeyei Integrated Socio-Economic Development Plan and the Garissa Integrated Socio-Economic Plan. They showed that refugee inclusion can strengthen both refugee and host economies.

The Shirika Plan will convert camps into county-administered municipalities. There will be investment in roads, water systems, healthcare and education in places that host refugees. Developments are designed to serve refugees and host communities.

The plan is closely aligned with the UN’s refugee frameworks. These encourage governments to move beyond emergency assistance and towards allowing refugees to work, use public services and contribute to local economies.

The plan’s six pillars include sustainable economic development and climate action.

Implementation is expected to take place in three phases and requires an estimated US$943 million.

The first phase (2025-2028) is the transition period. It lays the foundations: putting regulatory and policy frameworks in place and turning camps into municipalities. There’s an emphasis on building local capacity too.

The second phase (2029-2032) is the stabilisation period. It will evaluate the transition, and strengthen institutional capacity and financial management. This phase will also build on peaceful co-existence between refugees and host communities.

The final phase (2033-2036) – the resilience period – aims to fortify financial structures, diversify revenue and build the resilience of communities. This is to reduce dependence on external support.

Why does Kenya need such a plan?

Kenya has become a major destination for both forced and economic migrants in the region. This is due, in part, to the country’s relative political and economic stability. A higher Human Development Index, vibrant secondary economy and a largely welcoming host society have created a good environment for refugees.

Kenya was home to 954,851 refugees and asylum seekers in 2025. This makes it the fifth biggest host in Africa and 13th largest in the world.

Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps in the northern region are home to over 800,000 refugees and asylum seekers between them. They are two of the biggest shelters for forced migrants in the world.

Most of the refugees in these camps – mostly from Sudan and Somalia – have lived there for up to 30 years.

In addition, surveys by organisations such as the Mixed Migration Centre and IOM Kenya estimate that between 100,000 and 200,000 refugees – mostly not registered – live in cities like Nairobi and Mombasa.

Kenya has gone through significant challenges, however, between the Refugee Act of 2021 and the launch of the Shirika Plan in 2025. A severe economic crisis ignited fierce protests and put mounting pressure on public services. In addition, humanitarian aid cuts, both globally and in Kenya, have been swift and severe.

Rather than relying on repeated emergency appeals, the Shirika Plan aims to attract development financing, while reducing tensions between refugees and host communities through shared access to services and economic opportunities.

This reflects a broader shift towards linking emergency assistance with longer-term economic and social inclusion.

The plan also offers a chance to address protracted displacement by making camps obsolete, while enhancing local development in remote areas.

What happens next?

The next challenge is implementation. The first years of the Shirika Plan are vital to show it can actually work.

In the first phase, planned initiatives centre on expanding livelihood opportunities, strengthening local services and improving coordination between humanitarian and development actors. Financing will be critical for success.

Kenya has secured substantial international support for refugee-hosting and economic integration. This includes a Sh155 billion (US$2 billion) loan from the World Bank in 2024 that requires Kenya to integrate 400,000 refugees into the economy by 2027.

For Kenya, the plan is a complete change of policy direction, away from a focus on security concerns and threats to close refugee camps. Closure threats happened most recently in 2021 but were quashed by the high court in 2024.

The emphasis is now on inclusion, local development and burden-sharing.

Success will depend not only on funding, but on the government’s ability to deliver tangible benefits for both refugees and host communities.

What are the risks?

First, the Shirika Plan relies on a system of differentiated assistance. This means support is tailored to refugees’ levels of need rather than provided equally to everyone. However, misconceptions of preferential treatment risk fuelling tensions between different refugee groups.

Second, moving vulnerable refugees out of camps could create new challenges. Many have spent years with limited access to education, jobs and public services. Competing in open labour markets could be particularly challenging for refugees who have long lived under UNHCR-operated enclosures.

Third, although more than 75 public engagement forums have been held across Kenya, some refugee and host-community representatives report feeling excluded from the design of the plan and broader decision-making processes. Concerns have also been raised about public awareness, accountability and oversight mechanisms. This is a worry as public support is vital to the plan.

Fourth, funding shortfalls are a risk to the plan. Supporting programmes aimed at building capacity during the transition period require consistent financial investments.

