Category: MIL-OSI

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Special team to drive Ohlange Institute project

Source: Government of South Africa

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Following a visit to the historic Ohlange Institute with the family of Dr John Langalibalele Dube, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Dean Macpherson, on Monday announced that a Special Technical Construction team will be established to expedite the project’s completion.

Macpherson was accompanied by KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Mntomuhle Khawula, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba and KwaZulu-Natal National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Whip, Mzamo Billy.

The Ohlange Institute, founded by Dr Dube and his wife in 1901 and where former President Nelson Mandela cast his first democratic vote, has received over R33 million worth of investment since 2012, but has since fallen into a state of disrepair.

The Minister said the special technical construction team — between the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and its entity, the Independent Development Trust (IDT) — will have to develop a plan of action within two months to ensure that the project is completed as soon as possible. 

The Minister said the completion of the Ohlange Institute is part of ensuring that public assets contribute to the public good, instead of becoming eyesores in the communities where they are located. 

This is especially important for projects such as the Ohlange Institute, which were intended to honour the past as South Africa works towards a better future.

“The era of half-completed Public Works and Infrastructure projects across South Africa is coming to an end. In its place, we are introducing urgency, transparency and accountability to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. 

“It is through this culture of excellence that we are building a better department, and indeed, a better South Africa,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Have your say on 2026 tax proposals

Source: Government of South Africa

National Treasury has encouraged taxpayers, tax practitioners and members of the public to submit technical tax proposals to be considered for possible inclusion in the 2026 Budget Review. 

The technical tax proposals requested in this invitation must be limited to unintended anomalies, revenue leakages, loopholes and technical matters applicable to the current tax legislation that require correction. 

“More substantive tax policy proposals and rate changes are dealt with through a different process, and hence this request does not apply to major tax policy proposals,” National Treasury said on Monday.

Every year in February, the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, announces new tax proposals in the Budget.

The Budget Review, published with the Budget Speech, provides additional information on the tax proposals made in the Budget as well as proposed changes to tax legislation. 

More substantive tax policy proposals and rates changes are contained in Chapter 4 of the Budget Review, while the more technical tax proposals are generally contained in Annexure C of the Budget Review.

National Treasury will consider Annexure C tax proposals. They should be submitted by no later than Friday, 28 November 2025.

To clarify issues raised in the submitted technical proposals, to further assist in the prioritisation of the issues raised and to obtain further information, virtual workshops will be held with stakeholders on 11 and 12 December 2025. 

The dates for the workshops will be confirmed by way of an electronic invitation to taxpayers, tax practitioners and members of the public who  submitted proposals. 

Following the above process, National Treasury and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) will submit recommendations to the Minister of Finance for possible inclusion in Annexure C of the 2026 Budget Review. 

“It should be noted that engagement or request for more information on any proposal before the 2026 Budget is no indicator that the proposal will be included in the 2026 Budget Review. The final decision to include any proposal is the sole prerogative of the Minister of Finance,” National Treasury said.

Written submissions should be sent to:

National Treasury: AnnexCProposals@Treasury.gov.za or SARS: 2026LegislationComments@sars.gov.za.

Any substantive tax proposal relating to a policy change should be addressed, separately from the technical tax proposals requested under this invitation, to Mr Christopher Axelson (Deputy Director General: Tax and Financial Sector Policy) at: Christopher.Axelson@treasury.gov.za. – SAnews.gov.za

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Ministro Eurico Monteiro visita Feira Agropecuária de Cabo Verde

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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O Ministro da Promoção de Investimentos e Fomento Empresarial, Eurico Monteiro, realizou, na tarde deste sábado, 15 de novembro, uma visita à IV Feira Agropecuária de Cabo Verde (FACV) 2025, tendo destacado, em declarações à imprensa, a diversidade e a qualidade dos produtos nacionais em exposição, sublinhado o potencial do país para continuar a desenvolver uma agricultura resiliente, moderna e alinhada como exigências do mercado.

Durante a visita, o governante salientou os esforços contínuos do Governo na aplicação da disponibilidade de água para o setor agrícola, nomeadamente através da dessalinização da água do mar, uma solução que, referiu, durante algum tempo, não era possível, mas atualmente constitui uma resposta essencial às limitações hídricas do país.

“Em Cabo Verde a alternativa é clara: ter água ou não ter e estamos a trabalhar para garantir água para a rega onde for possível’’, afirmou.

