Category: English

Posted on

BMA intercepts illegal veterinary medicines

Source: Government of South Africa

BMA intercepts illegal veterinary medicines

The Commissioner of the Border Management Authority, Dr Michael Masiapato, has confirmed that on 26 November, BMA Port Agriculture officials intercepted aircrafts from Kenya and Tanzania carrying veterinary medicines (“Berenil”) in two polystyrene boxes. 

The boxes, weighing about 84 kilograms, were allegedly in transit through the Polokwane International Airport to Pietermaritzburg Airport. 

The consignment was initially refused entry, as it did not have the requisite import permits, as provided for in Section 6 of the Animal Diseases Act 35 of 1984.

Following discussions with the Department of Agriculture on the matter, it was decided that the product had to be confiscated and taken to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute – Transboundary Animal Diseases Laboratory (OVI-TAD) for further analysis.

Masiapato further highlighted that the BMA is fully aware of the current Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak that the country is grappling with, and supports government’s stance to protect the national herd health and mitigate the negative impact that this has on market access and economic development of local farmers.

“To that extent, we have strengthened vigilance and inspection services at the ports of entry to detect and intercept any illegal importation of untested biological and preventive veterinary products, including vaccines that may be injurious or harmful to local primary animal producers and economic prospects,” Masiapato said.

The attempt to smuggle animal medicines and vaccines into the country is a significant breach of veterinary and biosecurity regulations and is treated with utmost seriousness by the BMA.

Foot and Mouth Disease is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact. 

The disease affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. It is a transboundary animal disease (TAD) that deeply affects the production of livestock and disrupts regional and international trade in animals and animal products.

There are seven viral serotypes (A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, and Asia1). Each serotype requires a specific vaccine to provide immunity to a vaccinated animal. Introduction of foreign serotypes may be detrimental to the current intensive control measures of the Department of Agriculture.

Farmers are advised to contact their local State Veterinarian if there is a suspicion of the disease in their animals. 

The use of Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine is a state-controlled activity and it is prohibited to use any other vaccine for FMD outbreak control other than the legally procured vaccines. 

The FMD vaccines used by the Department of Agriculture are procured from the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI), according to the stipulated doses needed. 

The Botswana Vaccine Institute hosts the World Organisation for Animal Health’s regional reference laboratory for Foot and Mouth Disease.

The BMA Port Agriculture unit remains committed to supporting the FMD control programmes of the Department of Agriculture and other stakeholders to ensure economic development of local producers and promote biosecurity measures for the Republic of South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin

116 views

Posted on

Training is crucial, but feeling safe enough to speak up is critical for cyber resilience

Source: APO

Cybersecurity training is vital, but it’s not enough on its own if your workplace culture discourages people from speaking up. Good corporate security awareness includes empowering employees to think critically, voice concerns and admit mistakes, without fear of reprisal. The secret is something all parents who’ve gotten their children to admit when they’ve done something wrong already know.

Psychological safety is an underrated part of organisational cyber resilience and yet it’s essential if companies want to strengthen their cyber defences from within. “Psychological safety refers to an organisational environment where employees feel confident they can slow down to question suspicious activities, report security concerns, admit mistakes, and challenge instructions  without fear of blame, punishment or professional retaliation,” explains Anna Collard, SVP of Content Strategy at KnowBe4 Africa (www.KnowBe4.com).

Jonah Berger writes in his book, Invisible Influence: The Hidden Forces that Shape Behavior:

“Parents who react negatively when their children confess to something bad they’ve done are inadvertently training them to lie. If a child tells you they broke a vase and you get angry and punish them severely, they learn a simple lesson: admitting the truth leads to a bad outcome.”

The question organisations need to ask themselves, even when they have implemented industry-leading security awareness training (SAT) (https://apo-opa.co/4pFnoly), is this: “What happens to employees who admit their big cybersecurity mistakes (https://apo-opa.co/3KoMiXM)? What do they expect to happen, regardless?”

What happens if employees don’t feel secure?

Collard believes there are several toxic dynamics in organisations that undermine security reporting. “The most notable is the blame-first culture,” she states. “Organisations that immediately ask: ‘Who did this?’ instead of ‘How can we prevent this?’ create defensive behaviours where employees hide incidents.” Instead of reporting concerns that could lead to early detection, employees become silent because they fear consequences.

