Category: English

Source: APO – Report:

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UN human rights chief Volker Türk has expressed outrage over Monday’s deadly large-scale attack by the Rapid Support Forces militia on El Fasher, the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur state, which has been besieged by the RSF since April last year.

At least 57 civilians were killed in the attack, which included the Abu Shouk displacement camp on the outskirts of the city, and UN human rights office, OHCHR, is also following up on allegations of summary executions there.  

“It is with dismay that we yet again witness an unimaginable horror inflicted upon civilians in El Fasher, who have endured over a year of siege, persistent attacks and dire humanitarian conditions,” said Mr. Türk.

Serial attacks

“Such repeated attacks on civilians, which raise serious concerns under international humanitarian law, are totally unacceptable and must stop.”

Between January and June, the RSF – which has been battling forces of the military government for control of Sudan for over two years – has attacked the Abu Shouk camp at least 16 times, killing at least 212 and leaving 111 others injured.  

“Once again, I am raising the alarm about the serious risk of ethnically motivated persecution as the RSF tries to seize control of El Fasher and Abu Shouk camp,” Mr. Türk stressed, reiterating his call to protect civilians and urging humanitarian pauses in besieged areas to reach those in need.

Human rights violations in Zamzam

UN human rights officials recently interviewed survivors of the RSF’s devastating assault on Zamzam camp, 15 kilometres south of El Fasher, where famine was confirmed in August 2024.  

Testimonies corroborated previous documentation of serious human rights abuses against civilians during a particularly deadly attack on Zamzam camp in April 2025, including killings, widespread rape and gang rape, enforced disappearances and torture.  

“I urge third States to use all their influence to put an end to these violations,” said Mr. Türk. “Accountability is crucial to break this cycle of persistent and egregious violations.”

Deepening hunger

A year after famine was first confirmed in Zamzam, hundreds of thousands are still trapped in El Fasher, cut off from World Food Programme (WFP) assistance and facing deepening hunger.

Trade routes and supply lines entering El Fasher are blocked, resulting in soaring prices and the cessation of most community kitchens’ operations.  

Some residents are reportedly surviving on animal fodder and food waste.  

“Everyone in El Fasher is facing a daily struggle to survive,” said Eric Perdison, WFP’s Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa.

“Without immediate and sustained access,” for humanitarians, Perdison added, “lives will be lost.”

Sudan’s conflict, which began in April 2023, has created the world’s largest hunger crisis: around 25 million people – half the country’s population – face acute hunger, and 3.5 million women and children face malnutrition.

From El Fasher to Tawila

Many victims of the attack on the Zamzam camp and those suffering from hunger in El Fasher fled to the Tawila camp, 75 kilometres away.  

“Hunger forced us to leave,” said eight-year-old Sondos, who told WFP she had fled with her family after weeks of surviving on millet.

There was “only hunger and bombs,” she testified, with shells raining down on the city.

Another Tawila resident, 47-year-old Mohamed, travelled from Zamzam to El Fasher before making it to Tawila.

People died of thirst along the way, he said. “Many of them were begging for water. Each person had to have only one sip, just enough to reach their stomach.”

But even when people make it to Tawila, the camp’s makeshift tents offer little protection from the rainy season just beginning.  

WFP assistance

For the Tawila camp’s roughly 400,000 residents, WFP rations of nutrient-packed high-energy biscuits, sorghum, vegetable oil and salt are often their only sustenance.

They are just some of the four million Sudanese that WFP supports monthly.

This assistance has helped reduce catastrophic hunger in parts of Central and West Darfur. However, these gains are fragile: “WFP is ready with trucks full of food assistance to send into El Fasher,” says Corinne Fleischer, WFP’s Director of Supply Chain and Delivery. “We urgently need guarantees of safe passage.”  

The RSF has yet to agree a pause in fighting to allow humanitarian goods to enter the city.

– on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO – Report:

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The UN Security Council has rejected the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) declaration last month of a rival administration in parts of Sudan it controls, warning the move threatens the country’s unity and risks worsening the brutal conflict between the militia and forces of the military government.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Council members said the step posed “a direct threat to Sudan’s territorial integrity” and could fragment the country, fuel the fighting, and deepen an already dire humanitarian crisis.

Ambassadors reaffirmed “unwavering” support for Sudan’s sovereignty, independence and unity, stressing that unilateral actions that undermine these principles jeopardise not only Sudan’s future but also peace and stability across the wider region.