Where does this leave the plan?

The alternative – continuing to confine nearly a million people to underfunded camps – carries far greater risks than the challenges outlined above.

As the wheels of the Shirika Plan start turning, there is a need to invest in the municipalities hosting refugees.

A gradual reduction in UNHCR’s direct role should also create greater space for refugee-led organisations, whose local knowledge and community ties are useful to identify needs and support integration efforts.

– Kenya wants to close refugee camps: the promise and risks of its ambitious new plan
– https://theconversation.com/kenya-wants-to-close-refugee-camps-the-promise-and-risks-of-its-ambitious-new-plan-283486

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South Africa is short of 2.6 million homes: Vienna’s approach to social housing offers useful lessons

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Andreas Scheba, Associate Professor, University of the Free State

South Africa faces a housing backlog of at least 2.6 million units, for more than 12 million people. The state supply of new, subsidised housing has declined over the past decade and the government’s housing policy is shifting.

It sees the private sector as becoming the main provider of “affordable housing”. The market, according to the Banking Association of South Africa, is households earning up to R34,400 gross per month (US$2,111). Yet most residents in South African cities earn far less than that. (The national median household income in 2023 was R7,980 or US$490.) Much more affordable accommodation is therefore needed.

We are housing and urban scholars based in South African and Austrian universities, who have conducted extensive research on how housing ideology, policies and practices shape urbanisation.

In this article we draw on research we have done on social rental housing in South African cities and in Vienna, Austria. We don’t suggest the policies should be the same. After all, these are very different places. But a side-by-side look can be useful.

Vienna is often considered the capital of social housing. About 43% of the Viennese housing stock is state-subsidised rental housing, including municipal-owned flats and apartments run by limited-profit housing associations.

South African cities have seen a massive roll-out of state-sponsored, low-density ownership housing, but the housing backlog and informality continue to grow. Delivery of subsidised rental housing and higher-density, mixed-income apartments has remained slow.

We believe at least three aspects of Vienna’s social housing policy have potential for South African cities:

  • sustained political commitment – policies, laws and regulations backed up by adequate financial and institutional investments

  • a pro-active and market-shaping state

  • making social housing part of the urban fabric and the public consciousness.

Sustained political commitment

Vienna’s large social housing stock is the result of a century of political commitment and investment in housing as a human right, recognising its powerful role in improving workers’ welfare and building integrated cities.

For the city, housing was never just a revenue-generating asset. Dating back to the Red Vienna period (1919–1934), interrupted by Austro-fascism and the Nazi regime, the social democratic city government has made housing central to its urban welfare politics. Especially subsidised rental housing.

Housing projects were considered part of social infrastructure, together with public facilities (clinics, transport, education), outdoor spaces, social amenities (creches, laundries, libraries), art, and employment opportunities.

Colloquially called “people’s palaces”, social housing apartment blocks symbolised the political promise of providing high-quality living to working-class people.

The city planted subsidised rental in all areas to promote social mixing.

Proactive and market-shaping state

Translating this political commitment into results required a capable and active state. It demanded a government that shaped land and property markets to maximise public value.

Vienna has taken an active role in social housing delivery, whether as a direct provider, regulator or collaborator. And, unlike many other cities in Europe, it never sold off its own municipal housing stock in the late 20th century.

The city currently manages over 220,000 rental apartments, accommodating a quarter of the total urban population. This makes Vienna the largest public landlord of social housing in Europe. After a period of non-expansion, it decided a decade ago to resume investment in rental stock.

A key element of its policy is the use of private capital and third sector (neither state nor profit-driven) organisations to promote the delivery of affordable rental accommodation. So-called limited-profit housing associations – private, cooperative, or non-profit entities – provide apartments at cost-based, regulated prices.

These organisations plan, develop and manage social housing accommodation and are bound to the Austrian Limited-Profit Housing Act. This law says any surpluses must be reinvested in building new rental housing.

Regulation includes rental caps, indefinite-term contracts and quality assurance requirements.

The city’s Fund for Housing Construction and Urban Renewal is a professional property management company, governed by a trust chaired by the city council. It buys, manages and releases land for state-subsidised housing construction and subsidises urban renewal projects. Active land management and a social housing zoning law allow affordable land to be designated for state-subsidised housing.