Another unhealthy dynamic in workplaces is when managers suffer from perfectionism. “When security is presented as binary (perfect compliance versus failure), employees avoid admitting any uncertainties or mistakes,” asserts Collard.

Having a silo mentality can also be a stumbling block. “When security teams are seen as separate from business operations, employees view them as outsiders rather than partners,” she comments. This is especially true if IT personnel fail to take employees’ concerns seriously or dismiss them altogether.

Another dangerous phenomenon is when employees are confused by inconsistent messaging. “Staff don’t like it when leaders preach that security is everyone’s responsibility, but then exclude non-technical staff from security discussions or break the rules themselves,” Collard says.

Overcoming barriers to psychological safety

Fortunately, there are many courses of action (https://apo-opa.co/3Y3OVBi) that organisations can take to correct these unfavourable dynamics. “It’s really helpful when companies implement blameless post-mortems after security incidents,” she shares.

A good example is GitLab’s 2017 incident (https://apo-opa.co/48JHc1t), when a systems administrator accidentally deleted a production database, resulting in six hours of lost data. The team responded transparently, live-blogging the recovery and treating it as a learning opportunity. “A culture of openness meant the issue was addressed immediately, with no blame or cover-ups – just quick action and prevention,” comments Collard.

Collard recommends integrating security champions across all departments and celebrating reporting and learning over perfection. “It also helps when leaders model vulnerability and continuous learning,” she emphasises.

Creating positive feedback loops

Instead of coming down hard on employees who mess up, managers should frame these incidents as valuable insights about attack sophistication rather than user failure. “This can be reinforced by creating positive feedback loops as a core part of human risk management,” Collard says (https://apo-opa.co/4rsf8Hm). “Establish systems where reporting suspicious emails or activities is rewarded and celebrated, making reporting feel like a contribution rather than a confession – or even just perceived compliance burdens with no purpose.”

Her final piece of advice is for leaders to adopt a zero-trust mindset approach. “Zero-trust principles require continuous verification and questioning,” she asserts. “But this only works when people feel psychologically safe to voice their concerns.”

Digital mindfulness is another essential tool for strengthening the human layer within an organisation. “Fostering a culture of pausing and seeking help rather than rushing through work is hard in a world that moves at a relentless pace,” Collard concedes. “But it’s in those high-pressure moments that we need to be most grounded and focused to avoid mistakes.”

Ultimately, she believes the most secure organisations are not those that expect perfection, but those that enable people to speak up, learn and respond quickly when something goes wrong. “Psychological safety is a critical foundation for any organisation serious about cybersecurity resilience,” Collard concludes.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of KnowBe4.

Contact details:
KnowBe4 
Anne Dolinschek  
anned@knowbe4.com

Red Ribbon
TJ Coenraad  
tayla@redribboncommunications.co.za

Media files

.

Posted on

Director of the Arab Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Participates in the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha | November 30, 2025

His Excellency Mr. Nayef bin Abdullah Al-Emadi, Director of the Arab Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participated today in an event of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, organized by Palestinian schools in the State of Qatar.

This event is held in accordance with the 1977 United Nations General Assembly resolution establishing the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. It also seeks to reaffirm the justness of the Palestinian cause and express solidarity with the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle to end the occupation, achieve freedom and independence, and establish an independent and sovereign state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Posted on

Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Leaders to Deliver Keynotes at MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025

Source: APO

Dr. Rose Ndong, Chair of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Dakar Section; and Dr. Riverson Oppong, SPE Africa Director, will participate as keynote speakers at the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference and exhibition. Both leaders will deliver keynote addresses during the official SPE Workshop, taking place on December 8 in Dakar as part of this year’s program.

The SPE Dakar Section serves as a technical and professional hub for Senegal’s emerging oil and gas industry. Under the leadership of Dr. Ndong, the section focuses on strengthening local expertise, advancing technical excellence and supporting the implementation of Senegal’s 2021 Local Content Law. As Chair, Dr. Ndong oversees initiatives that promote workforce development, knowledge-sharing and the integration of national skills and services across the energy value chain.

