Category: English

Source: APO

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Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received the Premier of the State Council of China, Li Qiang, in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, along with several ministers and senior officials from both sides.

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said that the Premier of the State Council of China conveyed the greetings of the Chinese president to President El-Sisi. He also emphasized that President El-Sisi is a dear friend of China and is always warmly welcomed in Beijing. He expressed China’s pride in having close relations with Egypt, which are built on a long history of strategic partnership, mutual respect, and common interests. The Premier noted the rapid development in bilateral relations and the close coordination between the two countries on both regional and international levels, appreciating Egypt’s pivotal role as a cornerstone of stability in the Middle East.

President El-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with China in various areas of mutual interest and working to activate the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, especially with the upcoming celebration, to be held in 2026, of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China.

President El-Sisi lauded the contributions of Chinese companies to implementing development projects in Egypt and expressed the country’s interest in attracting more Chinese investments, particularly in the sectors of new and renewable energy and electric vehicle manufacturing. This is in addition to enhancing the flow of Chinese tourism and strengthening cooperation in the manufacturing and development fields in general.

President El-Sisi also expressed Egypt’s interest in continuing coordination with China on the issue of debt swaps and the effective and efficient implementation of related agreements.

Views were exchanged on regional and international developments. Both sides stressed the importance of underpinning the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, and resuming the diplomatic path to resolve the crisis through peaceful means. Both parties also underscored the necessity of reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, ensuring the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid, and the importance of reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Source: APO

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The World Bank’s annual Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) report for Sub-Saharan Africa, released today, reveals that despite a stable average CPIA score for the region, there is an urgent need for governments in Africa to improve the delivery of essential services to promote inclusive, sustainable growth.

The CPIA Africa report evaluates the quality of policy and institutional reforms in IDA-eligible countries in Sub-Saharan Africa for the calendar year 2024. According to the report, the average CPIA score for the region remained similar to 2023 at 3.1 points (out of 6). While some areas saw strong reforms, poor performance in governance offset these gains, and improvements were concentrated in already well-performing countries.

The CPIA report underscores that meeting the needs of African citizens will require mobilizing the government to provide services amidst limited external financing. The report serves as a vital guide for policymakers and international investors, identifying specific reform actions to support effective public service delivery and foster a more resilient and prosperous future for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Against this backdrop, the report notes a trend in public discontent in 2024 – a year that was marked by youth protests and a notable decline in political support for incumbents across the continent. This is mirrored in survey results in the region that have shown growing dissatisfaction with the quality of public services, which continue to lag other regions, particularly in infrastructure, human capital, security, and administrative capabilities.

“Confidence in a government’s ability to efficiently transform public resources into essential services is fundamental to fostering a shared purpose with citizens and improving trust,” said Andrew Dabalen, World Bank Chief Economist for Africa. “Populations across Africa are clearly asking for more from their leaders to enable them to realize their aspirations. Our CPIA Africa report underscores the urgent need for transparent management of public resources and effective delivery of quality services to address growing dissatisfaction and enable citizens to reach their full potential.”

The report details significant shortfalls across various public service sectors. Infrastructure-related services, including transport, remain underdeveloped, hindering economic activity and quality of life. High poverty levels are exacerbated by a lack of access to public infrastructure, particularly in sanitation. Human capital development is hampered by poor educational quality and inadequate health services, limiting citizens’ well-being and earning prospects as they enter the workforce. Furthermore, the ability of governments to provide basic security has been undermined, with conflict-related casualties nearly tripling between 2014 and 2024. Administrative services, crucial for a thriving business environment, also lag, with Sub-Saharan Africa performing poorly in areas like business location and financial services.

Despite these challenges, the report notes some positive developments. Many countries have shown improved fiscal discipline, tackling high wage bills and fuel subsidies, and making progress in debt consolidation. Efforts to implement trade facilitation agreements, leverage digital technologies, and strengthen financial sector regulation are also underway. The report also highlights progress in empowering adolescent girls through legal and policy reforms and strengthening of social protection systems.

“While some countries have made commendable strides in fiscal prudence and digital transformation, issues of weak governance, limited transparency, and insufficient implementation capacity continue to undermine efforts to deliver essential services. Addressing these fundamental challenges is not just about economic growth; it’s about showing people that governments can work for them to help create a better path for the future,” added Nicholas Woolley, the CPIA report’s lead author.

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

Source: APO

On Tuesday 8th of July 2025, the ECOWAS Commission, through its Department of Human Development and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, officially launched the Cotonou stage of the third edition of the information and awareness-raising campaign for women small-scale cross-border traders along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor.

