Category: English

Source: APO

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In Kenya, more than 883,000 children under age five now require immediate assistance as acute malnutrition worsens across the country, according to the new IPC Acute Food Insecurity and Acute Malnutrition Analysis. This represents an increase of over 20,000 cases in children since the last analysis published in March 2026 when the total stood over 810,000, underscoring a steady deterioration in national nutrition security. The data also revealed that an estimated 110,854 pregnant and breastfeeding women are currently experiencing acute malnutrition.

The humanitarian burden remains heaviest in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). A recent assessment report on the impact of 2026 long rains on food and nutrition security by the Kenya Food Security Working Group (KFSSG) found that, in these counties, an estimated 522,547 young children are acutely malnourished, including 123,856 suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), a life-threatening condition requiring clinical intervention.

“These figures are a clear warning that Kenya cannot afford to treat acute malnutrition as a standalone nutrition problem,” said Dancliff Mbura, Advocacy, Communication and Partnership Coordinator at Action Against Hunger Kenya. “Children and mothers are facing the combined effects of disease, poor diets, unsafe water and sanitation, food poverty, and reduced access to essential health and nutrition services. There is need for urgent and integrated action to identify, treat, and protect children and women before malnutrition becomes life-threatening.”

KFSSG found that the surge in acute malnutrition is driven by a complex convergence of systemic factors:

• Disease Dynamics: Disease outbreaks paired with reduced access to preventive health and nutrition services.

• Service Disruption: Limited outreach and constrained Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) programs.

• Dietary Deprivation: Severe child food poverty and poor household dietary diversity.

• Environmental Pressures: Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure combined with persistent household food insecurity.

Key Action Items for Emergency Response

To prevent further loss of life and stabilize affected communities, Action Against Hunger and its partners are calling on the Government of Kenya, international donors, and development partners to immediately execute the following measures:

• Integrated Outreach: Scale-up mobile outreach services in hard-to-reach hotspot areas to diagnose and treat cases early.

• Supply Chain Logistics: Ensure uninterrupted pipelines of specialized nutrition commodities for moderate and severe cases through improved procurement and rapid redistribution.

• Community Screening: Expand active case finding via Community Health Promoters and mass screening initiatives for early referral.

• WASH Interventions: Rapidly deploy safe water access, household water treatment, and sanitation infrastructure in high-risk zones.

• Surveillance & Coordination: Strengthen real-time nutrition tracking and multisectoral coordination to deploy resources quickly as new hotspots emerge.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Action Against Hunger.

Source: APO

Members of the Prison and Rehabilitation Service of the central office and in the Central Region voluntarily donated 45 units of blood to help replenish blood supplies at the National Blood Transfusion Service.

Ms. Gimja Gebrezgiabhier, coordinator of the program, said that the donation was conducted under the theme “Let’s Save Lives with Our Renewable Blood.” She explained that the members had been donating blood collectively for many years and had established a voluntary blood donors’ association in 2017, making annual donations since then.

Participants said that voluntary blood donation, besides saving lives and providing spiritual satisfaction, helps donors become more aware of their health. They also called on members of the public to follow their example.

Nurse Mehari Abraham, head of blood donation services at the National Blood Transfusion Service, commended the initiative taken by members of the Prison and Rehabilitation Service and called on the public, particularly the youth, to follow their example.

Nurse Mehari further noted that, as a result of growing public awareness, the National Blood Transfusion Service is meeting more than 80% of the blood requirements of hospitals across the country.

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

Source: APO

Uganda and Vietnam strengthened their longstanding bilateral relationship through economic diplomacy when the Pearl of Africa Business Forum – Vietnam Chapter brought together more than 300 government officials, business leaders, investors, researchers and development partners in Hanoi. The forum provided a platform to translate Uganda–Vietnam political relations into practical cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, agro-processing, ICT, tourism, energy, minerals, oil and gas, and manufacturing.

