MIL-OSI – Page 112 – MIL Africa Engine

October 6, 2026

Sudan’s death toll in 2025 could be as high as 100,000: how we did the count

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Paola Vesco, Senior Researcher, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)

Estimates of the number of people directly killed in Sudan’s civil war vary widely, in part because counting casualties in active conflict zones is extremely difficult. In 2025, for instance, one conflict monitoring organisation reported around 19,000 direct deaths from political violence across Sudan. Other research teams put the toll at more than 70,000.

Conflict researcher Paola Vesco and her team have developed a model that helps measure the uncertainty around such conflict death estimates. Their approach takes into account the tendency of conflict datasets to underestimate fatalities, and provides a more realistic range of possible death tolls. They explain how their model could improve estimates in conflicts like Sudan’s.

What do we know about the number of dead in Sudan?

The number of people killed in Sudan’s war since it began in April 2023 remains contested. Deaths in 2025 have been especially hard to establish as communications were cut and humanitarian access was blocked.

In 2025, fighting intensified as the Rapid Support Forces – a paramilitary group which has fought the Sudanese army for control of the state since 2023 – advanced in Darfur and North Kordofan. Civilian deaths and displacement rose.

In February 2026, a UN fact-finding mission concluded that the Rapid Support Forces’ killings in El-Fasher bore the hallmarks of genocide.

The group’s capture of El-Fasher in the Darfur region in October 2025, after an 18-month siege, marked a significant territorial and strategic shift in the war. It consolidated the Rapid Support Forces’ control over much of Darfur and strengthened their position in western Sudan. It was also one of the war’s deadliest episodes.

Map of Sudan showing El-Fasher. Wikimedia

ACLED, a global conflict monitoring organisation, reported around 19,000 deaths, which it describes as a conservative minimum count of deaths directly caused by political violence in Sudan in 2025.

The Uppsala Conflict Data Program, a research team at Uppsala University that has recorded conflict deaths worldwide for decades, estimated that attacks against civilians killed at least 60,000 people. More than 10,000 died in fighting between the army and armed groups.

Drawing on survivors’ reports, satellite imagery and other evidence, Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab estimates that at least 60,000 people were killed during and after the paramilitary group’s capture of El-Fasher between late October and the end of December 2025.

Even worse, these figures capture only direct deaths from violence in Sudan. Many more have probably died from disease and starvation, as the Rapid Support Forces built earthen walls around El-Fasher in an effort to starve out the population.

Why are the estimates so different?

The true number of war deaths can never be known with certainty, but scholars understand reasonably well why estimates vary.

Much of the difference across reports stems from how organisations select and handle sources.

The Uppsala Conflict Data Program’s estimate of 60,000 killed in El-Fasher draws directly on Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab. It is corroborated by independent reporting from Sudanese media, NGOs and UN agencies.

Beyond this “best” (most likely) figure, Uppsala’s programme also keeps a “high” estimate (75,000), reflecting the upper end of Yale’s assessment, and a markedly lower “low” estimate to flag that the exact number of deaths is uncertain.

ACLED, on the other hand, reports a single fatality number. When sources disagree, it takes the most conservative figure.

The differences in the estimates of deaths also stem from how monitoring organisations process information.

Both the Uppsala Conflict Data Program and ACLED record the exact date and location of violent incidents when these are available. But ACLED only counts deaths that can be linked to a specific incident. Deaths reported only as a broad total, without identifiable incidents, may therefore be left out. Uppsala’s programme instead records them as a “summary” event, which presents the total death toll over a longer period or a wider area, rather than for a single attack.

This apparently simple rule matters enormously when many smaller, undated incidents add up to a large total, as in El-Fasher.

What did you do differently and what numbers did you come up with?

Providing an uncertainty estimate – a plausible range rather than a single number of people who may have died in war – reflects how much confidence an estimate deserves, and invites caution.

Still, most sources report only one number.