The aim of this initiative is to build on the achievements of previous events held on the Tema-Paga and Dakar-Banjul-Bissau corridors. The aim is to increase women traders’ knowledge of the legislation governing cross-border trade, existing Community initiatives and the tools developed for them, particularly in terms of border transparency and the fight against gender-based violence.

In Cotonou, the activities began with field visits, notably to the modern market and to an SME run by a woman entrepreneur specialising in the manufacture of cosmetic products distributed nationally and sub-regionally. A visit to the Sèmè-Kraké juxtaposed control post is also planned, with a view to reinforcing exchanges between the various players involved.

The official launch ceremony was held at the Golden Tulip hotel. It was co-chaired by Benin’s Ministries of Social Affairs and Microfinance, and of Industry and Trade. It was also attended by Her Excellency Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, and His Excellency Amadou DIONGUE, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Benin.

Other participants included the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Microfinance, the Director of the ECOWAS National Office in Benin, representatives of the Cotonou Chamber of Commerce, associations of small-scale cross-border traders, and technical and financial partners.

This third edition marks a major step forward in the ECOWAS’ commitment to the economic empowerment of women and to improving the fluidity of cross-border trade in the West African region.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO

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• At least 510,182 internally displaced people (IDPs) across Benue state
• Dire conditions in IDP camps
• Children and pregnant women amongst most vulnerable

The Nigerian authorities must take urgent steps to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in the central state of Benue where attacks by gunmen have displaced at least 500,000 people, many of whom are languishing in squalid camps without access to sufficient water, poor sanitation, food and healthcare, Amnesty International said today.

In the most recent attack on 14 June, gunmen raided the town of Yelewata, killing more than 100 people and forcing over 3,941 more to flee their homes. The smell of decomposing bodies hung in the air during a visit to the affected community by Amnesty International in the aftermath of the attacks. Signs of the recent violence were unmistakable with bullet shells littering the ground, and mass graves that had been newly dug to bury the dead.

Survivors were seen carrying bags of grain, bundles of firewood and other household items as they sought safety and shelter in camps for internally displaced persons (IDP). According to interviews with IDPs in Gwer West, Agatu, Ukum, Kwande, Logo, Guma and Makurdi IDP camps, as well as a makeshift IDP camp at Makurdi Modern Market, communities who come under attack are often left to fend for themselves with security forces only arriving long after the gunmen had left.

“The Nigerian authorities have failed the people of Benue state again and again. Rampant attacks by gunmen have deprived thousands of people of their rights to life, physical integrity, liberty, freedom of movement and access to livelihoods. Survivors of these harrowing attacks face the fresh torment of being displaced in overcrowded, unhygienic camps where disease runs rampant and essentials such as  food and clean water are scarce,” said Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.

“The situation risks creating a humanitarian disaster, which the authorities must urgently address by ensuring that people’s essential needs are met by providing desperately needed aid.”

Besides interviews with IDPs, Amnesty International also spoke to camps officials, medical workers and non-governmental organizations in the affected areas. It found that communities across Benue state, including Gwer West, Gwer-East, Agatu, Apa, Ukum, Kwande, Logo,and Guma, continue to face a brutal pattern of violence.

This is typically unleashed at night, although daytime attacks also occur, with gunmen systematically overrunning villages, using firearms to carry out indiscriminate or targeted killings from a distance. This is accompanied by brutal close-range violence with machetes and knives used to inflict grievous injuries, including hand amputations.

Misery of the IDP camps

As of 31 December 2024, an estimated 500,182 people had fled to IDPs camps in Benue state to escape years of attacks by gunmen. More than 10,000 additional people have been displaced since the start of 2025 following attacks on communities in Gwer West, Agatu, Ukum (Gbagir), Kwande (Anwase), Logo, and Guma (Yelewata, Agan, and Gbajimba), among others.

Amnesty International’s visits to IDP camps reveal wholly inadequate shelter, exposing IDPs to harsh weather, overcrowding, and heightened risks of disease, as well as gender-based violence, including rape and domestic violence.

Access to healthcare is also a major challenge in the IDP camps with a lack of treatment for the most common diseases and ailments, such as malaria, typhoid, and stomach ulcers. According to a camp official, births occur almost daily in the IDP camps, with many pregnant women requiring medical attention but also contracting infections because of inadequate hygiene facilities.

An IDP told Amnesty International: “If we don’t get drugs, we just sit and watch the sick person helplessly.”

Many children are unable to exercise their right to an education in the camps.

“Our children no longer go to school and there are no arrangements by the authorities to teach children in the IDP camp. The government should bring an end to insecurity in our local government area and Benue state. Before that, provide us with food and proper shelter at the IDP camps,” an IDP told Amnesty International.

