Category: MIL-OSI

Posted on

Le Fonds africain de développement octroie plus de 14 millions de dollars pour renforcer la résilience climatique des communautés au Sahel

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Le Conseil d’administration du Fonds africain de développement a donné son feu vert, le 21 novembre 2025 à Abidjan, à un don de 14,64 millions de dollars américains afin de contribuer au financement du Projet 2 du Programme de Renforcement de la Résilience à L’insécurité Alimentaire et   Nutritionnelle au Sahel (P2-P2RS).

Cet appui financier additionnel est issu du Guichet d’action climatique (http://apo-opa.co/43MyWLA), un mécanisme de financement sur les changements climatiques adossé au  Fonds africain de développement, le guichet de prêts à taux concessionnels du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement. 

L’objectif du don est de renforcer les capacités d’adaptation et de résilience des communautés au Sahel face à l’accélération des extrêmes climatiques, à travers une double approche : le déploiement de l’approche “villages climato-intelligents” autour des infrastructures hydroagricoles ; et l’amélioration de l’accès et l’utilisation de l’information climatique.

Le financement complémentaire prévoit ainsi un appui au système semencier par la dissémination des variétés de semences améliorées résilientes de forte productivité. Il s’agit d’une mise à jour du Catalogue régional des espèces et variétés, la création d’un portail de réseautage B2B, le renforcement des capacités de multiplication des semences maraîchères des systèmes nationaux de recherche agricole et des entreprises semencières pour leur mise à disposition dans les villages climato-intelligents, un appui à l’autonomisation et le renforcement des capacités des femmes et des jeunes.

Le projet renforcera également les systèmes de collecte des données sur le climat et ses impacts pour renforcer la disponibilité à temps réel des données des réseaux d’observation. Il mettra donc en place une plateforme numérique intégrée de collecte et de gestion de données, et de diffusion à temps réel des produits et services ainsi qu’un dispositif régional de suivi et gestion des données sur les pertes et dommages. Cette dernière activité consistera à renforcer la standardisation de la collecte des données sur les pertes et dommages dans les pays et développer une plateforme numérique multi-échelle pour la centralisation et la gestion des données sur les pertes et dommages.

Le don du Guichet d’action climatique couvrira 30 communes ; et ambitionne la mise en place de 60 villages climato-intelligents dans les pays du Sahel avec l’objectif de renforcer la résilience des communautés.

Distribué par APO Group pour African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contact médias :
Alexis Adélé
Département de la communication et des relations extérieures
media@afdb.org

À propos du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement:
Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement est la principale institution du financement du développement en Afrique. Il comprend trois entités distinctes : la Banque africaine de développement (BAD), le Fonds africain de développement (FAD) et le Fonds spécial du Nigeria (FSN). Représentée dans 41 pays africains, avec un bureau extérieur au Japon, la Banque contribue au développement économique et au progrès social de ses 54 Etats membres régionaux. Pour plus d’informations: www.AfDB.org

Media files

Posted on

African Development Fund commits $14 million grant to scaling up climate resilience across the Sahel

Source: APO

The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund has approved a grant of $14.64 million to support Project 2 of the Programme to Strengthen Resilience to Food and Nutrition Insecurity in the Sahel (P2-P2RS) in Abidjan on 21 November 2025.

The additional financing is provided through the Climate Action Window (http://apo-opa.co/43MyWLA), a climate-focused funding mechanism of the African Development Fund, the concessional lending window of the African Development Bank Group.

The grant aims to strengthen the adaptation and resilience capacities of communities across the Sahel as they face increasingly severe climate extremes. The project adopts a dual approach: scaling up the “climate-smart villages” model around hydro-agricultural infrastructure, and improving access to and use of climate information for decision-making.

The new funding will support the regional seed system by disseminating resilient, high-yielding improved seed varieties. Planned activities include updating the Regional Catalogue of Species and Varieties; creating a business-to-business networking portal; and strengthening seed multiplication capacities of national agricultural research systems and seed companies to ensure availability in climate-smart villages. The project will also support women’s and youth empowerment through targeted capacity-building.

In addition, the project will reinforce climate data collection and impact monitoring systems, enhancing real-time data availability from observation networks. It will establish an integrated digital platform for data collection, management, and real-time dissemination, as well as a regional system for monitoring and managing loss and damage data. This includes standardising loss and damage reporting across countries and developing a multi-scale digital platform for the centralised data management.

