Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

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UNICEF has strongly condemned a deadly attack on a school in Kebbi State, northwest Nigeria, which left the Vice-Principal dead and resulted in the reported abduction of at least 25 students.

“No child should be put at risk while pursuing an education,” UNICEF said, stressing that classrooms must remain places of safety, not fear.

According to local reports, one of the abducted schoolgirls managed to escape and is now safe, while another student who was not taken also fled during the incident.

Speaking at the daily noon briefing in New York, the deputy UN Spokesperson Farhan Haq called for the swift release of all those abducted. 

UNICEF extended condolences to the affected families, voiced solidarity with the community, and wished a full recovery to the injured.

Call for protection

The agency underlined that students, teachers and education facilities must be protected from all forms of violence, in line with international humanitarian and human rights law. It urged accountability for those responsible, in accordance with national and international standards.

Nigeria endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration in 2015, committing to protect the civilian character of education facilities and ensure safe access to learning during conflict.

The Declaration, launched at the First International Conference on Safe Schools in Oslo, Norway, seeks to reduce attacks on education and safeguard learning environments worldwide.

UNICEF said it continues to work closely with government partners, civil society and communities to strengthen child protection systems and promote safe, inclusive learning spaces across the country, stressing that stronger safeguards can help prevent future tragedies.

Abductions impede learning

Attacks on schools and the abduction of students remain a major barrier to learning in Nigeria. A UNICEF report released last year to mark 10 years since the notorious Chibok kidnappings found that only 37 per cent of schools across 10 states have early warning systems to detect threats, including violence and armed attacks.

The Minimum Standards for Safe Schools (MSSS) Monitoring Report revealed sharp disparities in safety across six core areas: school governance, violence prevention, natural hazards, conflict, everyday risks and safe infrastructure.

The findings underscored that ensuring all Nigerian children can learn without fear remains an urgent and unfinished task.

UNICEF reiterated that education is a fundamental right and insisted that protecting children, teachers and school infrastructure must remain a national and global priority.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO

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That’s according to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres who told the Security Council on Monday that the growth in terrorist groups was “not only a regional dramatic reality.”

“Progressive links of its groups in Africa and beyond make it a growing global threat.”

The vast Sahel region which stretches almost coast to coast across Africa, accounts for 19 per cent of terrorist attacks worldwide and for over half of global terrorism-related casualties.

Around four million people are now displaced across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and neighbouring countries.

Responding to the threat

To address the crisis, Mr. Guterres urged a “unified, coherent and consensus-based” regional response, the maintenance of financial support for humanitarian response plans and a development strategy to address the root causes of terrorism.

Along those lines, he encouraged intelligence sharing and financial tracking through the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Compact, the UN’s coordination mechanism against terror, and the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) counter-terrorism strategy.

He further noted that humanitarian appeals for the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin remain severely underfunded — less than one quarter of the $4.9 billion required has been raised.

“Terrorists thrive where the social contract is broken,” he added, highlighting the need to fight poverty and invest in sustainable development.

Collaboration and synergy

Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, warned that terrorism has spread beyond the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin to threaten all of West Africa.

He informed the Security Council that ECOWAS is accelerating deployment of its standby force, starting with 1,650 personnel and scaling up to 5,000 with regional and partner support.

He said that while partners have taken action to combat terrorism, the proliferation of these initiatives has led to “fragmentation,” hindering cooperation. He stressed that coordination and cohesion must be a priority.

“No amount of money, no amount of equipment will help us overcome terror if we don’t collaborate and build synergy,” Mr. Touray said.

“Our current differences should not be exploited; they should be bridged,” he added.

‘Moral compass’

“We must re-imagine ECOWAS not just as a regional bloc, but as a community of courage, the moral compass and stabilising force of Africa,” said Julius Maada Bio, president of Sierra Leone – which also holds the Security Council presidency for November – and chair of ECOWAS.

He went on to push for democratic trust, decisive action in the fight against extremism and regional security and coordination.

On those grounds, he proposed an ECOWAS-UN-African Union compact – a coordinated mechanism to ensure predictable financing and operations across the region.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO

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The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through its African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) and the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), with the financial support of the Government of Japan, and in collaboration with TradeMark Africa (TMA) and in partnership with Google and other partners, is launching a capacity-building initiative aimed at empowering government stakeholders and private sector actors , including women-led micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), to effectively leverage digital technologies to participate in intra-African trade.

