Category: English

Posted on

Power Operators & Developers Join African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 Amid African Electrification Drive

Source: APO – Report:

Marked by a surge in renewable deployment, growing regional market activity and strategic public-private partnerships, Africa’s energy landscape is evolving rapidly. As the continent pushes toward universal electrification and energy resilience, key industry leaders are set to share their strategies and insights at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025 conference, taking place from September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town.

Solar energy company Genesis Energy Group recently signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Desert Technologies to accelerate clean energy deployment across Africa. The deal targets joint project development and project transfer, enforcing Africa’s ability to implement distributed solar systems at scale. The agreement comes amid a growing project pipeline for the company, which now exceeds 4.5 GW in installed capacity. Other high-profile initiatives by Genesis Energy Group include a 334 MW system for the Port Harcourt Refinery in Nigeria as well as a 1 GW energy rollout in the West African Economic and Monetary Union region. The company is also developing the Lagos Green Hydrogen Park as well as a $10 billion renewable energy platform aimed at bridging Africa’s power deficit through integrated distributed systems. Akinwole Omoboriowo, Chairman and CEO, Genesis Energy Group, is expected to discuss the company’s long-term project and investment strategy at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025.

Meanwhile, Stephen Dihwa, Coordination Center Manager, Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), will provide insight into cross-border power market growth and integration across the Southern African region. Created in 1995, SAPP is a platform for power trading, grid connection and reliability across the region. In February 2025, the SAPP recorded a 103% increase in competitive market turnover, reaching $16.3 million, while traded volumes rose to nearly 120 GWh. These trends point to stronger utility engagement, improved forecasting tools and growing confidence in short-term power trading. Dihwa’s insights at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 will cover the impact SAPP plays in enhancing electrification as well as upcoming investment opportunities.

Gabon is also making strides towards boosting connectivity. The country’s state-owned Gabon Power Company recently started civil engineering works for the 125 MW Owendo gas-to-power plant with manufacturing company Wärtsilä under an independent power producer model. The company also recently completed the first phase of the Plaine Ayémé solar plant outside Libreville, which is expected to generate 30 MW and power up to 300,000 homes. With both projects set to support Gabon’s long-term electrification and industrial strategy, Philippe Ossoucah, CEO, Gabon Power Company, is positioned to provide insight into the firm’s pipeline and role in shaping Gabon’s low-carbon energy future.

Meanwhile, as the company accelerates investment across gas distribution, renewables and energy infrastructure in Nigeria, integrated energy conglomerate Levene Energy represents a dynamic player in the country’s energy security and industrialization drive. The company boasts gas distribution licenses in Ibeju-Lekki and Badagry-Seme, is deploying low-carbon pipelines through Aegon Distribution and is advancing solar PV manufacturing and rural electrification with Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency. As such, Omobola Omofaiye, General Manager of LPV Technologies at Levene Energy, will have the opportunity to discuss how the company’s vertically integrated model is enabling infrastructure expansion, local content development and last-mile energy access.

“Africa’s energy sector is at a pivotal moment, where strong partnerships and strategic investments are unlocking massive potential across the value chain. These initiatives reflect a broader shift toward models that prioritize infrastructure, local value creation and industrial growth. The work being implemented by these diverse companies show a dedicate effort to deliver long-term, scalable solutions to the continent’s energy challenges,” states Tomás Gerbasio, VP of Commercial and Strategic Engagement, African Energy Chamber.

– on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

AEW: Invest in African Energies:
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.

Media files

.

Posted on

African youth lag behind elders in political and civic participation except for protest, new Afrobarometer flagship report reveals

Source: APO – Report:

African youth are less likely than older generations to engage in a variety of political and civic activities, with one exception – protest, Afrobarometer’s (www.Afrobarometer.org) new flagship report (https://apo-opa.co/4lrTLSn) reveals. 

The largest generational disparity is in voting, where the youth (aged 18-35) trail their elders by a striking 18 percentage points. Youth are also less likely to feel close to a political party, to attend a community meeting, to join with others to raise an issue, and to contact traditional leaders and local government councillors. 

The report, the second in an annual series on high-priority topics, draws on data spanning the past decade, including the latest round of nationally representative surveys in 39 countries, representing the views of more than three-fourths of the continent’s population. The analysis focuses on 10 key indicators of citizen engagement. 

