Category: English

Source: APO

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The mass conviction of opposition figures in Tunisia’s “Conspiracy Case 2” is a new example of the Tunisian authorities’ ongoing restrictions on civic space and erosion of judicial independence and fair trial guarantees, Amnesty International said today.  

The case, based on vague terrorism and state security charges, is the latest in a series of politically motivated prosecutions that appear designed to silence peaceful dissent and intimidate and crackdown on critics of President Kais Saied’s government.  

“This case illustrates how Tunisia’s criminal justice system is being misused to suppress peaceful dissent and persecute people simply for exercising their human rights. The expanding use of counter-terrorism legislation to punish peaceful dissent is a deeply troubling pattern that Amnesty International has been documenting since 2023,” said Sara Hashash, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. 

“The convictions in ‘Conspiracy Case 2’ are a grave injustice and a blatant assault on Tunisia’s human rights obligations. All individuals detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and political activity must be immediately released.   

“Authorities must immediately end the ongoing crackdown on human rights including the targeting of critics under the guise of national security and restore judicial independence and the rule of law and put in place effective safeguards to prevent the abuse of counter-terrorism and national security laws as tools of repression.”  

Amnesty International calls on the Tunisian authorities to quash all sentences issued in “Conspiracy Case 2” and immediately release those arbitrarily detained. Authorities must ensure that any new trials are held in full compliance with international human rights law. This includes ensuring that future trials are open to the public, with full access granted to family members, lawyers, journalists, and independent monitors.  Tunisia is a state party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and is legally bound to uphold the rights to a fair trial, freedom of expression, association and liberty. 

The trial took place amid an ongoing rule of law crisis in Tunisia. Since President Saied’s power grab in July 2021, the country has witnessed  an erosion of the rule of law, including through the dismantlement of judicial independence guarantees that have resulted in  increased interference by  the executive in the judiciary and a wave of prosecutions targeting opposition figures, journalists, civil society activists, and former officials, further constricting the space for fundamental human rights and freedoms. 

Mass sentences following a politically motivated trial 

The trial opened on 24 June 2025 and concluded with mass conviction on 8 July of 21 out of 24 individuals including senior political leaders from Ennahdha Party, former government and security officials, lawyers, and other opposition party members. Sentences ranged from 12 to 35 years imposed on 21 individuals.  Only one defendant was acquitted while two others are still waiting on the decision to appeal their indictment.  

Among those convicted was Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the Ennahda party, who received a 14-year sentence in absentia after refusing to participate in the trial. Other Ennahdha senior members, including Habib Ellouz, Samir Hanachi and Fathi Elbedoui, were sentenced to 12 years, while exiled Ennahdha members Mouadh Kheriji, Lotfi Zitoun, were among those sentenced in absentia to 35 years. 

Flawed evidence and due process violations 

The investigation originated in May 2023, following a report from an anonymous informant who claimed the existence of a covert network led by Ghannouchi aimed at “changing the structure of the state,” with the assistance of former Ministry of Interior official Kamel Ben El Bedoui. The informant also alleged the recruitment of security personnel and coordination with other defendants. These allegations were later supplemented by additional statements from security officials, one of whom was also anonymous. 

The charges were based on allegations of “conspiracy against state security,” largely relying on anonymous witness testimony, intercepted communications, and documents seized during police raids. Much of the material consisted of political criticism and private communications critical of President Saied dating back to between 2011 and 2022, but with no concrete evidence of criminal conduct. The authorities’ central claim that certain opposition politicians operated a clandestine “security apparatus” remains unsubstantiated by any independently verifiable evidence. The prosecution relied heavily on anonymous allegations amplified by state-aligned media and security unions, yet failed to present material documentation, institutional investigation, or independent verification to back this claim. No formal inquiry into alleged wrongdoing has been presented, including during the cross examinations of the defendants. 

Trial marred by serious due process violations 

The trial was marred by serious violations of due process and fair trial rights.  

In late February, the Tunis Court of First Instance decided that upcoming terrorism trials would proceed with detainees attending online from prison, citing the existence of unspecified “real dangers.” The court proceeded to later renew the decision, without further elaboration.  

Hence, the defendants held in pre-trial detention were forced to participate via remote video link, severely limiting their ability to communicate with legal counsel or engage with the court, according to their lawyers. 

