Eastern Africa Confronts Endemic Foot and Mouth Disease Threat as Regional Stakeholders Validate Long-Term Control Strategy

Source: APO – Report:

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Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) remains one of the most persistent threats to livestock production, food security, and trade across Eastern Africa. Despite being routinely ranked among the top three priority diseases by governments and livestock keepers, the region continues to experience widespread outbreaks, significant economic losses, and constrained market access due to insufficiently coordinated control measures. The extensive mobility of pastoral herds, porous borders, and limited surveillance and laboratory capacity further complicate containment efforts. Without a harmonised regional approach, national initiatives alone cannot effectively manage the transboundary nature of FMD or mitigate its cascading impacts on livelihoods, nutrition, and national economies.

It is against this backdrop that regional and international stakeholders gathered yesterday in Nairobi for the Consultation and Validation Workshop of the Strategic Framework for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in Eastern Africa 2026–2035. The two-day meeting, held at the Trademark Hotel, Nairobi, brought together representatives from AU-IBAR, IGAD, EAC, FAO, WOAH, UNEP, GALVmed, national Chief Veterinary Officers, FMD focal points, wildlife authorities and technical experts from across the Eastern Africa FMD Roadmap countries.

A Timely Response to an Urgent Regional Challenge

In her opening remarks, Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, underscored the scale of the challenge. Livestock underpin food and nutrition security and sustain hundreds of millions of people, yet transboundary animal diseases such as FMD drain billions of dollars from Sub-Saharan Africa each year. Dr. Salih stressed that no single country can manage FMD independently and called for deeper regional coordination, harmonisation, and joint action to address surveillance gaps, strengthen early detection, and ensure rapid response.

She emphasized that the new Strategic Framework provides a necessary mechanism to align national priorities with regional objectives, operationalize shared protocols, and leverage collective capacities. The Framework also responds directly to commitments articulated under Agenda 2063, CAADP (2026–2035), LiDeSA, and the Animal Health Strategy for Africa.

A Strategy Built on Regional Realities and National Inputs

The Strategic Framework for 2026–2035 was developed through extensive consultation, including inputs from the Eastern Africa FMD Roadmap Meeting held in Dar es Salaam in 2024. Delegates highlighted weaknesses such as inadequate vaccination coverage, limited laboratory capabilities for serotyping and vaccine matching, fragmented movement control, and insufficient political commitment and financing for sustained FMD control. These challenges, combined with the region’s ecological and socio-economic dynamics, informed the structure of the Framework.

The strategy is anchored on three mutually reinforcing pillars:

  1. Knowledge and Evidence – establishing regional information-sharing platforms, conducting research, and improving tools for risk assessment, economic analysis, and epidemiological understanding.
  2. Capacity Building – providing regionally tailored trainings and sourcing essential equipment for surveillance, vaccination, diagnostics, programme management, and public–private partnership models.
  3. Coordination and Cooperation – harmonising regional protocols, strengthening early warning systems, enhancing rapid response, and facilitating affordable vaccine access through bulk procurement and strengthened laboratory networks.

Collectively, these pillars aim to support countries in progressing along the Progressive Control Pathway for FMD (PCP-FMD) and achieving more secure, efficient livestock systems with improved trade performance.

Deliberations and Validation

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in structured group work to analyse the draft document, identify gaps, and propose improvements. Presentations on Day 2 allowed country groups to showcase recommendations, including strengthening regional strain monitoring, developing cross-border agreements for sample shipment, institutionalising biosecurity practices in markets and abattoirs, and reinforcing communication strategies to maintain political will.

Plenary discussions refined these inputs and integrated them into the final version of the Framework. The review process reaffirmed the need for pragmatic, risk-based interventions that consider the diverse production systems and varied PCP stages across the 12 roadmap countries.

Looking Ahead

In closing, Dr. Salih reaffirmed AU-IBAR’s commitment to supporting Member States and Regional Economic Communities in translating the Framework into concrete action. She noted that the forthcoming rollout of ARIS3 will enhance disease reporting and situational awareness—an essential component of early warning and regional coordination.

With the validation of the Strategic Framework, Eastern Africa has taken a decisive step toward a more structured, collaborative, and evidence-driven approach to FMD control. The region now moves toward developing the implementation plan, mobilising resources, and establishing governance mechanisms to guide the strategy between 2026 and 2035.