These generational gaps underscore the challenges of political participation on the world’s most youthful continent if governments fail to create channels for meaningful engagement.  

The new flagship report, based on 53,444 face-to-face interviews, is accompanied by country scorecards (https://apo-opa.co/414kmO9) on citizen engagement that provide an at-a-glance snapshot of key indicators of citizen participation for each of the surveyed countries. 

Afrobarometer survey  

Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Nine survey rounds in up to 42 countries have been completed since 1999. Round 9 surveys (2021/2023) cover 39 countries.  

Afrobarometer’s national partners conduct face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice. National samples of 1,200-2,400 yield country-level results with margins of error of +/-2 to +/-3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.  

Key findings 

  • African youth (aged 18-35) are less likely than older generations to attend a community meeting (-12 percentage points), contact traditional leaders (-10 points), contact local government councillors (-10 points), feel close to a political party (-8 points), and join with others to raise an issue (-8 points) (Figure 1). 
    • The most striking deficit is in voter turnout (-18 percentage points). 
  • Senegal (-29 percentage points), Cameroon (-28 points), and Zimbabwe (-28 points) exhibit the largest disparities in voting rates by age (Figure 2).  
  • Attendance at community meetings sees the widest gaps in Côte d’Ivoire (-28 points), Zambia (-26 points), and Botswana (-24 points) (Figure 3).  
  • When it comes to direct engagement with local government officials, the largest disparities are in Lesotho (-24 points), Zambia (-20 points), Guinea (-16 points), and Kenya (-16 points) (Figure 4).  
  • Youth are more likely than their elders to participate in protests in many African countries, although rates in 16 countries differ by no more than 1 percentage point (Figure 5). 
    • Tunisia stands out with the largest gap in protest rates (+17 points), followed by Sudan (+9 points) and São Tomé and Príncipe (+7 points).  

– on behalf of Afrobarometer.

Link to the full flagship report: https://apo-opa.co/4lrTLSn

For more information, please contact: 
Josephine Appiah-Nyamekye Sanny 
Director of Communications 
Email: jappiah@afrobarometer.org   
Telephone: +233 243240933 

Social Media:
Facebook
X
LinkedIn
YouTube
Instagram 
WhatsApp
Bluesky
Visit us online at www.Afrobarometer.org. 
Follow our releases on #VoicesAfrica. 

Media files

.

Posted on

Free access to visitors at national parks

Source: Government of South Africa

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

The South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that 21 national parks will grant free access to visitors in September for a period of a week.

SANParks uses this time to cultivate a sense of pride in South Africa’s natural, cultural and historical heritage, as protected and preserved by the national parks system.

Free access to the national parks at this time does not include free access to accommodation facilities and other tourist activities.

On 21 September 2025, SANParks will host a celebratory event at Kruger National Park to kickstart the 20th annual SA National Parks Week, which will be held from 22 – 26 September and extended to 27 and 28 September at selected national parks. 

During this period, free access is granted to most of the 21 national parks under the management of SANParks.

National Parks Week has seen an influx of day visitors in all participating parks since its inception in 2006. 

“SA National Parks Week has proved to be a successful campaign that provides education and awareness about South Africa’s inclusive approach to conservation. Whilst offering an opportunity to experience South Africa’s rich natural and cultural heritage, attention is also drawn to the sustainable development practices made possible through partnerships with key role players like communities living adjacent to national parks, business, scientists and tourists,” SANParks said on Tuesday.

For respective dates on when different parks will be observing SA National Parks Week and allowing free access, please visit: https://www.sanparks.org/events/2025-south-african[1]national-parks-week-dates. –SAnews.gov.za

Posted on

President Ramaphosa attends AU-AIP water summit

Source: Government of South Africa

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today attend the African Union–Africa Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP) Water Summit 2025, taking place from 13 to 15 August at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

Convened in the context of South Africa’s G20 Presidency under the theme “Solidarity. Equality. Sustainability”, the landmark summit aims to close Africa’s US$30 billion annual water investment gap, by bringing together African Heads of State, G20 representatives, Global investors, ministers, private sector leaders, and development institutions.

The summit supports implementation of the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) that was adopted in February 2021 during the 34th ordinary session of the African Union Summit by the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government.