The Council called on the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces to return to talks aimed at reaching a lasting ceasefire and creating the conditions for a political settlement involving all political and social groups.

The goal, they said, is a credible, inclusive transition to a civilian-led government that can lead the country towards democratic elections and deliver “a peaceful, stable and prosperous future” in line with the Sudanese people’s aspirations.

Flashpoints in Darfur and Kordofan

The statement recalled the Council’s resolution 2736 (2024), which demands the RSF lift its siege of El Fasher, halt the fighting, and de-escalate tensions in and around the North Darfur capital.

Famine and extreme food insecurity are at risk of spreading in the city, which has been under siege since April 2024.

Members voiced alarm over reports of a renewed RSF offensive this week in El Fasher and urged the group to allow “unhindered humanitarian access” to the city.

The Council also expressed grave concern over reported attacks in Sudan’s Kordofan region in recent weeks, reportedly carried out by both sides, which have caused large numbers of civilian deaths.

They also voiced deep concern about the impact of the conflict on humanitarian operations.

Demands for access

Council members pressed all parties to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access in line with international law, to protect civilians, and to abide by their obligations under both resolution 2736 and the 2023 Jeddah Declaration.

They stressed that perpetrators of serious violations must be held to account. 

They also urged all UN Member States to avoid any external interference that fuels conflict and instability, support efforts for durable peace, and comply with relevant international law and Council resolutions, including resolution 2750.

Backing for UN envoy

The Council reiterated its commitment to supporting the people of Sudan in their quest for peace, security, stability and prosperity.

It also voiced full support for the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, and his work with the warring sides and civil society to secure a sustainable settlement through dialogue.

– on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO – Report:

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Your Excellency, Daniel Chapo, President of the Federal Republic of Mozambique.

Honorable Carla Louveira, Minister of Economy and Finance of Mozambique.

Honorable Ministers and senior government officials.

The Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, Wamkele Mene.

Excellencies, Ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions.

Heads of international organizations.

Alain Ebobise, Chief Executive Officer, Africa50.

Esteemed shareholders of Africa50.

Esteemed members of the Board of Directors of Africa50.

Senior management and staff of Africa50.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Your Excellency, Mr. President, I am delighted that you have honored us today with your presence for the General Shareholder Meeting of Africa50. I am grateful that you accepted to host this General Shareholders Meeting.

We are grateful for the generous hospitality and all the graciousness we have all received since we arrived in the beautiful city of Maputo.

I wear two hats as I address you today: first, as President of the African Development Bank Group, your bank; and second, as Chairman of Africa50, which was established by the African Development Bank Group.

Mozambique is a strong shareholder of the African Development Bank Group, which started operations in the country in 1977. Mozambique also joined Africa50 in 2024.

Your Excellency, President Chapo, I wish to start by formally congratulating you on your election as President of the Republic of Mozambique.

I commend you for the remarkable leadership that you have shown in stabilizing the country. Peace and stability are fundamental to spurring economic growth and development.

I wish to commend you and your government on the macroeconomic and fiscal stability of the country under your leadership.

The green shoots of your macroeconomic and fiscal policies are coming out.

Real GDP of Mozambique is estimated to increase to 2.5% in 2025 and 3.6% in 2026, due to the rebound in the extractive sector activities.

Congratulations, Mr. President!

Let me speak first with my hat on as President of the African Development Bank Group.

The African Development Bank has been a strong supporter of Mozambique. In the past ten years under my Presidency (2015-2025), we provided $1.6 billion to Mozambique.

To put this in perspective, this represents 41% of the total financing of the African Development Bank to Mozambique over the past 48 years.

The African Development Bank was a lead financier of Mozambique’s $20 billion Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) plant project, for which the Bank provided $400 million in senior debt financing. I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for your visiting the LNG project site in Cabo Delgado in February. Your leadership and visit reassured investors. 

I am proud of what has been achieved, especially in the power sector, where our support for energy projects contributed significantly to the national energy access increasing from 30% in 2018 to 60% in 2024.

Our $34 million support for the Mozambique Energy for All Project provided access to electricity to over 45,500 households in under-electrified provinces such as Zambezia and Nampula, including about 14,000 female-headed households.

The African Development Bank also strongly supported the agriculture sector, with the development of special agro-industrial processing zones, for example in Pemba-Lichinga, one of the six such zones the Bank is supporting.