In a recently published article, we built an uncertainty estimate. We surveyed Uppsala Conflict Data Program’s expert coders to build a model converting any single number into a range of people that have plausibly died in a given war. This range is known as a “probability distribution”.

We applied this model to Sudan in 2025. The results are provided in the figure below. For each number of deaths on the horizontal axis, the height of the curve shows how plausible that number is according to our model. The higher the curve, the more plausible the number.

The peak of the curve from our model indicates that the most likely death toll in Sudan’s war in 2025 is close to 80,000 deaths. As our model is estimated from the Uppsala programme, it is unsurprising that this estimate is close to what they report.

Probability distribution of plausible fatalities for Sudan, 2025, estimated from our scientific article (Vesco et al., 2026, Journal of Conflict Resolution: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00220027261423826).

We find that the true number of people killed in 2025 is very likely (with a 90% probability) to fall between 73,000 and 90,000, and there is a small chance that the actual number is as high as 100,000.

This relatively small range indicates that the uncertainty around Sudan’s deaths is much narrower than assumed – even the lower bound number far exceeds many official estimates.

Our estimates, however, should be read with caution. They are informed by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program’s knowledge and only indirectly reflect other estimates. Crucially, our model results cannot be checked against the true number of deaths, which tends to remain unknown as conflict actors have incentives to conceal it.

Despite these caveats, providing a range of people that plausibly have died in war instead of a single figure gives weight to the estimate, and leaves little room to dismiss inconvenient numbers as unreliable.

Why are these data points important?

Understanding how conflict death estimates vary across sources, and why, increases transparency.

Around the attack on El-Fasher, the uncertainty around death reports became a political issue. We argue that it should be a scientific one. One that can be measured.

The evidence suggests that the El-Fasher massacre could have been prevented. Throughout the siege, NGOs and academic institutions repeatedly warned foreign officials of an impending bloodbath.

Pressure against the United Arab Emirates – the Rapid Support Forces’ main supporter – could have curbed the flow of weapons to the group. Yet, western politicians prioritised economic and political ties with Abu Dhabi over preventing atrocity. Officials looked the other way, ignoring or downplaying the reports of rising deaths as uncertain.

Since fighting broke out between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, Sudan has become one of the world’s worst humanitarian and displacement crises. More than 34 million people – over half the country’s population – need humanitarian assistance, including food aid. An estimated 14 million people have been displaced.

This suffering could have been foreseen and minimised. Even in the most conservative case, our model finds that more than 70,000 people died in 2025, most of them within a few months. Are 70,000 deaths enough to look the other way?

Conflict monitoring organisations such as the Uppsala Conflict Data Program have documented war deaths for decades, drawing on vetted sources and consistent coding rules. Since the uncertainty around their figures can be quantified, as our model shows, this uncertainty is no longer a reason for delay or inaction.

Decision-makers often have the information they need to act early. Used in time, this information can help prevent atrocities and save lives.

– Sudan’s death toll in 2025 could be as high as 100,000: how we did the count
– https://theconversation.com/sudans-death-toll-in-2025-could-be-as-high-as-100-000-how-we-did-the-count-292159

October 6, 2026

The global panel on inequality needs African evidence: here’s how it could work

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Murray Leibbrandt, UCT Emeritus Professor and Senior Research Scholar; Director of ARUA’s African Centre of Excellence for Inequality Research within SALDRU., University of Cape Town

World leaders have been asked to support a proposed International Panel on Inequality. Brazil, Norway, South Africa and Spain, together with Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, made the call on the margins of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York in September 2026.

The panel would be modelled on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It would assess the scale of inequality, its drivers and consequences, and the policies that can reduce it. The African Union endorsed the initiative in February, and South Africa intends to present a General Assembly resolution to establish it.

This is a significant step. Inequality could, for the first time, have a permanent scientific body within the multilateral system. But the usefulness of such a panel will depend on whose realities its assessments reflect.

Recent experience shows why this question matters. The Global Justice Report, released in June by the World Inequality Lab, puts forward ambitious proposals. But, as economists working on labour and informality recently argued, many of the proposals are based on how things work in high-income countries. They assume that certain kinds of employment relationships, labour protections and institutions exist.

