Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

.

Veteran freedom fighter and seasoned diplomat Minister Semere Russom has passed away at the age of 83 following an illness.

Minister Semere joined the EPLF in 1976 and served his country and people in various capacities with exemplary dedication and distinction for almost half a century.

During the armed struggle for independence, veteran freedom fighter Minister Semere served as a representative of the EPLF Foreign Relations Department and later as Head of Intelligence Services at the EPLF office in Khartoum.

After independence, Minister Semere was appointed First Secretary of the Provisional Government of Eritrea in Sudan from 1991 to 1992; Director General of the American Desk at the Foreign Office from 1993 to 1996; Eritrea’s Ambassador to the United States from 1997 to 2003; Governor of the Central Region from 2003 to 2006; Minister of Education from 2006 to 2018; and simultaneously Minister of Education and Eritrea’s Ambassador to Ethiopia from 2018 to 2025.

Veteran freedom fighter Minister Semere Russom is survived by his wife and five children.

The funeral service of veteran freedom fighter Minister Semere Russom will be held on Friday, 24 July, at 10 a.m. at the Asmara Martyrs Cemetery.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

.

Seychellois households and businesses now have access to another internet service option following the introduction of Starlink, a satellite based system designed to provide high speed connectivity directly through satellites orbiting the Earth.

The soft launch of the service took place yesterday during a press conference held at State House, jointly led by Vice-President Sebastien Pillay and the Seychelles Communications Regulatory Authority (SCRA).

The briefing outlined the regulatory framework governing Starlink’s operations in Seychelles, the services the company will provide, and how the satellite based internet provider will complement the country’s existing telecommunications sector.

Speaking at the press conference, Vice-President Pillay described the introduction of Starlink as an important development in Seychelles’ digital transformation journey. He said the government remains committed to ensuring that all Seychellois have access to reliable, affordable and high quality internet services, while maintaining a fair and competitive telecommunications market.

The Vice-President noted that embracing new technologies is essential to supporting economic growth, improving public service delivery and creating new opportunities for businesses, students and communities across the country. He added that innovation must be accompanied by a strong regulatory framework that protects consumers, safeguards national interests and promotes healthy competition.

Representatives of SCRA explained that Starlink has been authorised to operate in Seychelles under the country’s regulatory framework and outlined the Authority’s role in ensuring compliance with national laws, technical standards and consumer protection requirements. They also highlighted how satellite broadband can help improve connectivity in areas where conventional infrastructure may be more challenging to deploy.

Officials explained that, unlike conventional broadband services, Starlink requires users to install the receiver in an open location with a clear, unobstructed view of the sky to maintain a reliable connection with the satellites. Trees, buildings and other physical obstructions may affect the quality of the service. Customers are therefore encouraged to assess the proposed installation site carefully to ensure optimal performance.

The public was informed that subscriptions are now available through Starlink’s online platform, where customers can register for the service, order the required hardware kit and complete the subscription process. It was also revealed that a number of people in Seychelles have already acquired Starlink kits and are using the service.

The press conference also provided journalists with an opportunity to seek clarification on the rollout of Starlink services, licensing arrangements, subscription procedures and the impact the new service is expected to have on the local telecommunications sector.

While yesterday’s event marked the soft launch of Starlink in Seychelles, officials announced that a formal launch will be organised at a later date and is expected to include representatives from Starlink. The phased approach will allow the company to continue establishing its operations locally while giving consumers the opportunity to begin accessing the service.

The soft launch marks the beginning of Starlink’s operations in Seychelles and reflects the country’s continued commitment to embracing technological innovation while ensuring that developments in the communications sector are guided by a transparent and effective regulatory framework.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO – Report:

As African governments and mining companies accelerate efforts to expand gold production and capitalize on strong global demand, African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, taking place October 14–16 in Cape Town, will spotlight the policies, partnerships and investments driving the continent’s next phase of growth in the gold sector.

The event will feature a dedicated panel, Expanding Africa’s Gold Output, exploring strategies to increase gold production, formalize artisanal and small-scale mining and strengthen investment across the value chain.

