Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

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The joint oversight committees of Parliament that recently considered National Treasury’s withholding of equitable share transfers to selected municipalities on Tuesday welcomed the announcement that the remaining R7.1 billion in withheld July equitable share transfers will be released to 49 municipalities on 31 July 2026.

The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and the Standing Committees on Public Accounts, Finance and Appropriations noted the announcement made at a joint media briefing of National Treasury and the Department of COGTA.

The committees were particularly encouraged by the Treasury’s and the department’s recognition that communities should not be subjected to undue hardship due to municipal officials’ governance failures. During their recent joint meeting with the departments, the committees directed that delivery of basic services must be protected throughout this process. The Minister of Finance, Mr Enoch Godongwana, during Tuesday’s media briefing, said the release was conditional and intended to protect basic service delivery while requiring affected municipalities to correct the serious weaknesses identified through the section 216(2) process.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on COGTA, Dr Zweli Mkhize, noted that this announcement responds to the joint committees’ concern that service delivery, particularly to indigent households, must be protected at all costs. “Releasing the funds must, however, not suspend accountability or allow responsible officials and office-bearers to escape accountability for their role in governance failures,” he said.

Dr Mkhize added that the committees are therefore encouraged by the departments’ assurance that a structured compliance programme will accompany the release. This programme includes strict reporting and implementation deadlines from 30 September until 30 November 2026 for municipalities to show progress towards compliance, conduct investigations, pursue disciplinary processes, recover losses and, where necessary, institute criminal proceedings.

The committees welcomed the fact that the compliance programme will also involve the South African Local Government Association, premiers, provincial governments, MECs responsible for finance and cooperative governance, provincial treasuries and municipalities.

The joint committees also welcomed the departments’ commitment to establish stronger early-warning systems and provide targeted support to distressed municipalities. “We are particularly encouraged by the undertaking to end the practice of adopting unfunded municipal budgets,” said Chairperson of SCOPA, Mr Songezo Zibi.

“This undertaking, together with support from National Treasury, COGTA and provincial institutions to help municipalities remove unaffordable and non-essential expenditure, will go a long way towards arresting persistent municipal dysfunction,” he said.

Mr Zibi also welcomed Minister of COGTA Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa’s indication that the number of municipalities with unfunded budgets had already declined from 113 to approximately 76. “We welcome this and support the intention to reduce this number to zero over two years,” said Mr Zibi.

The commitment to apply similar enforcement measures to national and provincial government departments that owe money to municipalities was also welcomed. The committees previously emphasised that accountability must apply across all spheres of government. “We note the ministers’ remarks that the next step is to apply a similar approach to national and provincial government departments that owe money to municipalities,” said Dr Mkhize, adding that the committees would seek more details on this.

The committees also acknowledged receipt of a report requested at their previous meeting. National Treasury submitted the report on the implementation of Section 216(2) of the Constitution this week. Dr Mkhize said that National Treasury and COGTA will be expected to demonstrate that the new joint approach protects services, supports structurally distressed municipalities and holds defaulters and responsible individuals accountable.

“The new approach announced today reflects the committees’ earlier directive that fiscal enforcement must be lawful, transparent and accompanied by support rather than treated as the sole municipal recovery mechanism,” he said.

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

Source: APO

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The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/the Commission) has released its investigative report into wastewater infrastructure failures and the contamination of rivers, estuaries and coastal waters in selected areas of Kouga Local Municipality, Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality.

The investigation followed complaints, stakeholder representations and recurring public reports concerning sewage spills, failing wastewater infrastructure and risks to rivers and beaches. The Commission commissioned an accredited laboratory to conduct independent sampling, considered municipal monitoring data and oversight findings, inspected the available evidence and afforded affected municipalities an opportunity to comment on the provisional report.

The report found that some coastal sites, including Nahoon and Gonubie, reflected comparatively favourable microbiological conditions on the day of sampling. However, serious failures were identified elsewhere. West Bank produced the most severe result, recording E. coli of 616 000 per 100 millilitres and near-total oxygen depletion. Kouga’s own data showed that final effluent at the Jeffreys Bay and KwaNomzamo wastewater treatment works remained non-compliant, while New Brighton and Hobie beaches in Nelson Mandela Bay recorded materially elevated contamination on 16 March 2026.

