Category: English

Source: APO

.

The ECOWAS pre-election mission in Côte d’Ivoire, led by Prof. Théodore Holo began its activities on June 30th,  2025 with a series of meetings with the Institutions in charge of the presidential election, the actors and certain stakeholders in the electoral process.

The objective of this ECOWAS pre-election fact-finding mission is to engage with actors and stakeholders in the electoral process on the political atmosphere and the conduct of pre-election activities, to identify any difficulties and to make concrete recommendations for the peaceful and transparent conduct of the presidential election.

Since its arrival in Abidjan, the Mission has met with certain institutions in charge of the presidential election as well as certain actors and stakeholders in the electoral process.

On June 30th, 2025 the mission held consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Abroad, the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA), representatives of media associations and civil society, the Independent Electoral Commission, the ambassadors of ECOWAS member countries accredited to Côte d’Ivoire, and Ms Hélène N’Garnim-Ganga, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Côte d’Ivoire.

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Abroad, Prof. Théodore Holo and his delegation were received by Ambassador Yapi Koffi Évariste, Secretary General of H.E. Léon Kacou Adom, Ivorian Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Abroad. In his introductory remarks, Prof. Holo reiterated ECOWAS’ commitment to maintaining regional momentum in support of democratic processes, in a context where peace and stability remain crucial issues.

At the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA), the ECOWAS delegation met with its President, Mr. René BOURGOIN, to inquire about the overall framework for preparing for the elections at the media level, the institutional mechanisms put in place, and the role this body plays in the electoral process. In this regard, the HACA gave a presentation on the operational mechanisms already deployed, the mechanisms for monitoring online media, and the awareness-raising activities carried out with audiovisual actors.

During his meeting with media representatives, the Head of the ECOWAS Pre-Election Mission recalled the crucial role that the media play in the conduct of the electoral process and in the dissemination of accurate and responsible information, all of which promotes social cohesion and peace.

Prof. Holo emphasised the need for equitable access to the media for candidates and stressed the responsibility of regulators and the media in preventing hate speech and disinformation, particularly on digital platforms.

On July 1st, 2025 the ECOWAS delegation first met with representatives of Ivorian civil society organisations, including the Initiative for Peace, the CNCJI, the AFJCI, WANEP-CI, MIDH, RESPSFECO, POECI, FOSCAO, the Islamic Council, CIED and RAIDH. The mission then visited the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), where it held discussions with its President, Mr Ibrahim Kuibiert Coulibaly, and members of the CEI Bureau.

Prof. Holo was accompanied by Ambassador Abdel-Fatau MUSAH (PhD), Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the ECOWAS Commission, and H.E. Ms. Adjo-vi Yekpe, Ambassador of Benin to ECOWAS, representing the Committee of Permanent Representatives of ECOWAS Member States, H.E. Fanta Cissé, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire, a representative of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and a team of electoral experts from the sub-region and the Directorate of Political Affairs.

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

Source: APO

.

​Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed a special session of the Parliament of Ghana today, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so. The session, convened by the Speaker of Parliament, Hon’ble Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, was attended by Members of Parliament, Government officials and distinguished guests from both the nations. The address marked a significant moment in India-Ghana relations, reflecting the mutual respect and shared democratic values that unite the two countries.

2. ​In his address, Prime Minister highlighted the historical bonds between India and Ghana, forged through shared struggles for independence and a common commitment to democracy and inclusive development. He expressed gratitude to the President of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama and the Ghanaian people for the National Honour conferred upon him, calling it a symbol of enduring friendship. Drawing on the contributions of the great Ghanaian leader – Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, he emphasized that the ideals of unity, peace, and justice are the foundation of strong and lasting partnerships.

3.​ Quoting Dr. Nkrumah, who once said – “The forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than the superimposed influences that keep us apart” and who laid great stress on the long-term impact of building democratic institutions, Prime Minister underscored the importance of nurturing democratic values. Noting that India as a Mother of Democracy had embraced democratic ethos as part of its culture, Prime Minister highlighted the deep and vibrant roots of democracy in India. He pointed to India’s diversity and democratic strength as a testament to the power of unity in diversity, a value echoed in Ghana’s own democratic journey. He also highlighted the pressing global challenges such as climate change, terrorism, pandemics, and cyber threats and called for a collective Global South voice in global governance. In this context, he underlined the inclusion of African Union as a permanent member of G20 during India’s presidency.

