Category: English

Source: APO

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The NBA 2K26 Summer League 2025 (www.NBA.com) will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, from July 10-20 and once again feature a strong presence of African players, coaches and referees, including:

• Six former NBA Academy Africa players
• 23 coaches from 15 African countries as part of the Africa Coaches Program
• Three referees from the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season

The participation of these players, coaches and referees is part of NBA Africa and the BAL’s commitment to developing talent and expertise throughout the African basketball ecosystem and contributing to the continued growth of the game across the continent.

Below are storylines about the African players, coaches, and referees participating in this year’s Summer League, which will air live in Africa on NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscriptions service available via the NBA App:

PLAYERS

• Six former NBA Academy Africa players have joined Summer League rosters:
  • Ibou Badji (Denver Nuggets; Senegal)
  • Jean-Jacques Boissy (Milwaukee Bucks; Senegal)
  • Ulrich Chomche (Toronto Raptors; Cameroon), who was selected 57^th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.
  • Nelly Joseph Junior (Atlanta Hawks; Nigeria)
  • Khaman Maluach (Phoenix Suns; South Sudan; ties to Uganda), who was selected 10^th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, becoming the highest-drafted former NBA Academy Africa and Basketball Africa League (BAL) player ever.
  • Babacar Sané (Minnesota Timberwolves; Senegal)
• Three players who participated in the 2025 BAL season will compete in Summer League:
  • Boissy – 2025 BAL champion and MVP with Alahli Tripoli (Libya), Boissy averaged 18.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 1.9 assists per game.
  • Aliou Diarra (Mali; Dallas Mavericks) – Two-time Dikembe Mutombo BAL Defensive Player of the Year (2023 and 2025) and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA G League International Draft, Diarra will join the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft – Cooper Flagg – on the Mavericks’ Summer League roster.
  • Sané – 2025 All-BAL Second Team as a member of US Monastir (Tunisia).

COACHES:

• Twenty-three coaches from 15 African countries have been selected to participate in Summer League as part of the Africa Coaches Program, which is part of NBA Africa and the BAL’s ongoing commitment to developing coaching talent across the continent.  The 23 coaches (full list below) include:
  • Four who previously played in the BAL: two-time BAL champion with Zamalek (2021) and US Monastir (2022) Solo Diabate (Bucks; Côte d’Ivoire), 2024 BAL champion with Petro de Luanda Carlos Morais (New York Knicks; Angola), as well as Marawan Sarhan (Miami Heat; Egypt) and Mostafa Kejo (Los Angeles Lakers; Egypt), both of whom competed for Al Ahly (Egypt) during the 2024 BAL season.
  • Two female coaches: Fenan Atobrhan (Eritrea; Houston Rockets) and Ruth Bibeyi (Gabon; Indiana Pacers).  Atobrhan served as an assistant coach with APR during the 2025 BAL season when the team finished third, its best-ever finish in the BAL.  Bibeyi served as head coach of Espoir Basket Club (Gabon) during the 2023 Road to the BAL qualifying tournament, was part of the coaching staff at the 2025 BAL Combine, and has served as a mentor as part of BAL4HER, the league’s platform for advancing gender equality in the African sports ecosystem. 

REFEREES

• Three referees who have officiated in the BAL will serve as Summer League officials: Claudio Eiuba (Angola), Vitalis Gode (Kenya) and Erick Otieno (Kenya).