Explore opportunities, foster partnerships and stay at the forefront of the MSGBC region’s oil, gas and power sector. Visit www.MSGBCOilGasAndPower.com to secure your participation at the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Representing the wider continent, Dr. Oppong leads SPE Africa, a regional body connecting thousands of professionals to global technical resources, training, mentorship and professional development. Dr. Oppong is also CEO of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies in Ghana, an industry association that advocates downstream petroleum policy, legislation and regulation.

SPE Africa plays a central role in driving capacity building, promoting sustainable technologies and supporting regional collaboration through major events and specialized technical workshops.

The SPE Workshop at MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 will convene operators, investors, policymakers and technical experts for a focused discussion on Senegal’s expanding petroleum landscape. The session will examine three priority areas: local content opportunities in gas infrastructure, gas field management challenges and development strategies for production optimization. Topics include opportunities in gas-to-power, floating LNG support services, pipeline extension, logistics and supply chain management – key components aligned with national local content requirements.

The workshop will further address the technical and commercial complexities associated with deepwater development, infrastructure limitations, market volatility and the balance between LNG export revenue and domestic energy demand. SPE will be positioned to outline approaches to enhance production efficiency through digitalization, capacity building and transparent governance, while integrating environmental, social and governance considerations.

With Senegal accelerating production from the Sangomar oil project and advancing output from the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim development, the participation of Dr. Ndong and Dr. Oppong underscores SPE’s commitment to supporting the country’s evolving energy sector. Their keynote remarks will provide stakeholders with high-level insights into local capacity development and the technical pathways shaping sustainable industry growth.

“SPE’s participation brings unparalleled technical depth and industry insight to this year’s program, supporting stakeholders as Senegal scales up its oil and gas operations. Their leadership in capacity building and knowledge transfer is essential to strengthening local capability and ensuring long-term value creation across the MSGBC sector,” states Sandra Jeque, Events and Project Director, Energy Capital & Power.

MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 takes place in Dakar from December 8-10 under the theme Energy, Petroleum and Mining in Africa: Synergy for Inclusive Economic Development.

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

Media files

.

Posted on

SA’s engineering capabilities take centre stage at Rail Live 2025 Expo

Source: Government of South Africa

South Africa’s longstanding engineering capability and growing localisation drive took centre stage at the Rail Live 2025 Expo, last week.

The African Rail Industry Association (ARIA) formed part of a delegation of nine companies, which participated in the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s Outward Selling Mission.

Reflecting on the week-long programme, the CEO of ARIA, Mesela Nhlapo, said the mission reaffirmed South Africa’s strong reputation among global rail players and underscored the importance of localisation as an anchor of national competitiveness.

“Localisation is not just about employment; it is a matter of national pride. Across the exhibition, countries boldly declare ‘made in’ on their products. South Africa must rally behind a single identity that recognises our century-long engineering history, our innovation, and our ability to manufacture world-class solutions,” she said.

Nhlapo highlighted the deep respect international firms continue to show for South African technical expertise, noting that engagements with German companies were among the strongest indicators of the country’s global standing.

“German companies were actively looking for Transnet at Rail Live. The level of technical engagement, and the respect they showed to our engineers was mind-blowing. We often underestimate ourselves, but the world continues to value South Africa’s capability,” she said.

She emphasised that the country’s engineering heritage, skills development institutions and innovation culture position South Africa as a competitive supplier to the global rail market.

Nhlapo expressed her appreciation for the dtic’s role in enabling the mission, noting that the department’s planning, coordination and market-access facilitation directly contributed to the strong performance of the South African delegation.

“This mission is funded and curated by the dtic, but more than that, the dedication of the officials who planned the programme is what made it successful. 

“Our political principals — President Ramaphosa, Minister Parks Tau and his colleagues — continue to open doors for South African industry across the world. Government creates the space, business must step in to secure opportunities,” she said.

She noted that companies on the mission held back-to-back meetings, including one Cape Town-based firm whose stand continuously drew interest due to a high-impact innovation displayed at the expo.

“Business is open in the international space. Companies are asking about South African capability, and the world is ready for our innovative solutions,” Nhlapo said.