The Bank supported the development of the Nacala and Beira corridors, which are transforming trade and transport logistics, and improving regional trade for the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Let me shift to my second hat as Chairman of Africa50.

When the African Development Bank created Africa50, the vision was clear: develop a platform for mobilizing financing for infrastructure, with market rate of returns.

I am proud of what Africa50 has become today.

Within 8 years Africa50 has become a leader on infrastructure financing in Africa, thanks to the visionary leadership of our CEO, Alain Ebobise; its incredibly capable and talented staff; and support of the board of directors and our shareholders.

Today, Africa50’s shareholders have risen to 37, with 33 countries and 4 institutions.

From just one staff (Alain!) when we started 8 years ago, Africa50 now has 100 exceptional staff.

It is managing assets of over $1.4 billion. The total value of its portfolio companies is over $ 8 billion.

Africa50 is showing creativity and innovation on infrastructure financing.

It’s Africa Infrastructure Acceleration Fund raised $275 million from over 20 African institutional investors. This is a mark of strong confidence by institutional investors.

Africa50 is delighted to be working closely in partnership with Mozambique in areas that complement the work of the African Development Bank, especially in infrastructure, energy and transport.

• Africa50 is an equity investor in the 175 MW gas-fired power plant, Central Termica de Ressano Garcia (CTRG).
• Africa50 is finalizing the project development agreement for three transformation lines under an independent power transmission framework. This will be in partnership with Power Grid and Electricidade de Mozambique (EDM).
• Africa50 is expected to develop a Data Center Facility in Maputo City.

I am delighted that our shareholders are here in Maputo to witness the fruits of collaboration and partnerships.

Partnerships between the African Development Bank and Mozambique.

Partnerships between the African Development Bank and Africa50.

And partnerships between Africa50 and Mozambique.

Partnerships between the African Development Bank, Africa50 and Africa countries.

To close Africa’s $170 billion annual infrastructure financing gap, requires that we all continue to build and scale up partnerships.

Partnerships with multilateral and bilateral financial institutions.

Partnerships with investment banks and private equity funds.

Partnerships with institutional investors, from sovereign wealth funds to pension funds and insurance pool of funds.

Partnerships between countries to finance cross-national infrastructure, to spur regional integration and advance the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Together we are stronger.

Together, let us join our hands around the Baobab tree of infrastructure opportunities in Africa.

Your Excellency, President Chapo, thank you for stretching out to us your hands of partnership. You can count on the Africa50 and the African Development Bank Group to continue to support your visionary efforts to transform Mozambique.

Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.

My tenure as President of the African Development Bank Group, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Africa50, will end on September 1, 2025.

I am proud of all we have achieved together.

• The High 5s work of the African Development Bank impacted on the lives of 565 million people.
• The capital of the African Development Bank increased from $93 billion in 2015 to $318 billion today – the highest in the history of the African Development Bank since its establishment in 1964.
• The African Development Bank was ranked as the Best Multilateral Financing Institution in the World.
• The African Development Fund, our concessional financing institution, was ranked as the second-best concessional financing institution in the world, above all 55 concessional financing institutions in the OECD countries.
• The African Development Bank maintained its AAA global credit ratings for ten years, even in the most difficult economic times of Covid19 pandemic.
• The African Development Bank was ranked, for the past two consecutive years, as the Most Transparent Financial Institution in the World.
• The Africa Investment Forum (which we developed together with our partners, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Africa50, Africa Export-Import Bank, Trade and Development Bank, Africa Finance Corporation, European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank and Arab Bank for Economic Development) mobilized over $225 billion in investment interest to Africa.
• Africa50 has become a globally respected infrastructure platform.

As Chairman of Africa50, I am confident that Africa50 will continue to grow in the years ahead, because its value proposition is strong.

Africa50 will be signing today Memorandums of Understanding with the Government of Mozambique; and also, with the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa (AGIA).

These further reinforce the strong value proposition of Africa50.

As Chairman of Africa50, let me assure all our partners.

• Africa50 is a good investment.
• Africa50 delivers impactful results.
• Africa50 delivers value for money.
• You can never go wrong with investing in Africa50.

Thank you all very much for your support and partnership.

As I move into a new future, Africa will always be on my mind.

Let me assure you, I will not be stepping back. I will be stepping forward in our collective drive to unlock global capital for Africa.

And Mozambique will remain dear to my heart.

Muito obrigado a todos.

Thank you very much.

– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Source: APO

• Eight-Year Journey from Single Employee to 100-Strong Team Managing $8 Billion Portfolio Value Demonstrates Africa’s Infrastructure Investment Potential.
• Africa50 symbolises the new Africa; an Africa that depends on itself, promotes cooperation between Africans, and builds shared prosperity, says President of Mozambique

Africa50 (www.Africa50.com), the investment platform established by African governments and the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org), said on Wednesday it has surpassed $1.4 billion in managed assets, marking an extraordinary transformation from one staff member to a continental powerhouse driving Africa’s infrastructure revolution.

The disclosure was made at the General Shareholders Meeting of the platform in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, attended by the country’s President, Daniel Chapo, President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, and numerous dignitaries and representatives of development partners.

President Chapo highlighted the shared vision that led the country to join Africa50 in 2024. “Africa50 is a key partner to help us implement this vision [to become a reference country in logistics and power,” he said. “We are transforming ideas into projects to provide employment for the youth and more revenues for the government to invest in economic, social, and sustainable development.”

He commended the leadership of Dr Adesina, who is also Chairman of the Board of Africa50, and said: “Africa50 symbolises the new Africa; an Africa that depends on itself, promotes cooperation between Africans and builds shared prosperity.”

From humble beginnings to continental clout

Dr Adesina told the gathering that the total value of Africa50’s portfolio companies now exceeds $8 billion, underscoring the platform’s pivotal role in addressing Africa’s $170 billion annual infrastructure financing gap.

“Within eight years, Africa50 has become a leader on infrastructure financing in Africa, demonstrating creativity and innovation that transforms how we approach continental development,” the Bank President said. “From just one staff member when we started, Africa50 now employs 100 exceptional professionals and serves 37 shareholders across 33 countries and four institutions.”

The platform’s remarkable growth is reflected in its Africa Infrastructure Acceleration Fund, which successfully mobilized $275 million from over 20 African institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and insurance companies. This, the Africa50 Chairman said, represents the most substantial institutional investor confidence ever in Africa’s infrastructure opportunities.

Alain Ebobissé, CEO of Africa50, said, “The truth is this: the solutions to Africa’s infrastructure gap are already before us. Africa can and must lead the efforts to close the infrastructure gap in our continent, working with our non-African partners. Africa50 was built for moments like these: We are agile. We are responsive. We are focused on achieving results with speed and at scale.”

The 2025 General Shareholders Meeting also provided Africa50 an opportunity to formalize its growing influence through two strategic Memorandums of Understanding:

• MOU with Electricidade de Mozambique for the development of three transmission lines under an Independent Power Transmission (IPT) framework. This will help support the government’s ambition to achieve universal electricity access by 2030 and become a significant exporter of power across the Southern African Development Community.
• MOU with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Transformation, to build a new data centre facility in Maputo and modernize the existing one.

Africa50 also sealed two significant pan-African deals, including the first close of the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa (AGIA), an initiative envisioned by Dr. Akinwumi Adesina. The AGIA deal anchors the first close of $115 million for Africa’s leading green infrastructure initiative.

In addition, it signed a framework agreement with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) Secretariat for the development and financing of trade-enabling infrastructure to boost intra-African trade.

African Development Bank and Africa50 footprints in Mozambique

Adesina said the investments by Africa50 complement broader support from the African Development Bank, that has delivered $1.6 billion to Mozambique over the past decade, representing 41% of total Bank financing in the 48 years since the Bank began financing operations in the country.

The investment includes $400 million in senior debt financing for the country’s flagship $20 billion Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) plant project in Cabo Delgado, as well as the $34 million Mozambique Energy for All Project, which has connected over 45,500 households to electricity.

The Bank’s energy sector investments have helped to double Mozambique’s national energy access rate from 30% in 2018 to 60% in 2024. The Bank has also supported agricultural transformation through special agro-industrial processing zones, including the Pemba-Lichinga corridor, while financing critical transport infrastructure along the Nacala and Beira corridors that enhance regional trade connectivity for the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Africa50’s investments in Mozambique include the following:

• Equity investment in the 175 MW Central Termica de Ressano Garcia (CTRG) gas-fired power plant
• Finalization of project development agreements for three transformation lines under an independent power transmission framework, partnering with Power Grid and Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM)
• Data Center Facility in Maputo City

Looking ahead

Adesina, who is preparing to conclude his tenure as President of the African Development Bank Group and Chairman of Africa50 on September 1, 2025, emphasized the Bank’s robust transformation in the ten years since he became President.

