Category: English

Source: APO

.

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (http://www.Afreximbank.com) has announced that it will hold its 33rd Annual Meetings (AAM2026) at El Alamein in Egypt, from 21 to 24 June 2026.

Against the backdrop of deepening geopolitical re-alignment and conflicts, Afreximbank will hold its 33^rd Annual Meetings under the theme “Intra-African Trade and Industrialisation: Pathway to Economic Sovereignty”, underscoring the growing imperative for African countries to harness internal capacities, strengthen regional value chains, and accelerate industrial transformation as a foundation for sustainable and resilient growth.

The meetings will bring together Heads of State, government officials, policymakers, private sector leaders, financial institutions, academia and international partners from across Africa and beyond.

Through a series of strategic dialogues and engagements, Afreximbank aims to identify priority projects and actionable programmes that will advance the transformation of Africa’s trade structure, particularly in an era shaped by protectionism, shifting alliances, and economic self-interest.

Commenting on the AAM2026, Dr George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Afreximbank, expressed his appreciation to the Government of Egypt for hosting the 2026 Annual Meetings. He said, “For the past decade, Afreximbank has laid a solid foundation for intra-African trade to take off. As we enter this new phase, we must prioritise the processing of goods to be traded under the Free Trade Agreement.”

“With the current global turmoil, marked by policy uncertainty and intensifying geopolitical tensions, Africans must look inwards for solutions relevant to their challenges. We must wean ourselves off trade in commodities, expand investment in processing, build regional value chains, and consume our products to realise the growth and shared prosperity we want.

H.E. Mr. Hassan Abdalla, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), affirmed: “As the host country of Afreximbank, Egypt is honoured to welcome distinguished delegates to attend the Bank’s 33^rd Annual Meetings. At a time of increasing global uncertainty and shifting economic dynamics, Egypt’s strategic location and economic scale position it as a key driver of regional integration and advancing continental priorities. Hosting the AAM2026 in El Alamein, reflects Egypt’s continued commitment to supporting African institutions strengthening intra-African trade and advancing the continent’s industrialization and long-term economic transformation.”

The AAM2026 will provide a unique platform for delegates to engage with high-level decision-makers, connect with partners across the value chain, gain insights into trade finance and logistics, and access capital and close investment deals. The meetings will also serve as a platform to structure partnerships and advance bankable projects across the continent.

By convening a diverse range of stakeholders, AAM2026 will contribute to advancing a shared vision of an integrated, industrialised, and economically sovereign continent.

Further information about the AAM2026 can be found https://apo-opa.co/4dxAQFB

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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

Follow us on:
X: https://apo-opa.co/4rUXDP7
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/3PE0X3y
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/3Pz3cVU
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/4lRXWbS

About Afreximbank:
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) at “Stable” revised from “Rating Watch Evolving”, affirming the Bank’s international scale long and short-term issuer ratings of A and A2 respectively. Moody’s (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), and Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-). 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.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

Source: APO – Report:

.

The African Development Bank Group’s (https://AFDB.org/) Board of Directors has approved a $5.65 million reimbursable grant from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to pilot the Peace Renewable Energy Certificate (P-REC) Aggregation Facility, a pioneering initiative that will, for the first time, deploy renewable energy certificates as a direct funding instrument for a portfolio of mini-grids across Africa’s most fragile and energy-poor countries.

Co-financed with the Nordic Development Fund, which committed an equivalent of $5.65 million, the $11.3 million facility will be managed by Camco Clean Energy (http://apo-opa.co/4uTPcWP), a climate and impact fund manager, and Energy Peace Partners (https://apo-opa.co/4sN9BLC) a US-registered non-profit that developed the Peace Renewable Energy Certificate label. The certificates come exclusively from small-scale mini-grid projects in conflict-affected and energy-poor communities, and are voluntarily purchased by multinationals looking to put their corporate sustainability spending where it drives the greatest social and environmental impact.