Similar to other high-profile cases, access to the courtrooms was tightly restricted under security pretexts, with independent journalists, families, and independent observers barred from attending the proceedings, severely undermining the transparency of the trial. 

“These trials lack fairness, credibility and transparency. The heavy reliance on anonymous sources and secretive procedures makes the trials a sham and the convictions and sentences a travesty of justice,” said Sara Hashash.

“The Tunisian authorities must end their misuse of the judiciary to target political opponents, respect the rule of law and uphold the human rights of everyone in the country.” 

Broader crackdown on peaceful dissent 

The trial took place amid an ongoing rule of law crisis in Tunisia. Since President Saied’s power grab in July 2021, the country has witnessed  an erosion of the rule of law, including through the dismantlement of judicial independence guarantees that have resulted in  increased interference by  the executive in the judiciary and a wave of prosecutions targeting opposition figures, journalists, civil society activists, and former officials, further constricting the space for fundamental human rights and freedoms.  

Background 

Since July 2021, when President Kais Saied consolidated power, Amnesty International has consistently documented an escalating crackdown on dissent in Tunisia. The organization has previously documented how authorities have abused the justice system, including their reliance on vague charges, and severe fair trial violations in cases against opposition figures.

This includes a series of politically motivated prosecutions, arbitrary detentions, and harassment targeting political opponents, independent journalists, lawyers, activists and human rights defenders.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.

Source: APO

Two transformative initiatives were officially launched in Zimbabwe, aimed at empowering the country to sustainably manage its soil and water resources. The two projects are entitled: “Capacity Development on Sustainable Soil Management in the Global South” and “National Water Roadmap towards 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.”

These two projects focusing on sustainable soil management and water governance are designed to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through enhanced technical capacity, inclusive governance, and South-South cooperation.

“Water is at the centre of Rural Development 8.0. We are committed to delivering reliable water supply to 35,000 rural communities and 10,000 institutions, empowering development. The National Water Roadmap to 2030 is our guiding framework, aligning with Vision 2030 and the SDGs. Today, we launch not just projects, but a collective pledge to food security, access to safe, clean and portable water for all Zimbabweans,” said Honourable Dr. Anxious Masuka, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development in a keynote address read on his behalf by Professor Obert Jiri, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary.

The sustainable soil management project aims to build national capacities in developing countries for soil mapping and laboratory analysis, while promoting international technical collaboration through South-South Cooperation. It also fosters regional coordination to enhance soil health and biodiversity.

The National Water Roadmaps project will support Zimbabwe in strengthening water governance through raising awareness of water’s value across social, economic, and environmental dimensions. It promotes inclusive governance and cross-sectoral collaboration through country-led multi-stakeholder national water dialogues, prioritizes sustainable water allocation to agriculture, and guides sustainable water resources management to achieve all Sustainable Development Goals.

“These twin initiatives mark a turning point for Zimbabwe. By investing in sustainable soil management and water governance, we are not only improving natural resources management, but also empowering farmers, strengthening food systems, and building resilience against climate shocks,” said Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and Representative to Zimbabwe.

“Through these projects, and with the strength of South-South Cooperation, we are equipping countries with the capacity to manage their resources wisely,” added Talla.

FAO technical support in Zimbabwe and the region

In Zimbabwe, FAO has provided technical support to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development to map priority watersheds, rehabilitate degraded catchments, and introduce water-saving irrigation techniques that boosted cereal yields by up to 25 per cent in pilot districts.

Parallel to our water efforts, FAO has championed soil health under the Global Soil Partnership. In Zimbabwe, this partnership delivered soil fertility maps for more than 200,000 hectares, guided farmers in balanced fertilizer application, and introduced conservation agriculture practices that reduced topsoil loss by 40 per cent. FAO has also worked on upgrading the soil management laboratory and legume inoculant factory to bolster production and uptake of using rhizobium inoculants in production of legumes.

Regionally, FAO collaborated with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to harmonize soil testing standards and mobilized resources under the GEF-funded SOIL Care project to demonstrate climate-smart land management across six member states.

A unified vision for sustainability

Together, these initiatives represent a holistic approach to natural resource governance in Zimbabwe. They are grounded in the principles of efficiency, equity, resilience, and sustainability, and are driven by strong partnerships between developing countries and technical partners, supported by China’s South-South Cooperation.