The summit is jointly organised by South Africa, the African Union, in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency (NEPAD) and the AU-AIP International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa.

“Together, these partners are mobilising the political momentum, financial capital, and institutional partnerships needed to deliver climate-resilient water and sanitation for all,” the Presidency said in a statement on Tuesday.

During the summit, delegates will participate in high-level dialogues, engage in project matchmaking sessions, and contribute to a Declaration on Water Investments that will influence both continental and global development agendas-including preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Posted on

DWYPD condemns Rustenburg student murder amid Women’s Month

Source: Government of South Africa

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) has urged communities to act as custodians of change through prevention and reporting any form of violence, and supporting survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBVF).

The call comes after the brutal murder of a 21-year-old, Onalenna Selebogo, a third-year Education student at North-West University’s Mahikeng Campus.

Selebogo’s body was found on Saturday, 3 August 2025, in a Rustenburg flat, wrapped in bedsheets with multiple stab wounds to the neck.

According to the police report, the suspect, Walter Tshehlo, fled the scene but later handed himself over to the police. He has been charged with murder and awaits his bail hearing on 18 August 2025.

The department has condemned the brutal killing of Selebogo, describing it as a “appalling reminder that the fight for women’s safety and dignity remains far from being won.”

“The fact that these hideous acts of violence occurred during Women’s Month when the nation honouring and celebrating women’s courage, resilience and contribution to our democracy, makes it even more unacceptable,” the department said.

The department called on law enforcement agencies to act with urgency and transparency to ensure that those responsible for Selebogo’s death are brought to justice without delay.

It also called on communities to break the silence that allows GBVF to thrive, but act as custodians of change through prevention and reporting any form of violence and supporting survivors of GBVF.

The department further called on men across the nation to take responsibility by challenging harmful norms and become active partners creating a society that is free from violence.

“These words are not just ceremonial, they are a call to action, justice, and change to every sector in public; private business, faith-based organisations, traditional leaders, and the media must mobilise resources and platforms to strengthen prevention efforts and promote awareness on GBVF,” the department said.

Teach young boys to protect and respect women

Speaking at the National Women’s Day commemoration in Tzaneen, Limpopo, on Saturday, 9 August 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the many high cases of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide recorded in the country.

The President called on all South Africans to be a society where “we teach young boys that women are to be protected, and respected, and not abused.”

The President also urged South Africans to build a society where young boys are taught to protect and respect women, understand the meaning of consent in sexual relationships and do not use their money and influence to engage in predatory behaviour towards women, and “society that does not condone the ill-treatment of women and children under the guise of culture or tradition.” – SAnews.gov.za
 

Posted on

Merck Foundation and Maldives First Lady Strengthen their Partnership to Build Healthcare Capacity, Break Infertility Stigma and Stop Gender-based Violence (GBV) in Maldives

Source: APO

Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany underscored their long-term commitment to build healthcare capacity and break infertility stigma in Maldives during their high-level meeting with H.E. Mrs. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, The First Lady of the Republic of Maldives, held at the Official Residence of the President. The discussion led by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation BOT and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation.

Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej expressed, “It was an honor to meet my dear sister H.E. Mrs. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, The First Lady of the Republic of Maldives, and officially appointing her to be the Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”. During our meeting we discussed our joint programs and underscored our commitment towards building healthcare capacity and transforming patient care landscape by providing scholarships for local doctors. We also discussed about addressing critical social and health issues in the country including breaking the infertility stigma, stopping gender-based violence, women empowerment, and diabetes and hypertension awareness.”

H.E. Mrs. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, The First Lady of the Republic of Maldives and Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” expressed, “It is a pleasure to welcome and meet Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO to our country. We discussed our joint programs. I am happy to share that we have already started providing scholarships for our local doctors in Fertility and Embryology training. These are two very critical specialties for our country. We also plan to enroll our doctors in other specialties, further underscoring our partnership with the Merck Foundation to enhance healthcare capacity in the Maldives.”

Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation BOT shared, “Our aim is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people by building healthcare capacity across Africa, Asia and other developing countries. We are strongly committed to transforming patientcare landscape through our scholarships program. Till today, we have provided more than 2270 scholarships for young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties.”

