Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

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The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., has by proclamation declared Sunday, July 26, 2026 as Independence Day and is to be observed on Monday, July 27, 2026 throughout the Republic as a national holiday.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the proclamation calls on all citizens and foreign residents within the territorial confines of Liberia to observe the Day as such; the release further orders government offices and business houses closed during the observance from 6:00 ante meridian to 6:00 post meridian.

 The proclamation requests all citizens, in solemn cooperation with all prelates, priests, deacons, evangelists, imams and elders as well as other members of the Sacerdotal order, regardless of religious creed, to gather together in their respective places of worship in each city, town, village, home, especially in the city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County on their day of worship just preceding 27th July 2026 and turn to God in Thanksgiving.

According to the proclamation, the official festive celebration in observance of the Day will be observed in the City of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County under the theme: “Strengthening National Identity Through Liberian-led Historical Leadership.”

The Presidential proclamation also requests citizens of Liberia to offer thanks and praises to God for His blessings showered upon us in past and present times and beseech Him for His continuing goodness and beneficence towards all peoples and nations of the earth, especially, the people of the Republic of Liberia.

 The Proclamation states that it is in grateful recognition of the blessings and miraculous deliverances which the Almighty God has extended to us as a Nation and People, although we have been most unworthy of them, to give thanks, adoration and praise unto Him for saving the State and to commemorate the brave and timely decision of the forbearers on July 26, 1847.

The Proclamation is in consonance with the “Patriotic and Culture Observances Law” title 26, Liberia Code of Law of 1956, which set aside the 26th  day of July of each year as a national holiday to be known as Independence Day and appropriately celebrated as such.    

The Proclamation further recounted that after due deliberation on the future of the “ Settlement” facing colonial challenges and threats, the founding fathers did publish to the world that historic and immortal instrument known as the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, by which the Commonwealth of Liberia became, and was presented to the comity of nations, as a free, sovereign and independent State thereby warding off encroachment from any colonial power and becoming the first independent African Republic.

 “In His infinite goodness and mercy, God has blessed and prospered the work of the minds, hearts, and hands of all the people of the Republic of Liberia from July 1847 when this nation was declared a free, sovereign and independence state; and from thenceforth, through the years of our national existence, manifold and varied have been the experiences of the nation and its people, who through it all have been able to forge their way by dint of perseverance, devotion and courage.”, the proclamation declares. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

Source: APO

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The African Union (AU) Commission, through the African Union Border Programme (AUBP), and the German Federal Foreign Office congratulate the Republics of Zambia and Zimbabwe on the successful completion of the first phase of the Lake Kariba boundary demarcation exercise.

The installation of floating boundary buoys on Lake Kariba marks the first operational demarcation of an international boundary on a lake in Africa, representing a historic milestone in the implementation of the African Union Border Programme and a significant contribution to peaceful border governance on the continent.

Implemented through the strong cooperation of the Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, with technical support from the African Union Commission and financial support by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the initiative demonstrates how clearly defined international boundaries promote peace, prevent conflicts, enhance legal certainty, improve navigation and fisheries management, reduce accidental border crossings, and strengthen cooperation in the management of shared natural resources.

The African Union Border Programme continues to support Member States in the delimitation and demarcation of boundaries while promoting cross-border cooperation as a catalyst for peace, regional integration and sustainable development. The Lake Kariba initiative is a practical demonstration of this mandate and exemplifies the AU’s vision of transforming borders from barriers into bridges.

The AU Commission and Germany commend the Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Surveyors General, the Joint Technical Teams, the Zambezi River Authority, the International Organization for Migration and all stakeholders whose dedication made this achievement possible.

As the boundary reaffirmation programme progresses towards completion, the AU Commission and Germany reaffirm their shared commitment to supporting AU Member States in strengthening peaceful border governance, preventing conflicts, fostering regional integration and advancing the aspirations of Agenda 2063.

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

Source: APO

Young people across Liberia are gaining greater access and undertsanding of the country’s National Youth Policy (2025–2029) following the completion of regional dialogues aimed at strengthening youth understanding, ownership and participation in its implementation.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with UN Women, UNFPA and OHCHR, completed the regional dialogues from 13 to 20 July 2026 in Monrovia, Buchanan, Gbarnga and Zwedru, with funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).