Working closely with city departments, especially planning and infrastructure, the entity acquires, prepares and releases land for social housing.

Another vital role is organising developers’ competitions, which function as a quality assurance mechanism. Interdisciplinary juries assess competing proposals according to four criteria: economy, architecture, ecology and social sustainability. Development rights are then awarded to the highest-quality project consortium.

Financing is a mix of federal and regional subsidies, loans, and earmarked contributions. For example the housing subsidy levy is a payroll-based contribution shared equally between employers and employees.

Social fabric of social housing

Social housing in Vienna is central to the overall housing system rather than a safety net for the poorest. Income thresholds are set to include large parts of the population and support social mixing.

Barriers for newcomers are still in place: they must live in the city for two years before they can access municipal housing. But renting remains a secure form of tenure that is widely accepted by the population.

Quality sustains this broad-based appeal. Social housing offers attractive, well-designed living environments.

This process draws on a deep pool of expertise, within the municipal administration and among non-profit housing providers, planners, academics and independent advisors.

Social housing is spread across Vienna rather than pushed to the periphery. People from different backgrounds live side by side.

Reflections for South Africa

Vienna’s experience provides a useful point of reference for reflecting on how social housing delivery could work in South Africa’s cities.

Firstly, social rental housing should be understood as an urban and economic policy. Its benefits go far beyond providing shelter, as it can make the city a more egalitarian, inclusive and productive space. It can improve workers’ welfare, reduce poverty, and promote socio-economic mobility.

As such, it deserves greater political commitment and resources from all spheres of government.

Secondly, getting results requires the state to actively shape property and land markets for public value. The City of Vienna has never just focused on enabling private-sector development. It shows what municipalities can achieve when they strategically use their assets, regulatory powers and resources to get public value from private investments.

Third is the importance of embedding social housing into a city’s social fabric.

The key is to appreciate social rental housing as shared wealth. Not to idealise individual property ownership. The public has to understand the benefits of well-located, higher-density, subsidised rental accommodation.

It also requires tapping into the technical, financial, organisational and other expertise across sectors and spaces in South Africa. Residents, housing justice movements and civil society organisations all have something to offer.

– South Africa is short of 2.6 million homes: Vienna’s approach to social housing offers useful lessons
– https://theconversation.com/south-africa-is-short-of-2-6-million-homes-viennas-approach-to-social-housing-offers-useful-lessons-282638

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Presidency warns against misinformation on immigration issues

Source: Government of South Africa

Presidency warns against misinformation on immigration issues

The Presidency has warned against the spread of misinformation about South Africa’s immigration challenges.

This comes after World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, issued a statement condemning renewed attacks targeting foreign nationals, which allegedly left several people dead.

These include at least five Ethiopians who died in the attacks, and five Mozambicans who died in Mossel Bay.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Presidency said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation will engage with the WHO to ensure that the information before them is both accurate and reliable. 

“The engagements will outline in detail how this complex matter is being addressed by the South African government. Most notably, the WHO’s characterisation of the deaths of the Ethiopian nationals is, unfortunately, incorrect. 

“The events that led to the deaths of these Ethiopian nationals fall within the realm of organized crime, as has already been publicly reported, and are being actively investigated by law enforcement agencies,” the Presidency said.

Regarding the Mozambican national, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said the matter remains under active investigation.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration have been unequivocal in their stance: only duly authorized law enforcement officials have the mandate to enforce the law,” the Presidency said.

The Presidency expressed deep regret over the tragic loss of life in the recent incidents, saying one life lost is one too many.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and communities affected,” the Presidency said. –SAnews.gov.za

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State Minister at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Meets Advisor to Saudi FM on Lebanese Affairs

Source: Government of Qatar

Riyadh, June 15, 2026
HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi met in Riyadh on Monday with HH Prince Yazid bin Mohammed bin Fahd Al Farhan, Advisor to the Saudi Foreign Minister on Lebanese Affairs.
The meeting focused on bilateral cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and ways to further strengthen coordination between the two countries on issues of mutual interest.
The two officials also reviewed the latest developments in Lebanon and discussed ongoing joint efforts regarding the Lebanese file, reflecting continued cooperation between Doha and Riyadh in support of regional stability.
During the meeting, HE Dr Al Khulaifi reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s longstanding support for Lebanon and its continued commitment to standing alongside the Lebanese people. 