Reflecting on the outcomes of the mission, Nhlapo said she is hopeful that the engagements held in Madrid will translate into tangible export deals in the coming months.

“I am confident that in six months, we will be able to report to the dtic that the return on investment from this mission is significant. Let us grow exports, showcase our engineering strength, and continue positioning South Africa as an export-led economy,” she said.

ARIA and the participating South African companies will continue nurturing the leads generated at Rail Live 2025, while preparing for upcoming global platforms such as InnoTrans 2026. – SAnews.gov.za 

Posted on

Simelane commends provinces for accelerating housing delivery

Source: Government of South Africa

Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has commended provincial Human Settlements MECs for ensuring that provinces and metros are on track to use their 2025/2026 allocations to accelerate the delivery of adequate housing and improve household living conditions.

Delivering her opening remarks at the final meeting of the Minister and MECs (MinMEC) of 2025, held on Friday at the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape, Simelane highlighted strong progress in expenditure patterns.

By the end of September, the provinces had spent R7.36 billion of the R14.15 billion allocated through the Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG), and R1.6 billion of the R2.8 billion provided through the Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant (ISUPG).

This reflects spending of just over 52% for the HSDG and almost 60% ISUPG spent between April and September 2025.

Simelane said the spending performance demonstrate a significant improvement compared to previous years, when underspending in some provinces delayed access to decent housing for many vulnerable communities.

She noted the Free State as a standout performer, noting its 85% expenditure on the ISUPG and 65% on the HSDG, following several years of struggling to meet its spending targets.

“We are encouraged that provinces are seized with restoring people’s dignity. The delivery of 9,682 serviced sites against the 14,525 target and 18,068 housing units against the 2025/2026 target of 39,436, is a clear indication that we are on the right track. This demonstrates our determination to achieve our five-year delivery targets, such as 237,000 units and 314,000 serviced sites,” Simelane said.

The MinMEC also urged metropolitan municipalities to ensure full expenditure of their grants, over R9 billion through the Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) and R4.7 billion through the Informal Settlement Partnership Grant (ISPG) by July 2026.

The meeting emphasised that every unspent rand translates to a family whose dignity is not restored. A special MinMEC meeting with all metro mayors will be convened early in 2026 to address risks associated with under-expenditure.

Emergency housing response

The meeting received an update on the state of preparedness to respond to disasters in KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and the Eastern Cape, as well as a report on emergency housing interventions delivered between April and September 2025, countrywide.

During this period, 2 167 Temporary Residential Units (TRUs) were dispatched to affected households. KwaZulu-Natal received the largest allocation with 979 units, followed by the Eastern Cape with 595 units.

However, MinMEC expressed concern that outstanding emergency housing requests currently exceed the number of interventions delivered in the past six months.

The MinMEC welcomed the National Treasury’s allocation of additional resources, most of which will support interventions in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

The meeting also commended the department’s progress in phasing out TRUs in favour of permanent housing solutions. The new approach will be piloted in the Eastern Cape.

Disaster-prone provinces, working with the national department, have already begun preparing for expected weather-related incidents during this period.

Measures include profiling informal settlements in high-risk areas, identifying Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA) sites near vulnerable communities, strengthening operational capacity, and engaging strategic partners to ensure rapid response throughout holiday-season.

Other issues discussed at the final MinMEC for 2025 included preparations for the Innovative Building Technology (IBT) Summit, scheduled for 03–04 February 2026, progress on the title deeds restoration programme, and South Africa’s reporting obligations under the New Urban Agenda. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Posted on

SA records R15.6 billion trade surplus in October

Source: Government of South Africa

Monday, December 1, 2025

South Africa has recorded a preliminary trade balance surplus of R15.6 billion in October 2025, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) said.

This surplus was attributable to exports of R192.2 billion and imports of R176.6 billion, inclusive of trade with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN).

The year-to-date (01 January to 31 October 2025) preliminary trade balance surplus of R142.7 billion was lower than the R148.1 billion trade balance surplus for the comparable period in 2024. 

“On a year-on-year basis, export flows for October 2025 (R192.2 billion) were 7.4% higher compared to R178.9 billion recorded in October 2024. 