The session will be moderated by Matt Banton, Head of Mining at Moore Global, and feature Fousseni Togola, President of the Mali Chamber of Mines, and Benford Mokoatle, Executive Vice President: South Africa at Gold Fields.

The discussion comes as the global gold market continues to strengthen. Gold prices have remained above $4,000 per ounce throughout 2026, supported by sustained central bank demand as countries increase gold reserves to diversify foreign exchange holdings and strengthen financial resilience. Across Africa, central banks in Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Egypt and Namibia have expanded gold purchase programs, reinforcing demand while creating new opportunities for domestic producers.

African gold-producing nations are responding by introducing reforms aimed at increasing production and improving sector governance. In Mali, the government is strengthening the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector as part of its strategy to maintain annual gold production above 60 metric tons. In July 2026, the country established the Malian Office of Precious Substances, a new state institution responsible for regulating and formalizing artisanal gold production across approximately 400 mining sites employing nearly two million people. At the same time, Mali continues to strengthen partnerships with major mining companies, including Barrick, B2Gold, Toubani Resources and Cora Gold, to sustain long-term production growth and attract additional investment.

At AMW 2026, Togola is expected to discuss how the Mali Chamber of Mines is supporting these reforms while highlighting the investment opportunities emerging across the country’s gold sector. His participation will explore the role of chamber members in expanding production, strengthening local participation and positioning Mali among Africa’s leading gold producers.

South Africa is also advancing initiatives to revitalize its gold industry through increased exploration and long-term mine investment. Earlier this year, the government expanded the Junior Mining Exploration Fund to R600 million, improving access to exploration capital for emerging mining companies and supporting efforts to unlock new gold discoveries.

Complementing these national initiatives, Gold Fields is investing R1.714 billion through 2027 to deepen its flagship South Deep Mine, positioning the operation as a long-life production hub well beyond 2030. Gold Fields’ Mokoatle is expected to provide an update on the company’s long-term investment strategy, highlighting how innovation and sustained capital investment are supporting South Africa’s efforts to strengthen gold production.

As investment accelerates across Africa’s gold sector, AMW 2026 provides a premier platform to connect governments, producers, investors and service providers, advancing the partnerships and capital needed to unlock the continent’s next phase of gold production growth.

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO – Report:

On 19 May 2026, the Ambassador of Japan to Uganda, H.E. SASAYAMA Takuya, joined UN Women Uganda Country Representative, Dr. Paulina Chiwangu, on a field mission to Nakivale Refugee Settlement to witness the impact of the MUSHO Project—a flagship initiative funded by the Government of Japan that promotes women’s economic empowerment, social cohesion, and peacebuilding among refugees and host communities.

The visit provided an opportunity for the Ambassador and the delegation to engage directly with project participants and observe how the initiative is transforming lives through skills development, community dialogue, and inclusive peace building.

During the mission, the delegation met women and young people undergoing vocational and livelihood training supported by the project. The trainees shared how they are acquiring practical skills that are improving their economic resilience, creating income-generating opportunities, and strengthening their ability to support their families.

The delegation also interacted with Women Peace Mediators, who play a critical role in preventing and resolving conflicts within the settlement and neighboring host communities. Through dialogue, mediation, and community engagement, these women are helping to foster peaceful coexistence among diverse populations living in Nakivale.

In addition, the visitors met members of the Male Action Groups, who are championing positive masculinity and promoting gender equality within their communities. By encouraging men’s active participation in preventing gender-based violence and supporting women’s leadership, the groups are contributing to more inclusive and harmonious communities.

The field mission highlighted the importance of integrated approaches that combine livelihoods, gender equality, and peacebuilding to strengthen resilience among refugees and host communities. It also underscored the value of partnerships in delivering sustainable development outcomes.

The MUSHO Project, funded by the Government of Japan, supports refugees and host communities through initiatives that enhance economic opportunities, promote social cohesion, strengthen women’s leadership, and prevent conflict. By empowering women and engaging men and community leaders as partners for change, the project contributes to building more peaceful, resilient, and inclusive communities.