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Minister of State at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Meets Saudi Vice Foreign Minister

Source: Government of Qatar

Riyadh, June 15, 2026
HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi met in Riyadh today with HE Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji.
During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and ways to support and strengthen them in various fields. They also discussed the latest developments in the region, particularly the agreement reached between the United States and Iran, as well as the latest developments in Syria, Sudan, and Somalia.
They expressed satisfaction with the agreement reached between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran to cease military operations and ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. They considered it an important step towards consolidating sustainable peace and promoting economic growth regionally and internationally.
They reiterated their full support for all good offices and efforts aimed at strengthening regional security and stability and reaching sustainable solutions to outstanding issues through dialogue and peaceful means, in accordance with the principles of international law and good neighborliness. 

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Geoex MCG Named Official Geosciences Partner of Venezuela Energy Week 2026 in Landmark Subsurface Collaboration

Source: APO

Venezuela Energy Week 2026 has appointed Geoex MCG as its Official Geosciences Partner, in a move designed to strengthen the technical foundation of discussions around the country’s vast hydrocarbon basins as upstream activity and international engagement continue to evolve.

Geoex MCG holds a unique position in Venezuela’s upstream sector as the sole provider of offshore seismic data and the only company operating under a multi-client agreement with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons. Its newly reprocessed offshore datasets are currently available for licensing, with plans underway for new data acquisition from 2026 onward to further support exploration and development activities.

The partnership brings a leading subsurface geoscience and geophysical solutions provider into the core of the event’s technical program at a time when Venezuela is seeking to reframe its upstream narrative around data quality, geological certainty and investable resource definition.

“This partnership underscores the growing role of subsurface science in shaping investment decisions and operational strategy across Venezuela’s upstream sector,” said James Chester, CEO of Energy Capital & Power. “It brings greater geological and geophysical rigor at a pivotal moment for the industry, helping bridge the gap between resource potential and subsurface certainty.”

Geoex MCG’s participation is expected to enhance technical discussions on Venezuela’s basin evolution, seismic imaging quality, prospectivity assessment and development of offshore fields. With their newly reprocessed data, exploration in the underexplored frontier areas of the offshore can now be evaluated, as well as improved imaging of existing fields, namely Perla, Rio Caribe/Mejillones/Patao/Dragon and Loran/Cocuina.  

“Venezuela represents a highly significant subsurface province, where geological potential is well established but increasingly dependent on modern, high-quality data to unlock value,” said Robert Sorley, President, Geoex MCG LLC. “Supported by our exclusive multi-client agreement with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, a growing portfolio of datasets reprocessed in partnership with DUG Technology, and plans for new acquisition, our focus is to enable international explorers to evaluate offshore opportunities with confidence. We are pleased to support Venezuela Energy Week 2026 by strengthening the technical dialogue and bringing greater subsurface clarity to investment and development discussions.”

Geoex MCG specializes in the design and delivery of geoscientific surveys, subsurface data acquisition, seismic reprocessing and project management services, supporting exploration and development activities across oil and gas, CCUS, natural hydrogen and other energy sectors. Through its asset-light business model, the company works with selected contractors to deliver tailored subsurface solutions aligned with clients’ technical and commercial objectives.

As Venezuela seeks to attract renewed international investment, Venezuela Energy Week is positioning itself as a leading technical and commercial platform where geology, data and capital converge, supporting dialogue on investment frameworks, upstream development and the long-term future of one of the world’s largest hydrocarbon resource bases.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Backs US$7 Billion Dangote Fertiliser Expansion to Strengthen Africa’s Food Security

Source: APO

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s infrastructure solutions provider, is helping drive a US$7 billion fertiliser expansion programme by Dangote Group designed to triple production capacity in Nigeria and establish a major new manufacturing platform in Ethiopia.

