Category: MIL-OSI

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Empowered to Innovate: Two Samburu Girls Who Defied All Odds and are now Changing the World

Source: APO – Report:

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In Kenya’s arid and pastoral regions, many girls still grow up under the shadow of child marriage and female genital mutilation. Despite progress, the practice remains deeply entrenched. While data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022 shows that the national percentage of women married for the first time by age 18 has declined to 25% in 2022, down from 42% in 1993,  child marriage rates in Samburu County remain concerningly high at 30%. The county also faces the highest rates of teenage pregnancy, standing at 50%. Amid these harsh realities, two girls, Antonella and Nashipae, are defying their circumstances. At nine years old, Antonella’s father arranged for her to be married off, as he believed that girls should not waste their time on education that educating a girl, in another part of Samburu, Nashipae, only ten, faced a similar fate. Her father, too, withdrew her from school, insisting she was ready for marriage. Before she could understand what was happening, she was subjected to Female Genital Mutilation, a painful rite meant to prepare her for adulthood and, eventually, marriage against her wishes.

Both girls were rescued through community surveillance efforts and government intervention.  They found a new home at Samburu Girls Foundation, a safe haven for girls escaping child marriage and FGM. For Antonella, arriving at the Foundation meant safety, care, and education. For Nashipae, it meant healing from physical and emotional trauma. Antonella joined the Nabulaa Accelerator Learning Programme, designed for girls who had never been to school, while Nashipae re-enrolled in Grade 3 to catch up on lost years of learning. Through mentorship, life skills, and psychosocial support, both began to rebuild confidence, rediscover their voices, and relearn that their dreams were within reach.

Their paths intertwined through a shared love for technology. Both are members of the foundation’s Technovation Programme, which empowers girls to develop tech-based solutions to local problems. Antonella was part of a team that created Trigger, an application designed to reduce banditry in Samburu. The project won at a regional competition and sparked her leadership journey. 

“I am proud of how far I’ve come. When I reflect on my journey, I feel proud and grateful. I came from a home with no peace, no education, and was on the verge of undergoing FGM and being married off. Today, I am safe, happy, and thriving,” she says. Antonella dreams of completing her education so she can give back to the community. “I want to be a role model for other girls, to show them that change is possible, and that their future can be bright.” 

Nashipae’s team, Junior Team Almasi, built ENDCUT, an application that helps women sell beaded crafts online while raising awareness about ending FGM. Their project earned a Global Social Impact Award, proving that innovation can emerge from even the most challenging beginnings.

 “Joining SGF was the beginning of a powerful and transformative journey for me. I am proud of every step I’ve taken and of the courage, growth, and accomplishments I have gained since I became part of SGF,” says Nashipae

Both girls have since stepped into leadership roles, with Antonella serving as President of the Technovation Club, and Nashipae as Speaker of the Samburu Girls Foundation’s Girls’ Council. Together, they mentor and lead younger girls, helping them find their own voices and reminding them that education is the most powerful form of freedom.

The Samburu Girls Foundation, with support from UNFPA in Kenya and the Five Foundation, is tackling FGM and child marriage in Samburu County. The three-year programme focuses on educating girls on their rights so that they can become advocates for change and protect themselves from harmful practices. 

– on behalf of UNFPA Kenya.

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President Ramaphosa to deliver eulogy at Mthethwa funeral

Source: Government of South Africa

Saturday, October 11, 2025

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the eulogy at the funeral service of the late Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa on Sunday.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Sunday, 12 October 2025 deliver the eulogy in honour of the late Ambassador Emmanuel Nkosinathi “Nathi” Mthethwa in KwaMbonambi, KwaZulu-Natal,” said the Presidency in an advisory on Friday.

The funeral service will take place at Dondotha Stadium.

The late Ambassador to France will be honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 2. The Special Official Funeral Category 2 declared by President Ramaphosa will entail ceremonial elements performed by the South African Police Service (SAPS).

