Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

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The Executive Order forms part of the Boakai Administration’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and is intended to stimulate domestic industrialization, create jobs, increase government revenue, and strengthen Liberia’s value-added manufacturing sector.

The Order notes that the continued export of raw natural rubber has deprived Liberia of significant downstream manufacturing opportunities, industrial employment, expanded tax revenues, and improved foreign exchange earnings. It further acknowledges that previous efforts to regulate the export of unprocessed rubber were undermined by widespread abuse, necessitating stronger executive action.

Under the Executive Order, the export of unprocessed natural rubber, including natural latex, coagulum, cup lump, tree lace, bark scrap, ground scrap, and other forms of raw rubber, is prohibited for an indefinite period. 

However, processed rubber products such as latex concentrate, Technically Specified Rubber (TSR), ribbed smoked sheets, crepe rubber, and other internationally recognized processed rubber products remain eligible for export.

The Order provides for strict enforcement measures against violators, including the immediate seizure and forfeiture of illegally exported goods, administrative fines of up to US$100,000 for corporations and US$50,000 for smallholder farmers for first offenses, permanent revocation of export privileges for repeat offenders, and criminal prosecution under Liberian law. Shipping companies and agents found complicit in the illegal export of unprocessed rubber will also face sanctions.

To ensure effective implementation, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the Liberia Revenue Authority, and the Rubber Development Fund have been directed to jointly enforce the ban. Customs authorities, port officials, and law enforcement agencies have also been instructed to inspect, detain, and confiscate any shipment of unprocessed rubber intended for export.

Within thirty days, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant stakeholders, is required to establish regulations that improve domestic market access for rubber farmers, particularly those in remote communities who have traditionally depended on cross-border trade in raw rubber.

As part of broader industrial support measures, the Government will prioritize incentives for domestic rubber processing industries through tax relief, concessional financing, infrastructure support, and policies aimed at expanding manufacturing into finished rubber products such as tires, gloves, footwear, adhesives, and other value-added products.

The Executive Order takes effect on July 1, 2026, and shall remain in force until repealed or amended by an Act of the Legislature. It will be reviewed annually to assess its impact on Liberia’s industrial development and the rubber sector.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Liberia: Executive Mansion.

Source: APO

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The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Adi-Halo Human Resources Office, conducted an activity assessment meeting on the progress of pre-education services for 2025/2026 from 23 to 25 June at the National Confederation of Eritrean Workers Hall.

The meeting was attended by the Governors of the six regions of the country, heads and representatives of ministries, partners, as well as invited guests.

Indicating the substantial investment made by the EPLF during the armed struggle for independence and by the Government of Eritrea after independence in the education sector, Ambassador Abdella Musa, Minister of Local Government, commended the initiative to establish pre-schools in all villages across the country. He also reminded administrations at all levels of their responsibility in the effort.

Dr. Halima Mohammed, Minister of Education, on her part, noted that the policy of the Ministry of Education to provide equal access to education is a central pillar in the journey to ensure social justice. She also said that, in Eritrea, basic education is a free and obligatory citizenship right.

Noting that, as part of the program initiated at the national level to expand pre-education opportunities, pre-schools have been established in all villages and training programs have been organized for about six thousand female pre-school teachers, Dr. Halima said that the successful program has been implemented through the coordination of Adi-Halo Human Resources Office and the involvement of other partner institutions.

Heads of education branches in the regions also provided reports regarding the progress of pre-education in general, and the construction of new pre-schools and renovation of existing ones in particular, in terms of the success registered and the experience gained.

The participants conducted extensive discussions on the reports presented, as well as on the activity programs for 2026/2027.

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

Source: APO

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The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is scaling up food assistance, logistics and telecommunications support in eastern DRC, where Ebola is spreading through communities already hit by conflict, displacement and severe hunger.

The outbreak is unfolding in one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. Without urgent support, rising hunger, insecurity and population movement could make it harder for families to comply with recommended health measures, increasing the risk of further transmission.