A camp official told Amnesty International that a makeshift school built in one of the camps had been shut down for over three years because camp authorities could not continue paying ad-hoc teachers their stipends. 

There are hundreds of minors who fled their homes due to attacks and now live without parental care. The children were separated from their families while fleeing attacks on their villages and communities. The authorities have been unable to provide these vulnerable children with a safe place to live and essential services. Two female IDPs told Amnesty International:

“When we arrived, they [my children] left. I do not know where they have gone. I can’t speak with them; I don’t have a phone….I have 8 children and because we do not have enough space here in the IDP camp, many of them have left me and I do not know where they are.”

Amnesty International is calling on the Nigerian authorities to take immediate steps to provide sufficient and accessible humanitarian support to the survivors of these attacks. Authorities must take steps to domesticate and effectively implement the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons within the country’s legal system.

“The authorities’ persistent failure to hold suspected perpetrators to account is fueling a cycle of impunity that is making everyone feel unsafe. Authorities must now end the growing culture of impunity for these attacks.”

“We call on the authorities to ensure that all people displaced because of the attacks in Benue state are provided with adequate relief, including protection, shelter, food, clean water, sanitation and healthcare. Authorities must ensure that all people who have suffered losses from the crisis are also provided with adequate compensation,” said Isa Sanusi.

Background

Amnesty International Nigeria has been monitoring the escalating bandit attacks and clashes between herders and farmers in Benue state since 2016. In 2020, the organization investigated the authorities’ failure to protect rural communities from attacks, and in 2025, it investigated the mounting death toll and looming humanitarian crisis amid unchecked attacks by armed groups.

Nigeria is state party to a number of treaties that guarantee the human rights of everybody in the country regardless of the circumstances. This includes the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights which requires Nigerian authorities to ensure equal access to amongst others the rights to housing, health, food, water, sanitation and education.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.

Source: APO

H.E. Ahmed Shide meets with the World Bank Executive Director for Africa Group 1 Constituency, Dr. Zarau Kibwe arrives for a three-day official visit in Ethiopia. Dr. Kibwe represents Ethiopia and a group of 21 other African countries in the World Bank Board. 

His Excellency briefed the Executive Director on the successful implementation of the macroeconomic reform, strong portfolio performance, and discussed ways to deepen cooperation between Ethiopia and the World Bank. 

During the meeting, H.E. Minister Ahmed Shide commended the World Bank’s critical role in supporting Ethiopia’s development priorities, with a portfolio exceeding $16 billion across key sectors, including the recent USD 1 billion support for Development Policy Operations II. The Minister mentioned the importance of continued support from IDA21 allocations to sustain the macroeconomic reform and to finance key priority areas, including infrastructure, agricultural productivity, and climate resilience initiatives to further advance the country’s development agenda. 

The Executive Director congratulated the Government of Ethiopia on concluding the MoU under the G20 Common Framework, praised the macroeconomic reform implementation, and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the country’s development priorities. 

During his visit, Dr. Kibwe will also meet with different government officials and stakeholders to discuss collaborative efforts between Ethiopia and the World Bank.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Finance, Ethiopia.

Source: APO

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Golar LNG has officially announced that its FLNG Gimi vessel has reached its Commercial Operations Date (COD) under the 20‑year lease-and-operate agreement for the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project offshore Mauritania and Senegal. Achieving COD triggers the commencement of this long-term contract – unlocking approximately $3 billion in adjusted EBITDA backlog for Golar – and marks a major milestone in positioning both countries as emerging LNG exporters.

The Gimi FLNG unit will initially produce 2.4 million tons of LNG per annum, with plans to ramp up to its full capacity of 2.7 million tons. Backed by an estimated 15 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, the GTA project is expected to bolster regional and global energy security while stimulating economic growth in both host nations.

In line with its growing presence in Africa’s energy landscape, Golar LNG has joined the 2025 edition of African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies as a Gold Partner. Taking place from September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town, AEW 2025 brings together African governments, energy companies and global investors to explore and advance opportunities across the energy value chain. The event serves as a strategic platform for companies like Golar LNG to showcase innovative FLNG solutions and their long-term commitment to Africa’s energy development.

Golar LNG’s participation at AEW aligns with the event’s broader vision to develop Africa’s estimated 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas as a catalyst for energy security and poverty alleviation. In June 2024, the company signed a Project Development Agreement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for a new FLNG facility in the Niger Delta. The project is designed to liquefy 400–500 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, contributing to Nigeria’s Decade of Gas Initiative and its goal to harness 209 trillion cubic feet of reserves to expand access to cleaner, more reliable energy.