4.​ Prime Minister lauded Ghana’s vibrant parliamentary system and expressed satisfaction at the growing exchanges between the legislatures of both countries. In this context, he welcomed the establishment of the Ghana-India Parliamentary Friendship Society. Expressing the resolve of the people of India to make the country a developed nation by 2047, Prime Minister noted that India would stand shoulder to shoulder with Ghana in its pursuit of progress and prosperity.

5. ​Full address of Prime Minister may be seen here.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs – Government of India.

Source: APO

.

On July 3rd, Ms. ERI Arfiya, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, attended the symposium “Empowering Lesotho: Unlocking Finance to Drive the Energy Transition in a Land-Locked Developing Country”, co-hosted by the United Nations University and the Embassy of Lesotho in Japan, with the presence of the H.M. Letsie III, King of the Kingdom of Lesotho and H.M. Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso, who are in Japan to participate in the National Day events of the Osaka-Kansai Expo. She delivered a speech on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The outline of the speech is as follows.

1. At the outset, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ERI welcomed the visit of H.M. Letsie III and H.M. Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso to Japan, and stated that, since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1971, Japan and Lesotho have built cordial relations through cooperation in areas such as food security, renewable energy, education, and health.
2. Parliamentary Vice-Minister ERI mentioned Japan’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and expressed her hope to work with Lesotho, which is actively promoting the transition to renewable energy by leveraging its abundant water resources and high-quality renewable energy resources, to lead global efforts for climate change measures and promote economic development.
3. Parliamentary Vice-Minister ERI mentioned that the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) will be held in Yokohama in August this year, and concluded her remarks by expressing her hope to take this opportunity to create innovative solutions that will lead to the prosperity of both Japan and Africa by leveraging Japanese technology and expertise on various topics including the renewable energy sector, which was discussed in this symposium.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Source: APO

.

The Togolese authorities must put an end to unnecessary and excessive use of force against protesters, said Amnesty International, amid the latest violent crackdown on protests in the capital, Lomé, since 26 June.

The organization spoke with 18 victims and witnesses. Thirteen described a pattern of unlawful use of force and mistreatment by police and security forces against protesters and passers-by.

“These cases must be independently and transparently investigated as a matter of urgency.” Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa

These protests, considered illegal by the authorities, are the latest in a series of demonstrations since the beginning of June against the repression of dissent, the high cost of living and changes to the constitution. Last month, Amnesty International documented allegations that protesters had been tortured or subjected to ill-treatment.

“In recent days, we have interviewed people who have alleged that men identified as security forces carried out unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, acts of torture and other ill-treatment, and several cases of abduction. These cases must be independently and transparently investigated as a matter of urgency,” said Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa.

Reports of unlawful use of force by security forces

Thirteen people interviewed by Amnesty International said that men in uniform, suspected to be members of security forces and people described as ‘militiamen’ used unnecessary and excessive force and violence.

A man living in Avénou said: “On 30 June, everything was quiet in our neighbourhood. Suddenly three pick-ups and a car came speeding down our street. Everyone started running away. Men forced their way into our house. They made us get out and told us to kneel down. They were all in civilian clothes. They pointed their guns at us and then they beat us. They left, saying they were going to come back.”

A 38-year-old man said: “On 26 June at around 3pm, I was taking part in a protest in Attiégou, when a group of soldiers attacked me. They hit me hard. I ended up losing consciousness and some young people took me for treatment.”

A 17-year-old teenager said he was arrested on 26 June by gendarmes and held for five days, first at the Zorobar gendarmerie station, then at the former national gendarmerie headquarters and the Avepozo gendarmerie camp. “They put us on our knees with our arms raised. If we lowered our arms, they hit us with cords […]. All day long, we only drank one sachet of water”.

The teenager says he is still suffering from back pain. According to him, more than 40 people were detained with him at the gendarmerie on 30 June, including other children.