The initiative comes at a pivotal moment in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the largest free trade area in the world in terms of membership, covering a market of over 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP of nearly USD 3 trillion. Despite the transformative potential of digital technologies, the continent continues to face structural challenges that limit the ability of businesses to fully benefit from emerging trade opportunities, including gaps in digital infrastructure, regulatory harmonization, digital skills, and access to finance. These constraints are particularly pronounced among women-led businesses, who face persistent barriers to digital inclusion.

The recent adoption of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade and its Annexes provides a continental framework for advancing inclusive digital transformation, promoting innovation, and reducing trade costs. The capacity building initiative is fully aligned with the objectives of the Protocol, as it seeks to strengthen the institutional and technical capacities required for its effective implementation. By equipping government and private sector stakeholders with a practical understanding of how digital tools and platforms can enhance regional value chains and expand market access, the initiative contributes to translating the Protocol’s policy commitments into concrete, actionable outcomes across the continent.

Featuring a variety of SMES that have been carefully selected for their desire and potential in integration of digital tools for market expansion, the training will be delivered through a hybrid format in Addis Ababa between 25-27 November.  The programme will also feature peer-to-peer exchanges, sharing of best practices, and engagement with regional and international partners active in the digital trade ecosystem.

Speaking on the importance of the initiative, Melaku Desta, Coordinator of the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) and Acting Director of the Regional Integration and Trade Division (RITD) at ECA underlined that strengthening the digital capability of small and medium-size enterprises is essential for realizing the inclusion promise of the AfCFTA: “Women- and youth-led enterprises are central to Africa’s growth; as such, enabling them to operate digitally and scale up under the AfCFTA is a policy priority and a development imperative.” Similar sentiments were expressed by Erick Sirali, TradeMark Africa’s Director of Digital Trade: “We are proud to co-host this workshop with UNECA as part of TradeMark Africa’s efforts to provide solutions that drive greater embrace of digitilisation by SMEs across Africa”.

Upon completion of the training, participants are expected to have enhanced understanding of policy frameworks, improved ability to integrate digital solutions in trade processes, and strengthened collaboration networks. The programme also seeks to lay the foundation for sustained capacity development through future online learning offerings hosted by ECA’s digital platforms.

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

Source: APO

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The United Nations Support Mission in Libya wishes to clarify for the public the financing of the UN generally and UNSMIL’s operations, including the implementation of the roadmap. 

The UN is funded both through its regular budget made up of assessed contributions from all 193 Member states, in accordance with the decisions of the General Assembly, of which Libya is a member, and voluntary contributions towards particular projects and programs from individual member states.

Donors through their voluntary contributions can provide funding for specific programmes or as contributions towards pooled funding arrangements. The operational implementation of such programs is under the determination and management of the UN. 

All funding is safeguarded through the UN’s global system of financial oversight, which requires Missions to adhere to uniform controls on budgeting, procurement, and expenditure. These controls include mandatory reporting, multi-layered approval processes, and independent auditing to verify that every disbursement aligns with the Mission’s mandate. This framework ensures that funds supporting the political process are not only pooled and neutral, as noted above, but also managed under a transparent, standardised structure designed to prevent misuse and maintain the integrity of UN operations worldwide.

As with all United Nations political missions worldwide, UNSMIL is financed through both assessed and voluntary contributions, and reports on the use of its funds through the oversight and budgetary mechanisms of the organization. This ensures that the Mission’s work is impartial and transparent.

Over the course of its existence, UNSMIL has received voluntary contributions from Member States to support several high-impact initiatives aimed at benefiting the Libyan population, including—but not limited to—the political process, de-mining and managing war remnants, reforming and unifying national institutions, and supporting the holding of elections.

To date, at least 13 countries and regional organisations have provided UNSMIL voluntary funding for the political process and civic engagement.

No donor country has any role in determining the direction of the political process, including the agenda, participants or outcomes as a result of their making a donation to UNSMIL’s programs.

In line with the Mission’s belief that Libya’s future belongs only to Libyans, UNSMIL reaffirms its commitment to a Libyan-owned, Libyan-led political process. The Mission’s role is to facilitate an inclusive and professional platform through which Libyans from all regions and backgrounds can address issues essential to a peaceful and prosperous future.

UNSMIL condemns all attempts to manipulate public opinion by spreading false narratives. The Mission calls on all Libyan stakeholders to come together to give the power back to the Libyan people.

Background information for reporters

Project

Additional contributions to the political process are pooled under the “Assistance to the Political Dialogue and Civic Engagement” project, which provides facilitation and mediation expertise.

