Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO – Report:

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Authorities in Niger should immediately release former President Mohamed Bazoum, who remains arbitrarily detained two years after he was ousted in a military coup, Human Rights Watch said today.

On July 26, 2023, Nigerien army officers of the self-proclaimed National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (Conseil National pour la sauveguarde de la patrie, CNSP), led by Brig. Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani, overthrew Bazoum’s government and arrested him and his wife, Hadiza Bazoum. The couple remain in custody at the presidential palace in the capital, Niamey, with no access to family members or lawyers. Bazoum also faces an impending trial after the ruling junta lifted his presidential immunity in 2024.

“Niger’s military junta demonstrates its contempt for the rule of law every day it detains former President Bazoum and his wife,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch. “His politically motivated detention and prosecution discredit any junta claims to a more democratic Niger.”

In August 2023, the junta announced plans to prosecute Bazoum for “high treason” and undermining national security but never brought him before a judge for preliminary hearings.

In September, Bazoum filed a petition with the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), citing violations of human rights against him and his family during his detention. In December, the ECOWAS court ruled that Bazoum was arbitrarily detained and called for his release. In January 2025, Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, formally withdrew from ECOWAS.

In April 2024, the authorities initiated legal proceedings against Bazoum to lift his presidential immunity so he could be prosecuted for alleged crimes committed during his presidency. In June, a court ruled against him following a proceeding that failed to meet basic due process and international fair trial standards. With Bazoum’s immunity removed, the junta announced its intention to prosecute him for high treason. A trial date has not been set.

In February 2025, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, an independent expert body that investigates deprivation of liberty, found that the detention of Bazoum and his wife was arbitrary, in violation of international human rights law, and called for their immediate release.

“Bazoum has been cruelly and unlawfully locked away for two years: without charge or trial, unable to speak to his children, his supporters, or even his lawyers,” said Reed Brody, a member of Bazoum’s legal team. “Despite clear rulings from international courts and UN bodies demanding his release, he remains the hostage of a military junta.”

The abuses against Bazoum are emblematic of a military junta that has cracked down on the political opposition, peaceful dissent, and the media, and that appears to intend to solidify its power, delaying a transition to civilian rule and credible, free, and fair elections, Human Rights Watch said.

“Each day Bazoum spends in detention moves Niger further away from a democratic path,” Allegrozzi said. “Two years on, Niger’s authorities should reconsider what type of message his continued detention sends across the region and the world.”

– on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Source: APO – Report:

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The aim is to increase assistance for communities over the next three months, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday.

The updated plan focuses on food, healthcare, water, sanitation, shelter and protection, and requires $120 million for implementation.

Spread of diseases

The health situation in North Darfur has also been deteriorating, with humanitarian partners on the ground warning that cholera, measles, malaria and trauma cases are surging in Tawila, El Fasher and Kebkabiya.

Insecurity has forced the more than 32 health facilities in the region to close, and the lack of rapid diagnostic tests along with widespread Internet outages are also severely hindering disease surveillance.

Critical shortages of surgical supplies, essential medicines and vaccines are “pushing the health system to the brink, leaving thousands without access to the care that they need to stay alive,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said during his daily press briefing from New York.

Deadly civilian toll

Displacement continues to take a deadly toll on civilians seeking safety.

Last week, 17 displaced people reportedly died of thirst and dehydration after their vehicle broke down in the desert, according to officials in Northern state.

OCHA also reported that markets in South Darfur are reeling from sharp price increases due to flooding and seasonal rivers cutting off supply routes from Chad and Northern state.  

Meanwhile, the UN remains “deeply concerned over escalating violence in the Kordofan region,” Mr. Dujarric said, after five civilians were reportedly killed and several others injured in drone strikes on fuel markets in Al Fula and Abu Zabad towns in West Kordofan state.

The UN called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel, unimpeded access across conflict lines and borders, and increased international support to address the spiraling humanitarian needs across Sudan.

– on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO

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As part of ongoing efforts to reform and modernize public finance management and to foster market-based deficit financing through domestic-currency Treasury bills and bonds market, the Ministry of Finance has published its first three-month Treasury-bill issuance calendar.

This milestone supports the government’s “reset, reform, and relaunch” agenda, deepening the domestic debt market and improving transparency. By giving market participants clear visibility of upcoming auctions, the calendar enhances predictability and builds investor confidence. It also underscores the government’s commitment to borrow domestically in ways that limit inflation and safeguard macroeconomic stability.