These two projects are parts of two global programmes on soil and water, and Zimbabwe is the first country to kick off the implementation. Through technical cooperation, knowledge exchange, institutional collaboration, we build a long-term partnership that safeguard the precious soil and water resources for now and the future,” said LiFeng Li, Director, FAO Land and Water Division.

Following the launch event, the sustainable soil management project will convene an inception workshop among key project stakeholders to develop project implementation modalities, decide project sites for field trials, develop project workplan and detailed  budget, among others; while the National Water Roadmaps project will establish a country taskforce to conduct national implementation activities, guided by  technical guidelines and frameworks to be developed by a Global Advisory Group.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.

Source: APO

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The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO, strongly condemned an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) on civilians during the night of 26 to 27 July. 

Elements of the ADF, an Islamic State-affiliated insurgent group that originated in neighbouring Uganda, carried out the attack in Komanda town, Irumu territory, Ituri province.

At least 49 civilians were killed, including nine children. Several other people were injured and abducted, and shops and homes were set on fire. 

Most of the victims were reportedly worshippers killed with bladed weapons during a night vigil at a church.

The incident comes after ADF attacks earlier in the month killed 82 civilians in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, which MONUSCO condemned on 23 July. 

The group has committed grave human rights violations against civilians since its founding in 1995 and has been under UN sanctions since June 2014.

‘Deep outrage’ over attacks

MONUSCO expressed “deep outrage at these heinous acts of violence, which constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and infringements on human rights.” 

The peacekeeping mission also extended condolences to the bereaved families, urged Congolese authorities to investigate these killings, and reiterated the UN Secretary-General’s call for all foreign armed groups to lay down their weapons unconditionally and return to their countries of origin.

“These targeted attacks against defenceless civilians, particularly in places of worship, are not only appalling but also in violation of all human rights standards and international humanitarian law,” said Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Protection and Operations and Acting Head of MONUSCO. 

She added that the Mission “will continue to work tirelessly alongside the Congolese authorities to protect the population in line with its mandate.”

Response on the ground

MONUSCO is supporting local authorities in their response by organising burials and providing medical care to the wounded. 

The peacekeeping mission is also intensifying security efforts in and around the city of Komanda. 

The Mission is committed to working with Congolese authorities and communities “to help prevent future attacks, protect civilians, reduce tensions, and contribute to the stabilization of areas affected by armed violence.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO

The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), managed by the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org), has committed a €6 million concessional finance package for the development of the 18 MW Dédougou Solar Power Plant in Burkina Faso, marking a significant milestone towards increasing the country’s energy generation capacity.

SEFA’s commitment comprises a €2.5 million senior concessional loan and a €3.5 million reimbursable grant, complemented by a combination of subordinated and senior loans from the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO). This commitment was formalized during a signing ceremony in Paris on July 18th, bringing together stakeholders from the African Development Bank, FMO, project developer Qair, and advisors A&O Shearman and Trinity.

The Dédougou Solar Power project aligns with the African Development Bank-led Desert-to-Power initiative, which aims to turn the Sahel region into the world’s largest solar power zone. It is listed as a priority project in Burkina Faso’s national Desert-to-Power roadmap. It is among the first independent power producers (IPPs) in the country and operates under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement with the national utility, Société Nationale d’Électricité du Burkina Faso (SONABEL).

“The Dédougou Solar PV project marks a significant milestone for Burkina Faso and the broader Sahel region,” said Dr. Daniel Schroth, the Bank’s Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. As a key contribution to the Desert-to-Power initiative, it demonstrates the transformative nature of harnessing solar energy to drive inclusive and sustainable development. The catalytic support from SEFA was instrumental in unlocking this private sector-led project.”

Once operational, the plant will help diversify Burkina Faso’s energy mix, reduce electricity costs, and boost access to reliable, affordable electricity, supporting economic growth and local livelihoods. The project prioritizes sustainability through a comprehensive Environmental and Social Management System, ensuring responsible operations and mitigating potential environmental and social risks.