• Launch date: The project was launched in April 2015 and has been used to support the political process and civic engagement activities since then.
• Core Work and Mandate: The project’s primary function is to support the UN’s political peace efforts in Libya by providing the essential mechanisms for dialogue. The core work focuses on:
  • Providing the logistical, technical, and operational support necessary to convene, manage, and sustain the UN-facilitated intra-Libyan talks.
  • Supporting platforms that encourage broader, inclusive Libyan participation (including youth, women, and civil society) to find political solutions.
  • Covering the logistical and operational costs associated with political processes, including travel, venue rental, security, and technical expertise.
  • Assisting the efforts to unify institutions and explore solutions to critical national challenges across governance, economic, security, and reconciliation sectors.
• Voluntary donor contributions: The project has been funded entirely through voluntary contributions from a wide range of UN Member States and multilateral partners, ensuring broad international support.   
  • Resources on UN Financing

1. UN General Assembly – Committee on Contributions
2. Multi-Year Appeal | Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

Source: APO

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• H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat: The success of the Egyptian–German negotiations reflects the strength of economic relations between both countries.
• The Egypt–EU Strategic Partnership provides a broad framework for deeper cooperation with European nations.
• Egypt is discussing with Germany the expansion of the Debt Swap Program for Development and Climate Action.
• Germany is a key partner in supporting Egypt’s green transition in the energy sector.
• Development cooperation has opened major avenues for increased foreign investment in renewable energy.
• Egyptian–German relations offer promising opportunities for joint cooperation across all sectors.
• Egypt looks forward to more German investments and stronger commercial partnerships.
• Germany is a principal partner for Egypt within the broader strategic relations with the European Union.
• Greater coordination is expected in the coming period to implement signed agreements and widen the scope of cooperation.

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Ms. Reem Alabali-Radovan, Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, on the sidelines of the Egyptian–German Governmental Negotiations held in Berlin. The meeting included extensive discussions on all aspects of bilateral partnership in development cooperation, as well as economic, trade, and investment relations.

At the outset of the meeting, H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized the depth and longstanding nature of the partnership between Egypt and Germany, noting that the Egyptian–German Governmental Negotiations are not only an important milestone in a decades-long relationship, but also a strategic dialogue shaping the next phase of development cooperation. She expressed Egypt’s appreciation for Minister Alabali-Radovan’s visit to Cairo in July 2025—her first bilateral visit following the formation of the new German government—reflecting Egypt’s prominent position on Germany’s development agenda.

The talks reviewed the latest developments in bilateral cooperation in areas including the green transition, renewable energy, industrial localization, education, and water, while exploring new opportunities within financial cooperation agreements and the Egyptian–German Debt Swap Program. The two sides also discussed progress in ongoing programs and joint projects in priority sectors aligned with Egypt’s national development plans.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat commended the Debt Swap Program for Development between Egypt and Germany, which continues to witness the signing of new tranches, highlighting its pioneering role in promoting innovative financing mechanisms in Egypt and advancing the transition to renewable energy and a green economy. She noted that further discussions will take place with the German side to expand the program in the coming period.

The Minister explained that debt swaps have evolved into an increasingly important innovative financing tool globally due to their role in enhancing financial sustainability, stimulating investment, and redirecting part of external debt toward development projects with direct impact on key sectors—particularly the green transition, infrastructure, and efforts to ease fiscal pressures on the state budget.

She added that development cooperation with Germany has contributed significantly to attracting foreign direct investment, especially in the renewable energy sector. Given the promising opportunities across various fields, Egypt is looking forward to increased German investment and greater trade exchange. She affirmed that the coming period will witness intensified coordination to activate signed agreements and expand cooperation frameworks.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized that Egypt is working to broaden international partnerships beyond traditional development cooperation to include wider frameworks for investment, joint economic efforts, and shared development goals.

The Minister also reviewed the positive developments in Egypt’s economic performance, noting that GDP growth reached approximately 5% in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024/2025—up from 2.4% in the same quarter of the previous year—marking the highest quarterly growth rate in three years. This improvement was driven by structural reforms and the shift to medium-term planning under the Unified Public Finance Law. She added that fiscal reforms under the IMF program helped reduce inflation, improve external financing inflows, and modernize the tax system and targeted social protection mechanisms.