As a cornerstone commitment to the programme, AFC is providing a US$600 million facility to Greenview Fertiliser Corp. (Greenview), Dangote’s fertiliser holding company. The transaction deepens AFC’s longstanding partnership with Dangote Group across some of Africa’s most consequential industrial projects. AFC was Co-Coordinating Bank on a US$3 billion syndicated loan for Dangote Refinery and recently received full repayment of its foundational US$300 million senior term loan to Dangote Industries Limited, which helped advance the refinery from concept to reality. The redeployment at double this amount into Dangote Group underscores AFC’s model of providing early-stage risk capital before recycling into the next generation of transformative projects once assets reach stable, cash-generative operations.

The fertiliser investment positions Africa to get ahead of structural trends shaping long-term development priorities, including rapid population growth, rising food demand, climate-related pressures on agricultural systems and the need to capture greater value from natural resources. Recent disruptions to global supply chains and commodity markets have further underscored the risks associated with dependence on imported agricultural inputs. Despite holding some of the world’s largest natural gas reserves and a quarter of its uncultivated arable land, Africa remains reliant on imported fertilizer, making expanded production critical to food security and agricultural resilience.

Dangote’s expansion programme is projected to increase urea fertiliser production capacity in Nigeria from 3 million metric tonnes per annum (“MTPA”) to 9 MTPA, while adding a new 3 MTPA urea fertiliser plant in Ethiopia. It is expected to strengthen regional food security, support agricultural productivity, reduce dependence on imported fertilizer and bolster the continent’s position as a supplier to international markets.

Commenting on the transaction, Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, said: “This investment marks another important milestone in our long-standing partnership with AFC as we embark on the next phase of Dangote Fertilizer’s growth. Expanding our fertiliser production capacity in Nigeria and developing a new plant in Ethiopia will strengthen Africa’s food security, support agricultural productivity, and deepen the continent’s industrial base. AFC has consistently supported Dangote Group at critical stages of our growth, and its renewed commitment reflects confidence in our vision to build globally competitive African industrial platforms”.

Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC, said: “The question before Africa is simple: how will we feed 2.5 billion people by 2050? Africa’s 1.5 billion people consume just 6 million tonnes of urea annually, compared to 40 million tonnes in India and 50 million tonnes in China, despite having similar-sized populations. Closing this productivity gap is essential to Africa’s food security. By supporting the development of the world’s largest fertiliser platform, AFC is helping build the foundation for Africa to feed itself, create productive jobs and strengthen our economic sovereignty. This is not just an investment in fertilizer production. It is evidence of the Africa we are building.”

AFC has played a catalytic role across multiple phases of Dangote Group’s industrial growth, partnering with Access Bank in 2024 to provide Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE’s first working capital facility, supporting crude procurement for commissioning and initial production.

The latest financing reflects AFC’s focus on investments that strengthen the systems underpinning long-term economic growth, including energy, transport, logistics, industrial processing and food security. Alongside investments in strategic transport corridors, ports, power generation and industrial platforms, AFC continues to support projects that increase Africa’s capacity to produce, process and distribute critical goods domestically while expanding exports to regional and international markets.

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

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

Anthony Chiejina
Communications
Dangote Industries Limited
Mobile: +234 807 049 0149
Email: anthony.chiejina@dangote.com

About 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.

Eighteen 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 Greenview Fertiliser Corp.:
Greenview Fertiliser Corp is the holding company for Dangote Group’s fertiliser businesses. Greenview’s portfolio of assets includes its wholly owned subsidiary, Dangote Fertiliser Limited which operates Africa’s largest granulated urea fertilizer plant, located in the Dangote Industries Free Zone, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria. The facility currently produces 3 MTPA of urea for both domestic and international markets, with expansion plans underway to increase capacity to 9 MTPA.

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Trio in court over RAF payout

Source: Government of South Africa

Trio in court over RAF payout

Three suspects are due to appear in the KuGompo Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape on charges of kidnapping, armed robbery and housebreaking.

Aged between 28 and 41, the trio were arrested on Saturday, following a significant breakthrough by the KuGompo Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime investigation, working in collaboration with Provincial Crime Intelligence, in the fight against organised violent crime. 

They were nabbed in connection with the kidnapping, armed robbery and housebreaking incident that occurred in Phakamisa, Qonce where a kidnapped victim was rescued after allegedly targeted after he had received a Road Accident Fund (RAF) payout.

