Category: English

Source: APO

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The Standing Committee on Appropriations has called for urgent steps and political will to ensure adequate funding for the Border Management Authority (BMA), following a briefing the committee received from the Department of Home Affairs led by the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber and his Deputy, Mr Njabulo Nzuza.

According to the Department of Home Affairs, the BMA’S approved organisational structure provides for 11 115 personnel. However, only 2 566 positions have been filled, leaving 8 549 vacancies. Within the current Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period, the BMA requires the filling of 3 207 positions to begin aligning with the approved structure. Achieving this will necessitate significant additional funding.

The committee Chairperson, Dr Mmusi Maimane, emphasised the urgency of adequately resourcing the BMA. “The integrity and sovereignty of our borders are of paramount importance. Currently, the Border Management Authority is underfunded by more than R2.2 billion. Without the necessary tools, such as thermal scanners and modern policing technology, the Authority is severely constrained in fulfilling its mandate. Addressing this funding shortfall is vital not only for national security but also to safeguard South Africa against illicit trade, tax evasion and the illegal movement of goods.”

The committee noted that while the BMA has achieved commendable success through the use of modern technology, including limited deployment of drones and vehicles, it continues to operate under severe resource constraints. The lack of adequate tools of trade and insufficient funding remain critical barriers to its effectiveness.

The committee further underscored the importance of political will in addressing the challenges facing the BMA. It expressed concern over the abuse of social services by undocumented immigrants, as well as the risks associated with foreign prisoners attempting to exploit South Africa’s porous borders. The committee also highlighted the absence of prisoner exchange agreements with neighbouring countries, which exacerbates these risks.

The committee reaffirmed its commitment to ensure that the BMA is adequately funded and capacitated to carry out its mandate of protecting South Africa’s borders, enhancing national security and preserving the integrity of the state.

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

Source: APO

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The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Supra Mahumapelo, joins African countries in commemorating the 26th anniversary of the Sirte Declaration of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

The resolution was adopted on 9 September, 1999, in Sirte, Libya and called for the establishment of the African Union (AU) to accelerate continental integration and address Africa’s challenges with stronger unity and more unified solutions. This was the genesis of the creation of the AU, which officially launched in 2002, replacing the OAU to foster greater political and economic cooperation across the continent.

The Sirte Declaration decided, among other things, to establish the AU, speed up the implementation of the provisions of the Abuja Treaty, create an African Economic Community, African Central Bank, an African Monetary Union, an African Court of Justice and a Pan-African Parliament.

The Declaration was followed by summits at Lomé in 2000, when the Constitutive Act of the African Union was adopted, and at Lusaka in 2001, when the plan for the implementation of the African Union was adopted. The first session of the Assembly of the African Union was held in Durban on 9 July 2002.

Mr Mahumapelo said commemoration of this day is an appreciation of the progressive gains that have been achieved in the implementation of this iconic resolution, which took the work of the OAU to the next level. “We are marking this day with deep optimism for more progressive movement in the area of unity of AU countries and their redefined and strengthened cooperation at all fronts,” said Mr Mahumapelo.

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

Source: APO – Report:

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Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, had a telephone conversation on Tuesday with Mr. Serguei Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

The purpose of this conversation was to pursue and consolidate the political dialogue and the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries.

The two ministers welcomed the significant progress achieved in bilateral relations, under the joint leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, and Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation.

On the occasion of His Majesty the King’s visit to Moscow in 2016, a deepened strategic partnership was concluded between the two countries.

In this regard, Bourita and Lavrov stressed the need to continue the work undertaken since 2016 and to deepen it on all matters of common interest.

The upcoming bilateral milestones were discussed, in particular the ongoing preparations for the 8th Joint Commission.

The two ministers also addressed regional and international issues and agreed to continue political dialogue between the two countries in a constructive spirit and with mutual respect.

– on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

Source: APO – Report:

• Yoshida’s visit came as Canon forecasts ambitious double-digit growth for the Middle East and Türkiye region and for the Central & North Africa in 2025.  
• Strategic engagement with employees and stakeholders to advance two-way communication and deepen market insights aligned with growth priorities. 