By confronting FMD through unified regional action, Eastern Africa strengthens its prospects for improved livestock productivity, enhanced food and nutrition security, resilient livelihoods, and expanded opportunities in domestic and export trade.

– on behalf of The African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).

SA welcomes outcomes of COP30

Source: Government of South Africa

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, has welcomed the outcomes of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

COP30 resulted in the adoption of the Belém Political Package, including key outcomes related to the Nationally Determined Contributions, bolstering climate finance and a mechanism for just transition. 

“We stand ready to work with all Parties to ensure that the decisions taken at COP30 translate into action. Our local climate change instruments already enable robust domestic climate action, while ensuring compliance with our international obligations,” the Minister said on Tuesday.

This year’s COP focused heavily on the new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are countries’ climate action plans under the Paris Agreement. 

Under the Belém Political Package, the “Global Mutirão” is intended to drive global implementation and acceleration to support countries in delivering their NDCs and national adaptation plans. 

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Deputy-Director General and South Africa’s Chief Negotiator at COP30, Maesela Kekana, noted the decision to establish a two-year work programme on climate finance, including on the provision of finance to developing countries. 

Additionally, the COP called on developed countries to triple adaptation finance by 2035 and to increase the trajectory of their collective provision of climate finance for adaptation to developing countries.

“However, we remain concerned that the base is low – a doubling of a small amount – too small to meet the adaptation needs of developing countries. South Africa also welcomes the guidance to triple finance flows to the Funds, the calls for an ambitious and successful replenishment of the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund, and calls for increased pledges to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage Fund,” Kekana said.

South Africa also robustly advocated for the adoption of a mechanism for the implementation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Just Transition Work Programme decision. 

The Parties agreed to develop a just transition mechanism to enable just transitions and enhance international cooperation, technical assistance, capacity building and knowledge sharing.

“We reaffirm our commitment to equity, ambition, and international cooperation in addressing the climate crisis. Congratulations to our team of negotiators for their resilience and exceptional commitment to driving action-driven talks,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

Multilateralism key to resolving global challenges

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has championed multilateralism as key to resolving global challenges.

The President was delivering remarks at the 7th African Union-European Union Summit held at Luanda, Angola.

“It is fitting that the African Union’s theme for this year is: Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations. If, in line with this them, we are to address historical injustices and build a better future, we need to reinforce multilateralism.

“The multilateral system is under great pressure. Geopolitical rivalry continues to cause turbulence in the rules-based international order. South Africa remains convinced that global challenges are best resolved through multilateralism anchored on the principles of the United Nations Charter,” he said.

The President reiterated government’s call for reform of the United Nations as a catalyst for deepened multilateralism.

“Significant reforms are required to transform the United Nations, global financial architecture, and the international trade system to enhance sustainability, efficiency, inclusiveness and the voice of developing economy countries.

“More than two thirds of UN General Assembly Member States still do not enjoy permanent representation on the Security Council. 

“To ensure the Security Council’s credibility and legitimacy, we need to advance Africa’s position as per the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration,” President Ramaphosa remarked.

Reflecting on the G20 Leaders’ Summit held over the weekend, President Ramaphosa noted that the summit declaration addresses issues including global trade inequality, mounting sovereign debt, decline in exports and cuts in overseas development assistance.

“In the declaration, the leaders reaffirm their commitment to support efforts by low- and middle-income countries to address debt vulnerabilities.

“They also affirm the importance of a rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO [World Trade Organisation] at its core,” he said.

The declaration also acknowledges the “agreed-upon rules in the WTO are key to facilitating global trade”.

“In the declaration, the G20 leaders recognise that meaningful and comprehensive reform of the WTO is essential to improve its functions so that it is better suited to advance all Members’ objectives.

“When global trade systems are stable and predictable, it gives confidence to governments, assurance to exporters and offers security to workers around the world.

“Such reform should be development-centred and address persisting development gaps in the global economy. Crucially, it must allow developing economies to adopt legitimate public policy measures that support value addition, industrialisation and diversification,” the President said.

He urged the African Union and European Union to deepen ties as the partnership reaches its 25th anniversary.

“This is a pivotal moment to jointly champion Africa’s Agenda 2063 and its Second Ten Year Implementation Plan, with youth and women empowerment at the centre of our efforts.