Please see below for the complete list of African coaches participating in the NBA 2K26 Summer League 2025 as part of the Africa Coaches Program:

Name	Country	NBA Team
Lamine Krideche	Algeria	Cleveland Cavaliers
Carlos Morais	Angola	New York Knicks
Francois Enyegue	Cameroon	Charlotte Hornets
Antonio Moreira	Cape Verde	Atlanta Hawks
Solo Diabate	Côte D’Ivoire	Milwaukee Bucks
Pierrot Ilunga	Democratic Republic of the Congo	Detroit Pistons
Mostafa Kejo	Egypt	Los Angeles Lakers
Marawan Sarhan	Egypt	Miami Heat
Wael Badr	Egypt	Portland Blazers
Haytham Kamel	Egypt	Utah Jazz
Fenan Atobrhan	Eritrea	Houston Rockets
Ruth Bibeyi	Gabon	Indiana Pacers
Reda Rhalimi	Morocco	Denver Nuggets
Akil Driss	Morocco	Toronto Raptors
Mohammed Abdulrahman	Nigeria	Washington Wizards
Prosper Naci	Rwanda	Philadelphia 76ers
Abdallah Mbaye	Senegal	Chicago Bulls
Matar Mbodji	Senegal	Dallas Mavericks
Samba Fall	Senegal	San Antonio Spurs
Moratiemang Jr. Mmoloke	South Africa	Boston Celtics
Igor Lunnemann	South Africa	New Orleans Pelicans
Lindokuhle Sibankulu	South Africa	Sacramento Kings
Amine Rzig	Tunisia	LA Clippers

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).

Source: APO

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Under the High Patronage of His Excellency Mr. Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kinshasa will host the first-ever World Music and Tourism Festival. UN Tourism joins the event as a supporting partner, reinforcing the shared value of culture and tourism for sustainable development and for building mutual understanding and peace.

Held under the theme “The Rumba Route for Peace,” the Festival will highlight how music can connect cultures, strengthen communities, and create opportunities. It also supports national efforts to promote cultural heritage, grow the creative economy and build peace through cultural exchange.

Music, Heritage, and Innovation

The festival will spotlight Congolese Rumba recognized by UNESCO in 2021 and its role in shaping identity and tourism. UN Tourism’s involvement is part of wider efforts to link cultural assets to inclusive growth and cross-cultural exchange across Africa.

A Three-Day Programme of Culture and Collaboration

Hosted at the Central African Cultural and Arts Centre (CCAPAC), the Festival will feature Roundtables on:

• Musical diplomacy for peace
• Copyrights and fair pay for artists
• Music and destination branding
• Youth and digital innovation in culture

As well as:

• A Cultural Village and Exhibition Centre
• Performances from Congolese and international artists
• A “Fair Play” Masterclass for artists and entrepreneurs
• A Rumba-themed welcome, Gala Dinner, and cultural tours

As H.E. Mr. Didier M’Pambia Musanga, Minister of Tourism of the Democratic Republic of Congo, stated: “The Festival will bring together voices to explore how music shapes lives, drives economic opportunity, and through innovation and technology, fosters greater connection among people”.

The mix of music, dialogue, and networking reflects the Festival’s commitment to inclusive development, a goal shared by UN Tourism, which supports culture as a driver of sustainable growth and shared prosperity.

Platform for Exchange

The Festival brings together stakeholders from governments, organizations, businesses, and civil society. Confirmed partners include UNESCO, ARIPO, Sony Music Entertainment, Sound Diplomacy, and cultural leaders from Africa, Latin America, and Europe.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili stated, “Music speaks to people everywhere. This Festival is a valuable opportunity to celebrate Congolese creativity while supporting local development, regional cooperation, and international understanding. UN Tourism is proud to support an initiative that reflects the shared potential of tourism and culture to foster peace, build bridges and unlock opportunities.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism).

Source: APO

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A cross-section of members of the West Africa Civil Society Network, Sierra Leone Chapter, has paid a courtesy call on His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio to extend a message of goodwill and offer their congratulations on his recent election as Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the Thematic Lead for Education in the Sierra Leone Chapter, Mr. Alphonso Manley, conveyed the network’s admiration and support for President Bio’s leadership.

“Your Excellency, we are here today to congratulate you on your election as Chairman of ECOWAS. We want to assure you of our full commitment and readiness to work side by side with you during your tenure in achieving your objectives,” he stated.

