Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO – Report:

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On 2 October 2025, the National Security Council announced that all ‘necessary measures’ would be taken to maintain order and security during the election period, including banning any meeting and public protest to challenge the Constitutional Council’s decisions. Following this announcement, the Prefect of Abidjan, the commercial capital, banned a peaceful rally organized by the opposition for 4 October and another one planned for 11 October.

“The use of blanket bans on protests is a stark failure of the Ivorian authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly. Such blanket bans are presumptively disproportionate and violate the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, both ratified by Côte d’Ivoire,” said Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa.

“Any restriction on public protests must be lawful, necessary, proportionate, and non-discriminatory. Instead of banning them, authorities should respect and facilitate peaceful assemblies and ensure public order policing is aimed at enabling assemblies to take place as intended and grounded in de-escalation and the protection of participants.”

Mass arrests during a peaceful protest 

On 11 October, security forces using tear gas dispersed groups of young people attempting to assemble peacefully in the Cocody area of Abidjan, according to testimonies, media reports and footage analyzed by Amnesty International. Authorities reported 237 arrests in Abidjan and 18 in Dabou, 40km from the commercial capital. The charges against those arrested were not disclosed.

“Anyone detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights should be released immediately. All those detained must, in any event, be granted prompt access to a lawyer and their families notified timeously. We urge the Ivorian authorities to publish information on arrests and charges for each protester who was arrested, and investigate any unnecessary and excessive use of force,” said Marceau Sivieude.

“Amnesty International reminds the Ivorian authorities that peaceful protest is a right, not a privilege. The authorities have a duty to respect, protect and facilitate the freedom of peaceful assembly of everyone in the country.”

Background

Earlier this year President Alassane Ouattara, who has been in power since 2010, announced his intention to stand for a fourth term. On 8 September, the Constitutional Council published the final list of five candidates selected for the 25 October election, including President Ouattara’s candidacy. Those of two opponents who had joined forces in June to call for political change were rejected.

On 2 October 2025, the National Security Council ordered all ‘necessary measures’ to be taken to maintain order and security in the country, including banning assemblies aimed at challenging Constitutional Council’s decisions and deployed 44,000 members of the security forces throughout the country. On the same day, the Prefect of Abidjan banned a peaceful rally planned for 4 October by opposition parties.

After the 4 October ban, those opposition parties announced a new rally date for 11 October. On 11 October, groups of young people attempting to assemble peacefully were dispersed with tear gas, with hundreds of protesters arrested. In the evening, security forces temporarily surrounded the residence of an opposition leader, Pascal Affi N’Guessan before leaving again.

On 12 October, the two opposition parties of the candidates excluded from the presidential election called for daily protests, demanding political dialogue.

– on behalf of Amnesty International.

Source: APO – Report:

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The Western Cape’s fast-growing population demands a stronger economy with many more jobs. This was the focus of Premier Alan Winde’s engagements this week with Cape Town business owners and law enforcement officials.

On Monday, 13 October 2025, Premier Winde visited several growing enterprises that are contributing to job creation and community development. 

At Durbanville Tool Hire, owner Mr Allistair Fisher is preparing to expand operations and increase his staff to 30 people. “When businesses grow, so does our economy,” stressed the Premier. “The last time I interacted with Mr Fisher was during the Covid-19 pandemic, when he and his co-workers were facing challenges. 

To see how this business has turned around since then, going from strength to strength, is a testament to the resilience of the Western Cape’s private sector.”

In Stikland, Premier Winde visited Kevin’s Coachworks, a long-standing panel beating business that has grown from three to 16 employees since opening its doors in 1991. “We put as much effort into upskilling, especially young people, as we do in growing our business. Our success is measured by our contribution to the community,” said co-owner Mr Marlon Adams.

The Premier’s next stop was an affordable housing project in Mitchells Plain, where Cape Town-based company New Age Properties is adding 50 new units to its 201-unit Watergate Village complex. The development, which is fully solar-powered, showcases the future-fit, mixed-use, affordable housing model the Western Cape Government has long championed. 

On a tour of the site, company owner Mr Anver Essop shared plans to install more than 1 000 new solar panels in due course. “With more people moving to our province, we must accelerate infrastructure development that brings residents closer to opportunities,” said Premier Winde. “Projects like this show what is possible when government and business work together. 