The calendar embodies the shift toward a genuinely market-based approach to Treasury-bill issuance. This compliments the opening of the secondary market and the introduction of more competitive retail auctions open to a wider range of investors through the Ethiopian Securities Exchange.

The Ministry of Finance will continue to build on this momentum by promoting openness, broadening investor participation, and aligning Ethiopia’s debt-management practices with international best practice.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Finance, Ethiopia.

Source: APO

Food insecurity in Southern Africa is worsening, driven by erratic weather patterns, pest outbreaks, and economic shocks. An estimated 46.3 million people across seven countries -Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, South Africa and Tanzania— are projected to fate acute food insecurity during the 20205/26 consumption period. As shocks intensify, timely and harmonized vulnerability assessments remain critical to inform early action, response planning, and policy development.

To this end, representatives from 11 Southern African Development Community  (SADC) Member States, joined by regional and international partners including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), and the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Regional Support Unit, gathered virtually from 14 to 16 July 2025 for the Annual Dissemination Forum of the SADC Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis (RVAA) Programme. The event was followed by the 29th Steering Committee meeting on 17 July 2025.

Despite data collection and budgetary challenges, seven Member States successfully completed their national assessments and presented findings at the forum. These findings contributed to the finalization of the 2025 Regional Synthesis Report on the State of Food and Nutrition Security in SADC, validated by the Regional Vulnerability Assessment Committee (RVAC).

The report highlights a concerning uptick in food insecurity, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and low-income urban areas, underscoring the compounded impact of the 2024 El Niño-induced drought, ongoing conflict, and high food prices. At the same time, the region experienced normal to above-normal rainfall in many areas during the 2024/25 season, supporting a modest recovery in cereal production and grazing conditions, particularly in countries like Tanzania, Lesotho and Eswatini.

FAO’s technical support and way forward

As a long-standing partner of the RVAA system, FAO continues to support Member States in enhancing the quality and use of vulnerability assessments. This includes contributing technical expertise to the Regional Vulnerability Assessment Committee, promoting alignment with IPC frameworks, and strengthening links between data and early action.

Looking ahead, FAO will continue engaging with SADC Member States and partners to improve the quality and coverage of vulnerability assessments across the region. This includes supporting harmonization of tools and methodologies, promoting digital data collection systems, and fostering cross-country learning and peer-to-peer exchange. FAO is committed to working alongside the SADC Secretariat to strengthen the institutional sustainability of the RVAA programme and integrate early warning into broader disaster risk management systems.

The outcomes of the 29th Steering Committee meeting reaffirm the urgency of accelerating investment in regional food security analysis. The Committee called for renewed efforts to mobilize resources for the upcoming landscape analysis of existing national frameworks, which will inform the development of a harmonized vulnerability assessment framework for the SADC region by 2026. FAO will remain a key technical partner in this process, offering expertise to ensure that the proposed framework is scalable, inclusive, and responsive to the complex drivers of vulnerability facing Southern Africa today.

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

Source: APO

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Mhondoro-Ngezi District Agricultural Show Society, successfully hosted a ‘Digital Fair’ in the Mashonaland West Province in Zimbabwe. The Digital Fair was held under the auspices of the Fostering Digital Villages Initiative (FDiVi).

This strategic blending of digital innovation with traditional agricultural exhibitions marks a significant step in Zimbabwe’s journey towards agrifood systems transformation as it showcases tools and services that significantly improves the efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural practices.

The event served as a dynamic platform to introduce digital service providers to rural communities, enabling farmers, youth, and local leaders to explore and evaluate digital tools tailored for agricultural productivity and rural development. The digital fair is part of the broader global FAO Digital Villages Initiative, which aims to transform agrifood systems in rural Malawi, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe using effective digital technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Digital Fairs are platforms for raising awareness as well as conduits for digital literacy for rural communities on one hand and rural market entry points for digital service providers, innovators and entrepreneurs.

“Collaborating with Agricultural Show Societies is a step in the right direction. The success of the digital fair in the Mhondoro-Ngezi where we partnered the Mhondoro-Ngezi District Agricultural Society sets the stage for future integration of digital fairs into national and sub-national agricultural shows, amplifying outreach and fostering inclusive access to innovation,” said Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and Representative to Zimbabwe.

“This approach aligns with Zimbabwe’s broader goals for sustainable agriculture, youth empowerment, and rural development, and is more sustainable,” added Talla.

“The Venice Digital Fair has been overwhelmingly welcomed by the Mhondoro-Ngezi farmers, extension staff and stakeholders, with a lot of interest shown on the services that were being exhibited. We wish to continue to synchronize our future agricultural shows with these digital fairs as this has shown a positive impact on attendance, knowledge sharing and exchange.” said Spiwe Goto an extension officer with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.

