Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

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A live X Spaces event exploring how young African innovators are using artificial intelligence (AI) to address food security challenges highlighted that digital inclusion is essential for rural communities. The one-hour live event on X, hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for Africa, brought together three AI entrepreneurs, from Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Kenya, who are applying cutting-edge technologies to support smallholder farmers and improve productivity across the continent. Close to 200 people joined the online conversation.

Meet the innovators

The panel featured three young founders:

Tafadzwa Chikwereti of eAgro in Zimbabwe, developers of CropFix, a mobile platform that uses artificial intelligence to diagnose pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies from photos taken by farmers;

Femi Adekoya of Integrated Aerial Precision in Nigeria, who is known as the Flying Farmer because he uses drones and AI to promote precision agriculture. He also trains youth through the Precision Field Academy;

and Lavender Birike of Klima360 in Kenya who uses AI to combine weather, soil, and market data to forecast climate risks and help farmers and insurers make informed decisions.

The session was moderated by Mathew Ayong from FAO, and FAO Digital Agriculture specialist Ken Lohento gave closing remarks.

Big ideas, big impact

Tafadzwa Chikwereti emphasized that smallholder farmers produce a significant share of Africa’s food but are often limited by lack of access to timely agronomic advice. “The biggest challenge is rural connectivity and digital literacy,” he said. “Bundling AI tools with accessible platforms is crucial for improving harvests.”

He explained how eAgro is helping close the information gap for smallholder farmers in rural areas. “We’re using artificial intelligence to analyse crops and identify pest disease and nutrient deficiency,” he said. “We deliver these insights using platforms including SMS text messages, which are crucial for smallholder farmers without internet or smartphones.”

Describing the concept of precision agriculture, Femi Adekoya said, “It means applying the right thing at the right time in the right place with the right intensity. That is sustainable agriculture,” he said.

He added that AI can analyse data collected by drones to provide farmers with targeted recommendations that reduce resource use while improving yield and climate resilience.

He highlighted the importance of collaboration across sectors. “We believe African youth can be equipped with the knowledge and skills to lead this work,” he said. “We’re working with universities across Nigeria and supporting youth including in last-mile communities.”

Lavender Birike of Klima360 highlighted the need for better access to open data. “We have a lot of research data sitting in different places. If we could pass policies that enable access and provide safety frameworks, it would open opportunities for young people to develop localized solutions,” she said.

She also shared her perspective on the importance of women’s participation in AI. “This is an opportunity for women to be involved from the beginning,” she said. “Understanding how data is gathered and analysed gives them the opportunity to participate meaningfully and to become digital champions.”

Driving transformation through partnerships

The session concluded with a reflection on how collaboration between governments, universities, the private sector, and development organizations can accelerate the adoption of AI in African agriculture. Led by FAO Digital Agriculture specialist Ken Lohento, the speakers emphasized that innovation must be inclusive and context-specific, addressing the needs of farmers regardless of their location or resources.

Lohento also highlighted FAO’s work in the digital agriculture space, including the Fostering Digital Villages (FDiVi) project in Senegal, Rwanda and Niger that is supporting rural communities to harness digital tools, including AI applications, to boost productivity and build resilience.

The X Spaces event drew strong engagement from the live audience, with participants asking questions and expressing support for the speakers’ insights and innovations. It is part of FAO’s ongoing Youth on the Frontier of Agrifood Systems series, which highlights the role of young people in shaping the future of agriculture in Africa. It follows a successful May session on young ag influencers, and forms part of FAO’s broader efforts to promote youth-led innovation and digital transformation in Africa’s agrifood systems.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.

Source: APO

“People told me multiple times that when they were fleeing from Zamzam [displacement camp], armed people would threaten them while they were in flight, saying sure, ‘Flee, go to that place, run here, run there, we will follow you, we will find you’,” said Jocelyn Elizabeth Knight, a Protection Officer for the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

Briefing journalists in Geneva, Ms. Knight described speaking to one traumatized child at a UNHCR shelter, whose experience mirrors that of countless other youngsters across the nation.