The facility will enter into long-term purchase agreements with qualifying mini-grid developers across 14 frontier countries—Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. It will provide developers with upfront cash payments in exchange for the rights to the certificates produced by the project. The facility will subsequently sell those certificates to global corporate buyers, channelling hard currency back to developers in markets where commercial financing is very limited.

Some 856,000 people across these 14 countries are expected to gain first-time access to reliable electricity as a result, roughly half of them women, through approximately 240,000 new connections and 71 megawatts of new renewable energy capacity.

The project is fully aligned with Mission 300 (http://apo-opa.co/3Q4ArjS), the joint African Development Bank and World Bank initiative to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. NDF (http://apo-opa.co/4svavwi) is contributing to the ambitious energy access targets of Mission 300 through their sizable renewable energy portfolio and as a member of the Development Partner Coordination Group.

“Lack of access to capital for rural electrification continues to be a major hurdle for universal energy access in the African continent, particularly in countries experiencing conflicts and fragility.  I am proud that SEFA is backing this innovative, first-of-a-kind facility testing a new climate finance product capable of unlocking new sources of commercial funding for private sector led mini-grids. This is the kind of market-making needed to advance Mission 300 objectives.” João Duarte Cunha, Manager, Renewable Energy Funds Division and Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa, African Development Bank Group

“Countries in Sub‑Saharan Africa facing fragile and conflict‑affected situations urgently need support and access to clean, reliable energy solutions. At NDF, we are proud to contribute to the Innovative Peace Renewable Energy Certificate (P‑REC) Aggregation Facility, which helps bring small‑scale, off‑grid renewable energy to communities with no, limited or disrupted energy access. By supporting this initiative, we also strengthen the role of Nordic climate leadership—working in partnership, through innovation and responsibility, to advance sustainable energy solutions where they are needed most.” Satu Santala, Managing Director, Nordic Development Fund (NDF)

“PAF will provide additional low-cost, non-dilutive capital to energy access projects in fragile states. In doing so, it will provide more communities with access to the benefits of clean energy, boosting jobs, opportunities, and living standards. Camco is pleased to be working with EPP, SEFA and NDF on this important initiative.” Geoff Sinclair, CEO, Camco

“The majority of people on the continent without access to electricity live in fragile and conflict-affected countries where renewable energy projects can have outsize impacts – improving health, education, safety and security outcomes. The P-REC Aggregation Facility, based on EPP’s Peace-REC label, can accelerate that transition by converting corporate climate ambition into upfront capital for renewable energy developers who would otherwise struggle to close their projects.” Sherwin Das, Managing Director, Energy Peace Partners

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

Contact:
Frederica Lourenco
Communication and External Relations Department
Email: media@afdb.org

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

For more information: www.AFDB.org

ABOUT SEFA
SEFA is a multi-donor Special Fund that provides catalytic finance to unlock private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. SEFA offers technical assistance and concessional finance instruments to remove market barriers, build a more robust pipeline of projects and improve the risk-return profile of individual investments. The Fund’s overarching goal is to contribute to universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services for all in Africa, in line with Mission 300.

ABOUT NDF: 
The Nordic Development Fund (NDF) (http://apo-opa.co/4svavwi is the joint Nordic international finance institution of the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. NDF focuses on the nexus between climate change and development in lower-income countries and countries in fragile situations. Since the introduction of the climate mandate in 2009, NDF has built a track record of adding value by financing climate mitigation and adaptation projects in close interaction with its extensive network of strategic partners.

ABOUT CAMCO: 
Camco (http://apo-opa.co/4uVqkxY) is a climate and impact fund manager. With over 30 years’ experience in sustainable finance and on-the-ground value generation, Camco has supported over 200 projects in 29 countries. The company manages multiple investment platforms aimed at financing innovative solutions to address climate change and deliver positive impact in emerging markets, including the Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP), REPP 2, Spark Energy Services and TIDES, and is an Accredited Entity of the Green Climate Fund.