During their visit to the Maldives, the Chairman and CEO of Merck Foundation also met with Hon. Mr. Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, Minister of Health, where they discussed scaling up the scholarship programs in alignment with the country’s healthcare needs.

Through their Community Awareness Programs, Merck Foundation is also closely working with The First Lady of Maldives to address a wide range of critical social issues like breaking infertility stigma, stopping gender-based violence and women empowerment, and important health issues including promoting the importance of healthy lifestyle, and diabetes and hypertension awareness.

Merck Foundation will be soon conducting their Health Media Training together with The First Lady of Maldives for the Maldivian journalists, to emphasize on the important role that media plays to influence society to create a cultural shift and be the voice of the voiceless. The training program will be addressed by prominent Medical and Media experts.

Moreover, Merck Foundation in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives has also launched their 8 important Merck Foundation Awards for Maldivian Media, Musicians & Singers, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, and students & new potential talents in these fields.

“I invite the young talents from the Maldives to share their entries with us,” added Senator Dr. Kelej.

Details of the Awards:

  1. Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: Media representatives and media students are invited to showcase their work to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues: Breaking Infertility Stigma and Women Empowerment. Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.
  1. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues: Breaking Infertility Stigma and Women Empowerment. Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.
  1. Merck Foundation Film Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to address one or more of the following social issues: Breaking Infertility Stigma and Women Empowerment. Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.
  1. Merck Foundation Song Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to address one or more of the following social issues: Breaking Infertility Stigma and Women Empowerment. Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.
  1. Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: Media representatives are invited to showcase their work through strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.

  1. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.

  1. Merck Foundation Film Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.

  1. Merck Foundation Song Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.

Entries for the above awards can be submitted to us at:

submit@merck-foundation.com

For information on the awards, please visit our website:

www.Merck-Foundation.com

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

Contact:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager 
Phone: +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
Email: mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard!
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4m7ND2N
X: https://apo-opa.co/4ma6g65
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/4mGcRVT
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/4132y5W
Threads: https://apo-opa.co/4moCWJ6
Flickr: https://apo-opa.co/3HmgIZe
Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com

About Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare & scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4m7ND2N), X (https://apo-opa.co/4ma6g65), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4132y5W), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4mGcRVT), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4moCWJ6) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/3HmgIZe).

The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors.

Media files

.

Posted on

Succès Masra: how Chad’s opposition firebrand came to be sentenced to 20 years in prison

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Bourdjolbo Tchoudiba, Doctorant en Sciences Politiques-Université Paris-Est Créteil, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire d’Études du Politique Hannah Arendt (LIPHA), Université Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne (UPEC)

Chad’s opposition firebrand and a former prime minister, Succès Masra, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on 9 August. He was accused of inciting violence and hate speech on social media, leading to the death of 42 people in a clash between herders and farmers in the village of Mandakao in 2023.

The opposition leader had been arrested at his home on 16 May by men in military uniform. He was initially charged with “inciting hatred, inciting armed groups to revolt, complicity in murder, arson, and desecration of graves”.

Masra rose to prominence as one of the main opponents of the Chadian regime, particularly after the death of President Idriss Déby in 2021. For many, Masra embodies an alternative to the country’s political-military dynasties, especially the Déby family, who has ruled the country since Idriss Déby came to power in 1990.

When he died, his son, military officer Mahamat Idriss Déby, became president after assuming power and forming a three-year transitional government overseen by the military. Masra served as prime minister of this government from 1 January 2024 to 16 May 2025.

Read more: Chad’s parliamentary election hands Mahamat Déby absolute control. Here’s why it’s dangerous

As a researcher who has studied the country’s political trajectory, I have observed how Masra, leader of Les Transformateurs (The Transformers) party, quickly gained influence after entering the Chadian political scene in 2018. His reformist message resonated with many young Chadians, especially unemployed graduates seeking change.

Political strategist

Masra’s strengths lie in his clear programme of political change and strategic approach to building a political base as well as his maturity, despite being only 41. He holds a doctorate in economics, which adds to his credibility. His resignation from the African Development Bank to fully commit to the fight for political change struck a chord with many.

In a remarkably short time, Masra managed to shift the political landscape by challenging Idriss Déby directly. Fearing electoral defeat, Déby pushed through a constitutional amendment in 2018 that changed the age limit for presidential candidates, blocking Masra from running in the 2021 election. His party was also banned for a time for the same reason.