Canon Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) (www.Canon-Europe.com) President & CEO, Shinichi ‘Sam’ Yoshida, has completed his first official visit to the company’s regional headquarters in Dubai, since assuming leadership in March 2025. The visit underscores Canon’s long-term commitment to the Middle East, Africa and Türkiye as one of its fastest-growing markets. 

The visit comes as Canon projects double digit growth in Middle East & Türkiye and in Central & North Africa for 2025, supported by expansion across consumer and business segments. These forecasts align with strong regional economic growth projections of 3.5% for the Middle East (https://apo-opa.co/3IdwKov), 3% for Türkiye (https://apo-opa.co/46ds1eF), and over 4% in Africa (https://apo-opa.co/4mb4uB1). The timing reflects Canon’s confidence in the region’s potential as a key driver of future expansion. 

“The Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa represent one of the most exciting growth frontiers for Canon,” said Yoshida. “Its rapid digital transformation, thriving creator economy and smart city initiatives align perfectly with our strengths in imaging and innovation. Canon invests substantially in R&D with over 8% of global sales yielding more than 3,000 US patents annually. My visit was about listening, engaging and reinforcing our commitment to customers, partners and employees.”  

During his regional tour, Yoshida met with customers, partners, and over 500 employees across the region physically and remotely, highlighting his focus on two-way communication and customer-centric leadership. He explored growth opportunities in healthcare imaging, commercial printing, digital entertainment, broadcasting, and security solutions.  

Canon continues to drive sustainability and community development across the region, guided by Kyosei. This philosophy extends beyond business practices and actively contributes to the well-being of communities through various empowerment initiatives (https://apo-opa.co/4mfpsi9).  

• Miraisha Programme – providing training and business opportunities to over 7,000 people in Africa, now in its 10th year. 
• Canon Young People Programme – empowering 1,500 young changemakers across 33 countries. 
• Women Who Empower – supporting women in imaging and print industries across the Middle East and Africa. 

Canon’s EMEA business spans 120 countries with 12,300 employees. Under Yoshida’s leadership, the company is reinforcing its core imaging and printing strengths while expanding into industrial printing, B2B solutions and information management technologies. His approach is guided by five core principles: establishing trust and integrity, fostering genuine two-way communication, creating customer advocates, delivering consistent financial growth, and pushing creative boundaries through innovation. 

– on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa 
Mai Youssef 
e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com

APO Group – PR Agency 
Rania ElRafie 
e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com 

About Canon Central and North Africa:
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market. 

Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.  

Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://apo-opa.co/3JYWp4S) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better. 

For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com 

Source: APO – Report:

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On a recent morning at the Kiryandongo reception centre in northwestern Uganda, the exhaustion is palpable among newly arrived refugees – mostly women and children – lining up in the shade to receive assistance. Moving among the crowd is Abdalla Mohamed, going from one family to another to offer translation and guidance on where to go and what to do next.

The 53-year-old Sudanese father of four knows the feeling all too well. He arrived in February this year with nothing but his family and the hope of safety. Now, he spends his days helping others.

“I volunteer at the reception centre and use my English language skills to help interpret for new arrivals,” he said. “I also help the community by connecting the most vulnerable to the respective aid agencies. Instead of sitting at home, I thought I could be of help to my people. The reception centre is overcrowded, and I see so many people in need of help every day.”

Since the start of 2025, an average of 600 people, mostly from Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have been arriving in Uganda each day. The East African country currently hosts nearly 2 million refugees, over half of them children. The strain is evident everywhere, from overcrowded reception centres and school classrooms to inadequate food supplies and health care services. Malnutrition rates, especially in children under five, are rising at an alarming pace.

“People come in big numbers,” said Abdalla. “The assistance they are receiving is not enough, and they don’t have money to buy anything. There are vulnerable people, including elders and children, who are separated from their families. They live in overcrowded shelters with not enough water.”