UN Women Uganda expressed its appreciation to the Government of Japan for its continued partnership and to Ambassador SASAYAMA Takuya for taking the time to engage with project participants firsthand. The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of Japan and UN Women to advancing gender equality, women’s empowerment, and durable solutions for refugees and host communities in Uganda.

– on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

The UN Economic Commission for Africa, Subregional Office for Southern Africa (ECA SRO-SA) in partnership with South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and the United Nations Trade and Development, concluded a two-day National Workshop to validate the findings and recommendations of regional studies on Innovative Climate Action to Accelerate Green Industrialization in Southern Africa.

Hosted by the Government of South Africa, the workshop is part of the implementation of a United Nations Development Account 17th Tranche Project which is supporting Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe to integrate climate action into industrial development strategies to promote sustainable, inclusive and resilient economic transformation.

The workshop brought together representatives from the South African government, the private sector, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), academia, research institutions, civil society, development partners and the United Nations in system in South Africa to review and validate four regional studies on green industrialization, technology transfer and innovation, the circular economy, and renewable energy transition. Participants identified national priorities to strengthen policy coherence and regional collaboration for green industrial development.

Opening the workshop, Dr. Jenitha Badul, Senior Policy Advisor in the Directorate of  Sustainability Programmes & Projects, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to advancing green industrialization through collaboration, emphasizing the importance of partnerships in building an inclusive, climate-resilient industrial future.

United Nations Resident Coordinator for South Africa, Nelson Muffah, underlined that green industrialization should be viewed not only as a climate agenda but as a broader development agenda capable of driving technology upgrading, economic diversification, employment creation, regional integration and inclusive growth while addressing poverty and inequality.

Representing the private sector, Ms. Ayabulela Manjezi, Project Manager, Climate, Energy and Water at the National Business Initiative, stressed that achieving a just transition requires strong partnerships among government, business, civil society and research institutions. She emphasized that inclusion must remain central to climate action and industrial transformation, ensuring that women, youth, persons with disabilities and vulnerable communities can participate meaningfully in the opportunities created by the transition.

Speaking on behalf of ECA Subregional Office for Southern Africa Director Ms. Eunice Kamwendo, Oliver Maponga, Economic Affairs Officer at ECA SRO-SA, emphasized that green industrialization presents Southern Africa with an opportunity to strengthen competitiveness, expand regional value chains and improve access to emerging global markets. He highlighted the importance of coordinated industrial, trade, innovation and climate policies that build productive capabilities, strengthen technology transfer and position the region to capture greater value from the global green transition.

During the review of the studies, participants highlighted strong synergies across the studies and agreed that green industrialization requires an integrated approach that connects industrialization, climate action, environmental sustainability, regional cooperation, inclusion, private sector development, research, training, finance and investment.

The workshop called for the strengthening of governance and institutional coordination across industrial policy, innovation, trade, climate action and investment promotion; investment in productive capabilities and industrial ecosystems; promotion of technology that builds domestic capabilities; acceleration of industrial upgrading in strategic green value chains; and adoption of strategic policy sequencing that places capability development at the centre of industrial transformation.

Participants called for the adoption of a private sector- and MSME-centred approach to support the commercialization and adoption of green technologies, strengthen awareness and skills development, improve access to finance and technology, promote coherent regulatory frameworks, and deepen regional trade and cross-border collaboration to expand value addition and competitiveness.

The workshop concluded that sustainable industrial transformation depends on strong institutions, productive capabilities, innovation, learning and coordinated policymaking and called on countries to strengthen these foundations in order to capture opportunities emerging from the green economy, rather than remaining suppliers of raw materials.

The recommendations from the studies will inform country-specific policy briefs and contribute to strengthening national and regional policy frameworks that support green, inclusive and resilient industrialization across Southern Africa.