READ | Special Official Funeral to honour Ambassador Mthethwa

The late Ambassador Mthethwa served as South Africa’s Head of Mission in Paris, France, before passing away in the French capital on 30 September 2025, at the age of 58. –SAnews.gov.za

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Work continues to restore safety at Fort Hare, Free State universities 

Source: Government of South Africa

The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, has assured students at Free State and Fort Hare Universities that the department, the universities and police are working hard to protect students and staff. 

Efforts are also underway to reopen Fort Hare University. This after violent protests broke out at the Eastern Cape-based university this week – causing damages estimated between R300 and R500 million.

READ | Minister Manamela calls for calm amid Fort Hare unrest

“Our immense priority is to ensure that the academic program resumes within the next week. In a productive meeting with the university…I’ve directed the University Council and management to put in place all necessary measures to reopen the institution and allow teaching and learning to continue, including temporary online modalities where required.

“Students must be able to complete their studies in peace and also in safety. That is non-negotiable. The university must ensure that the academic year is not put in any jeopardy.”

Manamela condemned the violence at the university – describing it as “criminal”.

“The destruction and violence that engulfed the University of Fort Hare in recent days is deeply tragic. A university should be a space of learning, hope and progress. Not one of fear and destruction. 

“The intimidation of staff… and the disruption of teaching and learning cannot and will never be justified. What has happened at Fort Hare is not protest. It is criminal. It destroys opportunity, it erodes confidence, but it also undermines the dreams of thousands of young people who look to education as their only chance for a better life.

“We are working closely with the South African Police Service, the Eastern Cape government, and the university security teams to restore come and protect students and staff,” he said at a media briefing on Saturday. 

The Minister acknowledged that there are challenges that must be addressed by the institution’s leadership.

“Beyond the immediate crisis, I’ve also asked the University Council to reflect deeply on the number of critical issues when they meet tomorrow. [This] including the state of governance and leadership, the role and status of the SRC [Student Representative Council], the institutional culture of the university, the concerns raised about the Vice Chancellor’s contract and the insourcing of workers, which are some of the issues that are believed to have triggered protest at the university.

“In the coming week, I will respond in greater detail to the feedback received from the ministerial team led by Professor Ahmed Bauer, which has been engaging students, staff, and other stakeholders over the last several days. Their work is central to shaping the next phase of our intervention,” he said.

Arrests 

Turning to matters at the University of Free State where protests have also erupted, the Minister said some 17 students have been arrested including two who attempted to “throw a petrol bomb in a cubicle that houses security”.

“Now this is criminality. Even if these people are students, they are basically unleashing crime. And I think in both instances…we need to make that distinction between people who are students and… criminals who are also in the process endangering the life of other students and staff. 

Safety enhancement

“But we have to approach this in a very systemic way. And that’s why we will be accelerating our engagement internally so that we fix the system internally in order to ensure that we don’t keep students being vulnerable, but also our engagement with the South African Police Service on ways and means within which we can restore order where necessary,” he said.

The Minister emphasised, however, that security responses alone “will not be enough”.

“We have to deal with some of the issues that have resulted in protest in some of the institutions, but also that some of the violence is not even related to protest but it’s related to the fact that institutions are being seen as business enterprises for infrastructure, for tenders, around services, accommodation, and so on and some of this violence is related to that.

“We have to make sure that universities and institutions within the post-school education and training sector return to what they’ve been established for, become places of learning and teaching and not what we have seen in the most recent days,” Manamela said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Clean cooking a ‘major victory’ following G20 energy meetings

Source: Government of South Africa

While global energy talks at the final G20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) and Energy Transitions Ministerial Meetings ended inconclusively, a different, more urgent struggle was won – one affecting a young girl who, instead of studying after school, must trek for firewood. 

During the meetings this week, South Africa used its G20 Presidency to successfully champion this cause, lifting the overlooked challenge of clean cooking from the shadows into the mainstream of the G20, a legacy Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa called a “major victory” for the continent.

The Minister was speaking during a media briefing at the culmination of the final G20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) and Energy Transitions Ministerial Meetings held in KwaZulu-Natal this week.

He noted that across the globe, at least one billion people who are mainly African do not have access to clean cooking – forcing them to cook using health threatening fuels like coal, wood, animal dung and paraffin. 

