Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has announced senior leadership appointments and confirmations to strengthen regional operations, deepen client engagement, and enhance delivery of the Bank’s mandate across Africa and the Caribbean.

These appointments are integral to Afreximbank’s growth ambitions and its efforts to accelerate intra-African trade, industrialisation and regional integration. By strengthening leadership across its regional platforms, the Bank is positioning itself to expand market coverage, improve transaction execution and deepen engagement with clients and stakeholders across Africa and the Caribbean.

Mr. Eric Intong Monchu has been appointed as Group Managing Director, Client Relations and Regional Operations, based in Cairo, Egypt, after serving in the role in an acting capacity. In this position, he will lead the Bank’s client relations and regional operations functions, strengthening coordination between business development, client coverage, and transaction execution.

Mr. Kudakwashe Matereke has been appointed Director, Regional Operations, Anglophone West Africa, based in Abuja, Nigeria. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Director, Regional Operations, East Africa. Mr Matereke brings extensive experience in trade finance, business development, and client relationship management, and will lead regional business development, client coverage, and stakeholder engagement.

Mr. Humphrey Nwugo has been appointed Director, Regional Operations, Eastern Africa, based in Kampala, Uganda, following a similar regional operations role in Southern Africa. He brings extensive experience in banking operations, syndications, corporate finance, and regional execution, and will oversee the Bank’s regional operations, market coverage, and client engagement in Eastern Africa.

Mr. Peter Adeshola Olowononi has been appointed Director, Regional Operations, Southern Africa, based in Harare, Zimbabwe. Prior to his appointment, he served as Director, Client Relations, Anglophone West Africa. Mr. Olowononi brings extensive experience in client coverage, transaction origination, and regional business development, and will lead the Bank’s operations and strategic engagement across Southern Africa.

Mr. Roy Reid has been appointed Chief Operating Officer, Caribbean Office, in Bridgetown, Barbados, effective 15 July 2026. Prior to his appointment, he served as Senior Advisor at the Office of the Prime Minister of Jamaica. Mr Reid brings more than 20 years of experience across government advisory, financial services, investment management, fintech, and business development, and will support the Bank’s operations, regional coordination, and stakeholder engagement across the Caribbean.

Collectively, the appointments strengthen the links between client coverage, regional operations and transaction execution. With most of the appointees progressing from within the Bank, they bring strong institutional knowledge, established client relationships and a clear understanding of Afreximbank’s strategic priorities. This continuity will support faster execution, greater responsiveness to market needs, and delivery of the Bank’s growth, trade, and development targets across Africa and the Caribbean.

Speaking on the appointments, Dr George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Afreximbank, stated: “These appointments highlight the depth of leadership and professional talent within Afreximbank, as well as our commitment to placing experienced executives at the centre of executing the Bank’s development mandate: a mandate to change the structure of African trade. Each appointee brings valuable experience and deep knowledge of African and Caribbean markets. Above all, each shares a strong belief in the Bank’s founding philosophy that Africa’s development destiny lies with Africans and that our collective mission is to restore the dignity of the African.”

The Board of Directors, management and staff of Afreximbank extend their congratulations to Mr Intong Monchu, Mr. Matereke, Mr. Nwugo, Mr. Olowononi and Mr. Reid on their appointments and wish them success in their respective roles.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com

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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A strong supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2025, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$48.5 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$8.4 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), GCR (A), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-), and S&P Global Ratings (BBB+) and Moody’s (Baa2). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. 

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

Source: APO

The coffee ceremony is an ancient social ritual in Eritrea, where green beans are roasted, hand-ground, and slow-brewed in a multi-stage process that prioritizes hospitality, community, and deliberate conversation over quick caffeine consumption. Serving as the ultimate gesture of welcome across the Horn of Africa and Middle Eastern traditions, this sacred gathering spans one to two hours to engage every sense. Burning frankincense clears the air, the crackle of raw beans roasting over hot coals fills the space, and the host presents the rich aromatic smoke to guests before grinding. Participants gather to exchange news, discuss family matters, and strengthen community ties while progressing through three distinct rounds: ኣወል/Awel, the potent first brew that sets the tone for meaningful discussion; ካልኣይ/Kalay, a medium-strength second round; and በረካ/Bereka, the final, milder cup served to deliver a blessing of peace and good fortune to the household.

What sets the Eritrean tradition apart are its specific spatial arrangements, cultural omens, and specialized utensils. The ceremony unfolds over a floor mat draped in fresh green grass, symbolizing vitality and fruitfulness. Central to the brewing process is the traditional Eritrean ጀበና/Jebena—a spherical clay pot featuring a distinct single spout used for both filling and pouring, unlike variations elsewhere that incorporate a separate neck. Hosts brew the ground beans over hot charcoal, frequently infusing the liquid with fresh crushed ginger. The coffee is then poured in a single, continuous stream from a height of a foot or more into small, handleless ceramic cups (ፈንጃል/Finjal), a skilful technique that creates a delicate froth without spilling. This rich roast is accompanied by traditional snacks such as roasted barley, popcorn, or freshly baked bread, yielding a complete cultural experience rooted in deep-seated generosity.