“Import flows were higher by 7.3%, having increased from R164.5 billion in October 2024 to R176.6 billion in the current period,” SARS said on Friday.

On a month-on-month basis, exports increased by R5.2 billion (2.8%) from R187.0 billion to R192.2 billion between September and October 2025, whilst imports increased by R11.8 billion (7.2%) from R164.8 billion to R176.6 billion over the same period. 

Export flows increased in October 2025, driven by gold, diamonds, and unwrought aluminium while import flows increased on the back of higher importation of crude oil, petroleum oils (excluding crude), and original equipment components. 

Due to ongoing Vouchers of Correction (VOCs), the preliminary trade balance surplus of R21.8 billion announced for September 2025 was revised upwards by R0.5 billion, with the final number at R22.3 billion. –SAnews.gov.za

Posted on

FG Gold, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), and Afreximbank Achieve Financial Close on US$330 Million Senior Debt Financing for Baomahun Gold Project

Source: APO

FG Gold Limited (“FG Gold”) (https://FGGoldMining.com/) is pleased to announce that it has achieved financial close and the first drawdown on its US$330 million Senior Debt Financing with Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), for its Baomahun Gold Project, marking the development of Sierra Leone’s flagship large-scale commercial gold mine. This milestone unlocks one of the most significant project financing deals in the country’s history and supports Sierra Leone’s ambition to responsibly harness its mineral resources for sustainable economic transformation. The transaction was further strengthened by capital mobilised through Trafigura Group.

The senior facility completes the financing package required to construct and develop the Baomahun Gold Project, complementing AFC’s initial US$100 million investment in gold streaming and mezzanine commitments. This brings the total investment by leading African Development Finance Institutions (“DFIs”) to US$430 million, including Afreximbank’s contribution of US$75 million. This landmark financing secures the full development pathway for Baomahun, enabling FG Gold to accelerate construction of core infrastructure and maintain its momentum toward first gold pour.

A transformational milestone for Sierra Leone and African mining

“This achievement marks a new chapter not only for FG Gold but for Sierra Leone,” said Oliver Tunde Andrews, Founder and Executive Chairman of FG Gold. “The Baomahun Project demonstrates that Africa has the capacity—not just in resources, but in financing sophistication, technical capability, and institutional collaboration—to develop large-scale, globally competitive mining assets. We are delighted with our constructive ongoing collaboration and partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone and the local community, as well as the backing of Africa’s leading DFIs in bringing this transformative project to life.” According to Andrews, “The anchor investment provided by AFC was instrumental in crowding in additional financiers and establishing the confidence needed to mobilise further capital for the project.”

AFC and Afreximbank champion African resource development

Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), commented: “AFC is proud to have led and structured the Baomahun Gold Project, a development that embodies our mission to catalyse sustainable, African-led industrial growth. This transaction demonstrates what can be achieved when African institutions collaborate to unlock the value of our continent’s resources. Baomahun will not only generate long-term economic benefits for Sierra Leone but also establish a benchmark for responsible, world-class mining development across Africa.”

Dr. George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, noted, “Afreximbank is delighted to partner on a project that has economic significance for Sierra Leone and the wider continent. Our financing reflects a commitment to supporting value creation within Africa by enabling sovereigns and private developers to harness their natural resources for domestic wealth creation and inclusive growth and development. The Baomahun Gold Project stands as a powerful example of African capability, innovation, and collaboration.”

Gonzalo De Olazaval, Global Head of Metals and Mineral at Trafigura added, “We are pleased to support Sierra Leone’s first large-scale commercial gold mine in Partnership with AFC and Afreximbank. Our participation in this debt underscores our growing footprint in gold markets, complemented by the global reach and scale of our broader metals business.”

A project defined by African capability and global standards

The Baomahun Gold Project is being developed through the leadership of Boxmoor Au and the Africa Minerals and Metals Processing Platform (A2MP), supported by a predominantly African team and leading industry partners, including Lycopodium (EPCM), Knight Piésold, CrossBoundary Energy, and Komatsu/PanAfrican Equipment.

Recognised as one of Sierra Leone’s most pioneering mining developments, Baomahun introduces multiple national “firsts” across financing, engineering, power solutions, and community partnership—establishing a scalable model for structuring and delivering high-impact mining projects across Africa.