Mitchells Plain is developing rapidly, despite safety and crime challenges. From affordable housing to upgrading transport and sanitation infrastructure, the City of Cape Town and private sector leaders are collaborating to drive investment and economic growth,” he added.

The Premier also toured a new retail development in Lentegeur. Once complete, the centre will employ up to 300 people. This is over and above the hundreds of jobs that were created during the construction phase. 

“Growth and job creation cannot flourish where communities live in fear,” said Premier Winde, who also met with management at Mitchells Plain Police Station to address ongoing crime, gang violence, substance abuse, drunk driving, resource shortages, and the urgent need for collaboration between all role players. 

The Premier was joined by Western Cape Minister of Mobility Isaac Sileku, City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith, and officials from the provincial Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety, for a community walkabout with members of the Beacon Valley Neighbourhood Watch, SAPS, and Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers. 

“It breaks my heart that so many people live in fear of criminals and gangsters,” said the Premier. “The recent murder of Yonke Pakade, an off-duty LEAP officer in Philippi, is a stark reminder that law enforcement officers are also vulnerable. My thoughts are with Mr Pakade’s family and the ‘community in blue’, and the colleague who was with him during the attack. We owe it to them and our residents to keep fighting for better police resourcing. Safety and jobs go hand in hand – both are essential for a thriving Western Cape.”

– on behalf of Republic Of South Africa: Western Cape Provincial Government.

Source: APO – Report:

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended the Inspector-General of Intelligence, Mr Imtiaz Fazel, pending a decision in an investigation by Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) into the Inspector-General’s conduct.

The JSCI has informed President Ramaphosa that it has received a complaint on the conduct of the Inspector-General and that the committee will conduct an investigation in line with section 7(4) and 7(5) of the Intelligence Services Act (Act 40 of 1994).

Section 7(5) of the Act provides that “if the Inspector-General is the subject of an investigation by the (JSCI) in terms of subsection (4), he or she may be suspended by the President pending a decision in such investigation”.

Mr Fazel has been suspended with immediate effect.

– on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

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This year, 77 442 candidates will write the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams in the Western Cape.

Of these, 67 606 are full-time matric candidates, while 9 836 are part-time or repeat candidates. We have 3 231 more full-time candidates writing than in 2024.

The exams begin on Tuesday, 21 October 2025, with 12 736 candidates writing the Computer Applications Technology (CAT) Practical exam in the morning. In total, 112 exam papers will be written by the time the exams end on 26 November 2025.

As in previous years, the subject with the largest number of candidates is Mathematical Literacy, with 53 206 candidates writing Paper 1 on Friday, 31 October 2025, and Paper 2 on Monday 3 November 2025.

On the other end of the scale, two subjects have just 1 candidate writing in the Western Cape: Sesotho First Additional Language, and Setswana Home Language.

The implementation of the exams is a mammoth administrative exercise: candidates will write at 473 exam centres, with 2 046 trained invigilators appointed to keep a close eye on proceedings. Marking will take place at the beginning of December, with 954 000 examination scripts being marked by 4 190 markers.

The national minister will announce the national and provincial pass rates on Monday, 12 January 2026, and candidates will receive their individual results the following day.

We appreciate the incredible work that our examination officials do each year to ensure that the exams run smoothly. Our matrics and their teachers have also put in a tremendous amount of work to prepare for these exams, so we appeal to everyone in our province to put the best interests of our candidates first during the exam period.

We wish our candidates all the best for the final days of revision, and look forward to celebrating with them when the results are released!

– on behalf of Western Cape Education ​Department, South Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

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Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Ms Nonceba Mhlauli, will on Thursday, 16 October 2025 at 09h00 host a G20 Community Leaders Dialogue at the Roodepan community’s Roman Catholic Church in the Sol Plaatje Municipality, Frances Baard District, Northern Cape.

This activity will form part of the Government’s country-wide G20 outreach programme. The objectives of the outreach are to:

• Create awareness about South Africa’s membership to the G20;
• Inform the public about South Africa’s role as the Presidency of G20 through profiling lead roles and achievements of South Africa’s contribution to the continent and the African Union through trade and financial policy statements;
• Solicit stakeholder engagement and advocacy for South Africa’s role in the G20 with various stakeholders; and,
• Profile the outcomes of the 130 identified G20 meetings, including the summit through both the Sherpa and Finance tracks.

The dialogue will be preceded by the visit of the Deputy Minister and other leadership to housing project in Roodepan at 09h00, and then proceed to the Roman Catholic Church for engagement with the community leadership that will commence at 10h00.