Forum figures indicated that bilateral trade had risen from US$28.6 million in 2024 to US$53.4 million in 2025, while broader annual trade figures presented during the engagement put total trade at approximately US$95.47 million, comprising US$49.85 million in Ugandan exports to Vietnam and US$45.62 million in imports. The figures underscored growing commercial links while also highlighting the considerable space for further expansion. Vietnamese investment in Uganda was estimated at approximately US$40 million, with projects including Ba Dinh JSC’s US$35 million gold exploration investment and ATAD Steel’s construction-related investment of about US$500,000, alongside other Vietnamese business interests already operating in Uganda.

H.E. Le Anh Tuan the Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, observed that the economic relationship had not yet reached its full potential and called on both countries to leverage their strong political ties for substantive economic cooperation. He emphasised Vietnam’s interest in building an “equal, trustworthy, sharing, and mutually beneficial partnership” with Uganda. For Uganda, the engagement formed part of the country’s broader Economic and Commercial Diplomacy agenda, seeking to attract investment, promote value addition, expand exports and position Uganda as a gateway to the wider East African and African Continental Free Trade Area markets.

Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, emphasised that Uganda’s engagement with Vietnam was intended to move beyond dialogue towards practical partnerships, technology transfer and shared prosperity. He stressed that signed agreements would ultimately be measured by their impact on producers and businesses, noting that an MOU would have little meaning if it did not translate into better opportunities and returns for farmers. A significant outcome was the signing of a Collaboration Agreement on Coffee Value Chain Development, providing a framework for cooperation in one of Uganda’s most important export sectors. Discussions also advanced opportunities in agricultural mechanisation, agro-processing, livestock, fisheries, cold-chain systems, research and technology adaptation.

Uganda and Vietnam further identified ICT cooperation as an emerging frontier, with both sides agreeing to develop two practical pilot proposals within 90 days, including areas such as digital payments, agricultural traceability and business-process outsourcing. H.E. Betty Oyella Bigombe, Uganda’s High Commissioner to Thailand presented Uganda as an investment destination and regional gateway, encouraging Vietnamese enterprises to “invest in Uganda, produce in Uganda and use Uganda as a gateway to Africa.” She highlighted opportunities arising from Uganda’s young population, natural resources, agricultural potential and access to regional market.

The business community also called for sustained engagement beyond the forum. Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Vice Chaman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), described the gathering as an opportunity not merely to exchange information but to facilitate business matching, identify concrete areas of cooperation and establish partnerships capable of generating tangible results. Tourism and cultural diplomacy formed another dimension of the engagement. Uganda Tourism Board CEO Juliana Kaggwa positioned Uganda through the message “Explore Uganda,” highlighting the country’s wildlife, mountain gorillas, the Nile, the Rwenzori Mountains, adventure tourism and rich biodiversity. The forum therefore represented more than a business gathering. It demonstrated how public diplomacy, economic diplomacy and private-sector engagement could work together to convert political goodwill into investment, technology partnerships, jobs, exports and value addition.

These engagements underscored the growing potential for Uganda-Viet Nam economic cooperation beyond traditional diplomatic relations. By connecting Vietnamese expertise, technology and investment with Uganda’s agricultural resources, growing domestic market and strategic position within the East African Community, the partnership can create opportunities for mutually beneficial trade and investment.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of High Commission of the Republic of Uganda in Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia.

Source: APO

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening civil registration and vital statistics systems across the country, stressing that legal identity and accurate population data are essential to effective health planning, service delivery and the protection of citizens’ rights.

The Ministry made the commitment as Liberia joined countries across Africa in commemorating African Identity Day, observed annually on September 16, 2026.

Representing the Ministry of Health at the national observance, Dr. Anthony Fortune, Assistant Minister for Vital Statistics, said identity is more than a legal document or identification number, which remains a critical foundation for ensuring that people are visible to the state and able to access essential services, including healthcare.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Fortune said every person should be recognized, protected and included through reliable legal identity systems.

“This day is not simply a date on the calendar; it is a continental call to action, a reminder of our shared responsibility to ensure that every individual in Africa is recognized, protected, and included through the provision of legal identity,” Fortune said.