Driving economic growth and shared prosperity

FG Gold is already a major local employer, with 90% of its workforce comprised of Sierra Leoneans. During operations, the mine is expected to support up to 900 direct and indirect jobs, contribute approximately 10% of national GDP, and stimulate substantial local supply chain growth.

According to the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Sierra Leone, the Honourable Julius D. Mattai, “The Baomahun Gold Project represents a milestone for Sierra Leone’s mining sector and a clear signal of the confidence that respected African institutions place in our investment environment. This financing marks a new era of responsible, community-oriented mineral development. We welcome FG Gold’s commitment to local participation, skills development, and shared prosperity, and we look forward to the transformational impact Baomahun will deliver for generations to come.”

Community development already underway

FG Gold has committed 1% of gross revenues to a Community Development Fund supporting education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, and social enterprise in project-affected communities. Early initiatives include the Baomahun Community Centre, St. Joseph Bakhita Primary School, the renovated Baomahun Health Centre, and upgrades to the 66 km Matotoka–Baomahun access road.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FG Gold Limited.

Media Enquiries:
Nicola Asgill
Corporate Development, Sustainability & Investor Relations Director
FG Gold
Mobile: +232 99 503 506
Email: nicola.asgill@fg-gold.com

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

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

About FG Gold Limited:
FG Gold is a gold development company based focused on constructing and operating the Baomahun Gold Project located in Sierra Leone. Baomahun is one of the largest deposits under development in Africa and will become Sierra Leone’s premier large scale commercial gold mine. Upon operations, the Project is expected to deliver an average annual gold production of ~150,000 ounces per year over a 12.5-year mine life peaking at 201,000 ounces.

About Africa Finance Corporation:
AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

Eighteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 47 member countries and has invested over US$15 billion in 36 African countries since its inception.

About African Export-Import Bank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

About Fundo Soberano de Angola:
The Angola Sovereign Wealth Fund (FSDEA) is established to promote the sustainable social and economic development of Angola by generating long-term wealth for the Angolan people through prudent management of national resources, encompassing investments across a wide range of financial instruments and asset classes, both domestically and internationally, to secure competitive returns, preserve capital, and catalyse economic diversification within Angola’s productive sectors.

About Boxmoor Au:
Boxmoor Au is an African-led precious metals company dedicated to building the next generation of high-performing, responsible mining operations across the continent. As a subsidiary of the Boxmoor Group, a project development and investment platform, founded in 2021 by Mr Oliver Tunde Andrews, Boxmoor Au leverages best-in-class technical, financial, and operational expertise to unlock Africa’s mineral potential.

The Boxmoor Group brings together a powerful ecosystem, including an African-based financial advisory firm and civil engineering contractor enabling value creation from project origination through to delivery. This integrated capability strengthens the Group’s mission to help reduce Africa’s infrastructure deficit while driving localised benefaction.

Boxmoor Au’s dedicated management team has 150+ years of combined experience in the natural resources and infrastructure sectors within Africa. The team is committed to creating long term value within the precious metals industry through strategic investments that maximise Africa’s economic potential and promote sustainable resource development and operations.

Driven by its mission to become a leading intermediate African gold producer, Boxmoor Au is focused on developing and operating mines to deliver enduring benefits to local communities, nations and key stakeholders.

About A2MP Investments:
Africa Minerals and Metals Processing Platform (A2MP) is a pan-African industrial platform dedicated to responsible mining and value-added processing and transformation – unlocking the full potential of Africa’s vast mineral wealth and driving a new era of industrial growth across the continent.

A2MP believes shifting from raw material exports to local processing and transformation will contribute to strengthening Africa’s industrial base, reduce its dependence on imports, and drive economic growth to position Africa as a global leader.

A2MP’s operations span 11 countries, including 9 in Africa, with a portfolio of 12 mineral assets and 4 state-of-the-art processing facilities. Our portfolio includes FG Gold, Canyon Resources, Nouvelle Gabon Mining, Alpha Centauri Mining, Fura Gems, among others. At the core of A2MP’s mission is impact, with an aim to drive over US$5 billion in annual GDP impact and create more than 11,000 jobs.