Eurico Monteiro destacou igualmente o investimento em novas tecnologias de irrigação, bem como soluções inovadoras para melhoria dos solos, permitindo abastecer o mercado com produtos hortícolas de qualidade, apesar das adversidades climáticas, ressaltando ainda que, frequentemente, o país recebe visitas de investidores que elogiam a capacidade produtiva das ilhas e com a diversidade agrícola apresentada na FACV 2025.

Outro ponto enfatizado pelo Ministro tem a ver com a crescente integração dos produtos agrícolas e pecuários na cadeia de valor turística, tendo sublinhado em como os produtos locais têm sido cada vez mais valorizados pelas unidades turísticas, o que reforça a cultura e identidade cabo-verdianas, apelando ao reforço da organização e associação dos produtores para garantir uma oferta regular e em escala.

O governante destacou ainda o dinamismo do mercado interno, evidenciando que a valorização da produção nacional representa também um aumento do rendimento dos agricultores, e sublinhou o papel central do ecossistema institucional no apoio ao agronegócio, referindo que entidades como a Pró-Garante e a Pró-Capital atualmente garantem cerca de 300 mil contos em investimentos, reforçando o compromisso do Governo de Cabo Verde na modernização e a competitividade do setor.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Governo de Cabo Verde.

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National Human Rights Action Plan Concludes its First Consultative Session

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha, November 17, 2025

The national committee tasked with preparing the National Human Rights Action Plan concluded its first two-day consultative session on Monday. The session, which focused on developing the National Human Rights Action Plan (2026-2030), saw broad participation from representatives of government agencies, national institutions, experts, and civil society organizations.
The consultative session featured rich discussions and an exchange of views on national challenges, gaps, and priorities. It resulted in a set of important recommendations that will be included in the initial draft of the National Action Plan.
The session emphasized the importance of continuing the participatory approach to ensure a comprehensive plan that reflects the aspirations of society and strengthens the human rights system in the country.
The national committee for preparing the National Human Rights Action Plan affirmed that this consultative session represents the first phase of a comprehensive consultative process. This will be followed by high-level sessions with decision-makers, and then similar expanded sessions to discuss the draft. 

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President Ramaphosa to receive G20 Africa Expert Panel Report

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, 18 November 2025, receive the G20 Africa Expert Panel Report during a handover ceremony at the Wanderers Hotel in Johannesburg.

South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency in December 2024, marking the first time that the majority of G20 engagements for a full Presidency cycle have been hosted on African soil.

This historic moment has provided South Africa with a unique opportunity to place Africa’s developmental priorities at the centre of global economic dialogue.

In line with this mandate, the Minister of Finance, Mr Enoch Godongwana, established the G20 Africa Expert Panel — chaired by former Minister of Finance, Mr Trevor Manuel — to develop evidence-based policy recommendations that strengthen Africa’s voice within the G20 Finance Track.

The overall objective of the African Expert Panel is to offer strategic advice by exploring and defining strategies that advance Africa’s collective development interests through increased voice, effective representation, and the achievement of a reformed and all-inclusive global economic policy through the G20.

The Panel is composed of 26 distinguished experts from across the globe, with 20 from Africa, representing diverse disciplines including economics, development finance, public policy and academia.

The G20 Africa Expert Panel Report marks a major milestone of South Africa’s G20 Presidency. It provides practical proposals aimed at achieving a more equitable and inclusive global economic order.

The report outlines actionable pathways for addressing Africa’s debt challenges, improving access to development finance, strengthening the global financial safety net, and positioning the continent as an active participant in shaping international economic policy.

The handover of this Report to President Ramaphosa signals South Africa’s commitment to ensuring that African perspectives are central to global economic reforms, and that African countries participate meaningfully in designing solutions to the systemic challenges they face.

Members of the media wishing to cover the ceremony will be required to produce their G20 Summit accreditation
Date: Tuesday, 18 November 2025
Time: 14h30( media to arrive at 13h00)
Venue: Wanderers County Club, Johannesburg 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President- media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Deputy President Mashatile to address the Opening Ceremony of the G20 Social Summit

Source: President of South Africa –

The Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile, will on Tuesday, 18 November 2025, deliver a keynote address at the  Welcoming and Opening Ceremony of the G20 Social Summit.

South Africa will host the G20 Social Summit from 18 – 20 November 2025 at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng Province.