The Commission finds that wastewater pollution implicates the rights to dignity and to an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being. The report does not declare every affected beach permanently unsafe, but confirms that water quality may deteriorate rapidly and requires regular testing, prompt public warnings and effective investigation of pollution sources.

The Commission has directed Buffalo City to submit a 14-day emergency intervention plan for West Bank and undertake weekly monitoring until stable compliance is demonstrated. Kouga and Nelson Mandela Bay must strengthen treatment performance, monitoring, public-risk communication and remedial action. The Department of Water and Sanitation, environmental authorities and the provincial government are also required to consider regulatory, enforcement and oversight action. All respondents must provide measurable implementation reports supported by evidence, budgets, responsible officials and timelines.

“Plans and infrastructure projects are not proof of compliance. The test is whether wastewater systems consistently produce lawful results, prevent sewage from entering public water environments and protect communities.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.

Source: APO

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• IMF staff and Liberia authorities reached a staff-level agreement on the steps required to complete the fourth review of the authorities’ agenda supported by Extended Credit Facility (ECF) Arrangement and the first review of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) arrangement. The agreement is subject to IMF Management approval and Executive Board consideration.
• Liberia will gain access to about US$26.1 million under the ECF arrangement and about US$23.9 million under the RSF, a total of about US$50 million once approved by the IMF Executive Board.
• Liberia’s economic and financial resilience continues to strengthen, supported by prudent macroeconomic management. Program performance against quantitative targets remains strong, while fiscal outcomes continue to exceed expectations. The robust growth momentum of 2025 is expected to carry into 2026, with real growth projected to accelerate to 5.5 percent. At the same time, inflation remains contained, underpinned by sound macroeconomic policies and a stable exchange rate.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Daehaeng Kim, has concluded discussions on the economic and financial policies underpinning the fourth review of Liberia’s 40-month Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement, approved by the IMF Executive Board on September 25, 2024 with total access of SDR 155 million (about US$ 210 million). The mission also assessed reform progress under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), approved by the Executive Board on April 27, 2026, with total access of SDR 193.8 million (about US$ 265 million). The mission team visited Monrovia from June 10 to 23. Executive Board discussion is tentatively scheduled for late September 2026.

At the conclusion of the discussions, Mr. Kim issued the following statement:

“IMF staff and the Liberia authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on the policies needed to complete the fourth review of the ECF as well as the first review of the RSF. The agreement is subject to IMF Management approval and Executive Board consideration. Upon completion of the Executive Board review, Liberia would gain access to SDR 19.3 million (about US$26.1 million) under the ECF arrangement, and SDR 17.62 million (about US$23.9 million) under the RSF arrangement, for a total disbursement of about US$50 million.  

“Economic activity has remained robust, and the outlook remains favorable despite a challenging external environment. Real GDP growth is expected to strengthen further to 5.5 percent in 2026 and remain around that level over the medium term, following a temporary slowdown to 5.1 percent in 2027. Growth continues to be driven by robust mining activity, construction and manufacturing. Inflation remained contained in the first half of 2026, averaging 4.5 percent, but is expected to rise to 6 percent in the near term, partly reflecting spillovers from the war in the Middle East. Following a modest appreciation in 2025, the Liberian dollar has remained broadly stable in 2026. The current account deficit is projected to widen in 2026-27, reflecting strong import demand, but will remain fully financed by robust FDI and concessional borrowing. Fiscal performance has remained strong and continues to exceed program expectations. The primary fiscal surplus, excluding grants, is projected to improve by 1 percentage point to 2.4 percent of GDP in 2026, supported by solid revenue mobilization and continued fiscal discipline.  

“Efforts to consolidate recent fiscal and financial sector gains and advance the structural reform agenda should continue. Sustained domestic revenue mobilization, supported by the implementation of the VAT from 2027 and reforms to the mining tax regime, remains critical to financing priority development spending. Heightened global uncertainty and oil price volatility warrant maintaining a tight monetary policy stance to safeguard price stability, while efforts to strengthen monetary policy effectiveness should continue. Further progress in restructuring weak banks and reducing NPLs will help support private sector credit expansion and preserve financial sector stability. The recent Governance Diagnostic report, together with the authorities’ time-bound action plan to implement its recommendations, provides a strong foundation for advancing the governance reform agenda in the coming years.