Media files

.

Posted on

Malawi advances efforts to finalize its Health Labour Market Analysis for Evidence-based Health Workforce Planning and Development

Source: APO


.

Achieving SGD3, Universal Health Coverage by 2030, and health security and PHC-oriented and resilient health systems hinges on the sufficient capacity of a well-trained and motivated health workforce to provide the essential health services at all levels of care. 

The Ministry of Health, with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO), is taking giant steps towards finalizing the comprehensive national Health Labour Market Analysis (HLMA). The current draft HLMA report needs to be standardized with other supported countries, and for results need to inform high-level multisectoral policy dialogue to improve the HRH situation and prioritization in Malawi. 

An HLMA is an approach to using a systematic economic framework to understand the health workforce by examining the interaction and mismatches between the supply of health workers, the demand for health workers, the population’s health needs, and the budget space for health workers’ feasibility and impact of different policy options. This initiative marks a major step toward strengthening health workforce governance, improving evidence-based decision‑making, and advancing Malawi’s progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Within its Health Sector Strategic Plan 2023-2030, Malawi has made significant investments in health workforce education, recruitment, performance management, professional development, and its Human Resources Information System. The consistent and positive national trend of growth in the health workforce in Malawi, with the total number of health workers increasing from 34,287 in 2019 to 47,555 in 2024, representing a significant 38.7% increase over the six years.  

Despite these gains, critical staffing gaps remain across health facilities. To fully deliver the essential health package, the country needs to address the high vacancy rates of 40% for Nurse/Midwife Technicians and significant shortages for Medical Officers/Specialists (32%) and Medical Assistants (25%). To address these gaps, the Ministry of Health is working with WHO to complete the HLMA. The analysis will examine the interplay between political and economic factors, training capacity, labour supply and demand, and population health needs. The resulting evidence will guide long‑term policy options for health workforce development, employment, and management.

With funding from the United Kingdom Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), WHO Africa Region supported a reorientation of a multisectoral team on the HLMA, and the “Epidemiology-based health workforce needs assessment and analysis” using the WHO AFRO HLMA Support Tool. The participants systematically mined and analyzed Malawi’s health workforce data across all domains of the Health Labour Market framework. 

Among the outputs are preliminary estimates of the health workforce requirements to address the epidemiological burden of disease and service delivery needs of Malawians. The comprehensive HLMA report with evidence-based policy questions will facilitate a multisectoral technical dialogue to build national cross-sectoral consensus on policy directions for health workforce development, employment, and management in Malawi. 

“The Health Labour Market Analysis will give Malawi a credible evidence base to better understand our workforce dynamics and plan more effectively,” said Mr Duff Msukwa [Director of Human Resources for Health, Ministry of Health. “By generating evidence-based insights, we can better align our health workforce with the needs of our population, ensuring equitable access to quality care and advancing our Health Sector Strategic Plan III goals.”

A multi-sectoral team—including representatives from government ministries, Nurses and Midwives Council, Medical Council, and Christian Health Association of Malawi, health training institutions, and health workers across 72 occupations—participated in the HLMA data minging and health workforce needs assessment held from 10th to 21st November 2025. 

“WHO is proud to be supporting Malawi in this comprehensive Health Labour Market Analysis, which will provide the data-driven foundation for sustainable workforce planning and to improve the quality of health services at all levels,” said Dr Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, WHO Representative to Malawi. “This initiative not only tackles immediate gaps but also paves the way for long-term investments in health workers, helping Malawi move closer to Universal Health Coverage and a stronger and resilient health system.”

With persistent workforce pressures and rising demand for health services, including health emergencies, the completion of the HLMA will provide Malawi with contextual evidence to align health workforce policies with real population needs. By grounding planning in evidence, Malawi reinforces its commitment to building a resilient and equitable health system capable of delivering UHC and health security.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Malawi.

Posted on

United Arab Emirates (UAE) leaders congratulate President of Mauritania on Independence Day

Source: APO


.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of congratulations to President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania on the occasion of his country’s Independence Day.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, dispatched similar messages to President Ghazouani and to the country’s Prime Minister El Moctar Ould Djay.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.