Despite the dire humanitarian situation and limited services, the refugees’ determination to rebuild their lives and regain normality has not waned, including children wishing to continue their education. Schools in the settlement are filled with children eager to learn, crammed into congested classrooms with limited learning resources.

“Even before the current situation, the schools were overcrowded,” said Sarah Baako Taban, 43, a South Sudanese refugee teacher. “It is worse now. In one of my classes, I teach over 230 students. I don’t get a space to walk to reach some of the students at the back. I can only do so much. You won’t even know what is happening at the back of the classroom, but we have no choice, we have to keep teaching despite the challenges.”

Among Sarah’s students is Sojoud Ibrahim, 18, from Nyala in Sudan’s South Darfur region. The war tore through her hometown, scattering her friends and shattering her dreams of becoming a designer. Her family sold their home to pay for transport to escape. She was in secondary school, but now in Uganda, she must start over, placed several grades back in primary school to adjust to a new curriculum.

However, her resolve to resume her education and fulfil her dreams remains unbroken. “I am still strong and am not destroyed, and my father supports me,” she said. “When the war happened, we managed to come here. I miss my friends. I don’t know if they died. I want to continue with my education and complete high school so I can become a designer.”

In its annual Refugee Education Report published on 9 September, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, warned that deep cuts to humanitarian and development aid are putting recent gains in refugee education at risk, with nearly half of school-aged refugee children still out of school.

UNHCR is working with the government of Uganda and partners to provide life-saving assistance with dwindling funds. The agency recently reported that by the end of July, it only had sufficient resources to support less than 18,000 individuals with cash and essential relief items, enough to cover just two months of new arrivals at the current pace.

“Emergency funding runs out in September,” said Dominique Hyde, UNHCR’s Director for External Relations, who recently visited settlements hosting Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees in Uganda. “More children will die of malnutrition, more girls will fall victim to sexual violence, and families will be left without shelter or protection unless the world steps up. Uganda has opened its doors, its schools, and its health centers. This model can succeed, but it can’t do it alone.

With peace in their homelands still a distant hope, refugees like Abdalla are working tirelessly to rebuild their lives, but without urgent support, their resilience alone cannot sustain them.

“Please continue to help us, we need more support,” said Abdalla. “I know the world has a lot of problems but try to help us now. Maybe in a few years, Sudan will become peaceful.”

– on behalf of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Source: APO – Report:

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The Islamist armed group Islamic State in the Sahel Province (IS Sahel) has escalated attacks on civilians in Niger since March 2025, Human Rights Watch said today. The attacks violated international humanitarian law and are apparent war crimes.

In at least five attacks across Niger’s western Tillabéri region that Human Rights Watch documented, IS Sahel summarily executed over 127 villagers and Muslim worshipers, and burned and looted dozens of homes. Witnesses said the Nigerien army did not adequately respond to warnings of attacks, ignoring villagers’ requests for protection. Protection strategies for residents in the region should be urgently overhauled to deter future attacks and create more responsive warning systems.

“Islamist armed groups are targeting the civilian population in western Niger and committing horrific abuses,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Nigerien authorities need to do more to protect people living in the Tillabéri region.”

The Tillabéri region borders the countries of Burkina Faso and Mali, where government forces have been fighting Islamist armed groups for over a decade. The area has been a focal point of IS Sahel activity in Niger for a decade, as well for government counterinsurgency operations. Since 2019, Islamist armed groups allied with the Islamic State or Al-Qaeda have escalated attacks against military targets and civilians in the so-called tri-border area. These groups have also destroyed schools and religious sites, and imposed severe restrictions based on their interpretation of Islam.

From May to July 2025, Human Rights Watch remotely interviewed 28 people, including 19 witnesses and 9 local activists, journalists, and physicians. Human Rights Watch wrote to the Niger justice minister on August 19, sharing research findings and requesting information on the government’s steps to enhance the protection of civilians. The justice minister did not respond.

No armed group has claimed responsibility for the five attacks that Human Rights Watch documented. However, witnesses said they believed the attackers were members of IS Sahel based on the villages targeted and the attackers’ attire, including turbans with red bands similar to those the armed group wore during previous attacks. Residents also said that prior to each attack, IS Sahel fighters had threatened their communities, accusing them of collaborating with the Nigerien army or disregarding the fighters’ demands.