This includes the Bank receiving a historic increase in its capital from $93 billion to $318 billion, its High 5 development priorities delivering positive impact on 565 million people, maintaining its AAA rating, being ranked globally as the best multilateral financing institution, and as the most transparent development finance institution in the world.

In addition, the African Investment Forum, launched in 2018 by the Bank and eight other institutions to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation through strategic investment, has since mobilized over $225 billion in investment interest.

“To close Africa’s infrastructure gap requires that we build and scale up partnerships—joining our hands around the Baobab tree of infrastructure opportunities,” Adesina said. “Together we are stronger, and Africa50 represents the strongest platform for unlocking global capital for African development.”

Looking ahead, he affirmed continued commitment to the continent: “I will not be stepping back, I will be stepping forward in our collective drive to unlock global capital for Africa.”

Speech: http://apo-opa.co/4lrmXc7

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

Media Contact:
Emeka Anuforo,
Communication and External Relations Department
Email: media@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

Source: APO

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Every day in West Africa, thousands of women walk through border posts carrying produce like cassava, tomatoes, or maize to sell in neighbouring countries. They are unrecognized but vital parts of the region’s food systems and economies.

But many face harassment at checkpoints, along with demands for bribes. Border processes may not be in a language that they speak. The border crossings themselves have poor infrastructure. And women often have limited access to banking or other financial services.

Coordinated efforts are underway to tackle these challenges within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Forty regional officials met from 24 to 26 February 2025 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to endorse a slate of solutions, including:

• establishing legal clinics at border posts
• providing gender-sensitivity training for customs and transport officials
• launching simplified declaration systems for small traders
• deploying visual, mobile-accessible tools to help women comply with trade procedures
• engaging men as allies

‘We need to ensure regional trade policy becomes a tool for inclusive growth, where women are not just participants, but empowered leaders,’ said Sandra Oulate, Director of the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC). 

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is working with ECOWAS and the main German development agency GIZ on the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade (EAT) programme. The goal is implement solutions like these to make cross-border trade safer, simpler, and more inclusive for women.

The workshop brought together representatives from ECOWAS, national gender and agriculture focal points, chambers of commerce, and development partners including ITC, Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF), West Africa Association for Cross-Border Trade, in Agro-forestry-pastoral, fisheries products and Food (WACTAF), and the West African Food Systems Resilience Programme.

Salimata Thiam, an EGDC representative, said participants were encouraged to ‘identify concrete actions that could be implemented within the framework of the EAT project to boost the role of women in regional trade’.

ITC presented several tools under development: a new regional trade guide for women, a policy paper on women in agrifood trade, and findings from gender-sensitive border assessments to support informed policymaking.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.

Source: APO

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The photo, painting, and sculpture exhibition displayed at the National Festival 2025 by the Ministry of Defense and other artists has been reported to make a significant contribution to preserving and transferring Eritrea’s cultural and historical heritage.

Noting that “one photo has the power of a thousand words,” Maj. Fesehaye Teklai, Acting Head of Promotion and Information at the Ministry of Defense, said the exhibition includes 40 photographs, 23 paintings, and 8 wooden sculptures. He emphasized that these works play an important role in conveying historical events and values.

Maj. Fesehaye went on to say that the general content of the exhibition reflects the unity of the public and members of the Defense Forces, the heroism of successive generations, construction of houses, water reservoirs, and social service institutions, as well as the culture and traditions of the Eritrean people, water and soil conservation, and road renovation.

Artist Fesehaye Zemicael, for his part, said that the painting exhibition—presented by both veteran and emerging artists, goes beyond entertainment, serving as an important tool in preserving history and culture.

Visitors to the exhibition highlighted the significance of the displays in preserving and transmitting the history, culture, and identity of the Eritrean people. They also called for such exhibitions to be held regularly, beyond confined to festivals.

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

Source: APO

Global energy and consultancy group Wood Mackenzie has confirmed its participation as a Silver Partner at African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025, scheduled for September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town. Backed by over five decades of global experience, Wood Mackenzie’s partnership reaffirms the firm’s strategic commitment to shaping Africa’s energy narrative through data-driven insight and trusted industry partnerships.