Here are the latest updates on food security and WFP operations in eastern DRC and the region:

Health and Food Security Situation in eastern DRC:

• Ebola cases continue to be reported in Ituri and northern North Kivu, requiring sustained containment measures to prevent further spread within and beyond the affected provinces.
• The virus now affects 34 health zones across Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.
• Thirty of those zones are already facing crisis levels of hunger or worse (IPC Phase 3+), including seven facing emergency levels of hunger (IPC Phase 4).
• More than 10 million people across eastern DRC are food insecure, leaving many families with limited ability to absorb another shock.

WFP Operational Food Response:

• WFP is supporting more than 1.2 million people with food assistance, nutrition support, logistics, telecommunications and air services that help keep the health response moving.
• More than 36,000 hot meals have reached over 1,600 patients, caregivers and contacts across 14 treatment and isolation centres since 28 May.
• Take-home rations have supported more than 2,600 people in North Kivu and Ituri.
• Monthly food assistance is reaching 14,000 people in ten quarantined villages in South Kivu.
• WFP is currently supporting nutrition activities in seven affected health zones. However, gaps in nutrition screening, and weak triage systems, are limiting targeted interventions.

WFP Logistics and Supply Chain Operations:

• WFP is providing the logistics backbone of the Ebola response, helping health and humanitarian partners reach affected communities quickly and safely.
• The WFP-managed United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) has conducted 268 flights, transported more than 1,750 humanitarian responders and delivered 36 metric tons of critical cargo to frontline areas.
• UNHAS operates daily flights linking Kinshasa, Bunia, Beni and other priority outbreak locations.
• WFP-chartered aircraft have moved nearly 154 metric tons of medical supplies, PPE, laboratory equipment and other life-saving cargo to Ebola-affected areas.
• A dedicated helicopter facilitates access to Ebola hotspots such as Mongbwalu and Nyakunde.
• A Hercules C-130 aircraft has transported vital cargo from Uganda to Bunia, with more than 150 mt of essential supplies moved to date.
• Three Epishuttle isolation units have been prepositioned in Bunia, to evacuate confirmed cases safely, with MEDEVAC training coordinated alongside partners.
• WFP and partners are expanding access to newly affected areas, including Butembo, Bambu, Kilo, Nizi, Tchomia and Kasenyi, where severe hunger and displacement are already widespread.

Challenges and Funding Requirements

• Insecurity and access constraints remain major obstacles, with affected health zones close to conflict frontlines and communities forced to move in search of food and safety.
• WFP urgently requires USD 72 million over the next six months to sustain food assistance, UNHAS and logistics operations for the Ebola response.
• Across DRC, WFP needs USD 286 million over the next six months to keep vital food assistance moving.

• WFP is deeply concerned for vulnerable people trapped in inaccessible areas, where hunger and malnutrition are likely to worsen as the lean season approaches.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

Source: APO

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President Cyril Ramaphosa will undertake a Working Visit to France from 10-12 July 2026. 

The visit comes at the invitation of the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Khaled El-Enany, to co-chair the UNESCO High-Level Steering Committee on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG4) on education, which will be held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 10 July 2026.

This will be followed by the Transforming Education Summit (TES) Stocktake.

On 12 July, President Ramaphosa is expected to attend the 110th Commemoration of the Battle of Delville Wood which will be held at the South African Memorial in Longueval, approximately two hours from Paris.

The historic commemoration will honour South African soldiers who lost their lives during World War I.

The commemoration will include a wreath-laying ceremony and the unveiling of the UNESCO plaque. 

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by various Ministers and senior government officials.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

Source: APO

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Aisha Ibrahim watched her 18-month-old son, Dauda, play outside their home in Maliki 2 settlement, Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Just weeks earlier, he had become weak, lost weight and stopped eating.

During a routine outreach visit, a mobile health team deployed by the Adamawa State Government with support from World Health Organization (WHO) screened children for malnutrition and other health conditions. When Dauda was assessed using a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tape, he was identified as malnourished and referred for treatment.