On June 21, IS Sahel fighters opened fire on worshipers in a mosque in Manda village, killing over 70 and injuring at least 20. “The scene was chilling,” said a 77-year-old woman who lost three sons in the attack. “There were bodies everywhere, one on top of the other. There were bodies inside and outside the mosque. The wounded were screaming and bleeding.”

On May 13, IS Sahel fighters attacked the hamlet of Dani Fari and killed five men and two boys, and burned at least a dozen homes. A herder said: “The bodies were scattered … riddled with bullets. There wasn’t a single body out there that had fewer than three bullet holes. The bullets had hit people in the back, arms, head…. We found the bodies of the two children lying on their backs.”

Niger’s military junta has been in power since July 26, 2023, when army officers of the self-proclaimed National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie), led by Brig. Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani, overthrew and detained the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.

They cited the deteriorating security situation as one of the reasons for toppling Bazoum and promised to restore security in areas affected by Islamist armed groups. The nongovernmental organization Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) has reported that since the coup, though, IS Sahel has killed about 1,600 civilians.

The junta security forces have conducted large counterinsurgency operations, including airstrikes, against the Islamist armed groups in conflict-affected areas. On August 3, the junta began an initiative known in the Hausa language as “Garkuwar Kassa” (Shields of the Homeland), aimed at recruiting and training civilians to assist the armed forces. But that has raised concerns among human rights groups about creating abusive militias.

Human Rights Watch has previously reported on abuses by Islamist armed groups in Niger, including the killing of hundreds of civilians in 2021. Human Rights Watch also documented abuses by Niger’s security forces in 2021, including killings and enforced disappearances during counterinsurgency operations, and the junta’s crackdown on the political opposition, media, and peaceful dissent.

All parties to Niger’s armed conflict are bound by Common Article 3 to the 1949 Geneva Conventions and customary laws of war. International humanitarian law prohibits attacking civilians, mistreating anyone in custody, and burning and looting civilian property. Individuals who order, commit, or assist serious violations of the laws of war with criminal intent may be prosecuted for war crimes. The Niger government has an obligation to investigate and appropriately prosecute alleged war crimes committed within its territory.

“Civilians threatened by Islamist armed groups are calling on Niger’s junta to provide greater protection,” Allegrozzi said. “The government should take urgent steps to deter future atrocities, investigate serious abuses by IS Sahel and other armed groups, and bring those responsible to account based on international fair trial standards.”

– on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Source: APO

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has newly donated infection prevention and Control materials for the Mpox response to Sierra Leone’s national health authorities. The supplies aim to enhance the government’s response efforts to Mpox in schools. With this donation, the WHO has now delivered financial and technical support worth USD one million since the Government of Sierra Leone declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency in January 2025.

The donation, mobilized through the WHO African Regional Office, includes hand-wash sets, basic IPC commodities, 30-liter Buckets with covers, receiving buckets, stand stools, waste bins, and hand-wash detergents. These supplies will be dispatched to health facilities and schools in hotspot districts, based on ongoing needs and reports of new cases.  The supplies will help prevent the spread of Mpox among students, teachers, and health workers

With the support of WHO and other partners, the number of Mpox cases reported has decreased from an average of 17 new cases per day to seven, representing a 58% reduction. This significant reduction is a testament to the effectiveness of the measures being implemented. Since January 2025, more than 6,800 suspected cases of Mpox have been recorded country-wide; of these, more than 5,200 cases were confirmed, 56 deaths recovered, and over 5,100 recoveries.

“These IPC items are timely. As schools reopen, WHO is committed to protecting the lives of school children and those of medical teams. The donated items are meant for distribution to schools across the country, ” said Dr Thompson Igbu, Cluster Lead for the Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases (CND) “WHO will remain working side by side with the Ministry of Health, NPHA, and health partners who have ensured the Mpox cases are now at single digit,” added Dr Igbu. 

