Category: MIL-OSI

Posted on

“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.

Media files

.

Posted on

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.

Media files

.

Posted on

African Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) express optimism, but credit risk and policy gaps hinder intra-African trade

Source: APO


.

Preliminary results from the 2026 PAFTRAC (https://PAFTRAC.Afreximbank.com/) Africa CEO Trade Survey, presented at the WTO Public Forum in Geneva, revealed that 81.3 per cent of senior executives expect their cross-border activity to expand over the next twelve months.

Intra-African commerce has overtaken China, Europe, and the United States as executives’ principal target destination. However, intra-African merchandise trade remains stalled at 15-18 per cent of total exports, showing negligible change despite the operational rollout of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The survey, now in its sixth year and expanded from 400 respondents in 2021 to over 2,500 in 2026, is the most robust barometer of African executive sentiment on trade available. Its findings point to a continent where the appetite for regional integration is outpacing the systems designed to enable it.

A $31 billion penalty on African trade

At the centre of that structural gap sits a financing barrier that goes beyond access to capital. African sovereign and institutional borrowers consistently attract risk ratings from Western credit agencies that, according to IFC analysis, impose an estimated excess premium of $31 billion annually.

“The core issue is risk perception, or what many of us call a prejudice premium,” said Professor Patrick Utomi, Chairperson of PAFTRAC. “When capital is priced so that an economy actively at war receives more competitive financing than a stable, peaceful African sovereign, the system is misreading reality. Outdated global rules and subjective rating methodologies are imposing a direct tax on African trade.”

The consequences are dire. A total of 57 per cent of the executives surveyed described access to trade finance for cross-border transactions as difficult or very difficult. The IFC estimates Africa’s SME financing gap at more than $331 billion.

Implementation is the bottleneck

The survey’s findings on the AfCFTA reveal a sharp divide between commercial goodwill and operational reality. While 70.2 per cent of respondents report a tangible operational impact from AfCFTA-related reforms, awareness of the agreement’s practical execution mechanisms remains critically low.

More than half of respondents are unfamiliar with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), a framework designed to bypass the friction of dollar clearing in intra-African transactions. Knowledge of the E-Tariff Book, the African Trade Observatory and the AfCFTA’s non-tariff barrier reporting tools is similarly limited.

Full report: October 2026

The presentation was the first public unveiling of the survey’s preliminary findings. The full 2026 PAFTRAC Africa CEO Trade Survey Report is scheduled for publication in October 2026. It will provide a comprehensive analysis of trade barriers, AfCFTA implementation progress, and financing constraints, and feature private-sector policy recommendations drawn from over 2,500 executives across the continent.

To register interest in the full report or attend the launch webinar, please visit: https://apo-opa.co/4rRN0y2

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Pan-African Private Sector Trade and Investment Committee (PAFTRAC).

Notes to Editors:
The preliminary findings were presented at the WTO Public Forum 2026 in Geneva on 16 September 2026, in a session convened by Afreximbank and PAFTRAC. The session panel comprised Professor Patrick Utomi (PAFTRAC), Helina Bischoff (Swiss-Africa Business Circle), Miyoba Lubemba (International Trade Centre) and Vasiliki Mavroeidi (OECD Development Centre), moderated by Lukwesa Burak (African Business Magazine).

Media enquiries:
For more information on the PAFTRAC Africa CEO Trade Report 2026, including access to the full presentation of preliminary results, please contact Rawan El Araby via email at r.elaraby@icpublications.com

About PAFTRAC:
The Pan-African Private Sector Trade and Investment Committee (PAFTRAC) unites African private-sector leaders and provides a unique advocacy platform that brings together the African private sector and African policymakers to support extra- and intra-African trade, investment, and pan-African enterprise. The platform drives pan-African results by providing a framework for private-sector engagement on trade and investment issues in Africa, including policy formulation and trade negotiations, to support African economies in line with the ambitions of Agenda 2063: “The Africa We Want”. PAFTRAC enhances advocacy and supports policy actions and recommendations of the private sector on trade, and investment issues at the national, trade corridor, regional and multilateral levels.

Posted on

South Africa: President Ramaphosa to officiate launch of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR) Futurepharma facility

Source: APO


.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, 7 October 2026, officiate the launch of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR) FuturePharma facility, which aims to advance pharmaceutical innovation and manufacturing.

The launch will take place at the CSIR in Pretoria and marks an important milestone in efforts to strengthen South Africa’s pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem and expand domestic capacity to develop and manufacture critical medicines and pharmaceutical products.

FuturePharma is an open-access pharmaceutical innovation and manufacturing facility established by the CSIR to support the development and production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and other pharmaceutical technologies, while strengthening South Africa’s pharmaceutical value chain.

The facility aims to bridge the gap between promising laboratory research and the development, scale-up and commercialisation of pharmaceutical technologies. It will provide researchers, innovators and industry partners with access to specialised infrastructure and expertise to advance technologies towards manufacturing, while supporting technology transfer and skills development.

The facility will also support local API and medicine production, helping to reduce dependence on imports and strengthen security of supply. In addition, it will contribute to South Africa’s preparedness for future pandemics and health emergencies by strengthening local pharmaceutical capabilities.

The launch will bring together members of the Executive and senior representatives from government, the science and innovation community, and industry.

President Ramaphosa will officiate the launch as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 7 October 2026
Time: 10h00 
Venue: CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

Posted on

When streets become pharmacies: Booming illicit markets in Central Africa

Source: APO

Antibiotics, malaria treatments, painkillers, opioids. More than 250 tonnes of medical products were seized over six years in Central Africa. Behind those numbers is an illicit market that thrives not simply despite the region’s fragile health systems, but in part because of them.

When medicines are scarce, unaffordable or simply too far away, illicit sellers have proved adept at filling the void.

That is the dynamic described in a new report released Tuesday by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The illicit trade extends far beyond falsified drugs. It includes genuine medicines diverted from legitimate supply chains, unapproved products and drugs smuggled across borders.

251 tonnes seized

From 2020 through 2025, authorities seized 251 tonnes of medical products in Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic and Chad. Annual seizures rose from about five tonnes in 2020 to nearly 116 tonnes in 2024, before exceeding 97 tonnes in 2025.

The United Nations cautioned against interpreting the increase as a straightforward measure of the trade’s growth. Larger seizures can reflect both greater trafficking and more aggressive enforcement, and the available data vary considerably among countries and from year to year.

Still, the scale is striking. Cameroon accounted for nearly all of the seizures recorded in 2025, with 96 tonnes intercepted, compared with just 2.5 tonnes five years earlier. The products intercepted across the region range from antibiotics, antimalarial and anti-inflammatory drugs to painkillers and such psychoactive substances as tramadol and pregabalin.

“The report outlines a multimodal trafficking system that uses maritime, riverine, air and road routes and involves a broad range of actors,” said Sylvie Bertrand, UNODC’s regional representative for West and Central Africa.

High costs fuel illicit markets

But the report, produced with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), suggests that the roots of the trade are partly beyond the reach of law enforcement.

Malaria, tuberculosis and HIV remain widespread across the region, while public health systems often struggle to provide treatment. In 2023, the WHO’s universal health-coverage index placed all six countries in the Central African economic bloc among the world’s poorest performers. Chad scored just 26 out of 100, compared with a global average of 71.

Distance and cost compound the problem. In the Central African Republic and Chad, more than half the population lived at least two hours from a public hospital providing emergency care, according to data cited in the report. In Chad, a prefilled insulin syringe cost the equivalent of nearly 16 days’ wages for the lowest-paid government employee.

Competitive pricing

Under those circumstances, buying medicine on the street can become less an alternative to the formal health system than a necessity. Consumers in the Central African Republic told researchers that informal sellers allowed them to “buy one or two tablets for about 100 CFA francs” – roughly 20 cents – rather than “buy the medicines in a box of 12 [at a pharmacy]”.

The result is a marketplace where legitimate, falsified and substandard medicines can be difficult to distinguish.

From 2013 to 2025, WHO’s surveillance system recorded incidents involving 228 medical products in the Central African economic bloc. Of those, 71 per cent were classified as falsified and 11 per cent as substandard. Perhaps more troubling, a third of the incidents were detected in regulated supply chains, suggesting that buying medicine from an authorised outlet does not eliminate the risk.

In April 2025, the WHO reported falsified batches of amoxicillin in Cameroon and the Central African Republic that did not contain the active ingredient listed on their labels. In September 2026, Cameroonian authorities seized thousands of cartons in Yaoundé containing, among other things, counterfeit medicines, packaging materials used to repackage drugs and psychotropic substances.