For more than a decade the African Centre of Excellence for Inequality Research has produced country inequality diagnostics and analyses with African researchers and national statistical offices. Our work is summarised in our recent book on inequality in sub-Saharan Africa.

We think global initiatives are a great step forward. The problem is that frameworks built mainly on the data and institutions of the global north might not be accurate where inequality is most severe.

To address this problem, we have been closely involved in the development of the African Inequality Review. Its aim is to close the knowledge gap about inequality. It will start new cross-country research on African inequality and build a public resource linking the continent’s inequality datasets.

The review can offer three things:

African-led assessments of inequality, grounded in the continent’s institutions and labour markets
linked data infrastructure needed to study rents, assets and fiscal choices alongside household outcomes
a model of research designed with policymakers rather than delivered to them.

Africa will shape the future of global inequality

According to UN projections, sub-Saharan Africa will account for more than half of world population growth through to the end of this century. Almost all the global growth of the economically active population will come from Africa.

Most Africans are concentrated at the bottom of the global income distribution, so this demographic shift pulls the world’s distribution with it. Between 1990 and 2016, the share of the world’s poorest income decile living in sub-Saharan Africa rose from about one in five to one in three, according to African Development Bank and World Bank estimates.

Inequality within African countries is also among the highest in the world. The continent has seven of the world’s ten most unequal countries. In 2019, the richest 10% of Africans received about 54% of total income, and the poorest half received 9%.

The prospects of Africa’s young and growing population will therefore determine where global inequality goes. An international panel without a strong African evidence base would be assessing the past of global inequality rather than its future.

That evidence base remains thin. The picture of African inequality is based on fewer country observations than other regions. And different databases present markedly different pictures of the levels and changes in inequality on the continent.

Inputs on inequality

The African Inequality Review is modelled on two previous reviews:

the Deaton Review in the UK, a multi-year, multidisciplinary assessment of inequalities in income, wealth, health and opportunity led by the Institute for Fiscal Studies chaired by Nobel laureate Angus Deaton
the Latin American and Caribbean Inequality Review, a scholarly effort to explain why inequality in the region is still so high and what can be done about it.

The launch was held immediately after a meeting of the African Union and South Africa African Expert Panel. Having the panel involved ensured that senior African policymakers took part along with African and international practitioners and researchers. Participants were asked two questions.

Where are important policy choices being made without the evidence decision-makers need?
Which inequality questions, answered well, would change policy?

Several priorities emerged.

The first was that many of the most pressing evidence gaps lie where fiscal, corporate and asset data meet. Participants pointed to tax breaks that governments grant to individual large firms case by case, through negotiated agreements rather than through rules in tax law that apply to every firm. These incentives are rarely tied to results that can be checked, such as jobs created, purchases from local suppliers, or skills and technology passed on to local workers.

They also pointed to difficulties in assessing full economic and social returns to investments in public infrastructure. Impact studies routinely examine who is displaced by a new road and who gains market access. They far less often examine the impacts across the procurement chain and throughout time. In other words who wins contracts and subcontracts and who ultimately captures the rents.

Control over land, mineral resources and credit, and access to legal identity through civil registration, were raised in the same vein.

These patterns of control shape who gains access to opportunity and where productivity stays blocked. Assessments that ask whether a policy or an investment loosens those constraints, rather than only who gains and loses at the point of delivery, give a better account of its longer-term returns.

The second priority was that these questions build on household survey research rather than replace it. Decades of survey and panel data tell us who is poor, how people move in and out of poverty, and how disadvantage passes between generations. The frontier now is to link these microdata with tax records, administrative and firm-level data, and ownership and procurement registers. That would connect the distribution of outcomes to the mechanisms that produce them.

The third concerned the limits of single summary measures. A Gini coefficient, the single number ranging from 0 and 1 as inequality rises, summarises how unequally income is shared across a population. But it cannot tell a government whether its priority should be competition policy and progressive taxation, social protection, or early childhood investment.