Receiving the items, Dr. James Squire thanked the WHO for its support, both past and present.  “We thank WHO and other partners for their continued support to the Mpox response. The success we have achieved so far would not have been possible without the support of our trusted partners, such as the WHO. We have received both financial, logistic, and technical support from the Organization,” said Dr James Squire, the Incident Manager for the Mpox response. “The most affected group of people affected by Mpox are students, mainly in secondary and tertiary institutions. These materials will go a long way in enforcing IPC and promoting hand hygiene in schools,” added Dr Squire.  

Since the start of the outbreak, WHO has been on the ground from the first hours of the crisis, providing technical support, building the capacity of health workers in cases management and laboratory, surveillance, data management, resource mobilization, risk communication, deployment of national African Volunteers Health Corps and its technical teams, and providing medical supplies and supporting vaccination services required to halt the outbreak. The donation strengthens those efforts and ensures that school children stay safe at a time when schools are opening and need the assistance the most.

WHO’s response to Mpox has been made possible through the generous support of donors, including FCDO, GAVI, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, who ensured that our teams had funds to reach the communities in the most remote places in Sierra Leone. However, sustained funding will be critical to bring the outbreak to zero. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization – Sierra Leone.

Source: APO

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The Committee on Public Accounts (Central Government) has drawn the attention of legislators to exaggerated costs of government-funded infrastructure projects.

In its report on the Auditor General’s findings for the 2023-2024 financial year, PAC systematically breaks down how taxpayers are paying up to three times more for roads of similar length and quality.

Rehabilitating a 1.37-kilometre road in Arua City, for example, costs Shs13.4 billion, while 2.68 kilometres in Fort Portal cost Shs 21.4 billion. In contrast a one kilometre stretch in Mbarara City costs Shs4.9 billion, only.

“These roads measure almost the same in length, yet the costs vary abnormally. Such discrepancies are unjustifiable and point to inflated contracts and loss of public funds,” said Hon. Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, the PAC Chairperson.

Muwanga Kivumbi presented the PAC report during the plenary sitting chaired by Speaker Anita Among on Tuesday, 09 September 2025.

According to estimates from the Ministry of Works and Transport, the average cost of upgrading a kilometre of paved road is about Shs3.1 billion, exposing corruption in rehabilitating roads such as the 1.37-kilometre road in Arua City which is three times the estimated cost.

The Fort Portal project alone could have financed rehabilitation of nearly seven kilometres instead of the 2.6 kilometres, Muwanga Kivumbi, also Butambala County MP, observed.

He noted the problem is widespread across projects, with huge sums spent on supervision, which in some cases consumed up to 20 percent of the total project cost. Arua’s 1.37km road attracted Shs3 billion supervision costs, while Mubende spent Shs2.5 billion supervising a 2.86km road.

His committee report described the trend as “obnoxious” and a reflection of collusion between contractors and officials in charge of monitoring projects.

“These inflated costs have deprived Ugandans of better roads, schools and hospitals. Borrowed money is wasted on enriching a few individuals, Government is losing money through inflated contracts and weak supervision,” stated the report.

The findings come at a time when Uganda is grappling with rising debt repayments, most of it tied to poorly executed projects.

The committee disclosed that out of Shs7.958 trillion in loans and Shs3.97 trillion in grants secured by government to finance various development projects, less than half was utilised. Only 48.2 percent of the loans and 25.6 percent of the grants were absorbed.

The committee reviewed 17 government loans and discovered an average disbursement of 36.7 percent far below expectations. Some projects had disbursement rates close to zero, such as the Mbarara-Masaka Transmission Line which stood at just 0.3 percent despite its completion deadline passing in June 2023.

The Speaker was perturbed by the fact that government is paying interest on loans that are not utilised and tasked the finance ministry to report to Parliament the update on loans borrowed, disbursed and those lying idle.

“We will give this item a day’s sitting for debate, we need to look at it seriously because we are paying for loans that we are not using,” Among said.

The Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Jacob Oboth, urged Parliament to critically devise proposals for government on loan management in a way that yields value for money. 