“A tiny boy told me, ‘You know, during the day things are okay here, but I’m afraid to go to sleep at night in case the place where we’re living is attacked again’.”

Forced into squalor

In Darfur in western Sudan, many people uprooted by violence gather in disused public buildings with few essentials to water and sanitation.  

Meanwhile, new displacement and attacks on civilians continue within Darfur and neighbouring Kordofan region, UNHCR warned, in communities “that are already devastated and have been subjected to unspeakable atrocities”.

The ongoing fighting has also severely constrained humanitarian access and disrupted aid delivery for over two years. With seasonal rains underway, many roads will be impassable for months, further complicating the delivery of aid, the UN agency noted.  

The persistent insecurity has also impeded farming, deepening deprivation in areas at risk of famine or already experiencing famine-like conditions.

Latest UNHCR data indicates that more than 873,000 Sudanese refugees have fled Darfur and crossed into Chad, which now hosts the largest number of registered Sudanese refugees since the start of the conflict. One in three people in eastern Chad is now a refugee.

Deadly disease

In addition to heavy fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their former allies-turned opponents – the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries – that began in April 2023, civilians now face a fast-spreading and deadly cholera outbreak.

“Cholera has swept across Sudan with all the states reporting outbreaks,” said Dr. Ilham Nour, Senior Emergency Officer with the UN World Health Organization (WHO).

She noted that since last July, nearly 100,000 cases have been reported.

Lives on the line

The highly contagious disease spreads rapidly in unsanitary conditions. As of early August, 264 cases and 12 deaths have been identified at Dougui refugee settlement in eastern Chad hosting Sudanese arrivals from Darfur.

Surrounding villages have also reported suspected cases, while others have emerged in Treguine settlement, one of many UNHCR camps in eastern Chad that host Sudanese refugees.

Help to contain the disease is urgent, insisted UNHCR’s Dossou Patrice Ahouansou, Principal Situation Coordinator for Eastern Chad.

“We still have more than 230,000 refugees at the border in very difficult situation,” he said. “Without urgent action including enhancing access to medical treatment, to clean water, to sanitation, to hygiene and most important, relocation from the border, many more lives are on the line.”

As part of the response and to prevent new cases, the UN agency has suspended the relocation of refugees from border points.

UNHCR is seeking $130 million in flexible funding to provide life-saving aid to an estimated 800,000 people in Darfur. In addition, the UN agency will respond to the cholera outbreak and relocate 239,000 Sudanese refugees from the Chad-Sudan border.

Unexploded weapons alert

Meanwhile, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) confirmed fears that unexploded ordnance from ongoing battles are killing and maiming non-combatants who are unaware of the extent of the danger.

“The sad reality of this ongoing conflict is it is not happening in rural areas, it’s mainly happening in urban areas, in the areas which are highly populated,” said Mohammad Sediq Rashid, Chief of UNMAS Sudan.

Last week, six minefields were confirmed in Khartoum and three of them contained anti-personnel landmines – the first time this has been reported – he told journalists in Geneva.

“Contamination is on the roads, in homes, in schools and airstrips, medical facilities, humanitarian bases,” the UNMAS official continued.

“This is a population [that] is largely unaware of the dangers that are waiting for them…this problem is only growing every day.”

Spotlight on Sudan

In a briefing from Port Sudan for New York-based correspondents on Friday, Edem Wosornu, OCHA’s advocacy director, called for the international community to continue putting the spotlight on the war-ravaged nation, both from a funding and advocacy perspective.

Ms. Wosornu had just returned from Khartoum, where she said the destruction was absolutely devastating.

“It was a decimated city – Khartoum which was once buzzing with life [was] almost a ghost town… I have never seen anything like this before in my almost quarter-of-a-century service to the United Nations.”