“As we build this partnership between Africa and Europe – as we reflect on where we have come from and where we want to go – we must be resolute in working towards deepening the economic, social and political integration of the African continent,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

KZN mobilises 365-day campaign to stem surge in GBVF

Source: Government of South Africa

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to working closely with communities to fight, expose, prevent, and prosecute violence against women and children.

Ntuli’s recommitment comes as South Africa launches the national 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.

This year’s campaign is observed under the theme: “Letsema: Men, Women, Boys and Girls Working Together to End Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.”

Speaking at a media briefing at the Marine Building in Durban on Monday, Ntuli highlighted the worsening crisis of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) in the country, noting that three women are killed every day by an intimate partner and that more than a third of women aged 18 and older have experienced physical violence in their lifetime.

Ntuli said KwaZulu-Natal continues to record some of the highest GBV figures in the country, with rape cases increased compared to the same period last year.

“Seven districts have reported a rise in sexual assaults against children under the age of 12. The districts of eThekwini, uMgungundlovu, and King Cetshwayo remain the highest GBV hotspots in the province.

“Between July and September 2025 alone, 2 013 survivors sought assistance at Thuthuzela Care Centres, and in the previous quarter, 65 percent of all recorded GBV survivors were children. These numbers represent real people, real families, and real suffering,” Ntuli said.

Ntuli expressed the pain he endured when he personally attended funerals of victims who lost their lives at the hands of people they trusted, including partners and employers.

The Premier welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to declare GBVF a National Disaster, saying it “recognises the scale and severity of the crisis.”

He said the provincial government is intensifying its response through the year-round Silwisanane Chilo Campaign (let’s fight this, let’s stop this), which focuses on strengthening prevention, protection and accountability.

Expanded support services

Ntuli announced that the Provincial Gender Machinery is active in all districts, with GBVF activists now deployed at 184 police stations across the province, providing support to survivors, conducting follow-ups and leading prevention programmes.

“Awareness and prevention campaigns have reached more than 39 000 community members, 62 859 learners, over 5 000 men, 606 traditional leaders, and more than 278 000 people through substance abuse prevention initiatives,” Ntuli said.

Victim support services have also been expanded, with 21 shelters and 31 White Door Centres of Hope now operational. A new Khuseleka One Stop Centre has opened in Zululand, and 25 976 survivors received psychosocial support in the last quarter.

“During the last quarter alone, 25 976 survivors received psychosocial support,” the Premier said.

The Silwisanane Chilo Campaign will be formally presented to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature today as a 365-day mobilisation effort aimed at challenging harmful norms, holding perpetrators accountable and empowering communities to act against violence.

The five focus areas of the campaign include:
•    Protecting people living with disabilities who face disproportionate vulnerability to GBVF.
•    Citizen activation through sustained public education and community mobilisation.
•    Leveraging sport, arts, and culture as tools for prevention and social change.
•    Partnering with the taxi sector, faith-based communities, and traditional leaders to drive behavioural change.
•    Strengthening leadership partnerships by involving political leaders, councillors, traditional authorities, and the media to promote accurate messaging and accountability.

“KwaZulu-Natal will not surrender to the scourge of GBV and Femicide,” Ntuli said.

National launch of 16 Days Campaign

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, together with Deputy Minister Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, will officially launch the national campaign today at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.

Observed from 25 November to 10 December, the 16 Days campaign forms part of a global United Nations initiative aimed at raising awareness, mobilising communities and strengthening accountability in efforts to end violence against women and children.

Earlier this year, government launched the 90-Day GBVF Acceleration Programme to fast track the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF.

Led by the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, the 90-Day programme focused on urgent and impactful interventions to reverse the upward trend of GBVF cases in the country. These include the re-establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee to ensure cooperation in the implementation of the GBVF National Strategic Plan. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Transnet secures deal to support clean energy initiatives

Source: Government of South Africa

Transnet and the French Development Agency (AFD), with support from the European Union (EU), have announced a major partnership aimed at accelerating the decarbonisation of South Africa’s ports and rail network.

Transnet, which manages South Africa’s rail, port, and pipeline infrastructure, has set an ambitious decarbonisation and corporate sustainability goals and AFD is proposing a €300 million (R6 billion) loan in support of those objectives.

“The funding package from AFD will assist us in revitalising our infrastructure while supporting the clean energy initiatives under the capital investment programme. 

“In addition, this initiative will contribute significantly to supporting Transnet’s decarbonisation journey while actively exploring the company’s strategic role and potential opportunities within the green hydrogen value chain,” Transnet Group Chief Executive Michelle Phillips said on Tuesday.