– on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

Source: APO – Report:

What began with simple discussions with UN Women in 2024 on how to better cater to women and girls in the national budget, had snowballed into at least 16 ministries in South Africa working with the National Treasury to use gender data for gender-responsive budgets by the end of 2025. 

Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) refers to the process of creating budgets that work for everyone, regardless of sex. It strives for a fairer distribution of resources, considering the specific needs and constraints faced by women and girls. 

Before partnering with Women Count, South Africa had put some GRB systems in place, but had stalled at implementation. 

“The main challenge was that departments lacked the capacity to effectively implement gender mainstreaming and align their budgets with gender-related priorities,” explains Viwe Sobudula, Director, Public Finance Division, National Treasury, South Africa. 

“When we partnered with UN Women, we realized that we needed to begin with a research. … UN Women helped to provide a gender needs assessment that not only established an evidence base for why we needed GRB but also what exactly we needed to do.” 

This gave rise to extensive capacity-building, co-designed and delivered with UN Women, targeting both finance and planning staff across ministries. They used a training manual customized with local content and practical exercises and case studies identifying gender-responsive programmes. They also engaged participants beyond gender focal points, improving understanding of GRB and setting the stage for its smooth implementation in 2025. 

“Including experts from both the National Treasury and Statistics South Africa in the sessions made sure that the trainings used real data and were practical,” says Thivhulawi Mukwevho, Director of Research and Knowledge Management, Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. 

This iterative learning approach provided valuable real-time feedback, which helped refine understanding and improve compliance during actual implementation.

“Inclusive training and training-of-trainers, helped to ensure a comprehensive understanding and practical application of GRB principles within departments, and enabled participants to further disseminate GRB knowledge and practices when they returned to their respective departments,” adds Mukwevho. 

Official statistics from Statistics South Africa and collaborative surveys with UN Women played an essential role in setting priorities and tracking progress – and highlight slower-moving areas, such as women’s employment rates and women’s participation in government procurement. 

To prepare for the first implementation of GRB in 11 pilot ministries, stakeholders used these gender data to conduct a needs assessment and identify priority areas such as health, education and women’s economic empowerment (WEE). This informed the selection of GRB programmes for implementation. 

“Beyond setting the foundation for GRB in South Africa, the needs assessment undertaken with UN Women at the start of the process also assists us to comply with international standards,” says Sobudula. 

“This type of report enables the Government and non-State actors to ‘follow the money’ and assess if budgets are delivering on policy commitments. … The gender budget statement gives us data and helps us to provide evidence and efficiencies in our budget.” 

Prepared in 2025, South Africa’s first gender budget statement (GBS) assesses how the Government’s overall budget policy is addressing gender disparities in the country. It sets out Government gender equality priorities, observed gender gaps and inequalities and their associated trends, and the Government’s policies and proposed resource allocations to address these inequalities. 

With a high focus on WEE, including in public procurement and employment in public sector, the 2025 GBS is the first step to having a fully gender-responsive budget. It reviews five government departments, with a view to identifying and addressing gender disparities in their budgets. These departments have since identified WEE initiatives for impact using available resources.

“Insights from the training have already begun to shift departmental mindsets,” says Mveleli Gqwede, Chief Director for Gender at South Africa’s Department of Public Works. “The Department has now fully integrated gender advisors in planning and budgeting. And for the second gender budget statement, we are using gender-disaggregated data from StatsSA and other sources to align procurement and planning with policy frameworks and provide capacity-building for women.”

While the 2025 process was not without challenges, it created a meaningful opportunity for Parliament and civil society to engage with the GBS and provide valuable inputs. According to Sobudula, the inclusion of ‘human endowment’ as the second pillar for the 2026 GBS emerged directly from these engagements.

The Government will also continue refining the pilot, supporting participating departments to strengthen monitoring, evaluation and auditing to inform roll-out. 

And, according to Mukwevho, a promising shift in practice has already taken place: “Departments are now required to demonstrate gender responsiveness in their programmes and budgets, moving beyond rhetorical statements to concrete actions and investments.”

– on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

.

