Category: English

Posted on

Benin Can Mobilize More Domestic Resources to Drive Inclusive Growth and Equity

Source: APO


.

More inclusive growth path, taxation and spending adapted to vulnerable populations could further accelerate efforts to reduce poverty and inequality, notes the latest edition of the Benin Economic Outlook report.

The first part of the report, Raising Domestic Revenue Mobilization while Protecting the Poor, analyzes recent economic developments and presents the country’s medium-term prospects. In 2024, Benin’s economic growth reached 7.5%, its highest level since 1990, thanks to the strong performance of the services and industrial sectors. Poverty fell by 2.2 percentage points, from 33.2% in 2023 to 31% in 2024.

Continued fiscal consolidation helped achieve the West African Economic Monetary Union –WAEMU– fiscal deficit target of 3% in 2024 and reduce the debt, thereby helping to improve the country’s debt profile. Benin is on the verge of integrating into global value chains with the development of the Glo-Djigbé industrial zone (GDIZ). Despite heightened global trade uncertainties and volatile trade relations with neighboring countries, economic growth is projected to average 7.1% over 2025-2027. The dynamism of economic activity added to the moderation in inflation should support a decline in poverty to 22.3% in 2027.

“Continued efforts to mobilize domestic resources and a rebalancing of the composition of debt in favor of domestic debt, in line with medium-term revenue mobilization and debt strategies, should enable Benin to maintain its macroeconomic stability, which is critical for attracting private investment and supporting the ongoing economic transformation.” says Mamadou Tanou Baldé, World Bank Economist and Lead author of the report.

The second part of the report focuses on domestic revenue mobilization while protecting the poor. The simplification of tax policy and the digitization of tax collection processes have improved the quality of services and secured revenue collection. Revenue mobilization in Benin has steadily increased since 2016 and has demonstrated resilience in the face of various shocks, including border closures with some neighboring countries, the COVID-19 pandemic, the rising cost of living in 2022, and insecurity. Tax revenue, the main driver of revenue growth, increased from 9.2% of GDP in 2016 to 13.2% in 2024, an increase of 4% over the period. Despite this progress, the gap with its peers remains and Benin needs to increase domestic revenue mobilization to finance its development plan. While Benin’s fiscal system reduces inequality by 3 Gini points, an improvement in the fiscal system, including a mix of more targeted taxes and transfers, could lift more than 100,000 people out of poverty each year while continuing to mobilize more resources.

“To improve the situation, Benin should strengthen social safety nets, implement more progressive taxation and increase social spending more targeted at the poorest to improve the redistributive impact of its fiscal policies,” adds Arthur Alik-Lagrange, World Bank Lead Economist and co-author of the report.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.

Posted on

Uganda: President Museveni Meets East African Community (EAC) Secretary General

Source: APO


.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday met and held fruitful discussions with the Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), H.E. Veronica M. Nduva, at State House, Entebbe.

The two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest aimed at strengthening regional integration and cooperation among EAC member states.

The meeting was also attended by Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Uganda.

Posted on

President Boakai Hails France On National Day Observance

Source: APO


.

The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has sent a congratulatory message to the Government and people of the Republic of France on the occasion France’s National Day, (the Bastille Day) on July 14, 2025.

 According to a Foreign Ministry release, in the message to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, President Boakai, on behalf of the Republic of Liberia, extended warmest congratulations and best wishes to the Government and people of France as they commemorate this historic landmark.    

President Boakai noted that as the people of France celebrates this important moment in their national history, Liberia joins in honoring the enduring values of liberty, equality, and fraternity that have long inspired nations around the world. 

The Liberian leader added that his government salute the resilience, cultural riches and global contributions of the French people. He emphasized that France and Liberia share a longstanding relationship which is marked by mutual respect, cooperation and shared ideals.

President Boakai stressed that he appreciate France’s support which have extended over the years in areas such as development, education, health, and multilateral diplomacy. 

“We remain committed to deepening our partnership and working closely together to address global challenges and promote peace, stability, and prosperity for all”, the Liberian President stated.   

He then wished President Macron sincere congratulations and best wishes for continued peace, progress and the well-being for the people of France. 

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

Posted on

President Boakai Consoles the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Source: APO


.

The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has sent a condolence message to the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria following the death of His Excellency Mr. Muhammadu Buhari, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who died on Sunday, July 13, 2025 in London at the age of Eighty-Two (82).