The agreement to curb carbon emissions was concluded on the sidelines of the first-ever G20 Leaders’ Summit hosted on African soil by South Africa this past weekend.

As a sustainability-linked loan, disbursements will be tied to progress on strategic targets. 

These include diversifying into transition minerals and increasing the use and purchase of 300 GWh of renewable electricity per year — equivalent to 20 percent of Transnet’s electricity needs.

The French contribution will also aim to promote a shift from road transport to rail, including the rehabilitation of 550 km of railway.

It will participate in the modernisation of port infrastructure, strengthening service quality, reliability, competitiveness, and overall attractiveness across Transnet’s network.

“Transnet is a long-standing partner of AFD, and is a key actor in South Africa’s low carbon transition. Our support will enable Transnet to pursue opportunities that will emerge from the green hydrogen economy, contribute to the modernisation of its operations and reduce its environmental footprint,” AFD CEO Rémy Rioux said.

This prospective AFD loan to Transnet forms part of France’s contribution to the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), which AFD has been implementing since 2021, and fulfils France’s €1 billion commitment announced at COP26 in support of South Africa’s just energy transition.

Completing the loan, a €7 million (R140 million) grant from the EU, AFD will assist Transnet in advancing its green hydrogen strategy, a cornerstone of its decarbonisation pathway, across key sectors including ports, rail, pipelines, and facilities. 

The funding will support key studies, impact assessments, pilot projects, and technical assistance that will refine Transnet’s green hydrogen roadmap and accelerate the scale-up of low-carbon hydrogen initiatives across South Africa.

“Through our investment strategy Global Gateway, the EU is supporting concrete investments in South Africa’s green hydrogen economy. Investments that cut emissions and create high quality jobs. With its central role in rail, ports and pipelines, Transnet is essential to building a credible and scalable hydrogen ecosystem. This partnership will help deliver the expertise and infrastructure needed for South Africa’s 2050 net-zero goals,” EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela said. –SAnews.gov.za 

Nigeria: Renewed Spate of School Kidnappings

Source: APO – Report:

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Nigerian authorities should act urgently to secure the safe release of students and teachers recently kidnapped in the country’s northwest and take concrete steps to protect schools and communities from further attacks, Human Rights Watch said today. The groups responsible for the kidnappings should immediately release the students and teachers they are holding captive.

On November 18, 2025, 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped by unidentified armed men from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi state. Just three days later, on November 21, 303 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped at St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger state.

“These mass school kidnappings once again lay bare the deliberate targeting of students, teachers, and schools in Nigeria’s deteriorating security environment,” said Anietie Ewang, Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The deepening crisis underscores the government’s failure to protect vulnerable communities.”

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Nigeria has in recent years been plagued by violent attacks and kidnappings by criminal gangs colloquially called “bandits.” These groups have carried out kidnappings for ransom, including of schoolchildren in Nigeria’s northwestern and central states. On November 18, the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen, or JNIM), which is active throughout the Sahel, claimed responsibility for an attack on a military patrol in Kwara state on October 29, apparently its first incursion into Nigerian territory.

Human Rights Watch spoke with parents of two of the girls abducted in Kebbi state. Isa Nazifi, whose 13-year-old daughter Khadija Nazifi, a junior secondary school student, was among those abducted, said: “I immediately took a motorbike and rushed to the school, where I found my second daughter, also a student at the school. She told me Khadija had been taken. We are extremely worried. My wife is in tears. I will stay here at the school until my daughter returns. If I go home without her, what will I tell my family?”

Malam Sani Zimri, whose daughter, Salima Sani Zimri, is a senior secondary school student who was also abducted, said he had heard rumors from other parents of a possible attack by bandits the week before the incident: “We developed confidence after seeing military operatives surveilling the area, only to realize that there were no security operatives on the premises for the entire three hours that the incident occurred.”

The 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction in Borno state by the armed Islamist group Boko Haram provoked global outrage. Since then, a series of school kidnappings across northern Nigeria has left families traumatized and entire communities living in fear that if their children went to school, they might never return home. In 2016, Human Rights Watch reported that Boko Haram had similarly abducted over 300 children from the Zanna Mobarti Primary School in Damasak, Borno state, in 2015.