From ports to armed groups

The trafficking routes largely follow the arteries of legitimate regional commerce. The ports of Apapa in Nigeria and Douala in Cameroon, along with river ports in Brazzaville and Bangui, were identified as major entry points. Authorities also seized 7.3 tonnes of medical products at airports across the region from 2020 through 2025.

The criminal networks behind the trade are equally varied. They include clandestine manufacturers, wholesalers, informal vendors, couriers, health care workers, corrupt public officials and online sellers.

Armed groups have also found ways to profit, according to the report, by looting health facilities, reselling medicines or collecting “taxes” from convoys crossing territory under their control.

Dire consequences for patients

For patients, the consequences can be dire. Medicines containing the wrong ingredients or incorrect doses can cause poisoning, treatment failure and death. They can also contribute to antimicrobial resistance, allowing bacteria and other pathogens to evolve in ways that make existing medicines less effective.​

In 2023, 12 children in Cameroon died after taking a pediatric syrup containing contaminated ingredients, according to UNODC.

Yet, the same weaknesses that expose patients to illicit medicines also complicate efforts to stamp out the trade.

“No State can tackle this transnational challenge alone,” said Ms. Bertrand, the agency’s regional representative. 

The report calls for countries to harmonise their laws, strengthen controls and improve cross-border cooperation. But, it also argues for expanding access to safe and affordable medicines, for the illicit market is responding to a demand the formal health system has failed to meet.

Cutting off illegal supplies without addressing the shortages, high prices and distances that drive patients toward them risks leaving the market for illicit medicines largely intact.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

Media files

.

Posted on

SA’s circular economy is no longer optional, it is our next economic frontier

Source: Government of South Africa

SA’s circular economy is no longer optional, it is our next economic frontier

By Narend Singh

South Africa stands at an important crossroads. As we confront the realities of climate change, rising resource costs, unemployment, and increasing pressure on municipal waste systems, we face a simple choice: continue with an outdated economic model that treats resources as disposable, or embrace a circular economy that transforms waste into opportunity.

The choice should be clear.

For decades, our economy has largely followed a linear path: we extract, manufacture, consume, and dispose. While this model has supported industrial growth, it has also generated enormous environmental costs and placed increasing pressure on our natural resources and public infrastructure.

Today, the circular economy offers a different vision. It challenges us to see waste not as the end of a product’s life, but as the beginning of a new economic opportunity.

Around the world, countries are recognising that circularity is no longer simply an environmental ambition. It has become an important driver of competitiveness, innovation and industrial resilience. South Africa cannot afford to be left behind.

Fortunately, we have already begun laying the foundations for this transition.

Government’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations represent one of the most significant policy interventions undertaken in the waste management sector in recent years. These regulations require producers to take responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products throughout their life cycle, creating incentives for better product design, greater recycling and stronger investment in collection systems.

Importantly, EPR is about far more than regulatory compliance.

When implemented effectively, it creates jobs, supports small enterprises, stimulates innovation and reduces the financial burden on municipalities that are increasingly struggling to manage growing waste volumes. It strengthens local manufacturing by returning valuable materials to productive use while reducing dependence on virgin resources.

The plastics sector provides an excellent example of this opportunity. 

Too often, plastics are viewed only through the lens of pollution. Yet plastics remain essential to modern society, supporting industries ranging from healthcare and agriculture to construction and food security. The challenge is therefore not the material itself, but how we manage it. 

Keeping plastics circulating within the economy through reuse, repair and recycling reduces pollution while unlocking significant economic value. It creates new business opportunities, strengthens local value chains and supports thousands of livelihoods across the recycling economy.

This is why partnerships between government, industry and Producer Responsibility Organisations such as Polyco have become increasingly important. Their work demonstrates what can be achieved when regulation is matched by innovation, investment and collaboration.

Government remains committed to strengthening these partnerships.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is currently reviewing the implementation of the EPR Regulations after five years to ensure that the system remains effective, transparent and responsive to emerging challenges. At the same time, through support from the Global Environment Facility, we are identifying practical interventions that can accelerate South Africa’s transition towards a circular plastics economy.

These initiatives align closely with the country’s broader industrial development agenda, which increasingly recognises circular economy principles as central to long-term economic competitiveness. However, regulation and policy alone will not deliver the transformation we seek. 

Success will depend on collaboration across society.