During the meeting, she highlighted Egypt’s Narrative for Economic Development: Reforms for Growth, Jobs & Resilience, which offers a comprehensive framework linking Egypt’s Vision 2030 with economic and sectoral policies. The narrative provides greater clarity and transparency for development partners, enabling Germany to contribute more effectively to improving the investment climate, creating jobs, and achieving inclusive growth.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat also referenced the Egypt–EU Summit, co-chaired by H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the President of the European Commission, as an affirmation of the depth of Egypt–EU relations and the importance of the strategic partnership as a broad platform for enhanced cooperation with individual European states.

The two sides also discussed the current portfolio of Egyptian–German development cooperation, which exceeds €1.8 billion, in addition to progress in the NWFE Program and ongoing collaboration in green hydrogen, energy efficiency, and water.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation – Egypt.

Source: APO

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Kenyan authorities systematically deployed technology-facilitated violence as part of a coordinated and sustained campaign to suppress Generation Z-led protests between June 2024 and July 2025 against corruption and the introduction of new tax legislation, a new Amnesty International report shows. 

The report, “This fear, everyone is feeling it”: Tech-facilitated violence against young activists in Kenya, shows how government and allied groups are increasingly weaponizing digital platforms to stifle protests as part of broader repressive measures designed to shut down digitally-organized dissent. 

“Our research also proves that these campaigns are driven by state-sponsored trolls, individuals and a network of people paid to promote and amplify pro-government messages with the aim of reaching Kenya’s top daily trends on X.”  

Between June and July 2024, Generation Z – young people aged under 28 – led the #RejectFinanceBill protests opposing proposed taxes on essential goods and services. Between June 2024 and July 2025, young people also organized protests on and off-line demanding an end to femicide and corruption.  

Major demonstrations took place across 44 of Kenya’s 47 counties including Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu. Social media played a major role in the organization of protests and amplification of protest voices.  

Kenyan authorities responded with online intimidation, threats, incitement to hatred, and surveillance interfering with rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Online harassment and smear campaigns became core state tools to undermine the credibility and reach of government critics. Some of these tactics facilitated and were later used to justify arrests, enforced disappearances and killings of notable protest organizers.  

Amnesty International estimates that, across both sets of protests, excessive use of force by security agencies resulted in at least 128 deaths, 3,000 arrests and over 83 enforced disappearances. 

Targeting human rights defenders  

Of the 31 human rights defenders (HRD) interviewed, nine reported receiving violent threats via direct and public messages on X, TikTok, Facebook and WhatsApp during the 2024 protests. 

“I had people coming into my inbox and telling me, ‘You will die and leave your kids. We will come and attack you,” said Mariam*, a 27-year-old Mombasa-based HRD who was forcibly disappeared by police for two nights in 2024. 

Another HRD, Joseph, * received a direct message on X reading: “We are coming for you.”  

The research shows coordinated campaigns against young HRDs through state-supported trolling, and the spreading and amplification of hatred towards them.  

“They want to maintain their social media image, and that means anytime you post something about a certain ministry or individual, they always send what we call the 527 bloggers. These are government paid bloggers whose job is to abuse you, to say very dehumanizing, demeaning things,” said Joshua, a student leader who survived enforced disappearance. 

Much of the online violence is delivered through public posts and comments organized to cause harm. X (formerly Twitter) is central to pro-government networks spreading disinformation and smear campaigns. The networks mass-posted identical messages repeatedly to hijack X’s algorithm and maximize visibility of government sponsored messages. 

Hanifa Adan, a prominent Kenyan journalist and HRD of Somali descent was described in social media posts, as a “foreigner,” a “fool” and “a Somali terrorist.”    

“Having strangers say things about you every single day, being targeted every single day, it’s hard. It took away the spark, the joy. It took away who I was,” she told Amnesty International. 

Coordinated online attacks 

In April 2025, suspected state-supported trolls used the #ToxicActivists campaign to target Hanifa Adan after she gave an interview for BBC’s “Blood Parliament” documentary, which investigated the shooting of several protesters on 25 June 2024 and the alleged Kenyan military involvement.  

Organized trolls posted Islamophobic imagery and repeated posts to discredit her and other prominent Kenyan activists as financially driven and corrupt.  

These campaigns also illustrate X’s failure to adequately address organized threatening campaigns, which are against its own policy.

Young women who participated in the Gen Z protests and the #EndFemicideKE campaign reported misogynistic comments, body shaming, threats, doxxing and AI-generated pornographic images produced to shame, threaten and silence them.  

“We are being forced to shut up, it’s an attack on our voice, on our bodies,” said Sarah*. 