“This new financing from FMO and SEFA marks a significant milestone in Qair’s journey in Burkina Faso,” said Abdoulaye Toure, CFO of Qair Africa. “We are deeply grateful to both institutions for their continued trust and support, which enable us to deliver impactful renewable energy infrastructure in the region. After commissioning our first 24 MW solar plant in Zano in 2023, this second project in Dédougou reflects our expanding footprint and aligns with Qair’s long-term strategy to accelerate the energy transition across Africa.”

With committed support from SEFA and FMO, the Dédougou Solar Power Plant demonstrates the potential for private-sector-led future renewable energy projects in the Sahel region, accelerating the transition towards sustainable power, fostering economic growth, and enhancing the quality of life for communities across Burkina Faso.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media contact: 
Communication and External Relations Department
African Development Bank Group
media@afdb.org

About SEFA:
SEFA is a multi-donor Special Fund that provides catalytic finance to unlock private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. SEFA offers technical assistance and concessional finance instruments to remove market barriers, build a more robust pipeline of projects, and improve the risk-return profile of individual investments. The Fund’s overarching goal is to contribute to universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services for all in Africa, in line with the New Deal on Energy for Africa and the M300.

About Qair:
Qair is an independent renewable energy company developing, financing, building, and operating solar, onshore and offshore wind, hydroelectric, tidal energy, waste-to-energy, battery storage, and green hydrogen production. With 1.7 GW of capacity in operation or construction, the group’s 780 employees are developing a portfolio pipeline of 34 GW in 20 countries across Europe, Latin America, and Africa.

Source: APO

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President Wavel Ramkalawan, accompanied by First Lady Linda Ramkalawan and Vice-President Ahmed Afif, officially inaugurated the newly constructed Baie Lazare Health Centre on Monday afternoon, marking a significant milestone in the district’s healthcare infrastructure development.

The modern healthcare facility replaces the original health centre built in 1938. Entirely funded by the Government of Seychelles at a cost of approximately 9.2 million Seychelles rupees, the project demonstrates the administration’s commitment to enhancing community healthcare services. Construction commenced in February 2024, with temporary healthcare services provided at Baie Lazare Primary School to ensure uninterrupted medical care for residents.

The comprehensive health centre offers an extensive range of services with particular emphasis on preventive care, early detection, and health promotion. The facility features state-of-the-art amenities including public health services, physiotherapy units, dual consultation chambers, an observation unit, an emergency unit, equipment sterilization facilities, antenatal care and family planning consultations, pharmaceutical services, and storage facilities. Additionally, the centre is equipped with an advanced dental service unit featuring a dental X-ray system with high-end equipment generously sponsored by the German Dental Association, demonstrating   international partnership in Seychelles’ healthcare advancement.

Minister for Health Peggy Vidot expressed great honour at the facility’s opening, emphasizing its significance beyond mere infrastructure. “The inauguration represents more than just a new building,  it symbolizes a transformative chapter in the lives of individuals and families within the district,” Minister Vidot remarked. “This vibrant facility will propel the community forward through collective spirit, creating success stories that empower families to embrace healthier lifestyles.”

The Minister highlighted the government’s proactive healthcare approach, emphasizing both treatment and prevention strategies. “We will offer programs and services focused on early prevention, healthcare education, early detection programs, vaccination, and health promotion initiatives to equip residents with the knowledge and resources needed to take charge of their own health,” she explained.

Healthcare Agency Chief Executive Officer Dr. Danny Louange reinforced the agency’s dedication to delivering exceptional healthcare services throughout communities. “Our objective is to offer healthcare services of standard, respect, quality, and dedicated care. This centre is part of a broader national vision for the healthcare agency,” he explained. “We are working toward accrediting all our healthcare services, therefore we must ensure our healthcare facilities meet the standards required for accreditation.”

President Ramkalawan’s address underscored his administration’s commitment to ensuring equitable healthcare access across all districts of Seychelles, with the Baie Lazare Health Centre representing one of several new healthcare infrastructure projects under the current administration.

The ceremony featured a testimony by Baie Lazare resident Mr. Berard Esparon, along with songs and poem recitals by Baie Lazare Primary School students.