According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Boakai, on behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Liberia and in his own name, expressed profound and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family for the irreparable loss sustained.  

In his condolence message to the Nigerian President His Excellency Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President Boakai stressed that former President Buhari will be remembered for the formidable role he played in consolidating the embodied Africa’s struggle for a sustained multi-party democracy. 

The Liberian leader also stated that the former President will also be credited for being twice elected Nigeria’s President. He served as a military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985. 

He then hoped that the resilience and strength that the people of Nigeria have always demonstrated during challenging circumstances will be brought to bear during this difficult period of national mourning. 

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

Posted on

International Relations (IR) Committee Launches People-Centred Oversight Mechanism in Western Cape

Source: APO


.

The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation yesterday successfully launched the People-Centred Oversight Mechanism in the Western Cape where there were traditional leaders, academics, students and representatives from different non-governmental organisations.

The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Supra Mahumapelo, said the People-Centred Oversight Mechanism is an initiative of the committee to ensure that ordinary citizens in villages, townships and small towns have a say in foreign policy and international trade relations that impact on their lives.

The committee heard from the Western Cape legislature that no one must be left behind when it comes to international and trade relations and these policies have an impact on job creation and the economy of the country.

There was a call to link trade agreements negotiated by the DIRCO and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition with local governments that are affected by those agreements. That will ensure that municipalities will have a say in these agreements and implementation is at local level.

Student representatives from the universities of the Western Cape, Cape Town and Stellenbosch appealed for opportunities for students to be able to participate in international trade delegations and in the drafting of policies on international relations. They called for inclusion in decision making as the future leaders of the country.

The women’s wing of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa welcomed the opportunity to engage with the committee. The role of the DIRCO is significant and the management of the influx of refugees is a challenge that requires engagement with all stakeholders. There is little engagement with traditional leaders in this regard. With the incorporation of the traditional leadership, social cohesion will be enhanced.

With reference to the United States (USA), the opposition parties in the Western Cape Legislature reiterated the need for the province to send a positive message to the international community that South Africa is a united country especially when there are utterances that impact on the economic policy of South Africa.

Labour unions positively viewed the engagement and called for more such dialogues so that workers on the ground can understand what foreign policy is and informed the committee that there is a need for structured platforms so that information reaches the workers. A call was made to the DIRCO to use social media platforms to disseminate information to inform workers and ordinary people on the ground about what is happening internationally.

COSATU representatives called for all international agreements to translate into job creation in the country. The representative called for migrant workers to be protected and there should be a labour impact assessment in countries that export goods to South Africa. The impact of imported goods from the European Union and China have an impact on local jobs.

Africa’s Growth and Opportunity Act was passed as part of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 in the USA. It provides duty- free access to the USA market for almost all products from more than 40 eligible sub-Saharan African countries including South Africa. The impact of the 30% increase on tariffs on exports needs to be engaged on.

The committee heard the sentiment among the people about the importance of the oversight mechanism and their hope for its effectiveness. Representatives also called for monitoring and evaluation of the oversight mechanism, transparency and accessibility. The committee will upon the end of the launch proramme at all the nine provinces, develop monitoring and evaluation mechanism for the programme.

The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Supra Mahumapelo said that going forward the DIRCO will provide reports on Trade Agreements and their impact on a quarterly basis. The reports will include the volume of minerals/products produced and released in SA for export. He said: “ Together with the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour we must be able to engage with our counterparts on the trumpeting tariffs of the US.”

Mr Mahumapelo said workers in South Africa must be able to understand how the utterances of the US affect the economic growth of South Africa. The People-Centred Oversight Mechanism has been launched in Mpumalanga, North West and Gauteng provinces. The committee strives to complete to launch the programme in the remaining five provinces by early next year 2026.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Posted on

Premier Mokgosi to visit elderly in Mazista

Source: Government of South Africa

Premier Mokgosi to visit elderly in Mazista

Elderly people in Mazista village in Swartruggens will on Friday be paid a visit by the North West Premier, Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi.

As part of commemorating International Nelson Mandela Day, the Premier will carry out renovations at a centre for elderly people as well as donate equipment for their vegetable garden and groceries.

Mokgosi will be accompanied by Members of the Executive Council and Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality Mayor Thabo Jacobs as well as senior government officials.