In December 2020, more than 300 boys were kidnapped from a boarding school in Kankara, Katsina state. In early 2021, students were again taken in major incidents in Kagara, Niger state, and Jangebe, Zamfara state, followed by the kidnapping of over 100 studentsfrom Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna state. The spate of kidnappings continued in 2024 with students taken from schools in Kuriga, Kaduna state, and Gidan Bakuso, Sokoto state.

Nigerian authorities have failed to apply lessons from previous attacks to create early warning systems and other measures that could prevent these atrocities, Human Rights Watch said.

In response to the recent kidnappings, the government has promised to rescue the kidnapped students and hold those responsible accountable. President Bola Tinubu directed security agencies to act swiftly to bring the girls back while also urging local communities to share intelligence.

The authorities have also shut down 47 federal secondary schools known as Federal Unity Colleges, and some states including Katsina, Taraba, and Niger have also closed schools or restricted school activities, particularly boarding institutions. While these measures are aimed at protecting students, they have disrupted learning for thousands of children, denying them access to education and the social and psychological support schools provide. Without concrete measures to provide alternative learning opportunities to ensure continuity in their education, the students are at risk of falling behind academically and facing long term setbacks in their development.

Nigeria is a signatory to the Safe Schools Declaration, committing the government to take concrete steps to protect education during conflict and insecurity. Yet kidnappings have continued at a relentless pace and scale. On November 19, the Nigerian Senate ordered a full-scale investigationinto the implementation of the government’s Safe School Fund, questioning why money earmarked for protecting schools has failed to prevent recurring attacks. The government should move with urgency to advance a proposal to introduce legislation to implement the Safe Schools Declaration, Human Rights Watch said.

“Children in Nigeria have the right to go to school without fearing for their lives,” Ewang said. “Nigerian authorities should prioritize the safe release of the kidnapped children and their teachers and bring those responsible for their abduction to justice.”

– on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Egypt: Reverse sweeping controls over independent civil society organizations

Source: APO – Report:

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Egyptian authorities should amend the associations law to lift tight restrictions over independent civil society organizations, hindering the right to freedom of association and other rights and putting the future of the country’s civic space at risk, Amnesty International said in a new briefing published today.

The briefing, ‘Whatever security says must be done’: Independent NGOs’ freedom of association restricted in Egypt, details how the authorities are imposing undue restrictions and interfering in the work of independent NGOs through the repressive law No. 149 of 2019 (the associations law) and other tactics to bring them under near total state control.

Whilst the closure of Case 173 last year after 13 years of unfounded criminal investigations of the funding and activities of NGOs appeared to be a potential turning point, the associations law grants the authorities a stranglehold over independent NGOs undermining their right to freedom of association.

“Although the lifting of decade-long travel bans and asset freezes against NGO workers was a positive step, the authorities have not only ignored calls to amend the restrictive 2019 associations law but have used it to impose burdensome regulatory requirements on NGOs, while allowing security agencies to subject them to intrusive interference, and constant surveillance. These intimidation practices suffocate vital NGO work and contribute to a chilling climate of intimidation that erodes people’s capacity to organize and exercise their human rights,” said Sara Hashash, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.

“Under international human rights law, any restrictions on NGOs must be narrowly defined, strictly necessary to achieve a legitimate aim, proportionate and never a tool to silence critics. The Egyptian authorities must amend the associations law to allow NGOs to register by notification instead of prior authorization, protect NGOs from NSA’s interference, intimidation and coercive practices against NGOs, and lift all undue restrictions on NGOs’ access to and use of funding.”

The Associations and Civil Work Unit (ACWU) of the Ministry of Social Solidarity, which is responsible for registering and overseeing NGOs imposes a prior authorization process for NGO registration in contravention of international standards and Egypt’s own constitution which stipulates that NGOs should acquire legal personality upon notification. Through the ACWU, the state can refuse or delay registration of NGOs, dictate limitations on their work, block their funding, interfere in the composition of their boards, and even order the dismissal of their members. This stranglehold is reinforced by unlawful interference from the National Security Agency (NSA), which harasses and intimidates members of NGOs through phone calls, unlawful summons and coercive questioning. 

The briefing draws on interviews with 19 individuals representing 12 independent Egyptian NGOs working in social development, media and human rights in Greater Cairo over the past five years. Amnesty International conducted the interviews between March and July 2025 and reviewed official documents issued by the administrative bodies overseeing NGOs.