Nor is there a known threshold where inequality becomes too high to sustain growth. This depends on what’s causing inequality in that context. For example, in many African contexts even low aggregate inequality masks strong gender biases.

The fourth was that policy design must start from the reality of informal livelihoods, rather than assume they can simply be regulated into formality.

Finally, participants stressed that researchers and policymakers need to work together from the outset if research is to inform decisions.

– The global panel on inequality needs African evidence: here’s how it could work
– https://theconversation.com/the-global-panel-on-inequality-needs-african-evidence-heres-how-it-could-work-292927

October 6, 2026

Coopération bilatérale : le Royaume-Uni réaffirme son engagement à aller de l’avant dans le partenariat avec le Burkina Faso

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Le camarade ministre des Affaires étrangères, Karamoko Jean Marie TRAORE, a reçu ce lundi du 05 octobre 2026, l’envoyé spécial du Royaume-Uni pour le Sahel, Monsieur Jonathan CROFT en visite de travail au Burkina Faso, accompagné de l’ambassadeur du Royaume-Uni au Burkina Faso, SEM Agnus MCKEE.

L’envoyé spécial du Royaume-Uni dit être venu échanger avec le Chef de la diplomatie burkinabè sur des perspectives de renforcement des relations de coopération entre son pays et le Burkina Faso, notamment dans le domaine des investissements et de la résilience face aux changements climatiques.

Pour lui, cette audience s’inscrit dans le prolongement des échanges entre le Camarade ministre des Affaires étrangères et la ministre britannique en charge du développement international, en septembre dernier à New York, en marge de la 81e Assemblée générale de l’ONU.

L’envoyé spécial a d’ailleurs salué l’organisation de l’évènement parallèle de la Confédération AES au Nations Unies, en ce sens qu’il a permis d’apporter une réponse aux narratifs erronés et de montrer un pan des avancées notables dans l’espace confédéral.

Reconnaissant que le terrorisme n’a pas de frontière, il a également salué les initiatives telles que la MISAHEL et a encouragé une approche plus globale dans la sous-région pour mieux faire face à ce phénomène.

Pour le Chef de la diplomatie burkinabè, une approche globale face au terrorisme pourrait avoir un succès à priori, mais cela nécessite une reconstruction de la confiance et une harmonisation dans la définition et la perception du terrorisme par l’ensemble des pays de la sous-région, qui sont touchés ou menacés par ce phénomène qui n’est pas endémique.

A l’issue des échanges, le diplomate britannique, s’est réjoui de l’ouverture des autorités burkinabè et a salué cette opportunité qui lui a été offerte, pour exprimer le souhait de son pays de développer davantage l’axe Ouagadougou-Londres.

Distribué par APO Group pour Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Burkina Faso.

October 6, 2026

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Congratulated the Kingdom of Lesotho on Its 60th Anniversary of Independence, Wishing Them Continued Peace, Stability and Progress Towards a Brighter Future

Source: APO

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) extends its warmest congratulations and best wishes to His Majesty King Letsie III, the Government, and the people of the Kingdom of Lesotho on the momentous occasion of the 60th Anniversary of Independence.

SADC joins all Basotho in celebrating the remarkable progress achieved in promoting peace, democracy, stability, and socio-economic advancement as the Kingdom continues to make important contributions towards regional integration, cooperation, and the collective pursuit of sustainable development and prosperity for the peoples of Southern Africa.

On this historic occasion, SADC wishes the Kingdom of Lesotho continued peace, unity, stability, and prosperity as the nation advances towards an even brighter future. May the celebrations of this Diamond Jubilee inspire renewed hope and commitment to building a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous Lesotho for generations to come.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Government of Lesotho.