Municipalities require stronger waste management infrastructure. Businesses must continue investing in product innovation and recycling systems. Communities need greater access to separation at source programmes. Waste pickers, who already make an invaluable contribution to recycling, deserve greater recognition, formal integration and fair economic opportunities.

Most importantly, we must change how we think about waste itself. 

Across the country, encouraging examples are already emerging. Wastewater is being transformed into a valuable resource that strengthens water security. Former landfill sites are being repurposed to generate renewable energy. Materials once destined for disposal are creating employment, supporting entrepreneurs and reducing environmental pollution. 

These are not isolated success stories. They are early signs of the economy we can build.

South Africa also has an opportunity to provide leadership beyond our own borders. Through our role as co-chair of the Africa Circular Economy Alliance, we are working alongside our continental partners to mobilise investment, strengthen circular economy initiatives and promote more sustainable approaches to resource management across Africa.

The transition to a circular economy is therefore not simply an environmental imperative. It is an economic development strategy, an industrial policy opportunity and a pathway towards greater resilience. Protecting our environment and growing our economy are not competing objectives. When approached thoughtfully, they reinforce one another.

The circular economy allows us to reduce pollution while creating jobs. It enables us to conserve resources while strengthening industrial competitiveness. It supports climate action while improving the quality of life in our communities.

This is precisely the kind of inclusive growth South Africa needs.

Our shared challenge now is to move beyond viewing sustainability as a compliance obligation and instead recognise it as a catalyst for innovation, investment and prosperity.

If government, industry, municipalities and citizens continue working together, we can build an economy that wastes less, creates more and leaves a healthier, more prosperous country for future generations.

*Singh is the Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

 

Neo

0

Posted on

Les Président-Directeur Général (PDG) africains se montrent optimistes, mais le risque de crédit et les obstacles réglementaires freinent le commerce intra-africain

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Les résultats préliminaires de l’enquête PAFTRAC (https://PAFTRAC.Afreximbank.com/) 2026 auprès des PDG africains sur le commerce, présentés lors du Forum public de l’OMC à Genève, ont révélé que 81,3 % des cadres supérieurs s’attendent à ce que leurs activités transfrontalières se développent au cours des douze prochains mois.

Le commerce intra-africain a dépassé la Chine, l’Europe et les États-Unis en tant que principale destination ciblée par les dirigeants. Cependant, le commerce intra-africain de marchandises reste bloqué entre 15 et 18 % du total des exportations et n’a que très peu progressé malgré la mise en œuvre opérationnelle de la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAf).

Cette enquête, qui en est désormais à sa sixième édition et dont l’échantillon est passé de 400 répondants en 2021 à plus de 2 500 en 2026, constitue l’un des baromètres les plus fiables du sentiment des dirigeants africains à l’égard du commerce. Ses conclusions mettent en évidence un continent où l’appétit pour l’intégration régionale dépasse les capacités des systèmes conçus pour la rendre possible.

Un surcoût de 31 milliards de dollars pour le commerce africain

Au cœur de ce fossé structurel se trouve un obstacle financier qui va au-delà de l’accès au capital. Les emprunteurs souverains et institutionnels africains se voient systématiquement attribuer des notations de risque par les agences de notation occidentales qui, selon une analyse de la SFI, se traduisent par un surcoût estimé à 31 milliards de dollars par an.

« Le cœur du problème réside dans la perception du risque, ou ce que beaucoup d’entre nous appellent une “prime de préjugé” », a déclaré le professeur Patrick Utomi, président de PAFTRAC. « Lorsqu’une économie en pleine guerre obtient des conditions de financement plus avantageuses qu’un État africain stable et en paix, c’est que le système interprète mal la réalité. Des règles mondiales obsolètes et des méthodologies de notation subjectives imposent une taxe directe sur le commerce africain. »

Les conséquences sont considérables. Au total, 57 % des dirigeants interrogés ont qualifié l’accès au financement du commerce pour les transactions transfrontalières de difficile ou très difficile. La SFI estime le déficit de financement des PME africaines à plus de 331 milliards de dollars.

La mise en œuvre est le goulot d’étranglement

Les conclusions de l’enquête sur la ZLECAf révèlent un fossé profond entre la volonté commerciale et la réalité opérationnelle. Alors que 70,2 % des personnes interrogées font état d’un impact opérationnel tangible des réformes liées à la ZLECAf, la connaissance des mécanismes permettant sa mise en œuvre concrète reste très limitée.