“I did not know it was malnutrition,” Aisha said. “I was worried because he kept getting weaker.”

Following treatment and follow-up care, Dauda’s condition improved. Four weeks later, he had regained strength and resumed normal activities.

His recovery highlights the importance of community-based screening and early referral to identify malnutrition and connect children to care before complications develop.

Detecting malnutrition early
Dauda’s case reflects broader efforts to strengthen community-based primary health care in Adamawa State. Supported by the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the State Government and WHO are expanding integrated outreach services combining nutrition screening, immunisation and referrals for underserved populations.

Early detection and treatment of malnutrition are proven to improve survival and recovery outcomes, particularly in fragile and hard-to-reach settings.

In Nigeria, malnutrition remains a major public health challenge. The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (2023–2024) indicates that 40% of children under five are stunted and 8% are wasted, while around 2 million with severe acute malnutrition each year.

The burden is particularly high in northern regions, including Adamawa State. In 2025, an estimated 6.4 million children aged 0–59 months across the north-east, north-west and north-central regions were affected by acute malnutrition, including about 2 million with severe acute malnutrition, while conflict and displacement continue to limit access to essential services.

Bringing services closer to communities
To address these challenges, the Adamawa State Government is scaling up nutrition interventions in line with national priorities, focusing on prevention, early detection and prompt treatment.

With technical support from WHO, 10 mobile health teams have been deployed to security-compromised and hard-to-reach communities across 10 local government areas. These teams, comprising nurses and community health workers, deliver integrated services including nutrition screening, basic treatment and referrals.

Between September and December 2025, outreach teams screened 36 727 children, identifying 527 with severe acute malnutrition and 1263 with moderate acute malnutrition. All identified children were referred to treatment centres for follow-up care.

“My son, Tikle, gained weight and started playing with his friends about four weeks after we visited the health centre,” said Salamatu Sani, who lives in Kwana Billa settlement in Gombi Local Government Area. “The health team measured his arm and referred us to the clinic, where they gave ready-to-use therapeutic food and showed me how to feed him. Now he is active again.”

Health workers emphasise that early detection is critical.

“When we identify children early, they recover faster and avoid complications,” said Amina Aliyu, a community health worker supporting community-based management of acute malnutrition services. “It also helps families continue care at home with the right guidance.”

Strengthening systems for impact
These outreach activities form part of wider efforts to strengthen the health system and expand access to life-saving services. Early nutrition screening is being integrated into routine primary health care to ensure continuity of care at community level.

This approach aligns with national frameworks, including the National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition (2021–2025) and the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (2016–2025; 2026–2035), which emphasise integrated, community-based service delivery.

WHO supports the State Government by training more than 40 frontline health workers across 10 local government areas, strengthening nutrition surveillance systems, and providing technical guidance and standards.

“Strengthening early detection and treatment for acute malnutrition is critical to improving child survival, particularly in underserved communities,” said Dr Yusuf Abdulhakeen, WHO State Coordinator in Adamawa.

At the national level, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare highlights the need to scale up such approaches.

“Malnutrition continues to threaten the survival, growth and development of many Nigerian children,” said Olufunmilola Adegbite, Director and Head of Nutrition.

“Expanding early detection and treatment through primary health care is essential to reducing preventable child deaths.”

For children like Dauda and Tikle, early screening supports timely treatment and recovery. Expanding integrated nutrition services through primary health care will be critical to reaching more vulnerable children, preventing complications and accelerating progress towards improved child survival in Nigeria.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Nigeria.

Source: APO – Report:

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The annual Financial Stability Report (FSR) serves as a platform to highlight and discuss key systemic risks to the financial system, while enhancing accountability and transparency on financial stability matters. Following the presentation of the report to the President, the Chairperson of the Financial Stability Committee noted that the report is a collective effort led by the Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS), with contributions from members of the CBS, the Ministry responsible for Finance, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

The Chairperson provided a brief overview of the report, highlighting key risks and the ongoing work undertaken in collaboration with other financial institutions.