The Climate Action Window grant will cover 30 municipalities and support the creation of 60 climate-smart villages across Sahelian countries, helping to strengthen community resilience to climate shocks.

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

Media contact:
Alexis Adélé
Communication and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s leading development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). Represented in 41 African countries, with a field office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member states. For further information: www.AfDB.org

Media files

.

Posted on

Fundo Africano de Desenvolvimento concede mais de 14 milhões de dólares para reforçar a resiliência climática das comunidades no Sahel

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

O Conselho de Administração do Fundo Africano de Desenvolvimento aprovou, a 21 de novembro de 2025, em Abidjan, uma doação de 14,64 milhões de dólares americanos para contribuir para o financiamento do Projeto 2 do Programa de Reforço da Resiliência à Insegurança Alimentar e Nutricional no Sahel (P2-P2RS).

Este apoio financeiro adicional provém da Janela de Ação Climática (https://apo-opa.co/4ikYBRu), um mecanismo de financiamento sobre as alterações climáticas apoiado pelo Fundo Africano de Desenvolvimento, a janela de empréstimos a taxas concessionais do Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento.

O objetivo da doação é reforçar as capacidades de adaptação e resiliência das comunidades do Sahel face à aceleração dos fenómenos climáticos extremos, através de uma dupla abordagem: a implementação da abordagem “aldeias climaticamente inteligentes” em torno das infraestruturas hidroagrícolas; e a melhoria do acesso e da utilização da informação climática.

O financiamento complementar prevê, assim, um apoio ao sistema de sementes através da disseminação de variedades de sementes melhoradas, resilientes e de elevada produtividade. Trata-se de uma atualização do Catá. regional de espécies e variedades, a criação de um portal de networking B2B, o reforço das capacidades de multiplicação de sementes hortícolas dos sistemas nacionais de investigação agrícola e das empresas de sementes para a sua disponibilização nas aldeias climaticamente inteligentes, um apoio à autonomização e ao reforço das capacidades das mulheres e dos jovens.

O projeto reforçará também os sistemas de recolha de dados sobre o clima e os seus impactos, a fim de reforçar a disponibilidade em tempo real dos dados das redes de observação. Para tal, criará uma plataforma digital integrada de recolha e gestão de dados e de difusão em tempo real de produtos e serviços, bem como um mecanismo regional de acompanhamento e gestão de dados sobre perdas e danos. Esta última atividade consistirá em reforçar a normalização da recolha de dados sobre perdas e danos nos países e desenvolver uma plataforma digital para a centralização e gestão de dados sobre perdas e danos.

A doação da Janela de Ação Climática abrangerá 30 municípios e tem como objetivo a criação de 60 aldeias climaticamente inteligentes nos países do Sahel, com o objetivo de reforçar a resiliência das comunidades.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contacto para os media:
Alexis Adélé
Departamento de Comunicação e Relações Externas
media@afdb.org

Sobre o Grupo do Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento:
O Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento é a principal instituição financeira de desenvolvimento em África. Inclui três entidades distintas: o Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (AfDB), o Fundo Africano de Desenvolvimento (ADF) e o Fundo Fiduciário da Nigéria (NTF). Presente no terreno em 41 países africanos, com uma representação externa no Japão, o Banco contribui para o desenvolvimento económico e o progresso social dos seus 54 Estados-membros. Mais informações em www.AfDB.org/pt

Media files

Baixar .tipo

Posted on

Ituri : un nouveau bâtiment remis au Barreau pour renforcer l’accès à la justice

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Un bâtiment entièrement rénové a été remis au Barreau de l’Ituri, marquant une étape importante pour l’accueil des justiciables et l’accès à une assistance juridique et judiciaire gratuite, en particulier pour les plus vulnérables. Financé à hauteur de 47 285 USD dans le cadre des Projets à Impact Rapide (QIP) de la MONUSCO, cet appui a permis de finaliser les travaux de finition ; une étape essentielle pour rendre l’édifice pleinement opérationnel. Il abritera désormais le bureau des consultations juridiques gratuites, contribuant aux efforts visant à consolider l’État de droit dans une province affectée par les violences armées.