“The initiative, which is a collaborative effort between government and various social partners, gives impetus to this year’s celebrations held under the theme: ‘Uniting to combat poverty and inequity’,” said the Premier’s office in a statement.

The late former President Nelson Mandela, in addressing the scourge of poverty, suffering and deprivation, said: “It is in your hands to make our world a better one for all, especially the poor, vulnerable and marginalised.”

These profound words by the global icon and father of the nation are at the heart of the actions this Nelson Mandela Day in tackling poverty, fighting inequality and building a society based on justice. 

The day is an opportunity for citizens to recognise their individual power to change the world for the better. – SAnews.gov.za

Janine

107 views

Posted on

Mandela Day: New change room facilities at Westbury Open Grounds

Source: Government of South Africa

Mandela Day: New change room facilities at Westbury Open Grounds

The Chairperson of Committees of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Bishop Dulton Adams, will lead a Mandela Day activation in Westbury on Friday.

This as South Africans join the global community in commemorating the late former President Nelson Mandela’s legacy on 18 July 2025 for Nelson Mandela International Day, which is also known as Mandela Day.

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature will highlight the construction of change room facilities at the Westbury Open Grounds.

This responds directly to the needs of the community by ensuring young players, especially girls, have access to safe, private spaces to change before and after matches.

The event, aimed at promoting youth development, dignity, and social upliftment through sport, demonstrates the Legislature’s commitment to building a better, more inclusive society.

“This initiative forms part of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s public participation mandate, reaffirming its role as a caring, activist and people-centred Legislature. The Legislature continues to champion cooperative governance and promote meaningful engagement with communities, especially those most in need,” it said in a statement.

The activation will start at 10am at the Mabaleng Stadium. – SAnews.gov.za

Janine

108 views

Posted on

States announce several measures to halt the Gaza genocide at Bogotá conference

Source: Government of South Africa

States announce several measures to halt the Gaza genocide at Bogotá conference

In a significant multilateral initiative, a coalition of countries from various regions has agreed on six coordinated diplomatic, legal and economic measures aimed at restraining Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories and upholding international law.

The Emergency Conference of The Hague Group, jointly organised by the governments of Colombia and South Africa as co-chairs, brought together 30 nations from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. 

“In the deliberations at the Bogotá conference, all 30 participating States unanimously agreed that the era of impunity must end – and that international law must be enforced without fear or favour through immediate domestic policies and legislation – along with a unified call for an immediate ceasefire,” a joint statement issued at the end of the conference read. 

To initiate this process, 12 countries from around the world – Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Indonesia, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and South Africa – convened in Bogotá, Colombia, for two days. 

READ | Israel’s disregard for ICJ rulings undermines global governance, says Dangor

The countries committed to immediately implement six measures through their domestic legal and administrative systems. 

The leaders have scheduled a meeting for 20 September, coinciding with the 80th United Nations General Assembly, to invite more countries to join this initiative. Consultations with governments worldwide are currently underway.

The countries have since announced several measures to be adopted based on the States’ domestic legal and legislative frameworks. This includes a ban on arms shipments to Israel, a prohibition on ships transporting such arms, and a review of public contracts to identify any links to companies benefiting from the Israeli occupation. 

In addition, the group supports “universal jurisdiction mandates”, which would enable States or international bodies to prosecute serious international crimes, regardless of where they occurred.

“These 12 States have taken a momentous step forward,” said UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese. 

“The clock is now ticking for States – from Europe to the Arab world and beyond – to join them.”

The conference agreed to set a deadline for States’ final decisions by September 2025, in line with the 12-month timeframe mandated by United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/ES-10/24, adopted on 18 September 2024.

That resolution called on all States to take effective action on Israel’s violations of international law, including accountability, sanctions, and cessation of support — within one year of adoption.

“We came to Bogotá to make history – and we did,” said Colombian President Gustavo Petro. 

“Together, we have begun the work of ending the era of impunity. These measures show that we will no longer allow international law to be treated as optional, or Palestinian life as disposable.” 

South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, said what they have achieved is a collective affirmation that no State is above the law. 

“The Hague Group was born to advance international law in an era of impunity. The measures adopted in Bogotá show that we are serious and that coordinated State action is possible,” said Lamola. 

The Executive Secretary of The Hague Group, Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, said the conference marks a turning point – not just for Palestine, but for the future of the international system.  