Associations law muzzling civil society

Egypt’s 2019 associations law is incompatible with international human rights law and standards. It gives authorities sweeping powers to control and punish NGOs. It allows the government to reject registration within 60 days if any of the NGO’s purposes violates Egyptian laws, many of which are incompatible with international law, to dissolve NGOs and prosecute staff on vague charges, and to confine NGO work to “societal development,” effectively barring human rights and “political” activities under overly broad notions  including “national unity.” The law also lets officials interfere in NGOs’ board composition, enter premises without notice, and inspect documents, with penalties for staff who breach these overbroad rules. Many of these restrictions are enforced through ACWU giving the state a tightly centralized grip over who can operate and on what.

An amendment to the Penal Code introduced in 2014 allows authorities to prosecute individuals for receiving foreign funds on the basis of vaguely defined provisions such as “committing hostile acts against Egypt” with penalties that can reach life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

Compulsory registration or dissolution

Egypt’s 2019 associations law requires all NGOs to register under its terms, including those that were already registered, or risk dissolution. Some NGOs told Amnesty International they registered to gain some protection from security harassment or to stay eligible for funding, while others said they felt they had no choice because of the penalties for non-compliance. 

To date, the authorities have not dissolved any association due to lack of registration according to information available to Amnesty International.

A few NGOs registered as law firms or non-profit companies opted not to register, fearing the law’s restrictions would limit their work.

Under international human rights law, however, associations should never be forced to register under a specific legal framework or be criminalized for their lack of formal status. The states must guarantee the right to freedom of association to registered groups, regardless of the legal framework they choose, as well as to unregistered groups. 

Intimidations and interventions by the NSA

Registered NGOs are placed under the near-total control of the ACWU which in some cases facilitates unlawful interference by the NSA agents, who routinely harass and intimidate staff and board members of independent NGOs through threatening phone calls and unlawful summons and delaying registrations.

NSA agents have also intimidated NGO directors or staff members, ordering them to report on their groups’ activities and questioned them about foreign funding requests they submitted to the ACWU, creating a chilling effect given the NSA’s record of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and torture or other ill-treatment.

Several NGOs told Amnesty International that hotels routinely refuse to host their events without NSA clearance, and donors said even approved events are sometimes monitored by undercover agents or require them to submit audiovisual materials for prior security approval. Such practices violate international human rights standards, which require states to let NGOs operate freely, protect them from intimidation and reprisals, and enable, rather than obstruct, their legitimate activities.

Barriers around financial resources 

Independent NGOs in Egypt face severe, state-imposed barriers to their right to seek, receive and use resources, including financial resources, from domestic, foreign, or international sources. Even after registering, they cannot open or activate bank accounts without a letter from the ACWU, and in some cases, banks refuse or stall account openings until they receive separate “security” clearances, leading in several documented cases to delays of three to 15 months that paralyze organizations’ ability to pay staff, rent or implement activities.

Under the 2019 associations law, NGOs must also obtain prior approval before receiving any foreign funding, and the ACWU can object within 60 days without clear, lawful grounds, effectively giving the state a veto over external resources. NGOs that receive funds without approval risk suspension or dissolution, while their staff members or directors risk being financially penalized.

Background

Between 2011 and 2021, Egyptian authorities steadily escalated their crackdown on independent civil society, subjecting most independent NGOs to criminal investigations, asset freezes, retaliatory travel bans and prosecutions solely for their legitimate human rights work. Many staff members have faced arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture and unfair trials, forcing a number of organizations and activists into exile and further hollowing out Egypt’s civic space.

Between 2021 and 2024, the authorities have eased aspects of the crackdown on NGOs. In March 2024, after 13 years of unfounded criminal investigations of the funding and activities of NGOs, the authorities announced that there were no grounds to initiate criminal proceedings in Case 173/2011, also known as foreign funding case, citing insufficient evidence. As a result, the authorities lifted decade-long asset freezes on at least seven Egyptian associations and 11 of their staff members, as well as travel bans on at least 31 human rights defenders. The announcement of this decision was particularly noteworthy since Egyptian judicial authorities hardly ever announce the closure of an investigation in political cases.

– on behalf of Amnesty International.