Inauguré le 21 novembre, l’édifice comprend une salle de réunion, deux bureaux de consultation, le bureau du bâtonnier, un secrétariat ainsi que des installations sanitaires. Pour le Barreau, qui fonctionnait en location depuis sa création en 2018, disposer d’un siège permanent représente un progrès important dans la prise en charge des justiciables.

Lors de la cérémonie, le chef de bureau de la MONUSCO à Bunia, Josiah Obat, a souligné la portée du projet : « Ce bâtiment est le résultat d’une coopération constructive entre le Barreau, les autorités provinciales et la MONUSCO. En soutenant la finalisation de cet édifice, la Mission contribue à créer un espace où les plus vulnérables pourront recevoir une assistance juridique gratuite et de qualité, essentielle au renforcement de l’État de droit ».

Il a également rappelé le rôle social de la profession : « Au-delà de la défense des intérêts individuels, les avocats ont une responsabilité dans la protection des plus vulnérables et dans le soutien aux efforts de stabilisation de la province ».

Appui concret pour une justice accessible

Dans son intervention, le Bâtonnier de l’Ituri, Maître Joseph Keta, a souligné l’importance de l’appui reçu : « Après plusieurs années d’efforts pour ériger les premières structures du bâtiment, il restait la phase de finition, particulièrement coûteuse et décisive. Elle n’aurait pas pu aboutir sans le soutien de la MONUSCO. Ce siège permettra d’ouvrir un bureau de consultations gratuites accessible à tous, en particulier aux plus vulnérables ».

Représentant le gouverneur militaire, le délégué provincial a salué « un pas important vers une justice plus accessible », ajoutant que « cette réalisation montre qu’un service public peut évoluer au bénéfice de la population ».

Dans un contexte d’insécurité persistante, l’accès à une assistance juridique et judiciaire fiable et gratuite demeure un élément essentiel de protection des civils. Ce nouveau bâtiment permettra au Barreau de mieux accompagner les justiciables, de lutter contre l’impunité et de jouer pleinement son rôle dans la consolidation de l’État de droit.

Distribué par APO Group pour Mission de l’Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).

Posted on

Eastern Africa Confronts Endemic Foot and Mouth Disease Threat as Regional Stakeholders Validate Long-Term Control Strategy

Source: APO – Report:

.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) remains one of the most persistent threats to livestock production, food security, and trade across Eastern Africa. Despite being routinely ranked among the top three priority diseases by governments and livestock keepers, the region continues to experience widespread outbreaks, significant economic losses, and constrained market access due to insufficiently coordinated control measures. The extensive mobility of pastoral herds, porous borders, and limited surveillance and laboratory capacity further complicate containment efforts. Without a harmonised regional approach, national initiatives alone cannot effectively manage the transboundary nature of FMD or mitigate its cascading impacts on livelihoods, nutrition, and national economies.

It is against this backdrop that regional and international stakeholders gathered yesterday in Nairobi for the Consultation and Validation Workshop of the Strategic Framework for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in Eastern Africa 2026–2035. The two-day meeting, held at the Trademark Hotel, Nairobi, brought together representatives from AU-IBAR, IGAD, EAC, FAO, WOAH, UNEP, GALVmed, national Chief Veterinary Officers, FMD focal points, wildlife authorities and technical experts from across the Eastern Africa FMD Roadmap countries.

A Timely Response to an Urgent Regional Challenge

In her opening remarks, Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, underscored the scale of the challenge. Livestock underpin food and nutrition security and sustain hundreds of millions of people, yet transboundary animal diseases such as FMD drain billions of dollars from Sub-Saharan Africa each year. Dr. Salih stressed that no single country can manage FMD independently and called for deeper regional coordination, harmonisation, and joint action to address surveillance gaps, strengthen early detection, and ensure rapid response.

She emphasized that the new Strategic Framework provides a necessary mechanism to align national priorities with regional objectives, operationalize shared protocols, and leverage collective capacities. The Framework also responds directly to commitments articulated under Agenda 2063, CAADP (2026–2035), LiDeSA, and the Animal Health Strategy for Africa.

A Strategy Built on Regional Realities and National Inputs

The Strategic Framework for 2026–2035 was developed through extensive consultation, including inputs from the Eastern Africa FMD Roadmap Meeting held in Dar es Salaam in 2024. Delegates highlighted weaknesses such as inadequate vaccination coverage, limited laboratory capabilities for serotyping and vaccine matching, fragmented movement control, and insufficient political commitment and financing for sustained FMD control. These challenges, combined with the region’s ecological and socio-economic dynamics, informed the structure of the Framework.