Young people constitute approximately 75 per cent of Liberia’s population and are central to the country’s peacebuilding, governance, economic development and social cohesion. In October 2025, the Government of Liberia launched the revised National Youth Policy and Costed Implementation Plan (2025–2029), establishing a framework to advance youth empowerment, inclusion, participation and leadership.

However, awareness and understanding of the Policy remain limited among many young people, particularly young women, youth with disabilities, rural youth and other marginalized groups.

The regional dialogues sought to close this gap by bringing the Policy directly to young people and creating opportunities for them to discuss what its commitments mean for their lives and communities.

Youth leaders, youth-led organizations, young women’s groups, organizations of persons with disabilities, students, civil society representatives, local authorities and other stakeholders explored the Policy’s priorities and identified practical actions for implementation at county level.

Accessibility was central to the process. Simplified versions of the National Youth Policy, including Braille formats, were made available to help ensure that young people with disabilities can access and engage with the Policy.

UN Women also led discussions on the Policy’s Communication and Dissemination Strategy, equipping young people with practical tools to amplify its messages through social media, WhatsApp, radio, community outreach, flyers and posters. Participants discussed how youth groups can use their own platforms and networks to increase awareness and encourage wider participation.

The dialogues also provided spaces for participants to define the roles of government institutions, youth structures, civil society organizations and partners, while developing county-level actions around implementation, monitoring and accountability. 

One of the national delegates expressed their appreciation for the intentional and inclusive approach to disseminating the National Youth Policy and noted that it’s not like any previous policy implementation approaches they’ve witnessed.   

The initiative forms part of the Youth Promotion Initiative: Accelerating Digital Opportunities for Youth Civic Participation as a Lever for Building and Sustaining Peace in Liberia, a joint programme implemented by UN Women, UNFPA and OHCHR with funding from the UN Peacebuilding Fund.

By making the National Youth Policy more accessible and creating opportunities for young people to shape its implementation, the initiative is helping translate national commitments into meaningful participation and action at community level.

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

Source: APO

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In response to the emerging needs for the sustained Cholera outbreak in South Sudan, WHO has received 19 metric tons of emergency supplies to replenish the fast-depleting stockpile of medical countermeasures needed in the response. These medical supplies enhance operational readiness and surge capacity. The shipment includes cholera response kits to support early detection and treatment, Inter-Agency Emergency Health Kits, as well as tents to expand temporary isolation capacity.

These supplies are expected to serve approximately 134,000 people in cholera-affected areas. The shipment, valued at US$120,000 and weighing approximately 19 metric tons. Procured with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, the supplies will enable rapid deployment to outbreak affected locations. They will also strengthen timely disease detection (as they have selected laboratory reagents and rapid diagnostic test kits), isolation for infectious diseases containment, and effective case management. Most importantly, these supplies will help ensure that affected and hard-to-reach communities receive timely access to lifesaving healthcare, contributing to the reduction of preventable illness and deaths.

South Sudan continues to face a complex humanitarian and public health situation driven by protracted crises, population displacement, acute food insecurity, recurrent flooding, and limited access to essential health services. Beyond depleting the emergencies stockpiles, draining the energeias out of the emergency responders, the multiple emergencies have increased community vulnerability to infectious diseases and other public health emergencies.

The World Health Organization, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and health partners, is currently responding to multiple disease outbreaks and public health threats, including Anthrax, cholera, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (due to two independent and active emergence groups), hepatitis E, measles, and mpox, while also strengthening preparedness and readiness for Ebola virus disease and other emerging health emergencies.

Dr. Humphrey Karamagi commended the support provided by FCDO and ECHO, noting that “reducing the burden of disease and preventing avoidable illness and deaths requires a coordinated, multisectoral approach. The supplied commodities will enhance the safety and security of rapid response teams, ensure timely protection of personnel during response operations, and strengthen the availability of essential medicines and supplies to meet the increasing demands of outbreaks and other public health emergencies”. He further expressed sincere appreciation for the timely and continued support, highlighting that “the contributions from FCDO and ECHO demonstrate a strong commitment to protecting the health and well-being of vulnerable communities across South Sudan.” With this kind of Support, WHO country office for South Sudan, is truly enabled to support all the emergency response NGOs and partners, effectively bringing meaning to the health cluster coordination mechanism that remains active in the country.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.