Golar LNG has also played a pioneering role in Cameroon’s gas sector since 2018, operating the 2.4-million-ton-per-annum Hilli Episeyo FLNG facility. As the company continues to grow its balance sheet and expand its footprint across the continent, AEW: Invest in African Energies offers an unparalleled opportunity to engage African stakeholders and pursue new prospects across the natural gas value chain.

“The commercial launch of the Gimi FLNG facility is a major step forward for the MSGBC Basin and Africa’s LNG market,” says Ore Onagbesan, Program Director, AEW. “As countries like Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Mozambique and Tanzania work to monetize their offshore gas resources, innovative and reliable partners such as Golar LNG will play a vital role in driving sustainable growth and long-term value.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

About 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 www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

Source: APO

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The Task Force on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (TLS) met from the 1st to 3rd of July 2025, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to take stock of the eight years of field missions across the ECOWAS Member States.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the TLS Task Force, Dr Mohamed Ibn CHAMBAS, the ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Ms Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, members of the first and second teams of the TLS Task Force, executives from the Customs Union and Taxation Directorate, and representatives of associations lobbying for the free movement of people and goods in West Africa, including AOCTAH/WACTAF, the Borderless Alliance, ENDA-CACID, NANTS, and ROPPA.

In his welcoming remarks, the Chairman of the TLS Task Force, Dr Mohamed Ibn CHAMBAS, recalled the main objective of the meeting, which is not only to take stock of the actions of the TLS Task Force since the installation of the first team in 2016 up to the present day, to analyse without complacency the strengths and weaknesses of the said actions, but also to make relevant proposals likely to reinforce the gains made and correct the weaknesses, with a view to eliminating obstacles to intra-regional trade.

Opening the meeting on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E Dr Omar Alieu TOURAY, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs Massandjé LITSE-TOURE, welcomed the key role played by the TLS Task Force in deepening intra-community trade through the free movement of people and goods. She praised the leadership of Dr CHAMBAS, who has brought a number of trade facilitation reforms to the attention of the region’s highest authorities, with tangible results.

The plenary session, which lasted three days, enabling participants to make proposals to allow the TLS Task Force to be more effective in its future actions. The participants also recommended that the TLS Task Force should advocate for the strengthening of Member States’ commitment to regional integration through the appointment of a Special Adviser to the Cabinet of each President of the Republic or Prime Minister. This Special Adviser to the President or Prime Minister should, as a matter of priority, monitor the application by national administrations of Community texts on the free movement of persons and goods. It was also recommended that the TLS Task Force should step up its lobbying of governments on the issue of speeding up the digitisation of customs and trade procedures in order to facilitate the flow of goods along the various ECOWAS trade corridors.

Beyond the question of the mandate of the Task Force on TLS, the participants seized the opportunity of this review meeting, in connection with the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of ECOWAS, to make proposals to be fed back into the reflection on the ECOWAS of the future. These include the creation of an ECOWAS solidarity fund to promote balanced development within the community. ECOWAS should launch federative infrastructure projects (roads, railways, energy, interconnectivity, etc.) based on endogenous resources. Finally, a panel of eminent personalities will be set up to review the ECOWAS Treaty, with a view to strengthening the roles of the Parliament and the Community Court of Justice.

The Chairman of the TLS Task Force, Dr Mohamed Ibn CHAMBAS, will shortly be travelling to Abuja to report to the Chairman of the Commission on the results of the Abidjan meeting.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO

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The Directorate of Administration and General Services is currently holding a three-day sensitization meeting on ECOWAS Procurement Standard Documents (the Procurement Code / Manual; Grant Code / Manual, and various Annexes thereof), which are strategic documents intended to ensure consistent interpretation of the documents and their proper application in alignment with international and donor-compliant procurement practices.

The Sensitization exercise is to engender clear, uniform understanding and application of the procurement standard documents during procurement processes whilst promoting clarity of Roles, Responsibilities, and Standard Timelines throughout the procurement standard document cycle.

For enhanced synergy in the ECOWAS procurement chain across all ECOWAS Institutions, and Offices, participants in this important session include officers/stakeholders from the ECOWAS Commission (Directorates of Finance – B&T / FR&G – ITS, Legal Affairs, Human Resources, Infrastructure); Office of the Auditor-General, Parliament, Court of Justice, WAHO, GIABA); Agencies (ARAA, RCDC, PPDU, ECREEE, Gender Center, Water Resources).

The meeting was declared open by the Commissioner for Internal Services (CIS) and moderated by the Director of Administration and General Services (DAGS).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).