October 6, 2026

Ghana and Kyrgyz Republic Deepen Bilateral Cooperation at Inaugural Political Consultations in Accra – Thursday, 1st October, 2026

Source: APO

Ghana and the Kyrgyz Republic have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations and advancing cooperation across a range of strategic areas following the inaugural Ghana-Kyrgyzstan Political Consultations held in Accra on Thursday, 1st October, 2026. The Consultations were led by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP) and his Kyrgyz counterpart, His Excellency Zheenbek Kulubaev.

In his remarks, Hon. Ablakwa welcomed his Kyrgyz counterpart and his delegation to Ghana and described the engagement as an important milestone in the evolving relations between the two countries. He recalled his official visit to Bishkek in March 2026, which marked the first official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic by an African Foreign Minister and opened a new chapter in Ghana-Kyrgyzstan relations. He also congratulated Kyrgyzstan on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 term and reaffirmed Ghana’s readiness to work closely with Kyrgyzstan.

For his part, H.E. Kulubaev expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Ghana for the warm reception accorded him and his delegation, as well as for Ghana’s support for Kyrgyzstan’s successful bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. He conveyed greetings from the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, H.E. Sadyr Japarov, and highlighted Kyrgyzstan’s interest in expanding its engagement with Africa, with Ghana identified as an important partner and potential gateway to West Africa. He reaffirmed Kyrgyzstan’s readiness to work with Ghana in advancing the interests of developing countries and promoting a more representative and effective multilateral system.

Discussions identified agriculture, education, mining, digital transformation, sports, healthcare and people-to-people exchange as key areas for enhanced cooperation, with discussions also covering trade and investment, livestock development, scholarships, climate change, tourism and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. Both sides further agreed to strengthen coordination on matters of common interest, including United Nations Security Council reform, international peace and security, sustainable development, climate change and the representation of developing countries in global decision-making.

The Consultations concluded with the signing of three (3) Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), which were;

i) MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Physical Culture and Sports between the Ministry of Sports and Recreation of Ghana and the State Agency of Physical Culture and Sports under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic;

ii) MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture of Ghana and the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic; and

iii) MoU and Cooperation between the Foreign Service Institute under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana and the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic named after Kazy Dikambaev.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Ghana.

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October 6, 2026

Foreign Minister on an Early Morning Surprise Visit to Measure Conditions of Ghanaian Visa Applicants

Source: APO

In the early morning of Monday 5th October, 2026, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, embarked on a working field visit, setting out to evaluate the conditions faced by Ghanaian visa applicants at over twenty Embassies and Visa Application Centers in Accra. He was accompanied by some senior officials of the Foreign Ministry.

This journey was more than a mere assessment of the current situation; it was an interactive experience, an opportunity to witness first-hand the current state of affairs and to engage in direct candid dialogue with fellow citizens regarding their unique encounters, in order to understand their experiences, and their hopes for a more streamlined process.

Speaking to the Media at the end of the tour, the Minister recalled that, in his first month as Foreign Minister, he had already made it a point to stress the importance of protecting the dignity and welfare of Ghanaian visa applicants. He had urged diplomatic Missions to address persistent issue of long waiting periods for appointments and ensure adequate arrangements were in place to protect applicants from the whims of unpredictable weather.

While he was pleased to acknowledge the considerable progress made by some missions, he was quick to add that, it is also clear that others must do more to ensure that the welfare of Ghanaians was truly safeguarded. He added that, as he has consistently emphasized, it is the prerogative of the diplomatic missions to determine who qualifies for their visas. Therefore, while he shall not interfere with this decision-making process, his role is to ensure that their actions safeguard the dignity of Ghanaians.

Throughout the journey, the Minister engaged with visa applicants eager to share his findings and observations with the concerned Missions. His goal was a collaborative effort towards securing improvements in the visa application process.

Therefore, in the days ahead, the Minister plans to engage with the Heads of the diplomatic Missions. Armed with his observations and findings, his aim is to foster a collaborative effort towards securing improvements in their respective operations, and to see to it that concrete steps are taken to uphold the dignity of Ghanaians.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and the Minister took the first stride towards bettering the visa application process. He looks forward to the days ahead, where together with the diplomatic Missions, they can create a system that not only meets the needs of Ghanaian citizens but also reflects the pride and dignity of Ghana.