“For decades, States, particularly in the Global South, have borne the cost of a broken international system. In Bogotá, they came together to reclaim it, not with words, but with actions.” – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile

159 views

Posted on

Many South Africans ‘eagerly awaiting’ National Dialogue

Source: Government of South Africa

As many as 737 organisations have registered their wish to participate in various elements of the National Dialogue, which will take place next month. 

This is according to Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who was speaking during the debate on the Presidency Budget Vote on Wednesday.

She said this showed that many South Africans were eagerly awaiting this process.

The national dialogue is a historic process to bring South Africans together and chart a common path forward.

“As the President has indicated, the national dialogue is one of the most important pillars of any thriving democracy. It is a bridge that connects government to citizens, leaders to communities, and one generation to the next. 

“In moments of uncertainty, it provides clarity. And in seasons of transformation, it offers us direction and shared purpose. From South Africa’s own journey out of apartheid, where dialogue laid the foundation for reconciliation and democracy, the lesson is clear: when people talk— honestly, openly, and respectfully—nations change,” said the Minister.

She said the National Dialogue was not an event but a process that would commence on 15 August and take place for a period of no less than 12 months. 

“The national dialogue must be a culture. A culture where disagreement is not a threat, but a sign of a healthy democracy. A culture where every voice matters —whether from the hills of the rural provinces or the corridors of our cities. 

“A culture where the youth are not just heard but involved, and where the marginalized are not only included but empowered.”

She said to achieve these goals, the National Dialogue Preparatory Task Team and IMC have proposed an inclusive process that will be immersed in deep citizen engagements that prioritise the voice of those who feel marginalised. 

They have identified 30 sectors around which to mobilise, with an emphasis on the diversity and inclusion of the often-marginalised sections of society. 

In its entirety the National Dialogue will involve the following layers of conversation: 

1. The first National Convention on 15 August 2025 with 1000 delegates. This is an agenda setting convention which will prepare the nation for the community engagements. 

2. Community dialogues with 13400 ward-based community dialogues. 

3. The online platform aims to reach no less than 2.5 million citizens. 

4. There will be smaller citizen-hosted events in churches and community groups that shall have access to the toolkit being designed so that the outcomes feed into the process. 

5. Sectoral dialogues – self organised in specific social or economic sectors which shall also have access to the toolkit so that their outcomes feed into the process.

6. The 2nd National Convention will be the concluding event that converts the engagements into a National Compact and 30 Year Plan of Action. It is estimated that this will be about another 1000 delegates. 

7. A detailed implementation plan. 

8. A national roadshow to socialise the outcomes of the National Dialogue and engage with implementation partners.

9. Independent, citizen-led monitoring and evaluation. 

The national dialogue will promote government social cohesion efforts and strengthen social compacting as led by the Deputy President. The Deputy President-led social cohesion efforts have prioritised a focus on gender-based violence and femicide, teenage pregnancy, racism, sexism and patriarchy, as well as the role of families in building communities.

The majority of the work of conceptualising and planning for the National Dialogue process has been undertaken by ordinary citizens from various walks of life who have volunteered their time, skills and resources to this national effort over the past 12 months, said the Minister.

To register go to : https://nationaldialogue.org.za/. – SAnews.gov.za

Posted on

Mandela Day: Regulator to roll up its sleeves

Source: Government of South Africa

Thursday, July 17, 2025

In honour of Mandela Day, the Railway Safety Regulator is set to roll up its sleeves by painting classrooms, donating school uniforms and providing essential computer hardware and software to two schools in the Northern Cape.

“In honour of Mandela Day 2025, Traxtion, AfriSam and the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) will be joining hands to make a tangible difference in the Northern Cape. Driven by a shared commitment to community upliftment, the organisations will invest time and resources in two deserving schools: Ulco Primary School and Delportshoop Intermediate School,” the RSR said in a statement.

Friday’s initiative will also include the refurbishment of the Grade R playground.

“In addition, the Delportshoop Community Library will receive much-needed support in the form of updated computer hardware and software,” the RSR said.

South Africans will join the global community in commemorating Mandela’s legacy on 18 July 2025 for Nelson Mandela International Day, which is also known as Mandela Day.

According to the National Mandela Foundation, the day is a call to action for individuals, communities, and organisations to take time to reflect on Mandela’s values and principles and to make a positive impact in their own communities.

Mandela was democratic South Africa’s founding President. – SAnews.gov.za