Two men and a woman have been missing since 27 June. They were allegedly abducted by unidentified men from a house in the Adidogomé neighbourhood. In a video broadcast live on Tik Tok on 27 June by one of the victims, people were seen bursting into the room, and then the video cut. In the preceding days, he had published several videos in support of the protests and denouncing arbitrary arrests.

“All light must be shed on these deaths and the whereabouts of those who have disappeared.” Fabien Offner, researcher at Amnesty International’s regional office for West and Central Africa

At least seven people found dead, including children

The parents of a 16-year-old boy found dead in the Bè lagoon on 27 June told Amnesty International that members of the security forces in black uniforms had entered the neighbourhood the previous day and that tear gas shots had been heard. The boy’s body was found along with that of another child.

In a statement shared on 29 June, Togolese civil society organizations reported the deaths of seven people, whose bodies were found in rivers in Lomé, and mentioned ‘beatings’ and ‘arbitrary arrests of passers-by, youth, and older people’, and ‘chases […] of young people, sometimes children, forced to take refuge in the lagoon’.

The statement also mentioned ‘bullet holes in three bodies found in the Bè lagoon on 27 June […] and testimonies of local residents who reported gunshots’.

“All light must be shed on these deaths and the whereabouts of those who have disappeared. Those detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly must be released,” said Fabien Offner, researcher at Amnesty International’s regional office for West and Central Africa.

The government announced on 29 June that the bodies found were those of people who had ‘drowned’, citing ‘the results of forensic analyses’.

“We don’t know the exact number of people brought before the court and those still in custody”, lawyer Darius K. Atsoo said to Amnesty International. According to him, as of 30 June, 18 people arrested on 26, 27 and 28 June had been released and 31 were still being held in custody following hearings before the public prosecutor.

On 2 July, at least six people had not been found by their families, according to testimonies.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.

Source: APO

The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org), through the Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA), has awarded a $1 million grant to South Africa’s National Business Initiative (NBI) to strengthen efforts to build a dynamic, demand-led skills ecosystem that enables South Africans, particularly young people, to access emerging job opportunities in the green economy. 

South Africa continues to face significant challenges in youth employment, with StatisticsSA (http://apo-opa.co/3I92YRD) reporting that 46.1% of young people aged 15 to 34 were unemployed in the first quarter of 2025.

The funding will support the country’s Just Energy Transition Skilling for Employment Programme (JET SEP), led by the National Business Initiative in partnership with the management consultancy Boston Consulting Group. The initiative coordinates private sector efforts to prepare the workforce for the energy transition, in tandem with the government’s JET Skilling Implementation Plan, focused on inclusive workforce development and sustainable job creation. 

Specifically, the grant will finance the programme’s first phase, including feasibility studies for the design of skills development zones and capacity building within the public technical and vocational education and training system.  Skills development zones will anchor the delivery of inclusive skills and foster local economic growth during the country’s just-energy transition.

Launched in 2024 and endorsed by the JET Project Management Unit under the presidency of the Government of South Africa, JET SEP has garnered support from over 30 influential South African CEOs, public sector leaders, and civil society leaders in the past year.   

Of the grant, Kennedy Mbekeani, African Development Bank Director General for Southern Africa, said: “By linking a strong private sector coalition – the engine for job creation – with government, academia, and NGOs, the FAPA grant will play a catalytic role to support informed policy decisions in skills development and labour market programmes. It will also strengthen skills development efforts for the growth of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the creation of jobs for youth in South Africa’s green economy.”   

The grant builds on the African Development Bank’s significant investment in South Africa’s energy sector. Since 2007, the Bank has invested $3.4 billion to support energy infrastructure, including renewable energy. The current grant will support the government’s efforts to identify the skills needed for the sector, with a particular focus on renewable energy.

Shameela Soobramoney, CEO of the National Business Initiative, said: “This grant from the African Development Bank is a critical step toward turning vision into action, strengthening the national skills system, and ensuring that all South Africans are equipped to seize new opportunities in the green economy. We are proud to continue working alongside our partners and stakeholders to build an inclusive future-ready workforce and to stimulate local economies in a way that leaves no one behind.”