Presenting a plaque in honour of the President’s dedication and commitment to elevating Sierra Leone’s global standing, the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Chapter, Mr. William Sao Lamin, expressed appreciation on behalf of civil society.

“Today, on behalf of the Civil Society Network, we present this plaque as a symbol of your dedication and commitment to service. You have positioned Sierra Leone on the global map, and we are proud of your leadership,” he remarked.

In his response, President Bio thanked the delegation for their kind gesture and noted the significance of collective achievement.

“I wish to express my profound gratitude for this congratulatory message. This is a collective celebration of what we can accomplish when we build synergy and work together as nations. It has always been my promise to raise Sierra Leone to greater heights, that’s why today we lead ECOWAS and have a membership of the United Nations Security Council,” the President stated.

He emphasized that such milestones are the result of shared national vision and belief, adding: “This is a fulfilled promise to my country.”

President Bio also used the occasion to encourage civil society organizations to serve as goodwill ambassadors for Sierra Leone.

“We should all be proud as a nation and promote the positive image of Sierra Leone. There is so much happening that should give us hope. As long as we continue to work together as partners in development, we will move this country forward. Your congratulations today are for all of us. Wherever I go, I will represent you and continue to inspire you and many others,” he concluded.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.

Source: APO

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Citing the need to prioritize energy security in Africa, Nigerian officials have issued a call for increased international financing, calling on global funders to reexamine their financing structures in support of African projects. Speaking at the 9^th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna this week, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri underscored the need for partners across the entire oil value chain, warning against weaponizing financing against Africa and urging radical change in attitude.

The declaration comes as the industry prepares to convene in Cape Town for the next edition of the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference. Taking place September 29 to October 3, the event is positioned as the premier meeting platform for the African energy sector, convening stakeholders from the global and African energy landscape to discuss strategies for accelerating energy investments. The OPEC Roundtable returns to AEW: Invest in African Energies in 2025. With Africa holding approximately 7.8% of proven global oil reserves, OPEC’s African members play a crucial part in global supply chains. The roundtable will address fundamental challenges across the oil market, from financing to exports to domestic distribution and technology.

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

Access to financing remains a critical challenge across OPEC’s African members. For Nigeria, inadequate investment in exploration and production has led to a dilemma, whereby the nation’s largest oil refinery Dangote – which came online in 2024 with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day – has been faced with supply challenges despite the country holding some of the largest crude deposits in Africa. In June 2025, the facility imported approximately half of the crude it needs, and while plans are in place to shift to domestic crude for 100% of its feedstock by year-end, this highlights some challenges regarding security of supply and long-term resilience. Notably, with the country’s crude production experiencing a downward trend since 2020, Nigeria is making a strong play for international investment in exploration and field development. The country launched a licensing round in 2024, offering 12 marginal field blocks and seven deep offshore licenses. TotalEnergies was the only energy major to participate, securing a deepwater block.

As such, during the OPEC International Seminar, Minister Lokpobiri highlighted that “We want partners from upstream to downstream. Nigeria has enormous refining capacity but we don’t even have the crude to meet that demand. Whatever you produce in Nigeria services the entire West African region.” He warned that the global north is weaponizing financing against Africa and has urged for a radical change in attitude to enable the continent’s full participation in shaping global energy security. Investing across the oil value chain is a key step towards realizing this goal, and Nigeria is putting the measures in place to entice foreign spending.

In 2025, the country is expected to launch its next licensing round, focusing on discovered and undeveloped fields. This approach seeks to ensure no block is left behind, unlocking significant opportunities for both greenfield and brownfield discoveries. The country is also strengthening its investment structures through policies such as the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the Upstream Executive Order. Signed into law in 2021, the PIA features improved fiscal and legal terms for the industry, while the executive order introduces a performance-based tax relief scheme to boost cost efficiency in petroleum operations. These policies significantly improve Nigeria’s petroleum business climate and global partners are encouraged to respond.