It is alleged that on 12 June 2026, a group of heavily armed suspects forcefully entered the victim’s residence in Phakamisa after breaking down access points to the property. 

The suspects allegedly abducted the victim, seized his bank card and transported him to an undisclosed location where he was unlawfully detained.

While holding the victim captive, the suspects allegedly used the victim’s bank card to access and spend funds from his account. 

A case was subsequently opened, and an investigation commenced. Upon receiving information regarding the incident, law enforcement agencies launched a manhunt.

The intelligence-led operation led the team to Hemingway’s Mall in KuGompo City, where the suspects were allegedly observed conducting transactions using the victim’s bank card. Preliminary investigations revealed that purchases amounting to approximately R21 650 had been made at various retail outlets.

The suspects were intercepted as they exited one of the stores and the victim’s bank card was recovered along with clothing believed to have been purchased using funds unlawfully obtained from the victim’s account.

The victim, who was found unharmed, was subsequently reunited with his family.

Investigations are ongoing and authorities are exploring the possibility of further arrests as efforts to dismantle the broader criminal network continue.

The Provincial Head of the Hawks in the Eastern Cape, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, commended the operational members for their swift intervention. 

“This successful operation demonstrates the value of intelligence-driven policing and effective collaboration among law enforcement agencies. We remain resolute in our efforts to combat violent crime and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice,” said Major General Ngwenya. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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S&P Global Ratings assigns Afreximbank ‘BBB+/A-2’ investment grade rating

Source: APO


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S&P Global Ratings has assigned African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) a ‘BBB+’ long-term issuer credit rating and an ‘A-2’ short-term issuer credit rating, with a Stable Outlook, reinforcing the Bank’s strong financial standing and its critical role in driving trade, industrialisation and economic development across Africa and the wider Global Africa community.

According to S&P, the rating reflects Afreximbank’s growing strategic importance, robust enterprise risk profile and expanding role as a countercyclical institution supporting African economies through periods of global and regional uncertainty.

The ratings agency highlighted the Bank’s strong policy relevance and shareholder support, underscoring its critical role in advancing intra-African trade, supporting implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and developing transformative platforms and solutions that strengthen regional integration and economic resilience.

S&P noted that Afreximbank’s strong track record of delivering on its mandate underscores its strategic importance. “Afreximbank’s policy relevance has improved in recent years, as demonstrated by significant lending growth and shareholder support through a growing capital base supported by capital injections. Between 2015 and 2025, total assets expanded to $42.3 billion from $7.1 billion, supported by shareholders’ equity increasing to $8.4 billion from $1.3 billion.”

Commenting on the rating, Dr. George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, said:

“This rating is a strong endorsement of Afreximbank’s financial strength, stability, and international credibility, and a clear affirmation of its strategic importance to — and impact across — Global Africa. It reflects the Bank’s solid capital base, strong liquidity, the quality of its assets, and, in particular, the unwavering belief in the institution by African states and authorities. The events of recent years, and the last two years in particular, underscore a central lesson: much as the struggle for independence, the pursuit of Africa’s economic change will not be handed to us. It demands a deliberate, bold, courageous and decisive action by the continent itself, working with its diaspora.”

S&P Global Ratings also referenced Afreximbank’s role in responding to major external shocks affecting African economies. These include the Bank’s support during the global financial crisis, the commodity price downturn, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and other periods of heightened global uncertainty. Backing this trend the Bank recently announced a US$10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme (GCRP) to shield African and Caribbean economies from Middle East Conflict shocks.

Afreximbank has continued to strengthen the systems required to support African trade and investment, including the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, the Africa Trade Gateway, the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, trade finance facilities, project finance, institutional support and advisory services.

The Stable Outlook reflects S&P Global Ratings’ view of Afreximbank’s strengthened role as a countercyclical lender in Africa, ongoing shareholder support and consecutive capital increases.

Afreximbank remains focused on delivering its mandate to transform the structure of African trade by supporting industrialisation, expanding intra-African trade, strengthening regional value chains and increasing Africa’s participation in global trade.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com

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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A strong supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2025, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$48.5 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$8.4 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), GCR (A), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-), Moody’s (Baa2) and S&P Global Ratings (BBB+). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com