The strategy is anchored on three mutually reinforcing pillars:

  1. Knowledge and Evidence – establishing regional information-sharing platforms, conducting research, and improving tools for risk assessment, economic analysis, and epidemiological understanding.
  2. Capacity Building – providing regionally tailored trainings and sourcing essential equipment for surveillance, vaccination, diagnostics, programme management, and public–private partnership models.
  3. Coordination and Cooperation – harmonising regional protocols, strengthening early warning systems, enhancing rapid response, and facilitating affordable vaccine access through bulk procurement and strengthened laboratory networks.

Collectively, these pillars aim to support countries in progressing along the Progressive Control Pathway for FMD (PCP-FMD) and achieving more secure, efficient livestock systems with improved trade performance.

Deliberations and Validation

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in structured group work to analyse the draft document, identify gaps, and propose improvements. Presentations on Day 2 allowed country groups to showcase recommendations, including strengthening regional strain monitoring, developing cross-border agreements for sample shipment, institutionalising biosecurity practices in markets and abattoirs, and reinforcing communication strategies to maintain political will.

Plenary discussions refined these inputs and integrated them into the final version of the Framework. The review process reaffirmed the need for pragmatic, risk-based interventions that consider the diverse production systems and varied PCP stages across the 12 roadmap countries.

Looking Ahead

In closing, Dr. Salih reaffirmed AU-IBAR’s commitment to supporting Member States and Regional Economic Communities in translating the Framework into concrete action. She noted that the forthcoming rollout of ARIS3 will enhance disease reporting and situational awareness—an essential component of early warning and regional coordination.

With the validation of the Strategic Framework, Eastern Africa has taken a decisive step toward a more structured, collaborative, and evidence-driven approach to FMD control. The region now moves toward developing the implementation plan, mobilising resources, and establishing governance mechanisms to guide the strategy between 2026 and 2035.

By confronting FMD through unified regional action, Eastern Africa strengthens its prospects for improved livestock productivity, enhanced food and nutrition security, resilient livelihoods, and expanded opportunities in domestic and export trade.

– on behalf of The African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).

Posted on

SA welcomes outcomes of COP30

Source: Government of South Africa

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, has welcomed the outcomes of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

COP30 resulted in the adoption of the Belém Political Package, including key outcomes related to the Nationally Determined Contributions, bolstering climate finance and a mechanism for just transition. 

“We stand ready to work with all Parties to ensure that the decisions taken at COP30 translate into action. Our local climate change instruments already enable robust domestic climate action, while ensuring compliance with our international obligations,” the Minister said on Tuesday.

This year’s COP focused heavily on the new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are countries’ climate action plans under the Paris Agreement. 

Under the Belém Political Package, the “Global Mutirão” is intended to drive global implementation and acceleration to support countries in delivering their NDCs and national adaptation plans. 

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Deputy-Director General and South Africa’s Chief Negotiator at COP30, Maesela Kekana, noted the decision to establish a two-year work programme on climate finance, including on the provision of finance to developing countries. 

Additionally, the COP called on developed countries to triple adaptation finance by 2035 and to increase the trajectory of their collective provision of climate finance for adaptation to developing countries.

“However, we remain concerned that the base is low – a doubling of a small amount – too small to meet the adaptation needs of developing countries. South Africa also welcomes the guidance to triple finance flows to the Funds, the calls for an ambitious and successful replenishment of the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund, and calls for increased pledges to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage Fund,” Kekana said.

South Africa also robustly advocated for the adoption of a mechanism for the implementation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Just Transition Work Programme decision. 

The Parties agreed to develop a just transition mechanism to enable just transitions and enhance international cooperation, technical assistance, capacity building and knowledge sharing.

“We reaffirm our commitment to equity, ambition, and international cooperation in addressing the climate crisis. Congratulations to our team of negotiators for their resilience and exceptional commitment to driving action-driven talks,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

Posted on

Multilateralism key to resolving global challenges

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has championed multilateralism as key to resolving global challenges.

The President was delivering remarks at the 7th African Union-European Union Summit held at Luanda, Angola.