Stepping into this picture, AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 offers a strategic platform for Nigerian government officials to showcase emerging investment opportunities across the country. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will address delegates at the event this September, reflecting the nation’s commitment to engaging financiers and regional stakeholders. An Invest in Nigeria Energies country spotlight will present lucrative opportunities in the country’s oil and gas market, from upstream to downstream. Meanwhile, key challenges will be addressed at the OPEC Roundtable. The roundtable is a high-level platform that convenes key ministers and stakeholders from African OPEC countries, providing an exclusive, data-driven spotlight on the tangible investment opportunities within their evolving energy sectors. The discussion is expected to go beyond spotlighting challenges, to formalize solution-oriented strategies to scaling-up production, enhancing value addition and creating long-term economic benefits for African OPEC nations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO

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Across Africa, mineral-rich nations are intensifying nationwide geological surveys to gain a deeper understanding of their mineral resources. These initiatives aim to attract new investment in exploration and production, bolstering the continent’s role in the global supply of transition and fourth industrial revolution metals.

In June, Zambia’s Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development reported that its high-resolution airborne geophysical survey had covered 22% of the country’s land area, with plans to reach 70% by December 2025. The program is on track for completion by mid-2026 and forms part of Zambia’s strategy to de-risk mining investment and scale annual copper output to 3 million tons by 2031. At African Mining Week 2025 – taking place in Cape Town on October 1-3 – a panel on Zambia: Accelerating Exploration and Development Through License Allocation will highlight the country’s ongoing efforts to expand its mineral resource base and streamline development.

AMW serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Zambia’s efforts are part of a broader continental movement to fast-track geo-mapping using advanced technologies. Tanzania, for example, is pursuing a national mapping program with a strong focus on critical minerals. Led by the Ministry of Minerals and the State Mining Corporation, the initiative targets 50% territorial coverage by 2030. In March, Tanzania partnered with the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources to enhance technical capabilities through knowledge and technology exchange. This program forms a central component of Tanzania’s Vision 2030 Strategy, which identifies mining as a key engine for GDP growth.

In Liberia, Minister of Mines and Energy Wilmot J.M. Paye confirmed in February 2025 that the country’s national survey had identified significant deposits of critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, copper and nickel. Meanwhile, South Sudan’s ongoing mapping efforts have revealed geological similarities with the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo – the continent’s leading copper producer and the world’s largest supplier of cobalt. In Eswatini, preliminary findings from its 2024 survey indicate promising deposits of lithium tantalum, and soft earth minerals.

As these programs gain momentum, AMW 2025 offers a timely platform for governments to present survey findings, share progress and forge new partnerships with global investors and technology providers. Held alongside African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025, the event brings together the full spectrum of mining stakeholders to shape the future of Africa’s mineral economy.

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

Source: APO

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The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola, is leading South Africa’s delegation at the 47th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Executive Council taking place on 10 and 11 July 2025 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

The Council will consider and adopt the AU Budget for the period 2026. The budget is a key enabler for the AU to address challenges facing the continent, ensuring Africa’s continued resilience and the sustenance of the AU Commission, which is the key implementing agent for AU decisions.

The Council is expected to elect and appoint the outstanding two Commissioners for (i) Economic Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM) and (ii) Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI).

Minister Lamola will also seize this opportunity to update his counterparts on the progress made during South Africa’s G20 Presidency. The G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, scheduled for November 2025, represents an opportunity to amplify Africa’s voice on the global stage.

South Africa’s participation during this Ordinary Session of the Executive Council is rooted in her commitment to strengthening the AU and its Organs.

Minister Lamola said: “Our aim is to ensure our Union effectively pursues the noble aspiration of Silencing the Guns by 2030; the accelerated implementation of the Second Ten-Year Plan of Agenda 2063, which embodies our collective vision for prosperity; and the robust advancement of the African Continental Free Trade Area”.

Beyond the formal agenda, the Minister will seek to foster deeper solidarity by holding bilateral meetings with his counterparts aimed at exchanging views on issues of mutual interest.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation.