Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

On 13 October 2026, H.E Ambassador Jestas Abuok Nyamanga, was privileged to host a consultative meeting with Ambassador of Uganda in Brussels Her Excellency Mirjam Blaak Sow, and Ambassador of Kenya in Brussels His Excellency Joash Arthur Maangi.

The  three ambassadors used the avenue to explore strategies for advancing their shared interests through strengthened collaboration with partners, including the European Union.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania Brussels, Belgium.

Source: APO

Maritime security remains central to regional stability, international trade and the protection of vital sea lines of communication across the Western Indian Ocean. Persistent threats, including piracy, armed robbery at sea and transnational maritime crime, continue to demand coordinated action among regional and international maritime security partners.

In support of these efforts, Kenya Navy Ship (KNS) SHUPAVU participated in Operation TIDAL WAVE, a multinational maritime security operation aimed at deterring piracy and strengthening security within the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and the Western Indian Ocean Region. The operation reflected Kenya Navy’s continued commitment to safeguarding maritime interests, protecting merchant shipping and supporting collective efforts to counter illicit activities at sea.

By facilitating the timely exchange of information and coordination with maritime partners, Operation TIDAL WAVE strengthened interoperability, enhanced maritime surveillance and promotedbthe professional development of naval personnel. Through its participation, the Kenya Navy reaffirmed its commitment to regional maritime cooperation and to safeguarding the Western Indian Ocean as a strategic gateway for global commerce.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Defence – Kenya.

Source: APO

Lesotho and Germany are exploring opportunities to strengthen economic cooperation and attract investment following a business roundtable held in Berlin ahead of the Berlin Global Dialogue 2026.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Nthomeng Majara, called for stronger business partnerships to create jobs and support economic growth. She highlighted investment opportunities in renewable energy, water management, agriculture, textiles, manufacturing and tourism. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Honourable Limpho Tau, encouraged German investors to explore these sectors, citing Lesotho’s water resources, wind and solar energy potential, and skilled workforce.

Mr. Claus Mayer of the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade highlighted Germany’s technological expertise as an opportunity to support Lesotho’s industrial development, sustainable infrastructure and vocational training. He reaffirmed the BWA’s commitment to connecting businesses and promoting investment that benefits both countries.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Government of Lesotho.

Source: APO

Canon Central & North Africa (CCNA) (Canon-CNA.com) is celebrating the addition of three outstanding creative talents with strong connections to Africa – Hamoudi Laggoune, Hans Ngoteya and Nora Awolowo – to the Canon EMEA Ambassador Programme, further strengthening the continent’s representation within Canon’s international community of leading photographers, filmmakers and visual storytellers.

Their appointment forms part of Canon’s announcement of 25 new Ambassadors joining the EMEA programme in 2026, bringing together creative voices from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Established in 2008, the Canon EMEA Ambassador Programme has grown into one of the imaging industry’s most influential initiatives. It connects accomplished photographers and filmmakers with Canon and the wider creative community, providing a platform to share knowledge, exchange ideas, mentor emerging talent and contribute to the evolution of visual storytelling.

The three new additions reflect the breadth of creative talent emerging from and connected to Africa, spanning cinematography, filmmaking, wildlife and conservation storytelling.

Hamoudi Laggoune is a Franco-Algerian cinematographer and visual storyteller with more than two decades of experience in film and image-making. Based between Europe and North Africa, his work explores evolving approaches to cinematography, including Cinema EOS, virtual production, underwater filmmaking and large-format imaging.

Hans Ngoteya, from Tanzania, is a wildlife filmmaker and conservation storyteller committed to using visual storytelling to create greater awareness of the natural world. As co-founder of Ngoteya Wild, he has directed award-winning documentaries highlighting nature and conservation and was recognised with the Jackson Wild Rising Star Award in 2023.

Nora Awolowo is an award-winning Nigerian cinematographer, filmmaker, photographer and visual storyteller whose work spans documentary, feature film and visual storytelling. Her portfolio includes directing the FIFA original documentary Nigeria: The Debut and serving as cinematographer and producer on the feature film Red Circle. Most recently, Nora produced Black Market through Rixel Studios, which made history in September 2026 by setting a Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at a film screening, drawing more than 51,000 qualifying viewers to its premiere at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos. The milestone adds to a growing body of work that has earned her recognition both within Nigeria and internationally.

The three creatives join an established community that already includes accomplished African Canon Ambassadors such as Aïda Muluneh and Seibou Traoré, reinforcing a growing network of creative professionals bringing distinctive African perspectives, experiences and storytelling traditions to the wider EMEA programme.

Rashad Ghani, B2C Business Unit Director, Canon Central & North Africa, said:
“Welcoming Hamoudi, Hans and Nora to the Canon EMEA Ambassador Programme is a moment of real pride for us. Each brings a very different creative perspective from cinematography across North Africa, to wildlife and conservation storytelling in East Africa, and a new generation of filmmaking talent emerging from Nigeria. Together with established Ambassadors such as Aïda Muluneh and Seibou Traoré, they demonstrate the depth and diversity of visual storytelling connected to our region.

“This programme is much more than recognition of individual achievement. It creates opportunities for knowledge to be shared, for emerging creators to learn from established professionals and for African perspectives to become an increasingly visible part of the wider EMEA creative conversation. We congratulate Hamoudi, Hans and Nora on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to seeing the experiences, ideas and inspiration they bring to the Ambassador community.”

Canon Ambassadors are selected through a rigorous multi-stage process. Candidates are nominated by Canon offices across EMEA before being assessed by an independent panel of 16 experts from the photography and filmmaking industry. The panel considers the strength and impact of each candidate’s work, creative voice, values, innovation and contribution to the wider imaging community before making its final recommendations.

Through the programme, Ambassadors collaborate with Canon across educational initiatives, workshops, events and knowledge-sharing opportunities, helping inspire and support photographers and filmmakers at different stages of their creative journeys.

The addition of Laggoune, Ngoteya and Awolowo brings further geographic and creative diversity to this established EMEA platform while providing audiences across Central and North Africa with more locally and regionally relevant creative voices to learn from and engage with.

For more information and the full list of Canon EMEA Ambassadors, visit the Canon EMEA Ambassador Programme Hub.

https://apo-opa.co/4seXBDg

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

Media enquiries, please contact: 
Canon Central and North Africa 
Jayashir Namdar
e. Jayashri.namdar@canon-me.com 

APO Group – PR Agency 
Rania ElRafie 
e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com

About Canon Central and North Africa: 
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market. 

Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.  

Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://apo-opa.co/4i5VxJ7) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better. 

For more information: Canon-CNA.com  

Source: APO

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The Ministry of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation (MICSTI), in collaboration with UNICEF Lesotho, is hosting a four-day X-Road Pilot Planning, Readiness and Use Case Identification Workshop from 20–23 October 2026 in Berea.

The workshop brought together key stakeholders to assess ministries’ readiness to participate in the National Data Exchange, identify priority use cases that improve access to child-focused services, and establish an implementation roadmap with strong data protection and child rights safeguards.

The initiative aims to strengthen secure data sharing across government institutions, improve service coordination and support more efficient, accessible public services for Basotho.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Government of Lesotho.

Source: APO

Personnel welfare is a critical pillar of military effectiveness, directly influencing morale, resilience and operational readiness. Recognising that a mission-ready force depends on the well-being of its personnel and their families, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) continues to strengthen welfare support systems through accessible, efficient and responsive services.

In a significant step towards enhancing welfare service delivery, KDF launched a Claims Management System and inaugurated a Regional Welfare Centre Office at Gilgil Garrison, aimed at streamlining compensation claims, improving administrative efficiency and bringing essential services closer to personnel and their families.

The event was attended by Gilgil Garrison Commander, Brigadier Edward Nyamao, and Chief of Compensation and Welfare at Defence Headquarters, Brigadier Rodah Mwasigwa, alongside senior officers, officers and service personnel.

Speaking during the launch, Brigadier Nyamao emphasised the importance of identifying and training designated welfare personnel within units to ensure effective implementation of the new system. He urged commanders and administrators to uphold confidentiality, accountability and timely resolution of welfare concerns.

Brigadier Mwasigwa underscored the strategic importance of personnel welfare in sustaining morale, strengthening operational effectiveness and enhancing force readiness. She noted that decentralising welfare services would improve accessibility, reduce delays in compensation claims and provide timely support to serving personnel, veterans and their families.

The event also featured a welfare sensitisation session, providing personnel with information on available services and an opportunity to engage directly with welfare representatives on procedures for accessing support.

The newly established office will serve personnel within Western Command, strengthening communication, records management and claims processing while ensuring more responsive welfare administration.

The initiative forms part of a broader KDF programme to establish welfare offices across 23 regions, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to personnel-centred service delivery.

By investing in the welfare and dignity of its personnel, veterans and families, KDF is strengthening the human foundation of military effectiveness, fostering a motivated, resilient and mission-ready force capable of safeguarding national security.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Defence – Kenya.

Source: APO

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APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the communications consultancy built for performance across Africa, today announced the appointment of former International Criminal Court Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Fadi El Abdallah as Chief Strategic Advisor, Reputation and Crisis Communications, and the launch of APO Group’s new Strategic Reputation & Crisis Communications division. The division helps multinational corporations, financial institutions, African governments and sovereign entities, pan-African corporates, and organisations across the continent’s fastest-growing sectors prepare for, manage, and recover from high-stakes reputational crises. Its services span crisis rapid response, executive counsel, crisis readiness, reputation recovery, and continuous crisis intelligence.

Read the full press release: https://apo-opa.co/4zBrJLu

Copyright-free video B-roll, images and soundbites are available for the media to download and use freely without requiring authorisation: https://apo-opa.co/4seyY9I.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

For media enquiries and interview requests with Fadi El Abdallah, contact marie@apo-opa.com.

About APO Group:
Founded in 2007 by Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, APO Group is the communications consultancy built for performance, combining strategic advisory, on-the-ground execution, and guaranteed visibility across all 54 African markets. Its owned newswire, Africa Newsroom, secures placement on 250+ Africa-focused news sites, connecting organisations directly with 450,000+ journalists, analysts, investors, and policymakers worldwide.

Recognised internationally for communications excellence, including SABRE, Davos Communications, and World Business Outlook distinctions, APO Group partners with global and African organisations for whom the continent is a strategic priority. Clients include the African Development Bank Group, Africa CDC, Afreximbank, NFL, Nestlé, Emirates, Canon, Western Union and GITEX Global.

Source: APO

African Collaborations Group (ACG) (www.ACGafrica.com), the leading strategic project origination and collaboration platform focused on the industrialisation of sport in Africa through the origination of bankable sport and entertainment district ecosystems, today announced the appointment of Dr Adesegun Adeosun Jr, widely known as Dr King SMADE, to its Advisory Board.

Dr Adeosun is Founder of SMADE Group, the cultural enterprise powering African creativity worldwide, and Co-Founder of Afro Nation, the world’s largest Afrobeats festival. Over more than two decades, he has played a defining role in the global rise of Afrobeats, taking African music from the diaspora underground to the global mainstream, and building the platforms, venues, festivals and campaigns that carried it there.

His work spans music, live entertainment, cultural infrastructure and cultural diplomacy across Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and North America. He has promoted and produced headline shows for many of the biggest names in African music, including Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido and Tiwa Savage, and holds the historic distinction of selling out London’s O2 Arena three nights in a row for Wizkid — a first in the arena’s history for an African act. He co-launched the Official UK Afrobeats Chart, contributed to the Billboard US Afrobeats Chart, and built cultural infrastructure through venues including SMADE Lounge and programming partnerships with institutions such as The Africa Centre.

His current work sits deliberately at the intersection of music, policy, tourism and economic development, using culture as a strategic tool for job creation, investment, exports and long-term nation branding, and building sustainable creative ecosystems anchored on talent pipelines, ownership pathways and global partnerships that ensure culture is economically protected and future-proofed.

His appointment to the ACG Advisory Board is strategically foundational to ACG’s doctrine. Sport and entertainment districts, at the scale ACG is originating, cannot be conceived as sport infrastructure with entertainment layered on afterwards; they must be designed as integrated sport and entertainment ecosystems from the outset. Entertainment programming — music, festivals, concerts, cultural events — is what fills a district on non-match days, sustains the venue economics that underpin financial bankability, animates the surrounding retail, hospitality and public realm, and turns a stadium project into a lived cultural asset for the city and country that host it. Dr King SMADE’s appointment ensures that this integrated logic is embedded into ACG’s work from the first conception of a project, not added as an afterthought.