Kaspersky and VDC Research reveal over $18B in potential losses from ransomware attacks on the global manufacturing industry in 2025

Source: APO – Report:

Kaspersky (www.Kaspersky.co.za) in collaboration with VDC Research announced that in the first three quarters of 2025 ransomware attacks on manufacturing organisations could have generated over $18 billion in losses. This figure reflects just the direct cost of an idle workforce during downtime, with overall operational and financial impacts far exceeding this amount. Estimations were made across APAC, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, CIS and LATAM based on the share of manufacturing organisations where ransomware attempts were detected and prevented, the total number of manufacturing organisations in each region, average downtime hours after real attacks, average number of employees per organisation and average hourly pay.

According to Kaspersky Security Network from January to September 2025, the Middle East (7%) and Latin America (6.5%) led the regional rankings in terms of ransomware detections in manufacturing organisations. APAC (6.3%), Africa (5.8%), CIS (5.2%) and Europe (3.8%) followed. All of these attacks were blocked by Kaspersky solutions. The estimation of potential losses (below) shows the financial impact if these attacks succeeded.

When ransomware hits, production lines halt, triggering immediate revenue losses from an idle workforce and longer-term shortfalls from reduced output. The average attack lasts 13 days (based on the Kaspersky Incident Response Report) (https://apo-opa.co/4pA9PUK). As a result, idle labour costs from ransomware in the first three quarters of 2025 could have reached:

  • $11.5 billion in APAC
  • $4.4 billion in Europe
  • $711 million in LATAM
  • $685 million in the Middle East
  • $507 million in CIS
  • $446 million in Africa

Actual business losses could have been significantly higher when factoring in supply-chain disruptions, reputational damage, and recovery expenses.

“Our research provides an estimation of the financial impact that ransomware may have had on manufacturing worldwide. The growing complexity of manufacturing environments, along with widening expertise gaps and ongoing labour challenges, makes it difficult for most organisations to manage cybersecurity effectively, but failure to do so may result in financial losses – followed by reputational blows as well. Partnering with proven cybersecurity vendors is paramount for effective IT, OT and IIoT protection,” comments Jared Weiner, Research Director, Industrial Automation & Sensors at VDC Research.

“No region is exempt from ransomware – whether it’s the Middle East, LATAM, APAC, CIS, Africa or Europe, every manufacturing hub is constantly being targeted. Mid-tier manufacturers that could have been overlooked by threat actors in the past are also among the targets because their security budgets are smaller and their supply chain disruption effects can be larger than most realise. The manufacturing sector and all other organisations need reliable, proven defence systems and continuous user education,” comments Dmitry Galov, Head of Research Center for Russia and CIS at Kaspersky’s GReAT.

More information about ransomware in different regions is available in Kaspersky’s 2025 State of Ransomware Report (https://apo-opa.co/43LYE2H).

Kaspersky encourages organisations to follow these best practices to safeguard from ransomware:

  • Enable ransomware protection for all endpoints. There is a free Kaspersky Anti-Ransomware Tool for Business (https://apo-opa.co/48fN4xZ) that shields computers and servers from ransomware and other types of malware, prevents exploits and is compatible with already installed security solutions.
  • For comprehensive protection of industrial and critical sectors, Kaspersky offers a distinctive ecosystem that seamlessly integrates dedicated OT-grade technologies, expert knowledge and invaluable expertise. At the core of this ecosystem is Kaspersky Industrial CyberSecurity (KICS) (https://apo-opa.co/3K8S27W), a native Extended Detection and Response (XDR) platform designed for critical infrastructure protection. It provides robust network traffic analysis, along with endpoint protection, detection and response capabilities. This comprehensive solution integrates traditional IT security measures with purpose-built industrial security technologies, ensuring that your company is well-equipped to face any threat.
  • Companies from non-industrial sectors can protect themselves by installing anti-APT and EDR solutions that enable capabilities for advanced threat discovery and detection, investigation and timely remediation of incidents. Organisations can also provide their SOC teams with access to the latest threat intelligence (https://apo-opa.co/4oZWhSr) and regularly upskill them with professional training. All of the above is available within Kaspersky Next Expert (https://apo-opa.co/4rpBklE).

– on behalf of Kaspersky.

For further information please contact:
Nicole Allman
nicole@inkandco.co.za

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Minister of State at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Meets Special Envoy of French President

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha | November 25, 2025

HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi met on Tuesday with HE Special Envoy of the French President, Paul Soler, who is currently visiting the country.
The meeting reviewed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories in light of the ceasefire agreement, as well as the situation in Sudan, Libya, and Chad. The two sides also discussed a number of issues of mutual interest.