“Implementation of RSF-supported reform measures (RM) is progressing, and the RM scheduled for this review—an important first step towards strengthening climate – and pandemic-related fiscal risk management and transparency—was successfully completed. In line with international best practices, and with support from IMF technical assistance, the authorities developed and published a comprehensive database that records the fiscal costs of disaster responses on an ongoing basis.

“IMF staff remains grateful to the authorities for their strong ownership of the reform program, constructive engagement, and warm hospitality.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Source: APO

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As of July 2026, moderate El Niño conditions were present in the Pacific Ocean. Global models point to further strengthening in the coming months, with a high probability that it will become a very strong event by year’s end, potentially one of the most intense since at least 1950. This underscores the need for early, coordinated action.

Across Western and Central Africa, El Niño’s effects on agroclimatic conditions differ from area to area and are difficult to predict, with no consistent regional signal. However, rainfall during the June-September rainy season tends towards drier conditions in parts of the region during El Niño years.

Across Eastern Africa, El Niño has more consistent but geographically contrasting impacts. In the western parts of the region (South Sudan, Sudan, western Ethiopia, Uganda’s Karamoja region, and Eritrea), El Niño is associated with below-average rains during the June-September main rainy season, frequently driving poor crop production. In the eastern parts of the Horn of Africa, which receive rainfall from October-December, El Niño years are instead associated with above-average rains and widespread flooding. While above-average rains can bring both benefits and risks, in flood-affected areas they can drive significant population displacement, damage to infrastructure and crops, loss of life, and rising food insecurity.

Across Southern Africa, El Niño is associated with below-average rains from October-April. As maize, the region’s staple crop, is highly vulnerable to water stress, 2026/27 production could fall below average, potentially affecting regional cereal supplies, though bumper 2026 harvests in parts of the region may help cushion the impact.

This comes against a backdrop of already high food insecurity across the continent: the 2026 Global Report on Food Crises indicates that around 149 million people are facing high levels of food insecurity across Sub-Saharan Africa.

FAO has been actively raising the alarm on the potential food security and agricultural impacts of El Niño. For example, at the invitation of the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), FAO’s Subregional Office for Eastern Africa (SFE), in collaboration with FAO’s Regional Office for Africa (RAF) Resilience Team, presented an assessment of El Niño’s impacts on food security across the continent at a regional El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) webinar convened by ICPAC and the African Centre of Meteorological Application for Development (ACMAD) in July 2026. Bringing together National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, sector ministries, disaster management authorities, and development partners, the session unpacked the latest ENSO forecast and its practical implications for agriculture, food security, disaster risk management, health, and water resources.

Now is the time to act: mitigating risks before impacts are felt, rather than waiting for emergency response after the fact. FAO, a global leader in anticipatory action, is taking the lead. To this end, FAO and WFP have issued a joint Anticipatory Action Appeal seeking USD 202 million to protect 8.8 million people across 22 countries, of which 12 in Africa. FAO is also actively supporting countries across the region with analytical capacity, preparedness measures and anticipatory action to mitigate negative impacts as well as harness opportunities that it may bring. Ongoing and planned efforts include dissemination of early warnings, anticipatory cash transfers, seeds of drought-tolerant or flood resistant varieties, livestock support, and flood defenses or water storage systems.

Evidence from FAO’s 2023–2024 El Niño response shows that this approach delivers a strong return on investment, avoiding several dollars in humanitarian losses for every dollar spent ahead of a crisis.

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 African Union Commission hosted the signing ceremony of the Joint Engagement Agreement between the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the Gabonese Republic on the implementation of the Judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of 19 May 2025. The Agreement marks an important step towards the peaceful implementation of the Judgment and the resolution of the territorial dispute between the two African Union (AU) Member States.

The Agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 49th Ordianry Session of the AU Executive Council in Addis Ababa by H.E. Simeon Oyono Esono Angue, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and the Diaspora of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, and Mr. Dieudonné Aba’a Owono, President of the Constitutional Court of the Gabonese Republic. The ceremony was witnessed by H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and H.E. Amb. Edouard Bizimana, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Burundi and Chairperson of the AU Executive Council.

The signing follows the high-level meeting facilitated by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, during which H.E. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of Equatorial Guinea, and H.E. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, President of Gabon, reaffirmed their commitment to the peaceful implementation of the ICJ Judgment under the auspices of the African Union.

To support the process, the Chairperson appointed H.E. Ambassador Albert Shingiro as his Special Envoy to facilitate continued engagement between the two Parties. Through dialogue and sustained consultations, the Parties reached the Joint Engagement Agreement, establishing a framework for implementation in accordance with international law and the principles of good faith and good neighbourliness.

Addressing the ceremony, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf commended both countries for their commitment to dialogue, peaceful coexistence and respect for international law.

“The Agreement reflects a shared commitment to dialogue, cooperation, good neighbourliness and the peaceful resolution of disputes in the spirit of African unity,” said the Chairperson.

Speaking on behalf of Gabon, Mr. Dieudonné Aba’a Owono, President of the Constitutional Court, stated:

“Beyond the legal significance of this Agreement, we view it as an act of mutual trust and a strong political commitment towards the preservation of peace in Central Africa. In a continental context marked by multiple security challenges, this approach demonstrates that dialogue and cooperation remain the most effective instruments for preventing tensions.”

H.E. Simeon Oyono Esono Angue, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and the Diaspora of Equatorial Guinea, underscored the historic responsibility shared by both countries:

“We bear the historic responsibility of demonstrating that neighbouring States can implement an international judicial decision with composure, responsibility and good faith, while maintaining full respect for both international and African institutions. Africa is watching us. The world is watching us. Our peoples are watching us.”

Reflecting on the significance of the Agreement, H.E. Amb. Edouard Bizimana, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burundi and Chairperson of the AU Executive Council, remarked:

“The Agreement signed today is much more than a legal instrument. It is a testament to the political maturity of two African Nations that have chosen dialogue over confrontation, cooperation over division, and respect for the rule of law over the use of force.”

The African Union congratulates the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the Gabonese Republic on this historic achievement and reaffirms its commitment to supporting Member States in promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes, strengthening regional stability, and advancing the aspirations of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).

Source: APO

United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda will participate in a High-Level Advocacy Mission on the Ratification of the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG), led by the African Union Commission (AUC) Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD) and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa (SRRWA), in partnership with the Pan-African Women’s Organization (PAWO).

The mission, taking place from 29–31 July 2026, aims to mobilize political leadership and strengthen commitments towards the adoption, ratification, domestication and implementation of the AU-CEVAWG across the continent. The visit will conclude with the commemoration of Pan-African Women’s Day in a high-level breakfast to be held on 31 July 2026 under the theme: “Women’s Action for Safe Sanitation, Peaceful Communities and Better Livelihoods.”

The mission underscores the collective commitment of the African Union, UN Women and partners to ending all forms of violence against women and girls and accelerating progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment in Africa.

Key Objectives

• Awareness Raising: Promote awareness among AU Member States and national stakeholders on the importance of adopting, signing, ratifying, domesticating and implementing the AU-CEVAWG.
• Normative Advocacy: Engage the Government of Namibia and key stakeholders on the significance of ratifying and implementing the Convention.
• Political Support: Strengthen political commitment and institutional capacity for effective implementation of the AU-CEVAWG through high-level dialogue and advocacy.
• Pan-African Women’s Day Commemoration: Celebrate PAWO’s 64th anniversary and recognize African women’s leadership and contributions to sustainable development, peace and prosperity.

Expected Outcomes

• Increased political awareness and commitment by the Government of Namibia towards ratification, domestication and implementation of the AU-CEVAWG.
• Strengthened regional and continental advocacy among AU Member States to accelerate adoption, ratification and implementation of the Convention.
• Renewed commitments to accountability, reporting and monitoring of gender equality policies and frameworks.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.