Having travelled across Eritrea from the northern border of Karora down to the southern coastal edge of Rahayta, I have sat at the hearth of nearly every ethnic group in the nation. These travels confirmed that the coffee ceremony stands as the undisputed, most revered domestic tradition in Eritrean society. Regardless of geographical or linguistic differences, the ritual retains a unified core of warmth, social prestige, and unyielding hospitality. It acts as a seamless thread binding diverse communities under a shared heritage, serving as the highest mark of respect for anyone crossing the threshold of an Eritrean home.

In every town and village, the coffee hour functions as a non-negotiable anchor of daily family life—a dedicated space reserved for genuine togetherness and spirited dialogue. To an outside observer, the first striking element is the beverage’s searing heat served in small finjal, compelling guests to slow down and savor the moment. Visitors also note how the three rounds shift in character, moving from a thick, potent initial extraction to a lighter final cup. This intensity is heightened in many regions by ginger crushed directly into the brew, adding a spicy kick that cuts through the daily heat, stimulates the senses, and leaves an unmistakable warmth in the throat. The sheer strength of the initial sip often produces vivid, sharp reactions from uninitiated guests, testifying to the brew’s remarkable potency.

The tradition is further enriched by subtle local touches and living omens woven into the routine. While local adaptations may feature durable metal vessels alongside classic earthenware pots especially made for making coffee ጀበና/Jebena, the cultural prestige of the ፍንጃል/Finjal remains absolute. The entire atmosphere is steeped in playful symbolism; for instance, walking into a home just as the first round is being poured prompts joyful smiles and the cherished phrase “ሓማትካ ትፈትወካ’ያ”—an auspicious omen declaring how much your mother-in-law loves you for arriving at the luckiest moment.

Cultural etiquette strictly dictates that guests compliment the brew by saying ጥዑም/Teuum to acknowledge its quality and sweetness. Offering this customary praise honors the host’s effort, time, and generosity regardless of whether a specific pot turned out slightly strong or bitter. In Eritrean culture, offering taste critiques would disrupt the harmony of the gathering, whereas expressing heartfelt satisfaction affirms that the sacred bond between host and guest has been fully honored.

At the heart of this practice is the ኣቁሑት ቡን/Akuhut Bun—the essential coffee brewing apparatus comprised of sacred household objects often passed down through generations or assembled upon marriage. A complete setup requires specific tools: the መንከሽከሽ/Menkeshkesh, a long-handled metal pan used to roast green coffee beans over open coals; the መሽረፈት/Meshrefet, a small woven cooling basket gently shaken to release fragrant chaff and pass the aroma among guests; and the መጉድኢ ቡን/Megudi Bun, a heavy wooden or metal mortar and pestle used to hand-grind the roasted beans. The centerpiece remains the ጀበና/Jebena, engineered to extract rich flavors over a charcoal brazier (ፈርኔሎ/Fernielo) while naturally settling the grounds before pouring.

To protect these cherished items, nearly every Eritrean household utilizes a specialized, low-sitting coffee cabinet or chest. Serving as a miniature station for hospitality, this cabinet is ubiquitous across urban apartments and rural homesteads alike. Its top surface neatly displays rows of ፍንጃል/Finjal, while its drawers store sugar, incense, and spare tools. Positioned prominently in the living area, this dedicated chest signals to all who enter that warm coffee and sincere conversation are readily available.

While the core ritual remains constant, it adapts gracefully to local topographies. In the warmer lowland regions, coffee is traditionally served in slightly smaller ፍንጃል/Finjal and features a sharper profile due to a heavier addition of ginger. Lowland communities also observe the ritual multiple times a day to break up intense daily heat and provide structured moments of rest in the shade. Ultimately, participants recognize that the tradition transcends the beverage itself. The ambient scent of roasting beans, the drift of frankincense smoke, and the rhythmic pouring create an inclusive haven where even non-coffee drinkers eagerly join to share in the storytelling, camaraderie, and timeless warmth of Eritrean home life.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

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The African Center of Statistics (ACS) at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) this week opened a five-day workshop for delegates from Botswana, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, and Togo, aimed at giving health ministries and statistical offices the tools to show, in economic terms, that health spending is an investment, not a cost. 