Deputy Minister Mhlauli, as the District Development Model (DDM) Champion for the France Baard District, will use the opportunity to engage the Roodepan leadership on the District Development Model in general and how it will better the lives of the people.

– on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

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The President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Health of the United Republic of Tanzania  in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), today officially launched the Pandemic Fund Project in Mwanza.

This landmark initiative, supported by catalytic funding from the Pandemic Fund, aims to strengthen Tanzania’s capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future health emergencies and pandemics. Tanzania received a US$25 million grant from the Pandemic Fund and mobilized an additional US$7 million in co-investment and US$6.7 million in co-financing, bringing together strong technical and financial partnerships.

Spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and grounded in a One Health approach, the project is coordinated with the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. As implementing entities, FAO focuses on animal health, UNICEF leads risk communication and community engagement, and WHO strengthens human health systems and emergency readiness.

Hosted under the theme “Strengthening Capacity for Prevention, Preparedness, Detection and Response to Pandemics and other Public Health Emergencies in Tanzania,” the launch brought together high-level government officials, implementing entities, development partners, and technical stakeholders committed to strengthening health systems and intersectoral collaboration.

In his opening remarks, the Guest of Honour, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Hon. Dr. Doto Biteko, emphasized the importance of cross-sectoral partnerships and government leadership in pandemic preparedness to safeguard Tanzania’s future.

“I congratulate development partners and all stakeholders who established this important fund. Statistics shows that for the past 20 years the world is battling multiple health emergencies and here in Tanzania we are not immune. We have experiences of battling Covid 19 and Marburg in recent years, hence strengthening our capacity to prevent and prepare for pandemic response and public health emergencies is not an option, noted Honourable Dr. Doto Biteko. “I want to assure everyone that the Govt is committed to ensure this project is implemented effectively and deliver desired results”.

Tanzania, including both Mainland and Zanzibar, continues to experience steady economic growth alongside increasing risks of zoonotic and cross-border disease transmission. Despite strong adherence to the International Health Regulations (IHR), the country faces challenges in disease detection, laboratory capacity, and early warning systems. The project aligns with Tanzania’s National Action Plan for Health Security and aims to reduce the impact of future epidemics while addressing the needs of vulnerable populations.

The project is implemented through coordinated technical workstreams focusing on strengthening surveillance and early warning systems, enhancing laboratory networks and diagnostics, and building a skilled health workforce capable of responding to public health emergencies and pandemics. Each workstream is led by the relevant implementing entity and supported by national stakeholders.

Speaking on behalf of Dr. Alex Gasasira, WHO Representative to Tanzania, Dr. Galbert Fedjo, Health Systems Coordinator, emphasized the central role of collaboration in advancing preparedness:

“This project marks a bold step forward in strengthening Tanzania’s health security and pandemic preparedness. With strong government leadership and collaboration across sectors, Tanzania is advancing a One Health approach that links human, animal, and environmental health,” he said. “WHO will build on ongoing work in surveillance, laboratories, and workforce development to leverage this partnership and accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage and the Health for All agenda.”

Building on this, UNICEF highlighted the critical role of community engagement in pandemic preparedness and response.

“Community health workers are the heart and backbone of public health resilience. They are often the first point of contact for families and play a critical role in delivering life-saving information and services,” said Patricia Safi Lombo, UNICEF Deputy Representative to Tanzania. “Through the Pandemic Fund, UNICEF will continue working with local governments, schools, and community leaders to strengthen awareness, promote healthier practices, and ensure that every community has the right information at the right time to protect every child, everywhere.”

Complementing this focus on community and human health systems, FAO underscored the project’s importance for animal and environmental health as part of the One Health approach.

“By strengthening animal health systems and improving coordination between veterinary and public health services, Tanzania is taking vital steps to prevent zoonotic diseases before they spill over to humans,” said Ms Stella Kiambi, FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) Country Team Lead. “FAO will continue working alongside national authorities and partners to build resilient animal health systems that support livelihoods and safeguard public health.”

Representing the Pandemic Fund, Ms. Priya Basu, Executive Head, commended Tanzania’s leadership and commitment to global health security.