False and harmful narratives spread against HRDs included claims that survivors of enforced disappearances had staged their own abductions. 

Paid campaigns, disinformation and manipulating the algorithm  

John*, runs paid coordinated campaigns on X for political and commercial clients. He told Amnesty International that he’s part of a network of around 20 people paid between 25,000 to 50,000 KES (approximately USD $190-390) per day to promote and amplify pro-government messages with the aim of reaching Kenya’s top daily trends on X. 

During large protests, his network created counter-campaigns and hashtags in real time to drown out trending protest hashtags. For example, the popular protest hashtag #RutoMustGo was countered with #RutoMustGoOn.  

In response to Amnesty’s findings, Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, said, “The Government of Kenya does not sanction harassment, or violence against any citizen. All security agencies are required to operate strictly within the constitution, the National Police Service Act, and all applicable laws and any officer implicated in unlawful conduct bears individual responsibility and is subject to investigation and sanction in accordance with the law.” 

However, Amnesty research indicates otherwise. The failure of both state authorities and corporate actors to investigate credible claims of unlawful tech-facilitated surveillance undermines human rights by fostering widespread chilling effect on the right to expression and peaceful assembly. 

HRDs interviewed by Amnesty International believe that state surveillance was supported by Safaricom, one of Kenya’s biggest telecommunications companies, allowing clandestine police units to track activists involved in the protests. Evidence points to many of them being subsequently forcibly disappeared.  

In response to the allegations, Safaricom said it “only shares customer data through lawful means and for lawful purposes. Our client confirms that their systems are not designed to track the live location of any subscriber, and such functionality does not exist within their operational architecture.”  

Amnesty International also approached X, other Kenyan authorities and key individuals named in this report but did not receive a response. 

Amnesty International calls on the Kenyan government to stop tech-facilitated state violence against peaceful protesters and civil society organizations, troll campaigns and smear narratives that vilify critics as “paid activists” or “foreign agents.” 

Kenyan authorities must also launch an investigation into enforced disappearances, unlawful killings and the reports of unlawful surveillance during the “Gen Z protests.” Victims of unlawful use of force and family members of those killed must be adequately compensated. 

*Names changed to protect identities 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.

Source: APO

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The ECOWAS Commission presents the Regional Economic Outlook (REO) 2024, a strategic report that highlights the crucial role of transport and communication infrastructure in economic integration and the achievement of Vision 2050.

This document analyses key economic indicators, recent trends and projections for 2024 and 2025, while identifying persistent challenges and opportunities to be seized to strengthen growth in Member States.

The global and regional outlooks point to global growth of 2.6% in 2024 and 2.7% in 2025, with emerging economies growing by 4.0%. In sub-Saharan Africa, growth is expected to reach 3.5% in 2024, supported by economic recovery and favourable commodity prices.

The ECOWAS region, Africa’s second most dynamic economic area, experienced GDP growth of up to 4.4% in 2021, before slowing to 3.6% in 2023, due to rising food and energy prices. Nigeria remains the main player, accounting for 62.7% of regional GDP.

The report also highlights the strategic importance of communications infrastructure, with investment set to increase by more than 125% between 2018 and 2024, despite limited fixed broadband penetration (less than 10%). Transport infrastructure, particularly roads, is identified as essential for increasing intra-regional trade, with an expected increase of 10% to 15% by 2025.

ECOWAS points out that these infrastructures are fundamental levers for building an integrated and prosperous community. However, the report calls for several challenges to be addressed, including the financing of major projects and the strengthening of technical skills within Member States.

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

Source: APO

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has officially launched a technical workshop on the integration of its Human Security Index (HSI) into the ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). The workshop opened on Monday, 17 November 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria. The Acting Director of Early Warning at the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Onyinye Onwuka, presented the HSI as a robust and multidimensional tool for assessing and monitoring human security trends across the Member States of the regional organization.

Speaking on behalf of the Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Mrs. Damtien Larbli Tchintchibidja, Dr. Onyinye Onwuka emphasized the importance of strengthened institutional collaboration to consolidate human security and promote sustainable development in the West African region. She also highlighted the need to build on the technical progress achieved so far to ensure the smooth integration of the HSI into ECOWAS’ prevention and response mechanisms.

According to Dr. Onyeinye Onwuka, the workshop represents a significant milestone in the pre-finalization phase of the HSI, an initiative developed by the Directorate of Early Warning and structured around five thematic sectors: crime and criminality, health, environment, safety and security, and governance and human rights.