Just days before the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) kicks off, African women footballers are calling on leaders across the continent to renew their political commitment, sustain investment and take collective action to protect every child from polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Launched by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in partnership with African women football stars, influential personalities and youth advocates, the “Kick Out Polio” campaign is rallying families, government leaders, young people, and community and civil society leaders throughout the tournament.

Women football stars from several African countries are calling on are calling on governments, partners, communities and families to safeguard hard-won gains and ensure that no child is left unvaccinated. Members of Generation Zero Polio, a network of young advocates from West and Central Africa, are supporting this call to action through an open letter to African leaders that will be released in the coming days.

The African Region has made significant progress towards the eradication of poliomyelitis, thanks to the leadership of governments and support from committed partners like KSrelief, the European Union, the European Investment Bank, Canada, Rotary International, the United Arab Emirates and Germany. There was a 50 % reduction in detections of all types of variant poliovirus (types 1, 2 and 3) reported during the first six months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. 

However, challenges remain. Conflict, displacement, operational challenges, misinformation, other diseases, outbreaks, operational challenges, limited access to essential health services and declining resources continue to threaten progress. As a result, many children in countries experiencing polio outbreaks remain unvaccinated, while significant immunity gaps persist among children in other countries.

Poliovirus spreads rapidly within and across borders. A single case can put children in communities and countries far beyond the initial outbreak at risk, particularly where vaccination coverage is low. Reaching every child, wherever they live, is therefore essential to stopping transmission and sustaining Africa’s progress.

Women are central to this effort. They lead vaccination teams, build trust with families, address concerns and help health services reach children in remote, underserved and crisis-affected communities. 

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations offers a powerful opportunity to turn attention into action. The “Kick Out Polio” campaign calls on governments, partners and communities to sustain the leadership, resources and trust needed to reach every child and kick polio out of Africa.

Quotes:

• Olayinka Babalola, Rotary International President: “Every girl deserves the opportunity to play, lead, and thrive on and off the field. Rotary is proud to be a part of the Kick Out Polio campaign to make that opportunity real.”
• Ramou Ndure, UNICEF West and Central Africa Deputy Regional Director: “Governments and institutions alone cannot end polio. It will be the people of Africa who finish the job. That is the spirit of the Kick Out Polio campaign.”
• Dr. Marie Belizaire, WHO African Region Regional Emergency Director: “Finishing polio is not simply about ending one disease. It is an investment in the health, potential and future of an entire generation.”
• Dr. Ayodele Renner, Health Content Creator: “Whether you’re a doctor, athlete, musician, influencer or football fan, you can help protect children by sharing facts, encouraging vaccination and supporting Kick Out Polio.”
• Smarty, UNICEF National Ambassador: “Music and football have the power to bring us together. Today, let us use that same power to mobilize, protect every child and kick polio out of Africa.”
• Noella Djouku Nguetchuissi, Youth Advocate: “Africa’s future starts with its children. If we want a healthier Africa tomorrow, we must invest in them today, make vaccination a priority and finish the fight against polio.”
• Oeurdice Mukeba Mwe Tshiama, polio survivor: “No child should have to live with a disease that can be prevented. Let us give every child the chance to grow, to dream, and to choose their own future.”

– on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

.

The Office of the President wishes to inform the public that President Dr Patrick Herminie will proceed on overseas leave from Thursday 23rd July to Monday 3rd August 2026.

During the President’s absence, Vice-President Mr Sebastien Pillay will assume the responsibilities and will represent the Republic in the discharge of official duties and engagements. 

– on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO – Report:

.

A comprehensive review of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act is required to clearly define governance and operational roles at the Uganda National Bureau of Standards.

According to former Bwamba County Member of Parliament, Hon. Richard Gafabusa, the bureau has relegated its core mandate of enforcing quality standards for fair trade which has exposed the public to substandard products.

“The dysfunctional state of affairs at UNBS has resulted in the proliferation of poor quality and counterfeit goods, eroded investor confidence and frustrated industrialisation and the efficient enforcement of standards laws and regulations,” Gafabusa said.