Plus de la moitié des personnes interrogées ne connaissent pas le Système panafricain de paiement et de règlement (PAPSS), un dispositif conçu pour contourner les frictions liées à la compensation en dollars dans les transactions intra-africaines. La connaissance de l’« E-Tariff Book », de l’Observatoire africain du commerce et des outils de signalement des barrières non tarifaires de la ZLECAf est tout aussi limitée.

Rapport complet : octobre 2026

Cette présentation constituait la première présentation publique des résultats préliminaires de l’enquête. La publication du rapport complet de l’enquête PAFTRAC 2026 auprès des PDG africains sur le commerce est prévue pour octobre 2026. Il fournira une analyse exhaustive des barrières commerciales, des progrès réalisés dans la mise en œuvre de la ZLECAf et des contraintes de financement, et présentera des recommandations de politique publique émanant du secteur privé, formulées à partir des réponses de plus de 2 500 dirigeants à travers le continent.

Pour recevoir le rapport complet ou participer au webinaire de lancement, veuillez vous rendre sur : https://apo-opa.co/4rRN0y2

Distribué par APO Group pour Pan-African Private Sector Trade and Investment Committee (PAFTRAC).

Notes à l’attention des rédacteurs :
Les conclusions préliminaires ont été présentées lors du Forum public de l’OMC 2026, qui s’est tenu à Genève le 16 septembre 2026, dans le cadre d’une session organisée par Afreximbank et PAFTRAC. Le panel de cette session était composé du professeur Patrick Utomi (PAFTRAC), d’Helina Bischoff (Swiss-Africa Business Circle), de Miyoba Lubemba (Centre du commerce international) et de Vasiliki Mavroeidi (Centre de développement de l’OCDE), sous la modération de Lukwesa Burak (African Business Magazine).

Contact presse :
Pour plus d’informations sur le rapport « PAFTRAC Africa CEO Trade Report 2026 », y compris l’accès à la présentation complète des résultats préliminaires, veuillez contacter Rawan El Araby par e-mail à l’adresse r.elaraby@icpublications.com

À propos de PAFTRAC :
le Comité panafricain du commerce et de l’investissement du secteur privé (PAFTRAC) rassemble les dirigeants du secteur privé africain et offre une plateforme de plaidoyer unique qui met en relation le secteur privé africain et les décideurs politiques africains afin de soutenir le commerce et les investissements intra- et extra-africains, ainsi que l’entrepreneuriat panafricain. Cette plateforme contribue à faire progresser les priorités panafricaines en fournissant un cadre pour l’engagement du secteur privé sur les questions de commerce et d’investissement en Afrique, notamment l’élaboration des politiques et les négociations commerciales, afin de soutenir les économies africaines conformément aux ambitions de l’Agenda 2063 : « L’Afrique que nous voulons ». PAFTRAC renforce le plaidoyer et soutient les actions et recommandations du secteur privé en matière de commerce et d’investissement aux niveaux national, régional et multilatéral, ainsi qu’au niveau des corridors commerciaux.

Posted on

Know your rental rights: What tenants and landlords need to know

Source: Government of South Africa

Know your rental rights: What tenants and landlords need to know

Renting a home comes with rights and responsibilities for both tenants and landlords. When disputes arise, the Rental Housing Tribunal provides a mechanism for resolving them without either party having to pay a fee.

The Rental Housing Tribunal is an independent body appointed by a provincial MEC in terms of the Rental Housing Act. Tribunals are established in all nine provinces to provide free, effective and efficient services to resolve disputes between tenants and landlords in residential rental properties.

What can the Rental Housing Tribunal do?

The Tribunal has a range of powers to resolve rental disputes. These include determining whether a matter falls within its jurisdiction, summoning or subpoenaing a tenant or landlord to a hearing or mediation, and conducting hearings either in person or virtually.

It can also issue mandatory or prohibitors interdicts requiring a tenant or landlord to comply with provisions of the Rental Housing Act.

Tribunal rulings have the same force as a judgment of the Magistrates’ Court. The Tribunal can impose fines, make determinations on fair rentals and issue spoliation orders, among other measures.

Who can lodge a complaint?

A tenant, landlord, group of tenants or landlords, or an interest group may lodge a complaint with the Tribunal.

A prescribed complaint form can be submitted:

•    In person at a Rental Housing Tribunal office;
•    Electronically to the Tribunal or an established Rental Housing Information Office;
•    At a Rental Housing Information Office operated under a local authority or municipality; or
•    Through another method permitted by the relevant Tribunal.
•    What happens after a complaint is lodged?