She noted that for the year 2025, the banking sector remained stable, particularly in light of the newly introduced financial policies. She also highlighted a growing concern regarding individuals taking out loans and subsequently facing difficulties in repayment. She explained that there is a general lack of understanding of the risks associated with borrowing, and emphasised that the Central Bank will strengthen public education efforts on responsible borrowing and loan repayment.

The meeting also served as an opportunity to update the President on current financial developments.

The delegates discussed the challenges facing the sector, particularly the rapid advancement of technology, including artificial intelligence. Concerns were raised regarding increased risks such as money laundering, terrorist financing, cybersecurity threats, and attempts by malicious actors to compromise financial systems. The Chairperson reiterated the need to continuously strengthen systems and enhance training to ensure resilience against these evolving threats.

Sanctions were also discussed at length, particularly those imposed by other countries, including the European Union. The ongoing conflict in the Gulf region was highlighted as a factor placing additional pressure on the financial services sector and increasing risks within the banking system, notably given that cyber threats tend to intensify during periods of conflict.

Those attending the meeting included Secretary of State Mr Patrick Payet, Director of the FSA Mr Pascal Morin, Director of the FIU Mr Philippe Moustache, and other members of the committee, namely Mr Mike Tirant, Ms Sharon Uranie, Ms Samata Esparon, and Mr Brian Commetant.

– on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the future of peace is now being shaped with a distinctly feminine sensitivity and strength. This was the powerful message that opened, on June 17, the strategic retreat of the Women’s Advisory Group on Security Sector Reform (SSR). Gathered under the evocative theme “From participation to influence,” and with the support of MONUSCO through the Security Sector Reform (SSR) Section, the participants reaffirmed a fundamental principle: women are not merely beneficiaries of security policies, but a key driver in building sustainable and inclusive peace.

For Ely Dieng, Coordinator of the Rule of Law and Security Institutions Division and Acting Deputy Special Representative at MONUSCO, this approach is, above all, a matter of institutional effectiveness: “Integrating women into security sector reform is not only about promoting equality, but also about building more legitimate, accountable institutions that are closer to the citizens.”

Sharpening skills to impact decisions
Far from being a simple series of speeches, this retreat was designed to be highly practical. The second day, June 18, was entirely dedicated to strengthening the technical capacities of the participants. The agenda included advanced mediation techniques, multi-stakeholder dialogue, and strategic analysis.

The objective of this immersion is clear: to equip the women of the Advisory Group with the necessary tools to translate harsh field realities and early warnings into concrete, sharp, and actionable policy recommendations for high-level decision-makers.

Déborah Nyamugabo, a member of the Synergie pour la Paix, perfectly summarized this ambition: “Wherever women are present, humanism takes root. The advisory group aims to look ahead at what works, what does not work, or what needs improvement. That is why it is crucial to speak about strengthening existing reforms and institutional mechanisms, but also about empowering the women who are themselves active within this security sector.“

A Roadmap for the country’s future
Security a domain long perceived as the exclusive preserve of men in uniform? This stereotype was swiftly dismissed by Colonel Nénette Mukembe, former battalion commander within the FARDC Land Forces: “Security is not just a matter for soldiers or police officers; it is an issue that concerns everyone.“

In the face of the humanitarian and security challenges shaking the country, the urgency to act is pressing. Ms. Faida Mwangilwa, Coordinator of the Women’s Advisory Group on SSR, sounded the call to action: “We know that women have faced many problems in recent years. But now is the time to resolve them and see how we can find appropriate solutions for our own security, the security of our children, and the future of our country.“

On June 19, at the conclusion of the third and final day of reflection, a decisive step toward real impact was taken. The participants formally defined their engagement priorities and adopted a strategic roadmap. This framework document will now serve as a compass to guide their future actions and ensure that the voice of Congolese women permanently carries weight in the major security orientations of the DRC.

Thanks to this Kinshasa retreat, the Women’s Advisory Group on SSR is no longer just participating; it has firmly established itself as an essential influential actor for the stability of the DRC.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mission de l’Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).