Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

.

Today, in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Spokesman for the Presidency Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy stated that the Tanzanian President welcomed President El-Sisi upon his arrival at the Presidential Palace in Dar es Salaam. An official reception ceremony was held, which began with the playing of the national anthems of both Egypt and Tanzania, followed by a 21-gun salute and an inspection of the guard of honor.
President El-Sisi then greeted a number of senior military commanders, signed the Presidential Palace’s official guest book, and the two presidents posed for a commemorative photograph to mark the occasion.

Both presidents held a closed bilateral session of talks, followed by expanded talks attended by the delegations of both countries. During the discussions, President El-Sisi expressed his deep appreciation for the warm welcome and congratulated President Samia Suluhu Hassan on her re-election to a second term. The President reaffirmed Egypt’s keenness to further strengthen its distinguished bilateral relations with Tanzania across all fields.

For her part, President Samia Suluhu Hassan welcomed President El-Sisi’s visit and expressed her great appreciation for Egypt’s active role at both the African and international levels. She praised the existing cooperation between the two countries as a model of the intended integration among African countries and affirmed Tanzania’s aspiration to expand cooperation with Egypt in various sectors.

The Tanzanian President also lauded the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, describing it as a positive model of cooperation aimed at achieving development and prosperity. She also reviewed her country’s efforts to achieve development in line with Tanzania 2050 Vision, expressing her appreciation for Egypt’s continued support for these endeavors.

Following the expanded talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of two memoranda of understanding in the fields of transport, electricity, and renewable energy. They then held a joint press conference, during which President El-Sisi delivered a speech.

Subsequently, the two presidents attended an official luncheon hosted by the Tanzanian President in honor of President El-Sisi. During the luncheon, both leaders delivered remarks reiterating their pride in the strong cultural ties between the two countries, as well as their determination and keenness to implement all that was agreed upon during the talks across various fields, with the aim of further strengthening bilateral relations and elevating them to the level of a strategic partnership.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Source: APO

.

Members of Parliament have been urged to champion reforms that strengthen land governance, protect citizens’ land rights and unlock the country’s socio-economic transformation.

The call was made during an orientation on land governance organised by the Uganda Parliamentarians Land Management Forum in partnership with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, OXFAM Uganda, Participatory Ecological Land Use Management Uganda, and Cordaid International among others.

The orientation held on Friday, 17 July 2026 brought together legislators to deepen their understanding of land administration, legislation and oversight responsibilities.

Representing the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Marksons Oboth, Parliament Commissioner Jesca Ababiku described land as one of Uganda’s most valuable national assets and urged legislators to use their positions to safeguard the interests of citizens.

“Our Constitution under Article 237 mandates citizens to own land, and we are here representing them to ensure that we have better management of this resource,” she said.

“Land issues are among the biggest problems in this country, and by choosing to be part of this Forum, you are on the right track to address the concerns of the people who sent you to Parliament.”

Ababiku, also the Adjumani District Woman Representative, noted that about 42 per cent of cases handled by courts relate to land disputes, warning that unless leaders intervene, vulnerable citizens risk losing their land amid growing competition for resources.

Reading the Speaker’s speech, Ababiku said Parliament has a central role in ensuring justice, investment and national development through sound land governance.

“Land is more than a fiscal asset. It is the foundation of livelihoods, dignity and opportunity for our people. It sustains families, drives investment and underpins national development,” the Speaker’s message stated.

The Speaker’s message further challenged legislators to use the knowledge gained during the orientation to strengthen legislation and oversight.

“Our constituents did not send us here simply to make laws. They sent us here to solve problems. Every debate we hold and every law we pass should move Uganda closer to justice and opportunity,” the speech noted.

The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Judith Nabakooba, said although Uganda has an elaborate legal and policy framework governing land, the country continues to grapple with land conflicts, illegal evictions, land grabbing, fraud, double titling and corruption.

“These challenges continue to affect livelihoods, delay investments and weaken confidence in our land institutions. That is why we need to team up with you to improve the land governance system,” Nabakooba said.

She called for greater public sensitisation, saying ignorance of land rights remains one of the major drivers of land disputes.

“Our land governance system must continue to evolve. We must move beyond viewing land only as a matter of rights and ownership, and increasingly position it as an economic enabler for development, job creation and wealth generation,” she added.