Once a complaint is registered, the Tribunal conducts a preliminary investigation to determine whether it has jurisdiction and whether the matter constitutes an unfair practice.

Both parties are then notified, and mediation is scheduled in an attempt to resolve the dispute.

If the parties reach an agreement, the mediation agreement can be made an order of the Tribunal.

If no agreement is reached, the matter is referred to the Tribunal for a hearing, known as arbitration. The Tribunal then makes a ruling that is binding on the parties, unless it is an interim order.

Where a party fails to comply with a mediation agreement or Tribunal ruling, the aggrieved party may approach the Tribunal for assistance in enforcing it through the Magistrates’ Court.

A party dissatisfied with the Tribunal proceedings may take the matter on review to the High Court.

What constitutes an unfair rental practice?

The Tribunal can deal with practices that unreasonably prejudice the rights or interests of tenants or landlords.

These include:

•    Illegal lockouts or unlawful disconnection of water, electricity or other services;
•    Failure to refund a deposit;
•    Illegal evictions;
•    Exploitative rentals and disputes over fair rentals;
•    Forced entry into a rented property;
•    Lack of maintenance and repairs;
•    Harassment and intimidation;
•    Discrimination by a landlord against prospective tenants;
•    Failure to issue rental receipts;
•    Unlawful seizure of a tenant’s goods;
•    Damage to property;
•    Causing a nuisance;
•    Overcrowding and creating health hazards;
•    Demolitions and conversions;
•    Non-compliance with house rules;
•    Non-payment of rent; and
•    Prohibiting the establishment of tenants’ committees or tenant activities.

Important: The Tribunal does not have jurisdiction to hear applications for eviction orders.

Does the Rental Housing Act apply to your home?

The Act applies to residential dwellings, regardless of who owns the property. It does not apply to business or commercial properties.

A dwelling can include a house, hostel room, hut, shack, flat, apartment, room, outbuilding, garage or similar structure leased for residential purposes.

A storeroom, outbuilding or demarcated parking space may also form part of the leased dwelling where this has been agreed between the landlord and tenant.

What are tenants’ rights?

Tenants have a right to privacy and protection from unreasonable interference with their person and property.

Among other protections, a tenant has the right:

•    Not to have their person searched;
•    Not to have their property searched; and
•    Not to have their possessions seized without a court order.

What are a tenant’s responsibilities?

Tenants are expected to:

•    Pay rent and other charges when they become due under the lease agreement;
•    Use the premises principally for residential purposes;
•    Keep the premises reasonably clean and tidy;
•    Notify the landlord as soon as possible of damage or the need for repairs;
•    Vacate the premises when the tenancy ends;
•    Remove their belongings and rubbish;
•    Return keys, security cards and other access devices provided by the landlord;
•    Leave items provided by the landlord at the premises, and
•    Leave the premises in the condition in which they were found, allowing for fair wear and tear.

What are landlords’ rights?

Landlords have the right to receive regular payment of rent and other charges in terms of the lease.

They may recover unpaid rent and other amounts due after obtaining a Tribunal ruling or court order.

A landlord may also terminate a lease on grounds that do not constitute an unfair practice and are specified in the lease agreement.

Once a lease has been terminated and the necessary order obtained, the landlord may repossess the property and claim compensation for damage caused to the premises.

What are a landlord’s responsibilities?

Landlords must provide the rented premises in a reasonable state of cleanliness and maintain them in a reasonable state of repair, taking into account the age and character of the property and its expected period of habitability.

They must also comply with applicable building, health and safety requirements.

Where a property does not have a reticulated water supply, the landlord must provide adequate means for collecting and storing water.

In certain circumstances, a landlord must compensate a tenant for reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out urgent and serious repairs, provided the damage was not caused by the tenant and the tenant notified the landlord, or made a reasonable attempt to do so.

Landlords must also take reasonable steps to ensure that other tenants do not interfere with a tenant’s reasonable peace, comfort or privacy.

They may not terminate or interfere with the supply of gas, electricity, water, telephone services or other services to a property, except where such interference is necessary to prevent danger or enable maintenance or repairs.

However, landlords are not obliged to repair damage or compensate tenants for repairs where the damage was caused by the tenant.

Is there a fee to lodge a complaint?