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

Source: APO

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African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has today launched the African Trade and Distribution Company (ATDC) to catalyse large scale trade in raw materials, minerals and value-added products from across Africa. 

Afreximbank, through the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), established ATDC in collaboration with Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (Arise IIP), Equitane DMCC and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat. The new entity has already secured a US$1 billion funding pledge from Afreximbank to invest in aggregation of value-added goods, support logistics and distribution networks as well as financing its subsidiaries’ business operations.  

The President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah officiated the operational launch of ATDC in an event held during the ongoing Intra-Africa Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Algiers, Algeria. This was in the presence of the Acting Prime Minister of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, H.E. Sifi Ghrieb and other heads of government and ministers from African and Caribbean countries. 

Also unveiled during the launch was ATDC’s flagship subsidiary, ATDC Minerals (ATMIN), dedicated to trading and financing minerals and hydrocarbons.  

Prof. Benedict Oramah said: “Africa is rich in resources; but historical dynamics have skewed our trade outwards. Traditionally, the continent has relied on others to add value to its commodities and minerals as well as to trade them. Through ATDC and ATMIN, we aim to close the loop and to take back control of how our commodities and minerals in global Africa are produced and traded across value chains by integrating them in local economies to benefit more people.”  

On the margins of the official launch ceremony, ATDC signed deals with several firms across the continent spanning logistics, minerals, agricultural produce, among others. These include: a collaboration with Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) to supply feedstock to its operating companies in various special economic zones; a co-investment partnership with BSMART Technology Limited to establish digitally integrated logistics hubs in key African ports trade repos with Export Trading Group (ETG), KK Kingdom Nigeria Limited and Sunbeth Global Concepts Limited. ATDC also agreed on terms for joint ventures with CBZ Holdings and Nigeria Commodity Exchange for setting up national ATDCs in Zimbabwe and Nigeria respectively. At the same time, ATMIN announced landmark deals to the tune of about US$3 billion which included oil lifting arrangements with Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited and Roxzen Nigeria Limited.  

Speaking during the event, the CEO of ATDC, Abdul Aziz Ba said: “We look forward to cultivating a robust trading ecosystem across Africa that integrates with global markets for shared prosperity through impactful partnerships and effective logistics. Through this, we will transform Intra-African trade by driving the continent’s transition from export of raw materials and minerals to value added products and last mile distribution. ATDC is investing in expanding production and processing capacity, establishing connections across regional value chains and to markets, and delivering effective distribution channels”.  

The CEO of ATMIN, Ajay Oommen noted: “ATMIN is committed to supporting the monetisation of Africa’s abundant fossil fuel resources ahead of the global energy transition. We aim to foster stronger Intra-African trade, drive value addition, and streamline supply chains to ensure that a significant share of this value is retained within the continent.”  

IATF2025 is ongoing until September 10, 2025. It is the fourth edition of IATF, the biennial event co-convened by Afreximbank, the African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and hosted by the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. The last three editions of IATF have cumulatively generated over $118 billion in trade and investment deals and attracted more than 70,000 visitors and 4,500 exhibitors. IATF is a platform for businesses to showcase their goods and services to visitors and buyers while exploring opportunities and exchanging information. It aims to tap into opportunities from AfCFTA’s single market of over 1.4 billion people and GDP of over US$3.5 trillion. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media contact:
media@intrafricatradefair.com
press@afreximbank.com

About the Intra-African Trade Fair:
Organised by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), African Union Commission (AUC) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is intended to provide a unique platform for facilitating trade and investment information exchange in support of increased intra-African trade and investment, especially in the context of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). IATF brings together continental and global players to showcase and exhibit their goods and services and to explore business and investment opportunities in the continent. It also provides a platform to share trade, investment and market information with stakeholders and allows participants to discuss and identify solutions to the challenges confronting intra-African trade and investment. In addition to African participants, the Trade Fair is also open to businesses and investors from non-African countries interested in doing business in Africa and in supporting the continent’s transformation through industrialisation and export development.  

For more information, please visit www.IntrAfricanTradeFair.com.