Thus, the Minister’s visit is not just a report card, but a call to action. It is a reminder that the welfare of Ghanaian citizens is paramount to the Government of Ghana, and that every diplomatic Mission in Ghana has a responsibility to uphold the highest standards of service. Together, we can strive for a system that is not just efficient, but also compassionate and respectful of the dignity of all involved.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Ghana.

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October 6, 2026

Uganda: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chair Demands Evidence of Impact From Government Projects

Source: APO

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has challenged Government project managers to demonstrate the actual impact of development projects, saying the completion of buildings and other outputs does not necessarily prove that public funds achieved their intended results.

PAC (Central Government) Committee Chairperson Hon. Patrick Nsamba said government must assess whether projects deliver the outcomes for which they were funded, rather than relying on the number of facilities constructed or services established.

Nsamba made the remarks as the team that implemented the 10-year Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project (CEDP) appeared before the committee to account for the project’s implementation and results on Tuesday, 06 October 2026.

The project, implemented in two phases between 2014 and 2024 with World Bank financing, supported reforms in land administration, business registration, tourism and the private sector.

The project team told MPs that about US$202.3 million (approx. Shs800 billion), had been spent over the project period. It reported several achievements, including the construction of 22 Ministry of Lands zonal offices, development of a National Land Information System and the digitisation of business registration.

However, Nsamba questioned whether such outputs were sufficient to demonstrate the project’s success.

“I think going forward, among the things that we must always do at the end of the project cycle is to evaluate those indicators,” Nsamba said.

“If you set the indicators right in 2014 and now you are in 2024, you are closing the project, you must be able to attribute certain outcomes out of this, other than talking about outputs at the end of the project,” he added.

He cited the construction of buildings and tourism facilities as examples where the project needed to demonstrate the actual benefits to citizens and the economy.

“Yes, you constructed the building. But how did it improve the business environment?” Nsamba asked adding that, “Yes, you did the hotel in Jinja. But which contribution did it make?”

His concerns followed a presentation by CEDP Project Manager John Marie Kyewalabye, who outlined infrastructure and institutional reforms implemented under the project.

Kyewalabye said the project had, among other interventions, reduced the time required to register a business from 33 days to one day and a few hours, while also putting business registration services online.

He said the project also supported the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, Uganda Tourism Board, Uganda Wildlife Authority and provided matching grants to 312 micros, small and medium enterprises worth US$2.79 million.

“The reason we went there was to enhance capacity of Ugandans to be able to provide and work within this hotel sector. Under the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, we constructed an application hotel, which the students are using for training. We also completely reconstructed the school, the administration block and the lecture rooms,” he said.

The project team also attributed an increase in non-tax revenue and business registrations to the reforms.

However, Nsamba questioned whether such increases could be directly attributed to CEDP, given that government continued to fund the beneficiary institutions.

Hon. Ignatius Wamakuyu (Ind., Elgon County) questioned how the loan would be repaid, particularly whether government had put mechanisms in place to recover money through fees and charges from land registration, as envisaged in the financing agreement.

The committee also challenged the project team over its claim that interventions had contributed to more than US$320 million in non-tax revenue.

Nsamba said such claims require a clear methodology showing what portion of the revenue was generated as a result of the project.

Hon. Fredrick Angura (NRM, Tororo South County) questioned whether CEDP’s interventions had been duplicating work already being done by ministries and agencies, asking how the project aligned its work plans with those institutions.

An independent assessment cited by the project team rated CEDP’s implementation as successful.

However, the committee’s scrutiny showed that success in implementation and completion of planned activities may not, on their own, establish whether a project produced the intended long-term impact.

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

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October 6, 2026

Strengthening the Surveillance and Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases Within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Region

Source: APO

The 11th annual meeting of the animal health networks will be held from 6th to 8th of October 2026 in Lomé, Togo, on the theme “Strengthening the surveillance and control of transboundary animal diseases in the ECOWAS region”.