The G20 Social Summit is designed as an inclusive platform to amplify the voices of civil society, grassroots organisations and communities. In line with the G20 Presidency theme of Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability, the Social G20 Summit will bring together formal and informal networks, including youth groups, women’s organisations, persons with disabilities, faith-based organisations, community forums and other grassroots structures to engage directly on global issues that affect them.

Details of the G20 Welcoming and Opening Ceremony are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 18 November 2025
Time: 13h00 – 15h30
Venue: Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference, Boksburg, Gauteng Province

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President, on 066 195 8840.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Don de vivres aux populations d’Ombella-Bord et de Bosselé en reconnaissance de leur courage et solidarité

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Plus de 500 ménages des villages d’Ombella-Bord et de Bosselé, dans la sous-préfecture de Damara, ont reçu des vivres le 15 novembre 2025 de la MINUSCA en reconnaissance de leur mobilisation spontanée après l’accident tragique survenu le 16 septembre dernier. Un véhicule blindé, à bord duquel se trouvaient sept membres de l’unité de police constituée de la République du Congo, s’était renversé dans la rivière Ombella. Deux d’entre eux avaient pu s’extraire de l’engin tandis que leurs cinq camarades avaient été portés disparus. Leurs dépouilles avaient été retrouvées grâce à l’immense solidarité dont avaient fait preuve les habitants de la zone.

Cette initiative, portée par le Réseau des femmes de la Police de la MINUSCA, avec l’appui du Programme alimentaire mondial et la collaboration des autorités locales, a permis à plus de 500 ménages, identifiés par les chefs de villages et la sous-préfecture de Damara, de recevoir des vivres essentiels, à savoir : riz, huile, sel et farine.

Le Chef de quartier d’Ombella Bosselé et maître plongeur, Olonga Jesmin, et son équipe ont aidé la MINUSCA à repérer les corps disparus et à extraire le véhicule de la rivière. Il explique leur geste : « Ce qui nous a motivés, c’est que la MINUSCA est ici pour nous aider et nous sécuriser. Si elle est frappée par une situation malheureuse, nous devons également lui montrer notre côté humaniste. Nous ne pouvions pas laisser leurs corps dans l’eau…Tout cela, nous l’avons fait par humanisme. Je suis heureux que la MINUSCA soit revenue nous remercier à travers ces kits, pour manifester sa reconnaissance », a-t-il déclaré.

« Si nous avons choisi d’aider la MINUSCA, c’est aussi parce que nous dépendons de cette eau pour boire. Il n’y a pas de forage, l’eau est infectée et cela entraîne des maladies comme la diarrhée. Nous demandons à la MINUSCA de penser à notre village, en construisant un puits, un centre de santé ou une école, afin d’aider la population », a-t-il ajouté.

Le Contrôleur de police, Naît El Hocine Ahmed, représentant le chef de la Composante Police de la MINUSCA, a salué ce geste exemplaire de ces populations : « Votre mobilisation démontre que la paix et la sécurité ne sont pas seulement l’affaire des Nations Unies, mais une responsabilité partagée entre la Mission et les populations hôtes. Vous avez incarné les valeurs de solidarité, de fraternité et d’humanité qui sont au cœur de notre mandat ».

Ce don de vivres traduit la reconnaissance de la MINUSCA envers ces communautés pour leur geste courageux et généreux.

Distribué par APO Group pour United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

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Ministério da Justiça e a Universidade Nova de Portugal reforçam parceria com assinatura de novo protocolo de cooperação

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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Foi assinado hoje, em Lisboa, um Protocolo de cooperação, entre o Ministério da Justiça (MJ) e a Universidade Nova (NOVA School of Law) de Portugal, visando, essencialmente, estabelecer um quadro geral de colaboração entre as duas instituições.

O Acordo ora assinado tem como objetivo explorar e desenvolver oportunidades de cooperação em áreas de interesse mútuo, designadamente: a) desenvolvimento conjunto de projetos de investigação e desenvolvimento (I&D) na área do Direito; b) Intercâmbio de conhecimento, informações e boas práticas em matéria jurídica; c) desenvolvimento de programas de formação e capacitação para estudantes de Direito e profissionais do setor da justiça; entre outros.

Na mesma ocasião, as duas Instituições rubricaram um Protocolo Adicional em matéria de promoção e proteção dos direitos da Criança e do Adolescente, tendo em vista a cooperação institucional, nomeadamente através da realização de estudos, investigação, ações de formação e capacitação e que contribuam para o aprofundamento das questões relacionadas com os Direitos da Criança e a sua proteção.