The inauguration was attended by the Cabinet Ministers, Speaker of the National Assembly Honorable Roger Mancienne, Brigadier General Jean Attala, Commissioner of Police Mr. Ted Barbe, Member of the National Assembly for the Anse Boileau District Honourable Philip Arissol, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Health Dr. Bernard Valentin, Public Health Commissioner Dr. Jude Gedeon, representatives from the German Dental Association, healthcare professionals, community leaders, residents, students, and invited guests.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO

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On July 28, 2025 the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Sergey Lukashevich, received copies of Credentials from the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Republic of Belarus with residence in Moscow,Genet Teshome Jirru. 

During the meeting, topical issues of developing friendly Belarusian-Ethiopian relations were discussed, including deepening political dialogue, increasing trade and economic cooperation, expanding educational and humanitarian ties. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.

Source: APO

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Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Prime Minister, Dr. Moustafa Madbouly, and Minister of Religious Endowments, Dr. Osama Al-Azhari.

Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the meeting discussed key areas of the Ministry of Endowments’ work and initiatives. Dr. Al-Azhari reviewed progress in the “Correct Your Concepts” awareness initiative, which was recently launched by the ministry. He noted that this initiative is a cornerstone of the ministry’s strategy to build enlightened religious and societal awareness by rectifying misconceptions and countering forms of non-religious extremism that contribute to the decline of values and ethics in society. The initiative also plays a pivotal role in restoring the balanced religious and national character of the Egyptians. President El-Sisi underscored the necessity of persistent follow-up on the initiative’s implementation mechanisms to ensure achieving its national objectives, in coordination with state institutions and civil society.

During the meeting, the President was updated on efforts to formulate a strategic vision for renewing religious discourse. The Minister of Religious Endowments noted that the relevant strategy comprises four main pillars. The first pillar focuses on confronting religious extremism in all its forms and the second addresses all forms of non-religious extremism, including the decline of values and negative behaviors. The third pillar concerns human development, while the fourth one is related to civilization building. Dr. Al-Azhari offered on overview of the “Renewing Religious Discourse” document, which outlines the executive procedures for all the aforementioned pillars in order to achieve the objective of formulating a rational religious discourse that promotes and solidifies values of peace, security, tolerance, and other noble principles for all humanity.

Dr. Al-Azhari outlined the latest developments in the ministry’s new digital platform. He emphasized that the platform is part of ongoing efforts to formulate a rational religious discourse that counters extremist ideologies, safeguards the nation, and enhances public awareness. The Minister of Religious Endowments added that it also encompasses several sections covering various aspects of Islamic and encyclopedic sciences. This is in addition to initiatives to rationalize behavior and address negative phenomena in society such as bullying, harming individuals with special needs, drug abuse, vandalizing public property, and disrespect for road manners. The Minister also discussed future plans to develop the platform and transform its content into visual and audio formats for dissemination across social media, while harnessing Artificial Intelligence technologies.

The meeting also discussed the latest developments in the implementation of the “Voices” competition, which seeks to discover the best voices in the recitation of the Holy Quran, religious invocations, and chanting, thus reflecting Egypt’s leadership in this field and its commitment to identifying outstanding talents. The President gave directives to strengthen coordination among the relevant authorities so as to enhance the capabilities of Imams and qualify distinguished cadres capable of addressing challenges, elevating the standard of religious discourse, and developing communication mechanisms, particularly in combating extremist ideologies and solidifying awareness and understanding of contemporary issues.

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

Source: APO

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The 27th annual Eritrean Community Festival in the Scandinavian countries, held from 24 July in Stockholm, concluded with a vibrant expression of national unity and patriotism.

The festival featured seminars, a photo exhibition showcasing national development programs and the activities of the Eritrean community in the Scandinavian countries, children’s and youth programs, exhibitions by villages representing Eritrea’s ethnic groups and national organizations, as well as cultural and artistic performances by a cultural troupe from Eritrea.

Speaking at the concluding event, Mr. Mohammed-Ali Mohammed-Seid, Chargé d’Affaires at the Eritrean Embassy, said the yearly Eritrean Community Festival is an event that promotes national identity and values. He commended the members of the coordinating committee for organizing the colorful national event despite various challenges.

Ms. Tsigereda Berhe, Secretary of the National Holidays Coordinating Committee, stated that the success of the festival reflects the strong participation and commitment of the Eritrean community, as well as the noble Eritrean culture of sharing and mutual support.

The festival was attended by over 28,000 nationals from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland, as well as from various European countries and the United States.

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