It was under the transitional government of Mahamat Idriss Déby that Masra’s party was officially recognised on 8 June 2021. It soon became Chad’s main opposition. Masra, along with several civil society groups, rejected the transition model in Chad. They boycotted the national dialogue. In their view, it was not a genuine dialogue but a “monologue”. They believed its real purpose was to legitimise the Déby family’s dynastic succession and ensure the continued rule of their Mouvement patriotique du salut (Patriotic Movement for Salvation).

The boycott’s most dramatic moment was the peaceful protest of 20 October 2022, called by Masra to oppose extending the transition. It was violently suppressed, leaving many dead.

Exile and return

To save their lives, Masra and his close associates were forced into exile to the US at the end of 2022. He returned to Chad on 3 November 2023, under a reconciliation deal. Mahamat Idriss Déby appointed him prime minister on 1 January 2024.

With his return and appointment, Les Transformateurs’ political stance shifted dramatically towards supporting the government. Despite this, Masra retained the loyalty of his supporters. However, his short tenure as prime minister was marked by growing tensions with the government, often aired through public statements.

Detention

On 21 May, Masra was formally charged after five days in police custody. During his interrogation, a pro-government outlet claimed he was part of a plot against the state. The claim was based on information allegedly found on his phone, including exchanges with French officials and President Emmanuel Macron. It is extremely rare in Chad for a former prime minister to face such action, suggesting underlying political motives.

Read more: Coups in west Africa have five things in common: knowing what they are is key to defending democracy

Shortly after his arrest, Chad’s public prosecutor publicly accused Masra of inciting hatred, complicity in murder, and forming armed groups. He cited social media messages allegedly urging people in southern Chad to arm themselves against herder communities. These charges relate to a deadly farmer-herder conflict that left 42 dead and caused major damage, mostly among the Fulani community.

Meanwhile, at a press conference three government ministers said an audio message in Ngambaye, Masra’s native language, was linked to him. According to them, the recording directly urged the killing of Fulani herders in their camp.

Audio recording

This accusation was made without independent investigation. The government’s message was amplified by ruling party heavyweights on social media and in politically and ethnically charged WhatsApp groups. The rapid developments gave the impression of a judicial system being weaponised. Many Chadians already see the judiciary as a tool of the military regime.

According to Masra’s lawyers, the audio presented as evidence dates back to 2023. The authenticated 2023 recording captures Masra, in exile, urging the Ngambaye people to arm themselves and defend their community against herder attacks on farmers.

Masra is not the first politician to call for self-defence in Chad. Rising intercommunal violence is widespread, fuelled by social injustice, impunity and insecurity.

Read more: Idriss Déby Itno offered Chadians great hope, but ended up leaving a terrible legacy

Chadian criminal law guarantees the presumption of innocence and the right to legal counsel from the preliminary investigation stage. Yet no such process was followed for Masra. At the same time, government communications targeting him multiplied.

Officials took the unusual step of leaking unverified “evidence” (the audio) while the investigation was still underway, a clear breach of procedure.

The Toumaï Agreement

During the seventh anniversary of Les Transformateurs, Masra publicly urged Mahamat Idriss Déby to “change course and deliver the change the people demand”.

A striking revelation from that anniversary event was the existence of another deal, known as the Toumaï Agreement between the government and Masra’s political party, meant to end the political crisis in Chad. This was in addition to the Kinshasa Accord.

Masra’s lawyers argued that the Toumaï Agreement should protect Masra from prosecution as it lifted an international arrest warrant against him. The ruling party’s strong reaction to the agreement being disclosed suggests a deeper political rift.

Many of Masra’s supporters, opposition parties and civil society organisations believe the trial was aimed at neutralising him both politically and physically.

– Succès Masra: how Chad’s opposition firebrand came to be sentenced to 20 years in prison
– https://theconversation.com/succes-masra-how-chads-opposition-firebrand-came-to-be-sentenced-to-20-years-in-prison-262985

Posted on

Nigeria’s Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province Bishops in synodal interaction with women religious (By Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo)

Source: APO

By Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo of Oyo Catholic Diocese (https://CatholicDioceseOyo.org).

The Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province of Nigeria, in the spirit of the ongoing synodal process in the Church, have held an interactive session with the Superiors of the Women Religious Congregations working in Ibadan Province. The session, which was held at the close of the second plenary of the bishops of Ibadan Province took place at the MM Pastoral Centre, Ilorin on August 12, 2025.  It was intended as an expression of the ongoing Jubilee Year of Hope, was conducted in the synodal spirit of listening to one another in order to create together a more hopeful pastoral life for the Church and the future of Ibadan Province.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Ibadan Province, Most Reverend Gabriel Leke Abegunrin, in his opening remarks, reasoned that the synodal interaction of listening to one another, derived from the periodic interactive session which the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) was already holding with the Religious Superiors at the national level. He revealed that the Bishops of Ibadan Province were eager to bring the exercise closer home by organizing this session on the level of the Province in order to address more effectively some issues that are peculiar to the ecclesiastical Province. He reminded all present of our calling as missionaries to our own people who must work together to actualize the mission of Jesus Christ in the contemporary times in which we live.

The Women Religious Superiors who attended the session largely personally and by representation, expressed gratitude to have been invited to discuss the life of the Church especially the issue of mission. They unveiled some areas of concern for them in their apostolate which include challenges with youth catechesis and the general religious environment which has become more liberal than ever before. They expressed concern about how to be effective pilgrims of hope when they do not have the material means of actually giving hope to people, about the excessive attempts at inculturation and innovation by some priests in certain parts of worship, and the balance of relationship in collaborative ministry especially where it involves priests and Religious.

The Religious Superiors appealed to the Bishops to check some excesses within the liturgy being manifesting by certain individuals and in various forms and which need to be checked because they damage the faith of the people and even of the Religious. Such matters have been addressed at the level of the national conference of Bishops but need to be made more effective at the provincial level as well.  They also called for the Bishops to pay attention to the proliferation of Religious Congregations, some of which have little or no structured formation or community life. 

These carry on with their speculative religious life with little or no ecclesiastical control while soiling the name of other Religious in the eyes of the faithful who innocently consider them all of the same stock. Such tendencies, if allowed to fester, actually endanger the very mission of the Church.

During the sustained listening period, the Bishops, speaking individually, admitted that the Church today, even as she is growing pastorally and admirably, has many challenges to confront. They admitted that the ongoing meeting is intended to reinforce their determination with the Religious to collectively address old and emerging challenges in the Church. It is a reinforcement of the important role that Women Religious play in the life of the Church, in the life of families and in the society especially within Ibadan Province. “We must find every way to help sustain the dignity and integrity of the church of Jesus Christ bequeathed to us over time”.

Some Bishops emphasized that an adequate understanding of ecclesiology must be factored into the formation of priests and Religious in order to secure authentic spirituality because the latter actually derives from the former. A corollary of this must be an appreciation and sustenance of community life, lived as brothers and sisters to safeguard the sanity of the priest or Religious.  All this, coupled with visionary and courageous leadership for priests and religious will discourage the flourishing of spirituality and pastoral practices that are extraneous and damaging to the catholic faith. The Religious were then urged to exploit more the educational and healthcare spaces which they govern in the Church like hospitals and schools to propose multimedia catechesis and catholic spirituality for evangelizing those they encounter every day.

Post marital accompaniment of our young people also emerged as an area needing more attention from pastors and Religious in order to help the young married people to confront the challenges of their life as Catholics. A viewpoint emerged that it is critical to remember that youth apostolate is about “planning with and working with”, rather than planning for and working for the young people. A give-and-take attitude is indispensable for the youth apostolate in order to exploit to the maximum, the ability of the young people themselves to self-mobilize for positive purposes. These strategies must of course be nuanced according to the rural or urban environment in which the youths are situated as the case may be.

Other internal challenges of priestly and religious life were discussed with a determination to pastorally confront them henceforth at every level with the view of finding pastoral solutions for all. The interactive session was held under a truly cordial and synodal atmosphere whereby everyone who had something to say was listened to. The Religious expressed the desire to have further meetings between the Major Superiors and the Bishops of the Province where even more sensitive issues can be ironed out for enhanced pastoral life in the Church. Religious Superiors and representatives from twelve congregations attended the interactive session.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Nigeria.

Media files

.