The minister highlighted progress made by the ministry, including the establishment of 22 Ministry Zonal Offices to decentralise land services and improve access to land registration, title processing and mortgage services across the country. She also said land records have been digitised, enabling citizens to conduct land searches online.

According to Nabakooba, Uganda has increased land registration coverage from 18 per cent in 2013 to 30.12 per cent, although she acknowledged that the majority of customary land remains undocumented, exposing many Ugandans to land grabbing.

She said the Ministry continues to issue Certificates of Customary Ownership and has introduced a central government account through which lawful tenants can pay nominal ground rent (busuulu) where landlords refuse to receive payment or cannot be traced.

Looking ahead, Nabakooba appealed to Parliament to support key legislative reforms, including the Real Estate Bill, amendments to the Land Acquisition Act, Trustees Incorporation Act, Survey Act and the Physical Planning Act.

“These reforms are necessary to address legal and institutional gaps, strengthen regulation, improve land administration, reduce fraud and exploitation and ensure our laws remain responsive to the country’s changing needs,” she said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

The National Football League (NFL) (www.NFL.com) concluded the 2026 NFL Flag Africa Continental Championship in Nairobi, where Nigeria captured the women’s and Egypt claimed the men’s championship, both organized in consultation with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and played according to international flag football rules. Meanwhile, Nigeria also secured the NFL Flag Continental Youth title.

The championship marked another milestone in the continued growth of flag football across Africa ahead of the sport’s debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Across three days of competition, athletes from five nations competed for continental titles while participating in an event that brought together national federations, coaches, officials and youth athletes from across the region. Nigeria defeated Egypt to win the women’s championship, while Egypt defeated Nigeria to capture the men’s championship. Nigeria’s youth team defeated Ghana to win the youth title. South Africa earned bronze medals in the men’s and youth divisions, while host nation Kenya earned bronze in the women’s competition.

Beyond competition, the championship served as a platform for the continued development of flag and tackle football across Africa. The week featured youth development activities, coach and official education, and an elite talent identification workout through the NFL Africa program, reinforcing the league’s long-term commitment to growing participation, strengthening the sport’s infrastructure and creating opportunities for athletes across the continent.

“The NFL Flag Africa Continental Championship reflects the continued growth of flag football around the world,” said Brian Flinn, NFL Senior Vice President, Global Flag Football. “As flag football continues building momentum toward its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, events like this are helping strengthen the sport’s foundation while creating meaningful opportunities for athletes at every level.”

“IFAF was delighted to support the 2026 NFL Flag Africa Continental Championship, which showcased the continued growth and competitiveness of flag football across Africa,” said Pierre Trochet, President of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). “Congratulations to all of the athletes, coaches and our national member federations who made this an outstanding championship. Together, IFAF and the NFL are continuing to expand opportunities for athletes to compete, develop and represent their countries while strengthening flag football across the continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Football League (NFL).

About Flag Football:
Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, played by more than 20 million people in more than 100 countries, with particularly rapid growth in youth and girls’ participation. The sport will make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The NFL continues to invest in the game’s international growth through grassroots participation, youth development and strategic partnerships, including its work with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) to increase participation and inspire the next generation.

About NFL Africa:
The NFL Africa program, spearheaded by NFL Legend Osi Umenyiora, is an initiative developed to support the growth of American football across the continent. The program is built on three pillars—fan events, talent identification and NFL Flag development—creating pathways to play for boys and girls at the grassroots level, increasing opportunities for elite athletes and serving a growing fan base. The continent’s connection to the league runs deep, with more than 145 players of African descent on NFL rosters. 

Source: APO

When Laverick Taban Kule looks across his herd of cattle, he does not just see animals. He sees his children’s education, his family’s financial security and a safety net for life’s most difficult moments.

“If we need to pay school fees, we can sell one to educate our children,” he explains. “If there is a bride price to settle, we sell one to meet that obligation. If there is a funeral, we can also sell one to help the family.”

For thousands of families across Greater Mundri in Western Equatoria State, cattle are the foundation of daily life. But years of insecurity and logistical challenges, given the rough terrain, have made it difficult for veterinary teams to reach remote cattle camps, leaving livestock exposed to preventable diseases and threatening the livelihoods of entire communities.

That is beginning to change.

Peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) provided a security escort for veterinary teams from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the State Ministry of Animal Resources, enabling them to travel safely to isolated cattle camps and launch a large-scale livestock vaccination campaign.