Pocket change plea

With the humanitarian plan for Sudan only 23 per cent funded, Ms. Wosornu noted that OCHA is not asking for a lot – only 55 cents per person per day.

“Where we have access, we are able to assist. Where we have safety and security assurances, we are able to assist. Where we have enough supplies and funding, we are able to assist,” she said.

The only real solution to the world’s worst humanitarian crisis is lasting peace, according to Ms. Wosornu. Therefore, OCHA and other partners continue to negotiate with the Rapid Support Forces in addition to the internationally recognized Sudanese military Government.

“We need this [humanitarian] pause desperately…The people are asking for an end to the war that has killed, maimed and led to significant destruction of life and livelihood.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO

Civil society organizations are seen as the voice of the people, advocating for communities and promoting peaceful solutions. However, in Warrap State, their voice often struggles to reach far enough.

This week, in Kuajok, representatives from six counties met for three days to discuss improving coordination and connections between the state capital and remote communities.

“Our community is tired of war,” says Bona Malual Akec, Chairperson of the Warrap State Civil Society Network.

He recalls a recent county dispute that escalated to violence before being addressed at the state level.

“By engaging with communities directly, we can come together and resolve issues before they worsen.”

Asunta Nyanut, founder of the Support Women and Girls Organization, emphasizes that the gap goes beyond communication; it’s about whose voices are heard. She has witnessed county-level projects fail due to a lack of information for women’s groups.

“With adequate resources and recognition, we could combat gender-based violence, keep girls in school, and hold perpetrators accountable,” she states.

During the sessions, Asunta translated key points into local dialects, ensuring women from rural areas could understand and fully participate.

The absence of county-level links also leaves many groups invisible.

John Lino Anei, representing those with disabilities, notes that his community frequently misses invitations to peace dialogues and hears about decisions only after they’re made.

“Physical barriers, such as the absence of wheelchairs or transport, hinder participation.”

In Kuajok, John actively ensured inclusion by attending every session, distributing notebooks, helping with projectors, and reminding participants that removing obstacles is essential for significant contribution.

Marco Guot Ajiek, Executive Director of the Relief Aid and Community Care Organization, stressed that stronger coordination among civil society organizations is essential for peace in Warrap.

“It’s about sharing a common vision, learning from each other and shifting mindsets on issues like cattle raiding,” he explains.

By the end of the gathering, participants agreed to establish six county coordination offices with designated points of contact for sharing early warnings and peace updates, and they amended the network’s constitution to ensure county representation in decision-making.

The first-ever forum bringing together representatives from all counties was supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), featuring training on conflict-sensitive peacebuilding and planning sessions.

Civil Affairs Kuajok Team Leader Adewuyi Adewumi urged members to harness their community privilege for positive change.

“Now is the time to act. Build networks and become the vigilant eyes and ears of civil society. Your actions can make a difference!”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Source: APO

On Friday, 8 August 2025, Ms. Lin Nan, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Seychelles, paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Ian Madeleine, Principal Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Department, at Maison Quéau de Quinssy.

During the meeting, the two diplomats engaged in fruitful discussions on the long-standing and ongoing cooperation between Seychelles and China. They reviewed current partnerships, particularly in the areas of capacity building, education, culture, health, military cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges. Both parties expressed their shared commitment to further strengthen these collaborative efforts.

In addition, they explored opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation into new and emerging areas, including eco-tourism, trade, and climate change initiatives. The discussions reaffirmed the mutual interest of both countries in promoting sustainable development and deepening diplomatic ties, grounded in mutual respect, friendship and collaboration.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Republic of Seychelles.

Source: APO – Report:

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IAEA-Group of Twenty cooperation broke new ground with the release of a new publication examining the potential for nuclear power in Africa.  

The IAEA launched the publication at a side event co-organized with the Clean Energy Ministerial and the South African Department of Electricity and Energy on the margins of a key Group of Twenty (G20) energy transitions meeting in South Africa as the bloc explores clean energy options for sustainable development. 