The meeting aims to consolidate regional governance of animal health, strengthen coordination between the various stakeholders, and adopt strategic and operational tools essential for the prevention, early detection and control of transboundary animal diseases.

The meeting will be attended by heads of veterinary services, presidents of national veterinary associations, and focal points from the regional networks of animal health laboratories (RESOLAB) and epidemiological surveillance (RESEPI) from the member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Sahel.

Representatives from the Regional Animal Health Centre (RAHC), the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) and the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Disease Control, as well as technical and financial partners, will also be in attendance.

The meeting will provide an opportunity to present to the heads of veterinary services the findings of the “comparative study of national regulations and legislation on animal health, animal welfare and zoosanitary regulations governing trade in livestock between Sahelian and coastal countries”.

In addition to formal discussions, participants will also examine the epidemiological situation regarding the main transboundary animal diseases in ECOWAS member states.

At the same time, they will analyse and adopt the electronic platform of the Regional Animal Health Information System (RAHIS), developed by the RAHC and designed to improve the collection, analysis, sharing and use of animal health data for rapid and coordinated decision-making.

On the sidelines of the meeting, a gathering of ECOWAS ministers responsible for animal health will be held to endorse regional strategies for the protection and conservation of donkeys by 2030, for the prevention and control of foot-and-mouth disease in West Africa (2026–2030) and for the prevention and control of highly pathogenic avian influenza and the associated action plans (2026–2031).

This 11th annual meeting of animal health networks is organised by the Regional Animal Health Centre (RAHC), a specialised agency of the ECOWAS Commission. Originally based in Bamako, Mali, it is now located in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.

Established in 2012, the RAHC is responsible for strengthening regional cooperation on animal health and welfare. Its primary remit is to coordinate and harmonise the policies and interventions of ECOWAS Member States in the prevention and control of transboundary animal diseases and zoonoses.

It also contributes to strengthening epidemiological surveillance, improving regional information and notification systems on animal diseases, sharing information and raising awareness amongst veterinary services, professionals and livestock farmers’ organisations.

The RAHC also works to develop the capacities of veterinary services and to strengthen partnerships at regional, continental and international levels.

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

October 6, 2026

“Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for All” Sensitisation Campaign Launched to Deepen Public Awareness and Citizen Engagement

Source: APO

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially launched the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) National Citizens Engagement and Public Sensitisation Campaign, dubbed “ECOWAS for All,” with a call for stronger public awareness and participation in the regional integration process.

Speaking at the Launching Ceremony, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable James Gyakye Quayson stated that, over the past five decades while ECOWAS had made significant contributions to regional peace and security, free movement, trade and cooperation, many citizens remained unaware of the opportunities and rights available to them under various ECOWAS protocols. The campaign was therefore aimed at bridging the knowledge gap between ECOWAS policies and the everyday experiences of ordinary citizens, he noted.

He cited visa-free travel within the Community, opportunities for regional trade under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), and the right to reside and establish businesses in other Member States, subject to applicable national laws, as some of the benefits of regional integration.

Honourable Gyakye Quayson explained that the campaign would adopt a citizen-centred approach through stakeholder forums, market sensitisation activities at Makola and Madina Markets, border community engagements at the Aflao and Elubo border, media outreach, and student workshops would provide platforms for traders, transport operators, students and residents to raise concerns regarding customs procedures, documentation and border processes, while also providing feedback to policymakers and implementing institutions.

He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to regional integration and “ECOWAS Vision 2050”, and called on traders, transport operators, business associations, educational institutions, the media and government agencies to actively support the campaign and promote greater understanding of ECOWAS programmes and opportunities.

In her welcome remarks, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Khadija Idrissu noted that, the campaign represented Ghana’s practical contribution to the long-standing objective of transforming ECOWAS from a Community of States into a community of people, by bridging the knowledge gap on the opportunities created by ECOWAS in the areas of travel, trade, employment and education, to enable citizens fully access these benefits.