ABOUT ENERGY PEACE PARTNERS:
Energy Peace Partners (EPP) (http://apo-opa.co/4sN9BLC) leverages climate and finance solutions to promote peace in the world’s most fragile regions. Our climate-sensitive approach expands the existing toolkit for peace and development by extending the renewable energy revolution to some of the planet’s most vulnerable populations. We address the intersection of energy poverty, conflict risk and climate vulnerability to demonstrate the peace dividends of clean energy.

Source: APO – Report:

– Five New Partners Join for Sixth BAL Season Tipping Off Today in South Africa –

– BAL Games Will Reach Fans in More Than 200 Countries –

The Basketball Africa League (BAL) (www.BAL.NBA.com) today announced that a record 15 marketing and merchandising partners, including five new partners, will support the 2026 BAL season that tips off today at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa. 

New partners Amazon Web Services; FLEXX; PUMA; Qatar Foundation; and South African Tourism join returning Foundational Partners Rwanda Development Board and Wilson as well as Official Partners AB InBev, Afreximbank, Air Senegal, Hyundai, RwandAir, the French Embassy of Senegal, ServiceNow and Wave.

The BAL’s sixth season will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories, including all 54 countries in Africa.  Returning free-to-air and pay TV broadcast partners in Africa include Canal+ (pan-Africa), Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, RTS and 2STV (Senegal), SNRT (Morocco), TV5 Monde (pan-Africa) and ZAP TV (Angola and Mozambique).  BAL games and programming will also air on NBA TV globally, the NBA FAST Channel on leading FAST platforms including Samsung, Roku and Amazon Fire TV in the U.S., select FAST platforms in Canada and Mexico, Tencent Video and Tencent Sports in China, TSN and RDS Direct in Canada, and through livestreaming on the NBA App and NBA.com for NBA ID members.

“This incredible roster of new and returning partners reflects the sustained growth and momentum around the BAL and the African sports industry more broadly,” said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall.  “We look forward to working with these amazing companies and organizations to engage BAL fans across the continent and around the world in new and creative ways throughout our sixth season.”

Below are highlights of each marketing and merchandising partners’ efforts:

• AB InBev returns as the Official Beer Partner of the BAL through its Castle Lite and Budweiser brands.
• Afreximbank will again serve as an Official Partner of the BAL4HER and BAL Future Pros programs in each host city, which provide professional development training for African youth pursuing careers in sport.
• Air Senegal returns as Official Partner of the Sahara Conference group phase from Friday, April 24 – Sunday, May 3 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco, supporting guest travel from and returning to Senegal.
• Amazon Web Services will serve as Official Technology Provider (cloud computing, cloud AI and cloud machine learning) of the BAL.
• FLEXX will serve as an Official Off-Court Lifestyle and Team Fanwear Supplier of the BAL.
• Hyundai returns as the Official Car Partner of the Kalahari Conference group phase from March 27 – Sunday, April 5 in Pretoria, featuring Hyundai Santa Fe and Hyundai Alcazar displays at the SunBet Arena and Fan Zone.
• PUMA joins as the league’s Official Outfitter, supplying all official BAL team, fan and referee apparel, including game uniforms, warm-up gear, practice wear, accessories, and branded tops for participants in the league’s social impact and player programming. 
• Qatar Foundation will serve as an Official Community Partner of the BAL by supporting a variety of social impact and court development initiatives across all three host cities.
• RwandAir returns as Official Airline Partner of the BAL.
• Rwanda Development Board returns as a Foundational Partner of the BAL.
• The French Embassy of Senegal will serve an Official Partner of the BAL School Tournament and International Basketball Day in Senegal, with more details to be announced at a later date.
• ServiceNow will serve as Official Digital Transformation Partner of the BAL and support several networking and stakeholder engagement initiatives throughout the season.
• South African Tourism will serve as Official Tourism Collaborator of the Kalahari Conference group phase.
• Wave returns as an Official Marketing Partner of the BAL, Presenting Partner of the BAL4HER Elevate Camp, the BAL Rapatak Tournament, the BAL Tournoi des Quartiers Tournament, and the BAL Court Regeneration Event, and Official Partner of the BAL Business Brunch.
• Wilson returns as a Foundational Partner and Official Game Ball Partner of the BAL.
   