Posted on

African Development Bank backs Artificial Intelligence (AI) training to boost Agenda 2063 implementation across Africa

Source: APO


.

The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) is supporting a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) training initiative to advance the implementation of Africa’s continental development blueprint, Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want (http://apo-opa.co/4miWmzo).

Through its Joint Secretariat Support Office (JSSO), the Bank provided technical and financial backing for the 5th Annual Training Workshop for African Union Member States on harnessing AI for effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on the Second Ten-Year Plan (2024–2033) of Agenda 2063.

The five-day workshop, held in Lusaka, Zambia, was jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). The event brought together representatives from African Union Member States to strengthen their technical capacity in using AI tools and digital innovations to monitor, track, and report on the implementation of Agenda 2063. The training is part of broader efforts to enhance institutional and human capacity across the continent.

Participants engaged in practical sessions on emerging AI platforms, including Ailyse, ChatGPT, Google AI Studio, Google Gemini, and Perplexity, exploring how these tools can improve data analysis, enhance decision-making, and promote evidence-based policy development in line with Agenda 2063 (http://apo-opa.co/4miWmzo) priorities.

The Bank’s support to the workshop reflects its broader commitment to strengthening results-based planning, monitoring, and accountability within the African Union framework, while promoting innovation and digital transformation as key enablers of Africa’s development agenda.

Speaking at the workshop, Abibu Tamu, Lead Programme Co-ordinator at African Development Bank Group, reaffirmed the Bank’s dedication to working closely with the African Union Commission and strategic partners to accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2063, particularly its Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan.

“These tools are not only revolutionizing how data is collected, analysed, and reported, they are also enabling more targeted policy interventions and efficient resource allocation,” said Tamu.

The workshop also served as a platform for peer learning and knowledge exchange, with participating countries sharing innovative approaches and best practices in national development planning and results-based reporting.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Posted on

Kenya’s 1950 Kolloa massacre: Britain won’t own up to its colonial violence but communities need closure

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Chloé Josse-Durand, Senior Research Associate in African Politics, Newcastle University

In 1950, British forces killed at least 29 civilians in one of the deadliest, but least chronicled, episodes of colonial violence in Kenya.

Armed soldiers killed at least 29 civilian members of Dini ya Msambwa, a spiritual and anti-colonial movement in Kenya active around what is now West Pokot county in the north-western region. Survivors describe the group’s gathering on 24 April 1950 as a peaceful one. However, British colonial forces, fearing a potential uprising, violently confronted the group at the Kolloa trading centre.

It led to one of the highest number of deaths in a single day in a single place in Kenya’s colonial period.

For the surviving families and followers of Dini ya Msambwa (the “religion of the spirits” in Kiswahili), it was a massacre. However, the British government has never publicly apologised for this atrocity.

The movement’s adherents continue to seek justice and recognition, but they face legal, political and historical roadblocks.

I am part of a team at Newcastle University working on Afterlives of Colonial Incarceration, a project focused on former British colonies. I’ve been working closely with communities affected by colonial violence in Kenya, including Dini ya Msambwa adherents.

In my view, Britain’s recognition of the Kolloa massacre isn’t just a matter of historical record. It is about acknowledging that the group’s pain is real, their loss unjust and their struggle worth remembering.

To acknowledge Kolloa as a massacre would open the door to legal and moral accountability from the British government. This would help Dini Ya Msambwa followers affirm the legitimacy of their historical grievances and their place in Kenya’s national story.

Crucially, it could also lay the groundwork for reparations, which could include financial compensation for surviving families, and the restitution of confiscated land and livestock.

The British government remains silent on the massacre. But this doesn’t erase memory. Dini ya Msambwa followers and representatives and historians are working to ensure that Kolloa – like so many forgotten chapters of colonial violence in Africa and beyond – is not buried with the last of its survivors.

The group’s origins

Dini ya Msambwa was founded in the 1940s by Elijah Masinde among the Bukusu people of western Kenya. The movement rejected colonial authority, resisted Christian missionary dominance and called for a return to African spirituality and traditions.

This combination of cultural pride and political defiance made it a target for suppression by British authorities.

Lukas Pkech, a prominent Pokot leader, brought Masinde’s preachings to West Suk and Baringo in the British-administered north-west region in 1950. His teachings were increasingly influential among Pokot communities and were seen as a direct challenge to colonial order.