“It is fitting that the African Union’s theme for this year is: Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations. If, in line with this them, we are to address historical injustices and build a better future, we need to reinforce multilateralism.

“The multilateral system is under great pressure. Geopolitical rivalry continues to cause turbulence in the rules-based international order. South Africa remains convinced that global challenges are best resolved through multilateralism anchored on the principles of the United Nations Charter,” he said.

The President reiterated government’s call for reform of the United Nations as a catalyst for deepened multilateralism.

“Significant reforms are required to transform the United Nations, global financial architecture, and the international trade system to enhance sustainability, efficiency, inclusiveness and the voice of developing economy countries.

“More than two thirds of UN General Assembly Member States still do not enjoy permanent representation on the Security Council. 

“To ensure the Security Council’s credibility and legitimacy, we need to advance Africa’s position as per the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration,” President Ramaphosa remarked.

Reflecting on the G20 Leaders’ Summit held over the weekend, President Ramaphosa noted that the summit declaration addresses issues including global trade inequality, mounting sovereign debt, decline in exports and cuts in overseas development assistance.

“In the declaration, the leaders reaffirm their commitment to support efforts by low- and middle-income countries to address debt vulnerabilities.

“They also affirm the importance of a rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO [World Trade Organisation] at its core,” he said.

The declaration also acknowledges the “agreed-upon rules in the WTO are key to facilitating global trade”.

“In the declaration, the G20 leaders recognise that meaningful and comprehensive reform of the WTO is essential to improve its functions so that it is better suited to advance all Members’ objectives.

“When global trade systems are stable and predictable, it gives confidence to governments, assurance to exporters and offers security to workers around the world.

“Such reform should be development-centred and address persisting development gaps in the global economy. Crucially, it must allow developing economies to adopt legitimate public policy measures that support value addition, industrialisation and diversification,” the President said.

He urged the African Union and European Union to deepen ties as the partnership reaches its 25th anniversary.

“This is a pivotal moment to jointly champion Africa’s Agenda 2063 and its Second Ten Year Implementation Plan, with youth and women empowerment at the centre of our efforts.

“As we build this partnership between Africa and Europe – as we reflect on where we have come from and where we want to go – we must be resolute in working towards deepening the economic, social and political integration of the African continent,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

Posted on

KZN mobilises 365-day campaign to stem surge in GBVF

Source: Government of South Africa

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to working closely with communities to fight, expose, prevent, and prosecute violence against women and children.

Ntuli’s recommitment comes as South Africa launches the national 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.

This year’s campaign is observed under the theme: “Letsema: Men, Women, Boys and Girls Working Together to End Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.”

Speaking at a media briefing at the Marine Building in Durban on Monday, Ntuli highlighted the worsening crisis of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) in the country, noting that three women are killed every day by an intimate partner and that more than a third of women aged 18 and older have experienced physical violence in their lifetime.

Ntuli said KwaZulu-Natal continues to record some of the highest GBV figures in the country, with rape cases increased compared to the same period last year.

“Seven districts have reported a rise in sexual assaults against children under the age of 12. The districts of eThekwini, uMgungundlovu, and King Cetshwayo remain the highest GBV hotspots in the province.

“Between July and September 2025 alone, 2 013 survivors sought assistance at Thuthuzela Care Centres, and in the previous quarter, 65 percent of all recorded GBV survivors were children. These numbers represent real people, real families, and real suffering,” Ntuli said.

Ntuli expressed the pain he endured when he personally attended funerals of victims who lost their lives at the hands of people they trusted, including partners and employers.

The Premier welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to declare GBVF a National Disaster, saying it “recognises the scale and severity of the crisis.”

He said the provincial government is intensifying its response through the year-round Silwisanane Chilo Campaign (let’s fight this, let’s stop this), which focuses on strengthening prevention, protection and accountability.

Expanded support services

Ntuli announced that the Provincial Gender Machinery is active in all districts, with GBVF activists now deployed at 184 police stations across the province, providing support to survivors, conducting follow-ups and leading prevention programmes.

“Awareness and prevention campaigns have reached more than 39 000 community members, 62 859 learners, over 5 000 men, 606 traditional leaders, and more than 278 000 people through substance abuse prevention initiatives,” Ntuli said.