The workshop is the first country level activity under ECA’s broader Transforming Health Financing in Africa initiative, with the five countries as first movers. This week’s session covers one part of it: building health focused Social Accounting Matrices (SAMs), economy wide accounts linking health services, financing, households, government, firms, and the rest of the world. Policymakers often know how much is spent on health but struggle to see the bigger picture: where the money comes from, who benefits, how much employment it generates, and how households are affected. The SAM connects data already spread across national accounts, health accounts, household surveys, and other sources into one coherent picture.

William Muhwava, representing the Director of ACS, said a central aim of the week is to “bring these different sources together within a coherent statistical framework” using each country’s own national data, adding: “We are particularly pleased that this exercise is based on country data, not international data, and national ownership.”

Delegates from ministries of health and national statistical offices in the four countries are participating, alongside resource persons from ECA and the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Opening the workshop, Aboubakari Diaw, Chief of Staff at ECA, said the initiative responds to a mandate set by African Ministers of Finance in Tangier last April, where ministers agreed that health “cannot be considered, or continue to be considered, as a social expenditure, because it’s an economic investment.” 

“Ministers of Finance cannot finance slowdowns. They need pipelines. They need projects. They need something that is structured. And they need to see, when we say that health is an investment, how health is an investment,” Aboubakari Diaw said, noting that fiscal space across the continent is under exceptional strain, with debt servicing absorbing a growing share of government revenue and an estimated 150 million people pushed into poverty by health expenditures. 

WHO Ethiopia’s Kinsley Addai Frimpong also addressed participants, describing health financing as one of WHO’s core health system “building blocks” and noting that integrating national health accounts into the SAM is, in his words, “a rich way of putting together the health data into the national system of accounts.” 

By Friday, each country team is expected to have an initial health disaggregated SAM with documented assumptions, data gaps, and balancing choices, a starting point rather than a finished product, with validation continuing under the wider project through 2028. Data availability remains the main practical challenge teams expect to face. Organizers also emphasized peer learning, with the ambition that participants leave as a network that keeps solving shared problems together. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

Source: APO

The Right Honourable the Prime Minister Samuel Matekane, accompanied by Cabinet Ministers as well as stakeholders in the electrification sector launched a hydropower station in Semonkong aimed at improving access to reliable electricity for the community.

For years, residents of Semonkong have relied on solar power, which was available for only about 14 hours a day, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Speaking at the launch, The Right Honourable the prime Minister Matekane said Semonkong had been declared a town many years ago and that the government constructed a mini-hydropower station in 1990. However, the facility faced numerous challenges and failed to adequately meet the community’s electricity needs.

He said the station also relied on generators, which contributed to environmental pollution.

The Prime Minister said the current government had set a target of ensuring that every Mosotho has access to electricity by 2030 and was working towards achieving the goal.

He said the government had also embarked on a feasibility study for the construction of an 80-megawatt hydropower station, as well as another hydropower project in Mohale’s Hoek.

He said these projects, would contribute towards Lesotho’s ability to generate sufficient electricity to meet the country’s needs.

Regarding the Semonkong project, Mr. Matekane said the plan was to revive the existing 220-kilowatt hydropower station, install a battery storage system with a capacity of 1,500 megawatt-hours, and provide a diesel generator as a backup.

The project is expected to supply electricity to about 100 households around Semonkong town.

He disclosed that the project would cost approximately M78 million and was being implemented with the support of the World Bank.Prime Minister Matekane said the project was expected to contribute significantly to improving the livelihoods of the people of Semonkong.

At the end of the event, the Prime Minister presented 400 blankets to Community Policing Forums and bags of grain to needy members of the community.

Breastfeeding mothers also received birth certificates for their infants, as well as financial assistance to meet their children’s needs.

Speaking at the same occasion, Acting World Bank Representative in Lesotho Ms. Mafupu Mokoena expressed the World Bank’s pride in being part of the initiative, saying the project demonstrated the commitment of stakeholders to improving livelihoods and ensuring that Lesotho thrives despite its challenges.

She said it was an honour for the World Bank to be entrusted by the Government of Lesotho with such an important project.

Ms. Mokoena expressed hope that the project would significantly improve livelihoods, particularly in the education and tourism sectors.

She said the project would also contribute to improving health centres and businesses in Semonkong.

Ms. Mokoena appealed to the community to protect the equipment and infrastructure to ensure the sustainability of the project.

Member of Parliament for Maletsunyane, Mr. Peiso Kelane, said the community had endured hardships for years because of unreliable electricity, at one point going for two consecutive months without power.

“Businesses collapsed, corpses had to be carried to mortuaries in Maseru, and this shows how desperately we need power installation here.”

Mr. Kelane said investors had expressed interest in coming to Semonkong, but the lack of reliable electricity had remained one of the major obstacles.

He said there were currently three generators at the power station, but they had proved insufficiency to meet the community’s needs, underscoring the urgent need for intervention.

The Semonkong community currently has access to solar power for approximately 14 hours each day.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Government of Lesotho.