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

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

NBI:
Siphokuhle Mkancu, 
IRM Engagement & Communications Manager:
Economic Inclusion,
SiphokuhleM@nbi.org.za,
+27 76 1292 511 

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

Source: APO

Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) (www.Orange.com) unveils its 2024 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report. Entitled “Cultivating Impact”, the report illustrates Orange’s commitment to a sustainable, inclusive transformation grounded in the realities of the 17 countries in which the brand operates.

A transformation rooted in usage, skills, and territories

The report comes at a pivotal time for Africa and the Middle East, where digital, energy, economic and financial transitions are driving deep and progressive societal shifts. One clear guiding principle emerges: human-centered digital technology. It takes shape in everyday uses, built on access to resilient, optimized, and low-carbon digital infrastructure, and a strong commitment to the circular economy through the recovery, refurbishment, and recycling of network and mobile equipment allowing millions to fully experience the digital age, even in the most remote areas. This transformation is accelerated by solutions such as Max it, OMEA’s super-app as a new lever for inclusion, Orange Money and Orange Bank Africa for financial inclusion, and Orange Energies for energy inclusion.

A commitment rooted in the realities of Africa and the Middle East

Throughout the report, OMEA’s role as a key player in regional transformation is reflected in a clear and committed vision: a development model that combines economic performance with social responsibility. In the 17 countries where the Group operates, Orange works closely with local realities to meet the specific needs of each territory.
Driven by its 18,000 employees, this shared ambition is embodied in the company’s operations and in the #OrangeEngageforChange program, which rallies employees around high-impact, socially driven projects. This culture of impact is also reflected in the millions of opportunities made available to youth, women, and entrepreneurs through free inclusion initiatives like the Orange Digital Centers, which have already trained and supported 1.2 million people. The company’s commitment also translates into concrete actions in health, culture, ecosystem preservation, and community resilience.

Yasser Shaker, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, comments: “Cultivating impact means anchoring our mission in people’s daily lives by turning our commitments into meaningful, lasting actions. In 2025 we will continue, together, to accelerate this positive transformation to build a fairer, more inclusive, and more resilient future.”

Asma Ennaifer, Executive Director, CSR, Orange Digital Center and Communications for Orange Middle East and Africa, concludes: “Our responsibility is to act in a way that is concrete, measurable, and aligned with local challenges. Every action we take only matters if it brings tangible progress for women, youth, entrepreneurs, and the communities we serve.”

To discover and download Orange Middle East and Africa’s 2024 CSR report: Rapport RSE OMEA 2024 – EN (https://apo-opa.co/4lGtGzz)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Orange Middle East and Africa.

Source: APO

.

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has approved a $50 million Trade Finance Transaction Guarantee facility to support to trade finance activities of Awash Bank S.C. (Awash) (https://apo-opa.co/44ecHyL), in Ethiopia.  

This facility will enable the Bank to provide a guarantee of up to 100 percent to confirming banks for the non-payment risk arising from the confirmation of Letters of Credit and similar trade finance instruments issued by Awash. The facility will provide much needed import trade finance requirements to Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and local corporates in Ethiopia. It will also support intra-Africa trade, thus directly contributing to the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) (https://apo-opa.co/44J2Sc1) agenda.  

Following the approval, African Development Bank Head of Trade Finance, Lamin Drammeh said: “Supporting Trade in Africa is a key priority at the African Development Bank. Trade finance is an important driver of economic growth and is critical for cross-border trade, particularly in emerging markets. We are delighted to work with Awash, a strong partner with extensive knowledge and network in Ethiopia, on a shared ambition to support the region’s Trade.” 

Commenting on the approval, Tsehay Shiferaw, CEO of Awash Bank S.C., said: “The Trade Finance Transaction Guarantee facility approved to our bank by the African Development Bank will ease the burden of arranging cash collateral with banks, thereby improving our liquidity and enabling us to support more trade customers.” He added: “The facility will enhance our trade relationships with other International and African confirming banks.

Awash looks forward to further strengthening its partnership and benefiting more from the resources and extensive capabilities of the African Development Bank and its partners, Shiferaw said. 

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

Contact: 
Amba Mpoke-Bigg
Communication and External Relations Department
email: a.mpoke-bigg@afdb.org  

Technical Contact: 
Bernard Muhati 
b.muhati@afdb.org   

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. 

For more information: www.AfDB.org