Victim support services have also been expanded, with 21 shelters and 31 White Door Centres of Hope now operational. A new Khuseleka One Stop Centre has opened in Zululand, and 25 976 survivors received psychosocial support in the last quarter.

“During the last quarter alone, 25 976 survivors received psychosocial support,” the Premier said.

The Silwisanane Chilo Campaign will be formally presented to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature today as a 365-day mobilisation effort aimed at challenging harmful norms, holding perpetrators accountable and empowering communities to act against violence.

The five focus areas of the campaign include:
•    Protecting people living with disabilities who face disproportionate vulnerability to GBVF.
•    Citizen activation through sustained public education and community mobilisation.
•    Leveraging sport, arts, and culture as tools for prevention and social change.
•    Partnering with the taxi sector, faith-based communities, and traditional leaders to drive behavioural change.
•    Strengthening leadership partnerships by involving political leaders, councillors, traditional authorities, and the media to promote accurate messaging and accountability.

“KwaZulu-Natal will not surrender to the scourge of GBV and Femicide,” Ntuli said.

National launch of 16 Days Campaign

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, together with Deputy Minister Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, will officially launch the national campaign today at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.

Observed from 25 November to 10 December, the 16 Days campaign forms part of a global United Nations initiative aimed at raising awareness, mobilising communities and strengthening accountability in efforts to end violence against women and children.

Earlier this year, government launched the 90-Day GBVF Acceleration Programme to fast track the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF.

Led by the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, the 90-Day programme focused on urgent and impactful interventions to reverse the upward trend of GBVF cases in the country. These include the re-establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee to ensure cooperation in the implementation of the GBVF National Strategic Plan. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Posted on

Transnet secures deal to support clean energy initiatives

Source: Government of South Africa

Transnet and the French Development Agency (AFD), with support from the European Union (EU), have announced a major partnership aimed at accelerating the decarbonisation of South Africa’s ports and rail network.

Transnet, which manages South Africa’s rail, port, and pipeline infrastructure, has set an ambitious decarbonisation and corporate sustainability goals and AFD is proposing a €300 million (R6 billion) loan in support of those objectives.

“The funding package from AFD will assist us in revitalising our infrastructure while supporting the clean energy initiatives under the capital investment programme. 

“In addition, this initiative will contribute significantly to supporting Transnet’s decarbonisation journey while actively exploring the company’s strategic role and potential opportunities within the green hydrogen value chain,” Transnet Group Chief Executive Michelle Phillips said on Tuesday.

The agreement to curb carbon emissions was concluded on the sidelines of the first-ever G20 Leaders’ Summit hosted on African soil by South Africa this past weekend.

As a sustainability-linked loan, disbursements will be tied to progress on strategic targets. 

These include diversifying into transition minerals and increasing the use and purchase of 300 GWh of renewable electricity per year — equivalent to 20 percent of Transnet’s electricity needs.

The French contribution will also aim to promote a shift from road transport to rail, including the rehabilitation of 550 km of railway.

It will participate in the modernisation of port infrastructure, strengthening service quality, reliability, competitiveness, and overall attractiveness across Transnet’s network.

“Transnet is a long-standing partner of AFD, and is a key actor in South Africa’s low carbon transition. Our support will enable Transnet to pursue opportunities that will emerge from the green hydrogen economy, contribute to the modernisation of its operations and reduce its environmental footprint,” AFD CEO Rémy Rioux said.

This prospective AFD loan to Transnet forms part of France’s contribution to the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), which AFD has been implementing since 2021, and fulfils France’s €1 billion commitment announced at COP26 in support of South Africa’s just energy transition.

Completing the loan, a €7 million (R140 million) grant from the EU, AFD will assist Transnet in advancing its green hydrogen strategy, a cornerstone of its decarbonisation pathway, across key sectors including ports, rail, pipelines, and facilities. 

The funding will support key studies, impact assessments, pilot projects, and technical assistance that will refine Transnet’s green hydrogen roadmap and accelerate the scale-up of low-carbon hydrogen initiatives across South Africa.

“Through our investment strategy Global Gateway, the EU is supporting concrete investments in South Africa’s green hydrogen economy. Investments that cut emissions and create high quality jobs. With its central role in rail, ports and pipelines, Transnet is essential to building a credible and scalable hydrogen ecosystem. This partnership will help deliver the expertise and infrastructure needed for South Africa’s 2050 net-zero goals,” EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela said. –SAnews.gov.za 

Posted on

Nigeria: Renewed Spate of School Kidnappings

Source: APO – Report:

.