The digital fair brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including Government officials; digital service providers; local traditional leaders and community members; and youth organizations, rural development groups, and digital champions.

“I have learnt a lot through being part of this initiative. Digital innovation isn’t just for urban centres. It’s for every farmer, every youth, and every rural entrepreneur ready to grow. We’re building bridges between technology and tradition,” Maria Chinyoka a Digital Champion trained under the FDiVi project who is also the Kushinga farmer group leader.

The Digital Fair delivered tangible results, reinforcing the value of integrating digital innovation into Zimbabwe’s agrifood systems. The digital fair contributed to increased awareness of digital tools among rural stakeholders, showcasing their potential to drive agricultural productivity and rural transformation. It also strengthened engagement between digital innovators and grassroots communities, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange.

“These series of Fairs are a vital bridge between us as digital innovators and grassroot communities that we often overlook in tech-driven agriculture” said Tafadzwa Chikwereti (Co-founder of eAgro).

“As a financial institution, we witnessed opportunities for our company to penetrate the under-banked community. We will be partnering with local agents to offer our micro-finance services,” Kanukai Madende the Managing Director of Village Finance.

The digital fair enhanced the visibility of digital solutions within sub-national agricultural platforms, laying the groundwork for broader adoption and policy integration. FAO remains committed to supporting Zimbabwe’s digital transformation journey, ensuring that no community is left behind in the pursuit of modern, resilient, and inclusive agrifood systems.

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

Source: APO

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The National Assembly (NA) today approved the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill, which marks a significant step in the country’s retirement reform agenda.

The Bill proposes changes to several tax laws. It is categorised as a Money Bill, processed under Section 77 of the Constitution and follows extensive consultations led by the Standing Committee on Finance.

The Bill is part of necessary legislative reforms to support the implementation of the two-pot retirement system, which aims to give individuals limited early access to a portion of their retirement savings while preserving the remainder for retirement. The system was implemented in September 2024, and the amendments will provide much-needed clarity for retirement fund members and administrators. The Bill, among other things, clarifies terms like “retirement annuity fund” within the broader legislative context, although some terminology issues will need to be addressed in future updates.

The National Treasury published the draft bill in December 2024. This was followed by extensive public participation in Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance, where public input was received from June 2025 onwards.

With the National Assembly’s approval, the Bill will now be sent to the National Council of Provinces for further consideration.

The full committee report (dated July 18, 2025) can be accessed using this link: https://tinyurl.com/3wp2uapb

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in terms of Section 9(1)(a) of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Act of 2008, appointed members of the Board of the Agency for a period of three years, with effect from 1 August 2025.

An Act of Parliament established the NYDA, primarily to address challenges faced by the nation’s youth. 

The Agency functions as a single, unitary structure addressing youth development issues at national, provincial and local government level.

President Ramaphosa has appointed the following Board members:

– Ms Kelly Sandra Baloyi
– Ms Thembisile Precious Mahuwa
– Mr Bonga Siphesihle Makhanya
– Mr Sibusiso Makhathini
– Dr Wiseman Mfaniseni Mbatha
– Dr Sunshine Minenhle Myende 
– Mx Busisiwe Nandipha Nxumalo

President Ramaphosa has also, in terms of Section 9(5)(a) of the NYDA Act, designated Dr Sunshine Minenhle Myende as the chairperson of the of the National Youth Development Agency Board, and Mr Bonga Siphesihle Makhanya as the deputy chairperson of the Board.

The President appreciates the willingness of the Board members to avail themselves for the national task of securing a promising future for the nation through the empowerment of young people.

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

Source: APO

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As part of the international momentum generated under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, in support of Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara and the Autonomy Plan, the Portuguese Republic expresses “its full support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the most serious, credible and constructive basis to settle this dispute.”

This position was expressed in the Joint Statement signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, and the Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, following their meeting on Tuesday in Lisbon.

Portugal recognizes the importance of this issue for Morocco, as well as the serious and credible efforts undertaken by the Kingdom within the framework of the United Nations to achieve a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, the Joint statement notes.

The two ministers reaffirmed their support for UN Security Council Resolution 2756, which emphasizes the role and responsibility of the parties in seeking a realistic, pragmatic and lasting political solution based on compromise, the document adds.

Through its new stance, Portugal sends a clear message reflecting its adherence to the international consensus around Morocco’s autonomy Plan, in line with the strong international dynamic driven by His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.