The exercise aims to vaccinate more than 100,000 cattle, sheep and goats against deadly diseases, including Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, Peste des Petits Ruminants, Anthrax, Black Quarter, Haemorrhagic Septicaemia and Newcastle disease. Dogs are also being vaccinated against rabies, helping protect both animals and people.

For humanitarian workers, reaching these isolated communities would have been difficult without the protection of peacekeepers.

“It was important for us to join the UNMISS convoy,” says Abakar Rajab, FAO Deputy Field Coordinator in Yambio. “Through their support, we were able to reach livestock communities in Mundri, where we will be able to vaccinate the animals.”

The campaign comes at a crucial time. Greater Mundri has experienced repeated cycles of intercommunal violence and cattle-related conflict, forcing many families from their homes while limiting access to basic government and humanitarian services. Although security has improved following recent local peace initiatives, many rural areas remain difficult to access.

Keeping livestock healthy is also helping reduce tensions.

“The importance of this vaccination is, firstly, that it keeps the animals healthy; secondly, it helps keep the community healthy; and thirdly, when herders can move freely from one boma to another, it helps reduce insecurity,” explained John Mamur Bago, Director of Livestock for Greater Mundri.

For cattle keepers like Laverick, the campaign represents more than disease prevention.

“When our cattle become sick, many of them die, and we suffer huge losses,” he says. “We need this kind of support to keep our cattle healthy so they can multiply because livestock is our livelihood.”

By providing security for humanitarian convoys, UNMISS is helping ensure that essential services reach communities recovering from conflict while supporting efforts to reduce conflict and strengthen community resilience.

“People need livelihood opportunities. For these communities, their main source of livelihood is cattle,” explained Anthony Nwapa, Officer-in-Charge of the UNMISS Field Office in Yambio. “Our commitment is to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to remote communities across South Sudan so they can rebuild their livelihoods while helping reduce conflict to the bare minimum.”

In Greater Mundri, healthier livestock means more than stronger herds. They represent children staying in school, families preserving their incomes and communities gaining another opportunity to recover from years of insecurity.

Through partnerships between local authorities, humanitarian organizations and UN peacekeepers, essential services are reaching people who need them most, one convoy and one cattle camp at a time.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Source: APO

The Public Relations Office of the Ministry of Agriculture reported that the Ministry conducted a meeting on 16 July to assess the implementation of regional work plans during the first half of 2026, as well as the progress of the Comprehensive Small and Productive Farm Plot program.

During the assessment meeting, comprehensive reports were presented by all six regions of the country, covering a wide range of activities, including soil and water conservation, the construction of water reservoirs, river diversion works, the status of crops and the rainy season, the multiplication and distribution of improved seed, the production of organic fertilizer, the development of vegetable and fruit production, crop and livestock health, beekeeping, the distribution of chickens and supply of eggs, as well as the implementation of the Comprehensive Small and Productive Farm Plot program and other related activities.

According to assessments conducted up to the end of June 2026, of the 2,003 villages identified as having the potential to implement the Comprehensive Small and Productive Farm Plot program, 1,672 villages, or more than 83%, have successfully implemented it in at least one household, while many villages had extended the program to more than one household.

Following extensive discussions on the reports presented, the participants made a number of recommendations. These included strengthening the monitoring of the distribution and impact of improved seed, assessing the performance and impact of distributed chickens, and enhancing the promotion and practical application of organic fertilizers, along with several other important recommendations and observations.

In his closing remarks, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Arefaine Berhe, reaffirmed that the Ministry is committed to achieving its strategic vision of “Safe and Nutritious Food for Everyone, Everywhere.” He emphasized that the full implementation of the Comprehensive Small and Productive Farm Plot program remains one of the Ministry’s leading strategies for achieving this objective.

The Minister noted that although the progress achieved so far was encouraging, agricultural experts should continue working with greater commitment until the program is fully implemented by every household in every village. He further encouraged frontline extension workers to facilitate practical learning and promote wider adoption of the program.

Minister Arefaine also stressed that soil and water conservation forms the foundation of all agricultural development. He therefore called for the preparation of well-defined action plans and the establishment of close monitoring mechanisms to ensure the effective implementation of soil and water conservation activities.

The mid-year review meeting was attended by senior officials and experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, together with heads of regional agriculture and land departments and technical experts from all six regions of the country.

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