Combating antimicrobial resistance in the poultry value chain through the farmer field schools approach

Source: APO


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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a natural phenomenon in which micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites develop the ability to survive exposure to antimicrobial agents, rendering medications less effective or ineffective for treating infections. As the world grapples with AMR, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with support from the Fleming fund grant, and in collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe, has been implementing Broiler Farmer Field Schools (FFS), an approach aimed at equipping local poultry farmers with knowledge and skills on biosecurity and responsible use of antimicrobials to improve health, productivity and food security.

Last week, FAO in support to the Government of Zimbabwe, facilitated graduation ceremonies for 106 FFS farmers and facilitators in Matabeleland South province. This milestone marks the completion of a two-year programme designed to transform poultry farming practices at community level. The journey began in February 2024, when government and community facilitators underwent a three-week Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop. Following the training, implementation plans were set in motion, starting with farmer identification at ward level, development of locally adapted curricula, and finally, three full cycles of broiler production per FFS.  

“The graduation ceremonies are testimony of how broiler FFS specifically serve as participatory hubs of knowledge transfer, equipping farmers with the necessary skills to navigate production while promoting the prudent use of antimicrobials to combat AMR,” said Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and Representative to Zimbabwe.

The FFS approach emphasizes participatory learning, hands-on demonstrations, and behaviour change, making it a powerful tool for tackling AMR in the poultry value chain. Farmers learn to improve biosecurity, reduce disease risks, and minimize reliance on antibiotics; all aligned with the FAO’s Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials on Farms for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation (RENOFARM) initiative, which promotes resilient, sustainable farming systems through innovation and responsible practices.

“For the past two years, this method has helped farmers boost productivity and food security while reducing antimicrobial misuse,” said Tinashe Hodobo, Animal health focal point in the One health secretariat of the government, highlighting the relevance of the FFS approach in curbing AMR.   

“For the most part, farmers have learnt how to improve productivity, reduce losses, and enhance food security,” added Hodobo.

Between 2020 and 2022, FAO piloted the FFS approach in broiler production across eight districts in Zimbabwe. In 2023, selected Veterinary Services officers from across Africa, including Zimbabwe, went through the standard FFS master training programme in Kenya, strengthening regional expertise in farmer-led learning.

Following the pilot, FAO established a network of Broiler FFS in four new districts, each serving as a hub for practical training. The rollout included provision of basic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for facilitators and farmers during practical sessions, provision of inputs such as feeders, waterers, chicks, feeds and disinfectants and implementation of a structured training programme. Notably, some initial FFS have led to the development of daughter FFS, expanding the reach and impact of the programme.

“When we heard about the Broiler Farmer Field School, we decided to leave our pride and gather wisdom. We’ve learned how to rear poultry responsibly without relying on antibiotics, and this knowledge is transforming the way we farm,” said Edward Muleya, Vice Chairperson, Fit-Broilers FFS Group in Luthumba Beitbridge.

To ensure sustainability and scalability of the programme, FAO is working with the Community Facilitators and government Veterinary Services and agricultural production specialists who work in the communities, enrolling more participants to the FFS.

“We waited for the practical sessions with hope, and it paid off. Now we have graduated! Today, we’re using biosecurity and good management instead of drugs, and the system is working in our villages,” said Nokukanya Jiyane, Government FFS Facilitator in Mangwe district, Matabeleland South Province.

Beyond farmer training, the programme adopts a multi-sectoral approach, strengthening AMR surveillance under the One Health framework. Laboratories across Zimbabwe have been upgraded to improve diagnostic capacity, ensuring early detection and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance.

“Beyond these certificates, what farmers have learned must become a way of life. Scaling up the FFS approach will be key to tackling AMR and building healthier, more productive livestock and agrifood systems,” said Kudzaishe Vhoko-Tapesana, National AMR Coordinator at FAO.

Going forward, FAO plans to build on the success of Broiler FFS by integrating lessons learned into broader agrifood systems initiatives. This will include scaling up FFS to more districts, strengthening linkages with RENOFARM for climate-resilient and sustainable agrifood practices, and deepening AMR surveillance through upgraded laboratories and data-sharing platforms. The aim is to ensure continuity and sustainability, embedding responsible antimicrobial use and biosecurity as pillars of Zimbabwe’s agrifood systems transformation.

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