– on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).

Contact:
Marie-Pierre Anamba Onana
Basketball Africa League
+221 78 637 70 62
Manamba@theBAL.com

About the BAL:
The Basketball Africa League (BAL), a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that will tip off its sixth season on March 27, 2026.  Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, the BAL builds on the foundation of club competitions FIBA Africa has organized across the continent and marks the NBA’s first collaboration to operate a league outside North America.  Fans can follow the BAL (@theBAL) on Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/40TcHSh), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3O09i13), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4tg2HP6), X (https://apo-opa.co/4c8630K), and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4rWAFH2) and register their interest in receiving more information at www.BAL.NBA.com.

Source: APO – Report:

Mr. Barry Faure, Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora of Seychelles, delivered a statement at the Small Island Development States (SIDS) Forum under the theme “Place Countries at the Centre of the Global Climate and Development Agenda, in line with International Priorities”.

The SIDS Forum brought together SIDS from the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) to deliberate on shared challenges and priorities, with a view to shaping a common position and advancing collective interests within the broader Summit framework.

In his statement, Minister Faure commended the OACPS for its continued leadership in advancing issues of critical importance to SIDS and for providing a strategic platform to amplify their voices. He stressed that, as the Organisation evolves, it must further strengthen its focus on the unique vulnerabilities of SIDS, ensuring their priorities are effectively reflected in global decision-making processes. “The renewal of the OACPS presents a timely opportunity to reposition SIDS at the centre of our collective action,” Minister Faure stated. “Seychelles remains committed to working with all partners to advance a resilient, just, and sustainable future for SIDS.”

Highlighting Seychelles’ active engagement in global climate advocacy, Minister Faure referred to the initiative seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on States’ obligations in respect of climate change. He welcomed the legal clarity provided, noting that it reinforces the imperative for climate action grounded in international law, including commitments under the Paris Agreement. In this regard, he called on developed countries to fully honour their obligations, particularly in providing adequate financial and technical support to vulnerable nations.

The Forum recognised the Debt for Nature Swap initiative undertaken by Seychelles as an innovative financing mechanism, as well as the experience of Barbados in innovative financing with its Debt for Climate and Debt for Climate Resilience instruments.

The Seychelles delegation also participated in the OACPS Youth Forum convened under the theme “OACPS Youth Compact: Jobs, Resilience, Action.”  The Youth Forum brought together youth representatives, policymakers, and partners from across the OACPS to deliberate on pressing challenges and opportunities facing young people. Minister Faure was appointed as Rapporteur for the Forum. In his capacity as rapporteur, the Minister will be responsible for presenting the key outcomes and recommendations of the Youth Forum during the Summit of Heads of States and Governments.

– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Republic of Seychelles.

Source: APO – Report:

.

Parastatal regulatory agency the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) will participate at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 as an official Local Content Partner, reinforcing its leadership in advancing indigenous capacity across Africa’s energy sector. Taking place from October 12–16 in Cape Town, the event will provide a strategic platform for the NCDMB to showcase Nigeria’s evolving local content framework and investment opportunities.

In parallel, the NCDMB continues to strengthen its domestic capabilities, most recently launching a 12-month pipeline engineering training program in March 2026 for 33 young engineers in Port Harcourt. Delivered in partnership with Renaissance Africa Energy and MJD Oilfield Services, the initiative focuses on pipeline pigging, corrosion control and integrity management, aligning workforce development with major infrastructure projects like the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline.

On the infrastructure front, the board is advancing construction of a 204-room Radisson-managed hotel and conference center in Yenagoa, scheduled for commissioning this December. Positioned adjacent to the Nigerian Content Tower, the facility is designed to support industry collaboration. Complementing this, the NCDMB has commissioned a Clinical Skills and Simulation Laboratory at Bayelsa Medical University, enhancing healthcare capacity in host communities through cutting-edge training technologies.