From the Ministry of Health’s perspective, Fortune said legal identity and civil registration play an important role in ensuring that people are properly accounted for within national systems and that government can better understand the populations it serves.

He noted that without legal identity, millions of people across Africa can remain effectively invisible to government systems and may face difficulties accessing essential services and opportunities.

These include healthcare, education, employment, financial services and participation in democratic processes.

For the health sector, accurate information on births, deaths and other vital events provides an important foundation for understanding population trends, planning health interventions and allocating resources.

“Identity is the cornerstone of human dignity and social inclusion,” Fortune said. “Without it, millions remain invisible to their governments and excluded from opportunities that most of us take for granted; education, healthcare, employment, financial services, and participation in democratic processes.”

Dr. Fortune placed particular emphasis on birth registration, describing it as the foundation upon which a child’s legal identity is established.

“The birth registration is the foundational document, the very first record a child should receive at birth affirming their existence and securing their rights,” he said.

He added that registering a child at birth represents more than an administrative procedure, saying it provides formal recognition that the child exists and deserves protection and access to services.

“When a child’s birth is registered, it is not merely an administrative act; it is a profound affirmation that this child matters, that their rights will be protected, and that their future will be secured,” Fortune said.

For the Ministry of Health, strengthening vital statistics is particularly relevant to efforts to improve maternal, newborn and child health, as reliable information helps government and partners understand where services are needed and monitor changes in population health.

Fortune said trusted identity and vital statistics systems can also contribute to more effective government planning by generating reliable information on populations and vital events.

He linked this effort to Sustainable Development Goal Target 16.9, which calls for legal identity for all, including birth registration, by 2030.

“The choice of September 16 is deliberate and deeply symbolic,” he said, noting that the observance reinforces Africa’s commitment to achieving universal legal identity.

“For Africa, this alignment underscores the continental consensus that identity is not a privilege reserved for the few, but a fundamental right owed to every person.”

The Assistant Minister said the availability of reliable identity and vital statistics data is also increasingly important as Liberia strengthens its health information systems and pursues evidence-based approaches to policy development and resource allocation.

Dr. Fortune also highlighted the growing relationship between identity systems and digital transformation across Africa.

He said secure and trusted identity systems can help improve efficiency, transparency and accountability while creating opportunities for people to access services that may previously have been difficult to reach.

However, he cautioned that digital transformation must remain focused on people and must not create new forms of exclusion.

“Yet, as we embrace digital identity, we must ensure that these systems are inclusive, equitable, and protective of human rights,” Fortune said. “Technology must serve humanity, not divide it.”

He called for continued collaboration among government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners and communities to strengthen systems for legal identity and vital statistics.

According to him, achieving universal identity requires sustained investment, knowledge-sharing and coordinated action across sectors.

“Ultimately, African Identity Day is about visibility and justice,” Fortune said. “It is about ensuring that no child grows up unseen, no citizen is denied services, and no community is excluded from development.”

He said the observance provides an opportunity for Liberia to renew its commitment to ensuring that every person is recognized and that vital events are accurately captured within national systems.

“As we commemorate this day, let us renew our commitment to the principle that every person counts, every life matters, and every identity must be recognized,” Fortune said.

“Together, we can ensure that by 2030, the promise of legal identity for all in Africa will be fulfilled.”

The Ministry of Health’s participation in African Identity Day underscores the health sector’s role in advancing civil registration and vital statistics, strengthening evidence-based planning and ensuring that accurate information about Liberia’s population contributes to better health policies and more responsive services.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Liberia.

Source: APO

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The U.S. Embassy Banjul on August 3, 2026, hosted a Media Forum that brought together key voices shaping press freedom in The Gambia. Joining U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Robert Anderson at the event were Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, Gambia Press Union’s Program Officer for Freedom of Expression and Access to Information Juldeh Njie, and U.S. Department of State Foreign Press Centers  Director Jeffrey Weinshenker (virtually from Washington, D.C.).