“This new project in Tanzania represents an important step in strengthening the country’s preparedness to prevent, detect, and respond to future health threats. By investing in surveillance, laboratories, and workforce development—and adopting a One Health approach—Tanzania is reinforcing the foundation for sustainable health security,” she said. “The Pandemic Fund is proud to support this important country-led effort through catalytic financing and cross-sector collaboration. Our US$25 million grant is helping to mobilize nearly US$14 million in additional co-investment and co-financing from both domestic and international sources.”

The Pandemic Fund Project represents a critical investment in health system resilience and a shared commitment to protecting lives and livelihoods through evidence-based, multisectoral action. By 2027, Tanzania aims to have an integrated, functional disease surveillance and response system capable of effectively monitoring, confirming, and responding to epidemic and pandemic threats.

– on behalf of World Health Organization – United Republic of Tanzania.

Source: APO – Report:

Suriname is emerging as a rising star in the global energy scene and has the potential to make a significant impact with its vast oil and gas reserves. A string of major offshore oil discoveries has positioned the Caribbean nation as one of the most promising new frontiers in the hemisphere, with recoverable resources estimated at 2.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) and natural gas resources around 12.5 trillion cubic feet. At least 10 wells are expected to be drilled offshore between 2025 and 2027 in Suriname’s portion of the Guyana-Suriname Basin, underscoring the rapid pace of exploration and development. With first production on the horizon, Suriname’s transformation from exploration success story to regional energy powerhouse is well underway. As the country prepares to host the inaugural Caribbean Energy Week on March 30-April 1, 2026, Suriname is set to showcase not only its vast hydrocarbon potential but its growing ambitions to shape the region’s energy future. 

Offshore Breakthroughs

Suriname’s recent oil discoveries are concentrated offshore, in deep Atlantic waters bordering Guyana’s prolific Stabroek Block. In just a few years, the country has rapidly established itself as a promising exploration frontier. The centerpiece of this momentum is Block 58, operated by TotalEnergies alongside APA Corporation. Following a string of discoveries between January 2020 and February 2022 – including Maka Central, Sapakara South and Krabdagu – the partners announced the GranMorgu development, a project expected to deliver first oil in 2028. 

GranMorgu marks a turning point for Suriname. With estimated recoverable reserves of around 750 million barrels and a planned production capacity of 220,000 barrels per day, it represents the largest industrial investment in the country’s history, backed by more than $10 billion in capital. Beyond its scale, GranMorgu also reflects a new era of responsible production: zero routine flaring, reinjection of associated gas and an all-electric FPSO designed to minimize emission, which could serve as a model for lower-carbon development in a traditionally high-emission industry. 

Momentum Beyond Block 58 

Just to the north, Block 52, operated by Petronas, has yielded a series of discoveries – including Sloanea, Roystonea and Fusaea – confirming that Suriname’s offshore plays extend far beyond a single block. These wells have encountered oil-bearing reservoirs with strong flow potential, and evaluations are underway to determine commercial viability and tie-back opportunities to existing infrastructure. The area is estimated to hold more than 500 million boe.  

Meanwhile, in Block 53, momentum is accelerating. TotalEnergies recently acquired a 25% stake alongside APA and Petronas, signaling its long-term commitment to the basin. The Baja-1 discovery in this block sits adjacent to GranMorgu, offering the potential to extend the project’s production plateau and create efficiencies across neighboring fields. The alignment of these three blocks – 58, 52 and 53 – positions Suriname to develop a cohesive, scalable oil province with the potential to transform the country’s economic landscape. 

A New Energy Chapter 

These discoveries – their technical promise, commercial outlook and regional implications – will take center stage at Caribbean Energy Week (CEW) 2026, a landmark event set to bring together policymakers, investors and industry leaders from across the region. Hosted in Paramaribo, the forum will underscore the regional significance of Suriname’s energy story and its growing role in shaping the Caribbean’s energy future. 

As global demand for responsibly produced oil endures, Suriname’s combination of scale, strategic partnerships and ESG-focused development has drawn inevitable comparisons to Guyana’s meteoric rise. Yet its trajectory is uniquely its own – guided by a smaller population, a measured approach and a clear vision for inclusive, sustainable growth. 

If GranMorgu comes online as planned in 2028, Suriname could soon produce more than 200,000 barrels per day, positioning it among the largest oil producers in the Caribbean. Coupled with continued exploration success and growing regional cooperation, Suriname’s energy story is only beginning, and CEW 2026 will serve as the platform where that story takes shape on a regional stage. 

Join us in shaping the future of Caribbean energy. To participate in this exciting event contact sales@energycapitalpower.com. 

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.