The three-day workshop seeks not only to reinforce the conceptual grounding and operational integration of the HSI and APSA, but also to enable participants to refine the index’s indicators. Discussions will focus on the interoperability of the index with existing instruments, particularly ECOWARN, the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF/CPCC), and the Mediation and Security Council (MSC/CMS).

The workshop brought together experts from ECOWAS institutions and specialized agencies, as well as technical and strategic partners, including Afrobarometer, UNOWAS, and WANEP. Expected outcomes include a shared and documented understanding of how early warning indicators strengthen the existing peace and security architecture. The workshop is also expected to produce a practical roadmap outlining the steps required to integrate the HSI into ECOWAS peace and security mechanisms.

Participating in the workshop, the Senior Political Advisor and Head of the Liaison Cell of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) to ECOWAS, Mr. James Aji, commended the regional organization for involving his institution in the project.

He reiterated the United Nations’ commitment to supporting the finalization of the initiative, particularly regarding its implementation.

“We are convinced that once finalized, this project will undoubtedly contribute to stabilizing the peace and security environment in West Africa, given the region’s crucial role in continental affairs and Africa’s central place in global dynamics,” stated James Aji.

It should be noted that this workshop follows a series of earlier engagements on the Human Security Index. In November 2024, the Directorate of Early Warning organized an internal technical session aimed at strengthening methodological foundations and inter-structural collaboration in the development of the Index.

On 24–25 March 2025, a consultative meeting held in Lomé, Togo, examined the conceptual foundations, reviewed preliminary indicators, and underscored the need for national ownership and methodological clarity.

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

Source: APO

Stakeholders in the fight against malaria have made a clarion call to Members of Parliament to give precedence to malaria prevention in the next budgeting cycle.

The call was made at a high-level advocacy engagement with MPs, on gender-responsive malaria and health services, on Tuesday, 18 November 2025 at the Parliament Conference Hall.

According to Peter Mbabazi, the Board Chairperson of the Malaria Youth Champions Uganda (MYCU), the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) ought to be updated to include malaria as a precondition for budget approval.

He observed that the recent cut in donor aid has greatly affected malaria-elimination interventions in the country, and reiterated the need to avail sufficient local funding for the purpose, especially through the malaria prevention and control code.

“Malaria is no longer a health issue but also a development issue. Members of Parliament are directly affected when their constituents succumb to this disease. We must take this a priority and solve it, because Uganda can no longer rely on donor aid to curb malaria,” Mutabazi said.

He added that funding for efficient ambulance services for local communities also needs to be improved, to enable them access health facilities in a timely manner, during emergency situations.

“Our people are dying of malaria because of the time lag between a malaria episode and its treatment. As you (MPs) deliberate the next budget, consider more ambulance units and allocation of fuel to run them,” Mutabazi noted.

A Gender Equality Fund (GEF) community scorecard issued at the workshop indicated that there was limited ambulance management and services, little or no availability of prescribed medicines at health facilities, and poor responsiveness to community health needs, among the challenges.

The data was collected from communities living near Nakavule Hospital and Nalugai Health Centre III in Iganga and Bukedea districts, respectively.

Dr Hilda Namuddu, Team Lead at Malaria Youth Champions Uganda, said the scorecard seeks to promote data visibility and accountability mechanisms, to support guidelines for required interventions in addressing malaria prevalence in Uganda’s communities.

“We have challenges in communities that are beyond our reach and cannot be addressed solely by our team. This is why we require the buy-in of our Members of Parliament, to take a big step forward,” Namuddu said.

Hon. Emmanuel Otaala (NRM, West Budama County South), said the Ministry of Health needs to front several strategies together to curb malaria in Uganda, on top of available malaria treatment and prevention tactics.

“We also need to restore public confidence in the public health system, because many patients tend to seek healthcare services from private health facilities which, come at a high cost for them,” Otaala added.

Rukungiri Municipality MP, Hon. Elisa Rutahigwa, commended the efforts of the Malaria Youth Champions Uganda team, and urged them to engage Parliament through its different channels.

“The challenges that have been highlighted, have been persistent. The youth can add their voice to fighting malaria by petitioning Parliament on the issue of health insurance and funding,” said Rutahigwa.

Hon. Richard Oseku (NRM, Kibale County) called for the deployment of doctors at health centre IIIs to ease access to health services, whereas Bwamba County MP, Hon. Richard Gafabusa urged government to emulate strategies of countries like the United States, in eliminating malaria.

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