British district commissioner Arthur Simpsons, along with a contingent of tribal police and British officers led by Alan Stevens, moved to quell the movement and most likely to kill its leader. What followed was a fatal confrontation in Kolloa: over 300 Dini ya Msambwa followers, armed mainly with spears, faced off with colonial security forces in what came to be called the Kolloa Affray.

Pkech and at least 28 followers were killed, along with Stevens, two other British nationals and an African askari (soldier). Oral testimonies suggest that between 44 and 50 people were killed – 29 during the event itself, and 15 to 20 others later succumbing to wounds sustained in the fighting. At least 176 Dini ya Msambwa members present at the standoff were imprisoned. Seven of them were executed for their direct involvement.

This event led to increased repression of Pokot communities and suspected Dini ya Msambwa leaders and followers.

The colonial administration confiscated over 5,600 cattle and deployed a special police force in the region. Residents were forced into hard labour on district roads as part of communal punishment. Hundreds of adherents were thrown into colonial jails and detention camps near the district administrative centre, Kapenguria.

The exact number of Dini ya Msambwa followers today is hard to assess as many choose to remain discreet for their own safety. However, the growing visibility of branches like Dini ya Roho Mafuta Pole ya Africa (African Religion of the Gently Anointing Spirit) indicates the movement’s enduring significance in Pokot society.

Dini ya Roho attracts approximately 4,000 members weekly for worship and yearly for Kolloa commemorations. In the church’s doctrine, the deaths at Kolloa are reinterpreted as a selfless act of sacrifice in fulfilment of peace for the community. Since its official registration in 2012, the church has gained growing influence.

Silencing through legal reform

In 2013, the UK government issued a formal apology and paid £19.9 million (US$26.5 million) in compensation to 5,228 Mau Mau veterans. The compensation was related to Britain’s brutal suppression of the Mau Mau uprising (1952–1960), also known as the “Kenya Emergency”. This was a large-scale anti-colonial rebellion during which more than 150,000 Kenyans were detained without trial in a vast system of camps and fenced villages. Here, torture, forced labour and systematic abuse were widespread.

The Mau Mau case secured an official apology and compensation for colonial-era torture. It also demonstrated that legal redress for historical injustices was possible.

Yet, it was also a strategic concession by the UK government.

It was limited in scope, restricted to a specific group (those tortured during the Emergency), and designed to avoid setting a broad legal precedent.

Since then, the UK has enacted a new law – the Overseas Operations Act – that imposes strict legal limits on claims related to the actions of British troops abroad, effectively barring historical claims.

Worse still, under the legal doctrine known as divisibility of the Crown, claimants must prove that abuses were ordered by the UK government in London, not just carried out by colonial administrators.

In the case of Kolloa, where documentation is sparse and most evidence comes from oral testimonies, this is an almost impossible task.

Further, unlike the Mau Mau case, which gained global attention, Kolloa has remained largely absent from mainstream narratives. The Kenyan government has lacked political will to put pressure on Britain and has itself seen the movement as dangerous. It remained banned until 2012, after the new constitution strengthened protections for freedom of religion and beliefs.

Without strong advocacy from the Kenyan state, Britain has no diplomatic incentive to revisit or acknowledge Kolloa.

Is there still hope for justice?

One promising path is international litigation. In 2022, the Talai clan from Kenya’s Nandi and Kipsigis communities – themselves victims of colonial brutality – brought a case against the UK at the European Court of Human Rights. Their efforts could set a precedent for groups like Dini ya Msambwa seeking redress beyond British courts.

Back home, Kenya’s devolved county government of West Pokot has also given representatives from the church more freedom to speak openly. While the group remains cautious about challenging the national government directly, there’s a growing movement for memorialisation, truth telling and intergenerational dialogue.

For Dini ya Msambwa, the fight is about more than financial compensation. It is about being seen, heard and remembered. The group’s struggle touches on deeper questions of dignity, memory and the right to practise their faith with pride instead of fear and resentment.

– Kenya’s 1950 Kolloa massacre: Britain won’t own up to its colonial violence but communities need closure
– https://theconversation.com/kenyas-1950-kolloa-massacre-britain-wont-own-up-to-its-colonial-violence-but-communities-need-closure-262133