Nigerian authorities should act urgently to secure the safe release of students and teachers recently kidnapped in the country’s northwest and take concrete steps to protect schools and communities from further attacks, Human Rights Watch said today. The groups responsible for the kidnappings should immediately release the students and teachers they are holding captive.

On November 18, 2025, 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped by unidentified armed men from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi state. Just three days later, on November 21, 303 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped at St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger state.

“These mass school kidnappings once again lay bare the deliberate targeting of students, teachers, and schools in Nigeria’s deteriorating security environment,” said Anietie Ewang, Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The deepening crisis underscores the government’s failure to protect vulnerable communities.”

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Nigeria has in recent years been plagued by violent attacks and kidnappings by criminal gangs colloquially called “bandits.” These groups have carried out kidnappings for ransom, including of schoolchildren in Nigeria’s northwestern and central states. On November 18, the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen, or JNIM), which is active throughout the Sahel, claimed responsibility for an attack on a military patrol in Kwara state on October 29, apparently its first incursion into Nigerian territory.

Human Rights Watch spoke with parents of two of the girls abducted in Kebbi state. Isa Nazifi, whose 13-year-old daughter Khadija Nazifi, a junior secondary school student, was among those abducted, said: “I immediately took a motorbike and rushed to the school, where I found my second daughter, also a student at the school. She told me Khadija had been taken. We are extremely worried. My wife is in tears. I will stay here at the school until my daughter returns. If I go home without her, what will I tell my family?”

Malam Sani Zimri, whose daughter, Salima Sani Zimri, is a senior secondary school student who was also abducted, said he had heard rumors from other parents of a possible attack by bandits the week before the incident: “We developed confidence after seeing military operatives surveilling the area, only to realize that there were no security operatives on the premises for the entire three hours that the incident occurred.”

The 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction in Borno state by the armed Islamist group Boko Haram provoked global outrage. Since then, a series of school kidnappings across northern Nigeria has left families traumatized and entire communities living in fear that if their children went to school, they might never return home. In 2016, Human Rights Watch reported that Boko Haram had similarly abducted over 300 children from the Zanna Mobarti Primary School in Damasak, Borno state, in 2015.

In December 2020, more than 300 boys were kidnapped from a boarding school in Kankara, Katsina state. In early 2021, students were again taken in major incidents in Kagara, Niger state, and Jangebe, Zamfara state, followed by the kidnapping of over 100 studentsfrom Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna state. The spate of kidnappings continued in 2024 with students taken from schools in Kuriga, Kaduna state, and Gidan Bakuso, Sokoto state.

Nigerian authorities have failed to apply lessons from previous attacks to create early warning systems and other measures that could prevent these atrocities, Human Rights Watch said.

In response to the recent kidnappings, the government has promised to rescue the kidnapped students and hold those responsible accountable. President Bola Tinubu directed security agencies to act swiftly to bring the girls back while also urging local communities to share intelligence.

The authorities have also shut down 47 federal secondary schools known as Federal Unity Colleges, and some states including Katsina, Taraba, and Niger have also closed schools or restricted school activities, particularly boarding institutions. While these measures are aimed at protecting students, they have disrupted learning for thousands of children, denying them access to education and the social and psychological support schools provide. Without concrete measures to provide alternative learning opportunities to ensure continuity in their education, the students are at risk of falling behind academically and facing long term setbacks in their development.

Nigeria is a signatory to the Safe Schools Declaration, committing the government to take concrete steps to protect education during conflict and insecurity. Yet kidnappings have continued at a relentless pace and scale. On November 19, the Nigerian Senate ordered a full-scale investigationinto the implementation of the government’s Safe School Fund, questioning why money earmarked for protecting schools has failed to prevent recurring attacks. The government should move with urgency to advance a proposal to introduce legislation to implement the Safe Schools Declaration, Human Rights Watch said.

“Children in Nigeria have the right to go to school without fearing for their lives,” Ewang said. “Nigerian authorities should prioritize the safe release of the kidnapped children and their teachers and bring those responsible for their abduction to justice.”

– on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).