Read the new report: Outlook for Nuclear Energy in Africa | IAEA.

Collaborating for Development

After participating for the first time as an invited organization during the G20’s Brazilian presidency last year, the IAEA is once again collaborating with the world’s largest economic bloc — this time under the South African presidency to advance work on nuclear power.

South Africa is for now the only African country with nuclear power, with its two-unit Koeberg Nuclear Power Station supplying nearly two gigawatts of electrical generation capacity. However, enthusiasm for nuclear power is building across the continent, where fossil fuels currently dominate energy production, accounting for more than 70% of electricity production.

South Africa is partnering with the IAEA during its G20 presidency and focusing on the implementation of nuclear new build programmes in Africa. There is particular interest in small modular reactors (SMRs) in Africa given the grid infrastructure requirements. “The global interest in SMRs is increasing due to their ability to meet the need for flexible power generation for a wider range of users and applications as we move from high carbon emissions to lower carbon emission sources,” said Zizamele Mbambo, Deputy Director General for Nuclear Energy in South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.

Nuclear Power for Sustainable Growth

A growing number of African countries are interested in adding nuclear to their energy mix, with Egypt building its first nuclear power plant and countries including Ghana and Kenya working with the IAEA to develop the requisite infrastructure to launch their programmes. The latest IAEA projections have nuclear capacity in Africa increasing tenfold by 2050 in the high case scenario, while even in the low case scenario the current figure grows by a factor of five.

The publication surveys the continent’s current energy landscape, highlighting the prospects for nuclear power to address the lack of electricity that is a daily reality for about half a billion people across Africa. The report also takes an in-depth look at what is required to deploy enough nuclear to meet the continent’s significant energy needs, underscoring the importance of addressing financing challenges, implementing strong, supportive government policies and adopting a regional approach to nuclear power development, and details IAEA support in these and other areas.

“Access to reliable and low-carbon energy sources such as nuclear can enable Africa to further explore and more importantly also add benefits and value to its vast natural resources, including uranium,” said Frederik Reitsma, Head of the IAEA’s Nuclear Power Technology Development Section. “History has shown that the development of a nuclear power programme, and the development of the associated supply chain, drives industrial growth and leads to advanced technology development in other areas.”

The publication also discusses how SMRs could play a major role in Africa, highlighting benefits such as their suitability for the relatively small electric grids that are common in Africa as well as lower capital costs. Uranium mining is also identified as a significant growth opportunity for the continent, which is already home to three of the world’s top ten uranium producers: Namibia, Niger and South Africa.

“As the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) contributes to the development of an energy security framework for G20 nations, insight-rich resources such as the IAEA’s Outlook for Nuclear Energy in Africa are essential to address regional resource expansion and inform development across continents,” said Emma Wong, Nuclear Principal Lead for Innovation, Quantum Technology and International Development at EPRI in remarks delivered during the launch event. “By together leveraging every resource at our disposal, we can amplify the value of global efforts to deliver the economic, environmental, and societal benefits of energy abundance to society.”

“The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) provides a trusted and inclusive platform where countries can engage in informed dialogue on the opportunities and challenges of nuclear energy, and advance practical cooperation aligned with their national priorities” said Jean-François Gagné, Head of the CEM Secretariat. “As a key international platform, the CEM supports governments in advancing their nuclear energy ambitions, including in emerging and developing economies. In Africa, the CEM NICE Future Initiative has actively worked with countries such as Ghana and Kenya, helping them explore the potential role of nuclear energy in their broader clean energy transitions. The CEM works in close partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange in support of national and regional goals.”

Looking ahead, the IAEA is preparing to engage at the G20’s Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting, scheduled for October in South Africa. The IAEA is currently developing a publication on the coal-to-nuclear transition which covers the economic benefits of converting former coal sites for nuclear power deployment and provides an overview of the technical aspects of the repurposing process. This report is set to be released just ahead of the meeting.    

– on behalf of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).