O ato da assinatura dos dois Protocolos contou com a presença da Ministra da Justiça, Joana Rosa e da Diretora da Faculdade de Direito da Universidade Nova, Doutora Margarida Lima Rego.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Governo de Cabo Verde.

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Sierra Leone’s President Bio Chairs United Nations (UN) Security Council Debate, Calls Starvation a “Crime” and Food Security a Global Peace Imperative

Source: APO


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His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, today presided over a high-level United Nations Security Council open debate on “Threats to International Peace and Security: Conflict-Related Food Insecurity” at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Addressing the Council for the second time in two years during Sierra Leone’s tenure, President Bio warned that hunger is increasingly being used as a weapon of war and called for stronger global action to prevent the deliberate starvation of civilians. He stressed that such acts are prohibited under international law and constitute war crimes.

The President highlighted that conflicts across regions—from Gaza and Sudan to Haiti, Ukraine, and the Sahel, continue to devastate food systems, destroy livelihoods, and deepen humanitarian crises. He described starvation as a “slow, silent, corrosive” form of violence that fuels instability, displacement, and renewed conflict.

President Bio outlined three core messages saying starvation is not collateral damage but a crime; food insecurity is both a driver of conflict and a peacebuilding imperative; and sustainable peace requires investment in agricultural resilience, markets, and human capital, especially women and youth.

He presented Sierra Leone’s Feed Salone Initiative as a national model demonstrating that food security is integral to the peace and development nexus. The four-pillar programme, production, resilience, markets and value chains, and human capital, aims to strengthen productivity, reduce import dependence, and build climate-smart systems that secure stable livelihoods.

At the regional level, President Bio emphasized ECOWAS efforts to integrate food security into peacebuilding, early warning, and trade frameworks, including the expansion of the ECOWAS Food Security Reserve and the ECOWARN early warning network.

Proposing six concrete global actions, the President urged the Council to protect food systems in conflict zones, institutionalize early-warning mechanisms, safeguard humanitarian access, advance accountability for starvation crimes, link peacebuilding finance to agriculture and livelihoods, and prioritize the empowerment of women and youth across agricultural value chains.

He affirmed that Africa does not seek sympathy but partnership, noting that the continent holds the majority of the world’s uncultivated arable land and significant youth-driven innovative potential. Preventing future wars, he stressed, requires treating food security as central to peace and security rather than a secondary humanitarian concern.

President Bio concluded by calling on the global community to “ensure that no child is starved into submission, no harvest held hostage, and no community driven to violence by hunger,” urging nations to align moral conscience with international law and collective action.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.

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United Nations (UN) aid office pushes for ‘unhindered’ humanitarian access in Sudan

Source: APO


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In recent days the Emergency Relief Coordinator has travelled to various parts of the war-torn country and met leaders, frontline responders and survivors of the crisis.

“We need more UN boots on the ground,” Mr. Fletcher said. “The UN is a ship that was not built to stay in the harbour, and this visit has been part of that big push to make sure we’re mobilised closer to those we serve.”

Progress on negotiations

Mr. Fletcher said he had a “useful” meeting with General Burhan, leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), focused on getting “unlimited” and “unhindered” humanitarian access.

He also met representatives from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia in what was a “tough” discussion, where he set out “unequivocally” that the UN will be expecting protection for civilians and insisting on accountability and safe passages for civilians and aid convoys.

“We have, I think, a pretty strong agreement from the authorities [of the military government] in Port Sudan and the RSF on full access and safe passage for our convoys to go in and for civilians to get out,” Mr. Fletcher said. “Now let’s see what happens next.”

‘Crime scene’ in El Fasher 

The UN also made progress on getting teams into El Fasher, in Darfur, on the organization’s terms, Mr. Fletcher added.

“We’re not going to be instrumentalised,” he emphasized. “This is a potential crime scene, and we’ve got to make sure we’ve got the right people going in, and that the aid is genuinely neutral and impartial.”

El Fasher was captured by the RSF last month after more than 500 days of siege, leading to the displacement of some 90,000 people since the end of October.

When asked about the number of deaths in El Fasher, Mr. Fletcher said there is no credible answer on how many have been killed so far.

There are hundreds of thousands of people in Tawila, but “many people clearly aren’t getting out of El Fasher,” he said.

“One of the things we want to do when we go in is to find out why that is and to see what the conditions are, in which they are being held there.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.