His appointment brings to the ACG Advisory Board an unmatched combination of cultural entrepreneurship, festival and venue programming expertise, deep relationships across the artistic, cultural and diaspora communities, and a demonstrated track record of building cultural infrastructure that generates real economic value — capabilities directly relevant to originating and structuring large-scale sport and entertainment district projects across the African continent.

“You cannot think sport infrastructure without thinking entertainment from the outset, and Dr King SMADE’s appointment is a strategic statement of exactly that principle. What he has built with Afro Nation and SMADE Group — a global cultural platform anchored in African creativity — is the very ecosystem thinking that ACG is applying to sport and entertainment districts across the continent. His presence on our Advisory Board ensures that entertainment, culture and creative economy considerations are embedded into every project we originate from the first conception, not added at a later stage. That is what makes district ecosystems financially viable, culturally alive, and genuinely valuable to the cities and communities they serve,” said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com), Founder and Executive Chairman of ACG.

The ACG Advisory Board provides strategic guidance as ACG originates and structures large-scale sport and entertainment district projects across the continent, aligning governments, development finance institutions (DFIs), investors, sport bodies and infrastructure partners to support the development of financially sustainable, mixed-use district ecosystems.

Africa’s sport economy is projected to reach $20 billion by 2035, yet the continent continues to lack the integrated district ecosystems required to support large-scale development. ACG addresses this gap by originating bankable sport and entertainment district projects, moving beyond single-venue development models towards mixed-use, revenue-generating and financially sustainable district ecosystems.

Through its collaborative model, ACG convenes governments, PPP authorities and regulators, development finance institutions, private investors, developers, designers and engineers, legal and transaction advisors, operators, sport federations and leagues, event promoters, media and broadcast partners, academic institutions and host communities, creating structured pathways from concept to feasibility, bankability and delivery.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Collaborations Group (ACG).

Media contact:
marie@apo-opa.com

About African Collaborations Group (ACG):
African Collaborations Group (ACG) (www.ACGafrica.com) is the leading strategic project origination and collaboration platform focused on the industrialisation of sport in Africa through the origination of bankable sport and entertainment district ecosystems. By convening governments, private-sector partners, development finance institutions, sport and entertainment stakeholders, and academic institutions, ACG creates structured pathways that transform concepts into investable and deliverable district projects across the continent.

Source: APO

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APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the communications consultancy built for performance across Africa, today announced the appointment of former International Criminal Court Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Fadi El Abdallah as Chief Strategic Advisor, Reputation and Crisis Communications, and the launch of APO Group’s new Strategic Reputation & Crisis Communications division. The division helps multinational corporations, financial institutions, African governments and sovereign entities, pan-African corporates, and organisations across the continent’s fastest-growing sectors prepare for, manage, and recover from high-stakes reputational crises. Its services span crisis rapid response, executive counsel, crisis readiness, reputation recovery, and continuous crisis intelligence.

Read the full press release: https://apo-opa.co/4iwc1LY

Access the full audio here: https://apo-opa.co/4zDTEKS

Copyright-free video B-roll, images and soundbites are available for the media to download and use freely without requiring authorisation: https://apo-opa.co/4zCpHuO

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

For media enquiries and interview requests with Fadi El Abdallah, contact marie@apo-opa.com.

About APO Group:
Founded in 2007 by Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, APO Group is the communications consultancy built for performance, combining strategic advisory, on-the-ground execution, and guaranteed visibility across all 54 African markets. Its owned newswire, Africa Newsroom, secures placement on 250+ Africa-focused news sites, connecting organisations directly with 450,000+ journalists, analysts, investors, and policymakers worldwide.

Recognised internationally for communications excellence, including SABRE, Davos Communications, and World Business Outlook distinctions, APO Group partners with global and African organisations for whom the continent is a strategic priority. Clients include the African Development Bank Group, Africa CDC, Afreximbank, NFL, Nestlé, Emirates, Canon, Western Union and GITEX Global.