Gafabusa who raised the same concerns while he served in the 11th Parliament made his submission while appearing before the Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives chaired by Hon. Boniface Okot on Wednesday, 22 July 2026.

Gafabusa said that overlapping roles at UNBS between its National Standards Council and its management have created conflict, delays in decision-making and weakened accountability.

He also cited lengthy certification timeliness which have delayed market access by manufacturers and affected their business competitiveness.

“It is not a guarantee that if a manufacturer follows up their application after eight months or one year, that one inspection will lead to certification. The process can take over three years and this had made many SMEs give up or put their goods on the market without certification,” he said.

He called for strengthening of the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity to Standards (PVoC) programme through electronic certification, artificial intelligence and enhanced collaboration with Uganda Revenue Authority and border agencies.

“Because of inadequate personnel at UNBS, they decided to outsource this verification and signed contracts with companies to do it on their behalf. In countries like India, Japan and China,some of these are briefcase companies and do not exist,” Gafabusa added.

He also emphasised the need to strengthen regional laboratories and decentralise testing, certification and inspection services.

The Chairperson of Uganda Small Scale Industries Association, Peter Kasirye said that many small-scale manufacturers have paid identical certification fees for similar products in a single production line which has impacted negatively on investment.

“We have compliant manufacturers watching uncertified competitors undercut them on the same shelf because the cost of doing things the right way is not yet matched by consistent enforcement against those who are not properly certified,”  Kasirye said.

Kasirye said transparency in fees and access to standards documents in local languages will go a long way in improving public confidence in the bureau.

“We further ask that government considers harmonising our standards with our regional neighbours, so that our manufacturers are not disadvantaged in the very markets we hope to conquer together as the East African Community,” he added.

Hon. Okot asked the representatives of the manufacturers to suggest affordable rates for the certification and standardisation process to be considered by UNBS.

“You indicated that these services are still costly. What proposals do you have for an amount, that when charged to SMEs, they will be able to thrive? We shall present these proposals when we interact with UNBS,” Okot said.

Pader District Woman MP, Hon. CD Lowila emphasised the need to address the staffing gaps at the bureau which she said can improve the turnaround time on processing certification applications for manufacturers.

Hon. Wilber Manyisa (NRM, Nakaseke North) called for equity by the bureau in processing requests from local manufacturers and foreign investors alike.

– on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO – Report:

.

On 17 July 2026, the President of the Republic, Dr Patrick Herminie convened a meeting of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council at State House under the theme “Aviation and Connectivity” to consider the future direction of Seychelles’ aviation sector and its contribution to national economic development.

Bringing together members with decades of experience across aviation, tourism, finance and business, the meeting focused on preparations for Air Seychelles’ acquisition of two Airbus A321XLR aircraft and the development of a commercially sustainable long-haul network. Discussions examined the re-establishment of direct air links with key European markets, market opportunities and the measures required to ensure that future expansion delivers lasting value to the country.

In recognition of aviation as a cornerstone of Seychelles’ economy, discussions focused on ensuring that the Government’s investment in the new fleet is guided by informed decision-making and expertise. Drawing on lessons from previous long-haul operations, members explored how Air Seychelles can be best positioned to deliver sustainable, long-term value to the country.

The meeting also examined the measures needed to support the successful introduction of the new long-haul fleet, including route selection, destination marketing and sustainable operations. These efforts are expected to strengthen Seychelles’ connectivity with key international markets, safeguard the tourism industry, facilitate trade and investment, and enhance the country’s resilience to external shocks.

The President thanked members of the Council for their valuable contributions and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to drawing on the expertise of industry leaders in shaping major national decisions. He noted that the acquisition of the new aircraft represents not only an investment in Air Seychelles but also a strategic investment in the country’s future prosperity, resilience and global connectivity.

Also in attendance were the Minister for Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation, Ms Veronique Laporte, senior officials from the Ministry of Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation, and representatives of Air Seychelles.

– on behalf of State House Seychelles.