She stated that the Ministry would, in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies and key stakeholders, take the campaign directly to communities and border areas to educate citizens while also listening to their concerns. She stressed that feedback from traders, transport operators, border communities, students and other stakeholders would be important in informing efforts to improve the implementation of ECOWAS policies and procedures.

The ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana, Ambassador Mohammed Lawan Gana, described the campaign as timely, noting that regional integration could only achieve its full

potential when its benefits were understood, accessible and meaningful to ordinary citizens. He stated that ECOWAS was not merely an institution but a community of people whose success should ultimately be measured by the tangible improvements experienced in their daily lives.

Amb. Mohammed highlighted opportunities available to citizens in trade, education, skills development, entrepreneurship and investment. He also drew attention to initiatives such as the ECOWAS biometric identification system and the SIGMAT automated transit management platform, which are intended to facilitate movement and cross-border trade. He called for sustained efforts to close the gap between regional policies and citizens’ knowledge and experience and encouraged citizens, particularly youth, women, civil society, the private sector, traditional and religious leaders and the media, to become active participants in regional integration.

On his part, Mr. Ahmed Tijani, a Director of the Regional Integration Bureau of the Ministry, gave an overview of the campaign and indicated that the campaign would be heavy on the use of the local Ghanaian languages, where appropriate, in order for the messaging to deeply permeate to the citizens.

The Deputy Commissioner of Immigration and Head of Operations at the Ghana Immigration Service, Mr. Justice Amevor, emphasised the importance of strengthening the implementation of the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol. He noted that although several measures had been introduced over the years, challenges remained in ensuring the recognition and effective use of regional travel documents.

He explained that the ECOWAS biometric identity card, popularly known in Ghana as Ghana Card, was introduced as part of efforts to harmonise travel documentation and facilitate free movement across Member States. He expressed the hope that the campaign would contribute to greater public understanding and improved implementation of the biometric card as a recognised travel document.

The Secretary-General of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme, Mr. Richard Sarbah Eshun, also welcomed the campaign and used the occasion to sensitise the public on the Brown Card Scheme. He explained that the scheme facilitates compensation for victims of cross-border motor accidents and enables claims arising from such accidents to be handled through the appropriate national bureau rather than requiring affected persons to travel to the country where the vehicle is registered.

The Launch, under the theme, “Bringing ECOWAS Closer to the Citizen: promoting Awareness, Participation and Opportunities for Regional Integration” brought together members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, ECOWAS institutions, business and civil society organisations, the academia and the media fraternity.

The “ECOWAS for All” sensitisation campaign is expected to extend over the coming months, with engagements designed to bring information on ECOWAS directly to citizens and strengthen their participation in the regional integration process. It ultimately seeks to ensure that regional integration moves beyond government institutions and policy frameworks to become a practical reality in the lives of citizens across Ghana.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Ghana.

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October 6, 2026

Ambassador of Uganda Visits His Highness (H.H.) Crown Prince of Fujairah

Source: APO

His Excellency Zaake Wanume Kibedi, Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to the United Arab Emirates, paid a courtesy visit to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah.

His Excellency the Ambassador extended an invitation to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, to the 5th Edition of Uganda – UAE Business Forum – Fujairah Chapter, scheduled to be held on 29th October 2026 in Fujairah.

The meeting included discussions on matters of mutual interest and ways to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between the two sides across various fields.

His Excellency the Ambassador expressed his pleasure at meeting the Crown Prince of Fujairah and his appreciation for the warm welcome, praising the significant development taking place across the Emirate of Fujairah in all areas.

The Mission’s delegation was headed by His Excellency Zaake Wanume Kibedi, Ambassador of Uganda, and attended by Ms. Aisa Ismail, Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. James B. Wafula, Minister Counsellor, Mr. Jeffrey F. Baiga, Counsellor, Ms. Erina Zalwango, Counsellor, and Ms. Ashah Nabbanja, First Secretary.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the Republic of Uganda, Abudhabi.

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