Industrial expansion remains a core pillar of the board’s strategy. Under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme, pilot parks in Odukpani and Emeyal-1 are nearing completion and are expected to generate around 2,000 jobs each. These shared-services industrial hubs are designed to localize manufacturing, reduce costs and enable indigenous firms to scale production across upstream and midstream value chains.

From a financial and policy standpoint, the NCDMB is deploying multiple funding mechanisms, including a $100 million equity investment scheme, a $500 million intervention fund and a $20 million women-focused initiative. Recent enforcement measures – such as stricter expatriate quota controls and mandatory compliance certification – further signal a shift toward deeper localization, transparency and long-term investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

“The participation of the NCDMB at AEW 2026 is a strong signal that Africa is serious about building its own capacity and retaining value within the continent,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Local content is not just policy – it is the foundation for sustainable growth, job creation and energy security across African markets.”

As AEW 2026 convenes global investors, policymakers and operators, the inclusion of the NCDMB as a Local Content Partner underscores the growing importance of in-country value creation. With dedicated forums on skills development, technology transfer and industrialization, the event is set to drive actionable dialogue on how local content can unlock resilient, competitive and investment-ready energy ecosystems across Africa.

– on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO

The Magistrates Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2026 when assented to by the President, will introduce reforms aimed at strengthening the capacity of lower courts, reducing case backlog at the High Court and improving access to justice.

The Bill that was passed by Parliament on Thursday, 26 March 2026 will see the amendment of the Magistrates Courts Act aims to increase the financial jurisdiction of magistrates, enhance their sentencing powers and streamline court procedures.

The Bill also sought to increase the pecuniary jurisdiction of magistrate’s courts, enhance their powers to impose higher fines, abolish the position of magistrates grade II and provide for transitional provisions.

A key reform under the law is the upward revision of the monetary limits that magistrates can handle in civil cases.

The Bill provides that, “the civil jurisdiction of a chief magistrate is increased from Shs50 million to Shs100 million and the jurisdiction of a magistrate from Shs20 million to Shs50 million.

The Chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Hon. Stephen Baka Mugabi said that Bill addresses the previous limits which were last revised in 2007 had been overtaken by inflation and economic changes.

He added that low thresholds had resulted in cases being unnecessarily filed in the High Court leading to congestion.
“The capping of the value of the subject matter is very low for the magistrates courts… cases that should be handled at the magisterial level end up in the High Court thereby causing backlog,” he said.

The proposed law expands the authority of chief magistrates to handle higher value cases with their civil jurisdiction increased to Shs200 million. This is aimed at reducing case backlog in the High Court and positions chief magistrates as more central in handling commercial, land, family, and civil disputes that previously escalated to higher courts.

The Bill also abolishes the position of magistrates grade II aligning the Act with the Judiciary’s current structure, since its already abolished under the Judiciary Service structure where the position had already been removed administratively but was still reflected in the Magistrates Courts Act.

“The position of Magistrate Grade II was removed from the approved structure of the Judiciary but its continued presence in the law created inconsistencies. The amendment therefore, repeals all provisions relating to the position, leaving chief magistrates and magistrates grade I as the recognised judicial officers at that level,” the report read in part.

In a move expected to improve efficiency, the law empowers chief magistrates to transfer cases filed in courts without jurisdiction instead of dismissing them outright.

Currently, courts lacking jurisdiction must dismiss such cases, forcing litigants to refile and incur additional costs.

The Bill states that the reform will enable judicial officers to refer cases to chief magistrates for transfer to the High Court instead of dismissing them for lack of jurisdiction thereby reducing delays and hardships for court users.

“These changes will not only decongest the High Court but also bring justice services closer to the people by empowering magistrates courts to handle more cases effectively,” Baka Mugabi added.

The Attorney General, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, said the provisions in the Bill have been informed by empirical data from the Judiciary.

“I know there is a proposal to increase the threshold for the chief magistrates to Shs300 million but since the committee report is based on empirical evidence from the Judiciary, let it be adopted,” Kiryowa Kiwanuka said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.