No. There is no cost to either the tenant or landlord from the time a complaint is lodged through the mediation or hearing process.

The Rental Housing Tribunal therefore provides an accessible mechanism for tenants and landlords to resolve rental disputes and understand their rights and obligations under the Rental Housing Act.

Know your rights. Know your responsibilities. Know where to get help when a rental dispute arises. – SAnews.gov.za
 

GabiK

4

Posted on

Human Settlements takes rental rights campaign to university students

Source: Government of South Africa

Human Settlements takes rental rights campaign to university students

The Department of Human Settlements is taking its “Know Your Rental Rights: Student Edition” campaign to institutions of higher learning across the country to equip students with knowledge about their rights and responsibilities as tenants.

The national awareness campaign, led by the department, in partnership with Rental Housing Tribunals (RHTs), will run from 6 – 16 October 2026. It is aimed at providing students with information on rental rights, landlord and tenant responsibilities, and free dispute resolution services available in all nine provinces.

The initiative forms part of a broader national education and awareness programme aimed at addressing challenges experienced by students using private accommodation, including unfair rental practices, unlawful evictions, payments, and disputes between tenants and landlords.

The department said engagements with Rental Housing Tribunals across the country have highlighted cases in which unscrupulous landlords exploit student tenants.

It said there are also instances of students failing to honour their rental obligations, despite receiving funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and other funders.

The awareness drive is being implemented in partnership with NSFAS, the South African Union of Students (SAUS) and the South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training Students Association (SATVETSA).

“The activation will include presentations, information sharing sessions, exhibitions and direct engagement with officials from the Rental Housing Tribunal. Students will have an opportunity to learn more about their rental rights, responsibilities and the mechanisms available to resolve rental disputes,” the department said.

The initiative follows a commitment made by Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane in her 2026 Budget Vote speech to empower student tenants and landlords through a nationwide Rental Housing Tribunals awareness campaign.

The Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements also called on the department in June to intensify awareness of the role and services of Rental Housing Tribunals.

The need for greater awareness was further highlighted at the National Student Accommodation Indaba held in Durban in July, where student bodies called for urgent education on students’ rental rights and obligations.

The department said the campaign will also strengthen collaboration with student organisations and institutions of higher learning, while informing students that Rental Housing Tribunals provide free dispute resolution services.

The first engagement will be held at the University of Mpumalanga’s Nelspruit Campus on Tuesday, followed by engagements at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein on 9 October.

Further sessions will be held at Walter Sisulu University’s Mthatha Campus and King Sabata Dalindyebo TVET College on 15 and 16 October, respectively.

The department said the campaign forms part of its broader education and awareness programme aimed at promoting fair rental practices and ensuring that both landlords and tenants understand their rights and obligations. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK

5

Posted on

Moçambique: Presidente da República (PR) Efectua Visita Oficial ao Congo

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

Baixar .tipo

O Presidente da República, Daniel Chapo, efectuou, uma visita oficial à República do Congo, numa deslocação destinada a reforçar os laços históricos de amizade e cooperação entre Moçambique e aquele país da África Central.

A visita de Chapo ao Congo surge na sequência de um convite do seu homó. congolês, Denis Sassou Nguesso, e deverá colocar no centro da agenda o aprofundamento das relações bilaterais e a abertura de novas frentes de cooperação.

Durante a sua permanência naquele país, o Chefe do Estado moçambicano manterá encontros de alto nível com autoridades congolesas, com o objectivo de fortalecer o diá. político e identificar novas áreas de interesse comum.

A componente económica deverá, igualmente, marcar a deslocação.

A agenda de Presidente Chapo inclui contactos com entidades económicas estratégicas da República do Congo, numa iniciativa que visa estimular oportunidades de cooperação e estabelecer novas parcerias entre os dois países.

A visita abrange ainda as dimensões social e cultural, inserindo-se no esforço de estreitamento dos vínculos históricos entre os povos de Moçambique e da República do Congo.

A deslocação é vista como uma oportunidade para aprofundar a cooperação bilateral e reforçar os mecanismos de diá. entre Maputo e Brazzaville, explorando novas possibilidades nos domínios político, económico, social e cultural.

Chapo far-se-á acompanhar pela Primeira-Dama da República, Gueta Selemane Chapo, bem como por membros do Governo, quadros da Presidência da República, do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros e Cooperação e de outras instituições do Estado.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Portal do Governo de Moçambique.