The forum spotlighted the Foreign Press Center and celebrated the inspiring achievements of three Gambian program alumni who traveled on Foreign Press Center tours across the United States to report on everything from youth leadership to border security to the U.S. presidential elections. The Gambian journalists met U.S. officials, business leaders, community organizations, and U.S. citizens along the way, building relationships and shaping the quality of their reporting – living proof of the lasting impact of U.S.-Gambia exchange programs.

Chargé Anderson reflected on the significance of this year as Americans commemorate Freedom 250 – the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence – while also celebrating more than six decades of diplomatic relations between the United States and The Gambia. As we look back with pride on the values that built our nation, we look ahead to our continuing partnership with The Gambia built on that same belief – that free peoples, informed by a free press, are the foundation of a just, democratic, and prosperous society.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in The Gambia.

Source: APO

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Public Service Commission Bill, which strengthens the role of the Public Service Commission in promoting constitutional values and professional ethics in the public service.

The Commission is mandated to undertaking monitoring and evaluation of a wide range of practices in the public service and is able to investigate administration practices and service delivery failures.

The new Public Service Commission Act repeals the Public Service Commission Act of 1997 and the President’s assent reinforces government’s focus on building a capable and ethical state, which is one of the 7th administration’s top three priorities.

The Public Service Commission is an independent body established in terms of section 196(1) of the Constitution.

According to the Constitution, the Commission is independent and must be impartial, and must exercise its powers and perform its functions without fear, favour or prejudice.

The Commission is mandated to advance the maintenance of effective and efficient public administration and a high standard of professional ethics in the public service.

Among others, the law regulates the procedure for the appointment of Commissioners by the President and provides for the establishment of the Secretariat of the Commission to support its work.

The new law strengthens the independence of the Commission as a constitutional institution and extends the Commission’s mandate to include local government and public entities

The Act gives the Commission the power to direct the relevant executive authority or any other person against whom the Commission makes a decision, to report to the Commission progress in implementing such decisions.

Any person found guilty of obstructing the Commission in the exercise of its powers and performance of its functions will be guilty of an offence and liable for conviction to imprisonment of up to 12 months or a fine of up to R50 000, or both fine and imprisonment.

President Ramaphosa said: “The new Public Service Commission Act should be welcomed by public servants and citizens alike as a means to improve the lives of all South Africans and to enable growth through ethical and efficient conduct in our public service.

“While the Public Service Commission is a critical enabler of improved public services, it is incumbent upon all public servants to honour citizens in line with the Batho Pele (People First) principles and to view their responsibilities as tools of transformation.

“The enactment of the Public Service Commission Act during our annual Public Service Month should inspire renewed pride and ethics in the public service.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

Source: APO

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Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi spoke by phone with the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Spokesman for the Presidency Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy stated that President El-Sisi began the call by extending his deepest condolences and sincere sympathy over the passing of the husband of the Tanzanian President, Mr. Hafidh Ameir Hassan. The President emphasized the solidarity of Egypt’s leadership and people with President Hassan in this time of profound sorrow, asking Allah the Almighty to bestow His vast mercy upon the deceased and to grant his family and the brotherly Tanzanian people patience and solace.

During the call, President El-Sisi underscored the depth of the historical relations binding Egypt and Tanzania.
The President further commended the notable progress witnessed in these relations in recent years, particularly following his recent visit to Dar es Salaam and the Prime Minister’s participation in the inauguration of the Julius Nyerere Dam project, which has become a testament to Egyptian-Tanzanian cooperation on the African continent.

President El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s continued support for Tanzania’s development efforts, and stressed the importance of boosting cooperation and coordination in various areas of mutual interest, including the water file.

The President expressed Egypt’s interest in Tanzania’s participation in the Eighth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union, scheduled to be held in Egypt in October 2026, as well as in the business forum planned to be organized on the sidelines of the summit, in a manner that contributes to bolstering economic and investment cooperation opportunities between the two brotherly countries.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.