The firm has worked extensively with national governments and state-owned energy companies to develop long-term energy strategies, evaluate exploration potential and structure critical infrastructure projects. Recent contributions by Wood Mackenzie to Africa’s energy strategy includes supporting the Republic of Congo’s first Gas Master Plan, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons. The plan is set to guide monetization, domestic use and export strategies for gas resources – anchored by developments such as the Marine XII LNG project, which delivered its first cargo in early 2025 and is progressing toward a 3.5-billion-cubic-meter-per-year expansion phase.

AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

In its latest 2025 outlook, Wood Mackenzie forecasts that Africa’s upstream capital expenditure will stabilize around $40 billion annually, with significant activity in gas and LNG-led developments. New discoveries across Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast and Libya, combined with major finds by multinational oil and gas company Shell in Namibia’s Orange Basin, underscore the continent’s rising profile in global exploration.

Meanwhile, Wood Mackenzie is also spearheading thought leadership on Africa’s energy transition. According to the firm’s 2025 Energy Transition Outlook: Africa, the continent’s electricity demand will double by 2050, while bioenergy’s share in residential and commercial energy demand will decline from 81% today to 70% in a base scenario – and 50% in a net-zero pathway. The firm notes that despite this growth, Africa will contribute just 3-6% of global emissions by 2050, emphasizing the importance of a balanced energy mix that includes oil and gas. According to the outlook, solar additions in Africa dropped to 3.5 GW in 2024, down from 4 GW the previous year, with South Africa leading deployment. At the same time, sub-Saharan Africa’s oil and gas production grew by 5%, driven by output gains in Nigeria, Mozambique, Senegal and the Republic of Congo.

With critical insight into both hydrocarbon and renewable energy markets, Wood Mackenzie continues to support Africa’s goals of energy security and climate resilience. At AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025, Wood Mackenzie will be represented by a senior delegation, including Mansur Mohammed, Head of Business Development, Africa; Gavin Thompson, Vice Chairman-Europe, Middle East and Africa; David Parkinson, Head of Exploration; and Ian Thom, Research Director-Upstream. The team is expected to deliver presentations and participate in high-level panel discussions on upstream investment, gas development and Africa’s energy transition.

“Wood Mackenzie’s data-driven insights offer investors greater clarity into the vast opportunities present in Africa’s energy sector. Their robust data, strategic foresight and trusted guidance make them a go-to partner for global investors, project operators and governments looking to navigate Africa’s evolving energy landscape,” states Tomás Gerbasio, VP of Commercial and Strategic Engagement, African Energy Chamber.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO

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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk today expressed outrage at the large-scale attack by the Rapid Support Forces on the besieged city of El Fasher and the adjoining Abu Shouk camp for the internally displaced that left scores of civilians dead.

Preliminary information obtained by the UN Human Rights Office indicates that at least 57 civilians were killed in the 11 August attack on El Fasher, including 40 internally displaced people in Abu Shouk camp, in Sudan’s North Darfur state. The Office is also following up on allegations of executions of IDPs in the camp during the attack.

“It is with dismay that we yet again witness an unimaginable horror inflicted upon civilians in El Fasher, who have endured over a year of siege, persistent attacks and dire humanitarian conditions,” said Türk. “Such repeated attacks on civilians, which raise serious concerns under international humanitarian law, are totally unacceptable and must stop.”

Monday’s attacks are the latest in a series of RSF assaults on camps for displaced people in and around El Fasher. Between January and June, the Abu Shouk camp came under attack by the RSF at least 16 times, leaving at least 212 IDPs dead and 111 others injured.

“Once again, I am raising the alarm about the serious risk of ethnically motivated persecution as the RSF tries to seize control of El Fasher and Abu Shouk camp,” said Türk.

UN Human Rights staff recently travelled to eastern Chad and interviewed more than 150 survivors of the RSF attacks on Zamzam camp in April. Their testimonies corroborated previous documentation of serious human rights violations and abuses against civilians during the deadly attack on Zamzam camp and their flight to Tawila, including killings, widespread rape and gang rape, enforced disappearances and torture. They also said that there are no safe exit routes from El Fasher.

The UN Human Rights Chief reiterated his call on all parties to take urgent measures to ensure the protection of civilians, including safe passage out of conflict-affected areas. He also urged them to agree promptly to humanitarian pauses in besieged areas, so that aid can reach those in need.

“I urge third States to use all their influence to put an end to these violations,” said Türk. He also called for those responsible to be brought to account. “Accountability is crucial to break this cycle of persistent and egregious violations,” he said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).