“The major victory is…clean cooking. It’s huge for the continent. You and I could take it for granted but as we sit here, there’s a young girl somewhere in a remote village who comes back from school, drops her books and goes to fetch firewood. That’s what we want to change.

“We know that there’s 1.4 billion people on the continent and one billion of them don’t have access to clean cooking and of that, 600 million don’t have access to electricity. So, I am happy that we were able to find each other…to say that we could differ on other things, but this is a human rights issue. 

“Finally, we agreed. So, the legacy of South Africa’s Presidency is to lift clean cooking into the mainstream agenda of the G20 – the most industrialised powerful countries in the world,” he said on Friday.

Although the meetings did not find a consensus on other issues, the Minister said this was to be expected.
“Given the polarity of views in the energy complex, it was always going to be a very difficult ask for us to be able to get to a consensus that then gets to be lifted into a communique…that all the parties in the room agree on the formulation.

“As we expected…we got to see those tensions. Sometimes it was a binary discussion with renewables on the one side and fossil fuels on the other side and of course, the middle position of doing all of the above. But what was important was to ensure that we surface those issues and conversations were able to happen and unfold,” he said.

The Minister highlighted that although they could not find consensus on all the priority areas at the G20, South Africa will continue to pursue those on other platforms.

“The Ten-Year Infrastructure Investment Plan, it is part of the AU [African Union] 2063 Agenda…we will do that. There are some partners here who area already supporting us. On the issues of green hydrogen…there was a South Africa-European Union (EU) Summit and the President [Cyril Ramaphosa] and [EU President] Ursula von der Leyen have agreed to a set of packages.

READ | President Ramaphosa welcomes €11.5 billion EU investment in South Africa

“Although we didn’t find consensus it doesn’t mean the work doesn’t continue. Even though there are some areas where we couldn’t find each other here, we are working together with individual states and the EU. It doesn’t stop that momentum,” Ramokgopa said. 

READ | Minister Ramokgopa calls on G20 to serve as ‘beacon of hope’
– SAnews.gov.za

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Conference to reflect on 30 years of the PPSA

Source: Government of South Africa

The 30 Year Anniversary International Conference of the Public Protector is set to reflect and celebrate the role played by the independent institution’s existence in South Africa’s development.

Acting spokesperson of the Public Protector of South Africa (PPSA), Ndili Msoki said the historic event will bring together experts and leaders from across South Africa and the globe, including civil society, academia and faith leaders to reflect on the three decades of the institution.

“The program is packed with reflections of our transformative journey and discussions on combating maladministration, corruption, enhancing ethical governance and shaping a resilient future for democracy and service delivery in public administration,” Msoki said in an interview with the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) on Friday.

To be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (ICC) from 13-15 October 2025, the conference will be held under the theme: “30 years of strengthening constitutional democracy- a transformative journey.”

Attendees of the conference will among others deliberate on the enhancement of public participation and citizen-centred governance and the transformative journey of the PPSA in strengthening good governance and accountability. It will also place the spotlight on the building of consensus on the meaning of democracy and its viability.

Msoki added that established in terms of section 181 of the Constitution, with a mandate to support and strengthen constitutional democracy, the PPSA is an institution that the people of South Africa can rely on. 

“We are on a drive to digitise the institution,” he said adding that the move streamlines and makes processes efficient. The digitisation also give complainants access to the progress of reports the institution is working on.

“It also allows them to track the movement of their complaints online and free of charge. This makes it possible for people anywhere in the country, anyone who has access to the internet, to be able to access our services by means of lodging complaints and following up on them.

“We’re also in the process of amending the Public Protector Act, which is the piece of legislation that gives rise to the Public Protector, to, amongst other things, strengthen our independence, and also to criminalise the non-implementation of the Public Protector’s remedial action,” he explained.

The PPSA has also embarked on a drive to improve the skills of its investigators.

“We’ve been lucky to have received an allocation from the Criminal Assets Recovery Account which reaffirms that the Public Protector is an anti-corruption agency, because those funds are reserved for those sorts of institutions,” he said.

The PPSA entered into an agreement with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners in September 2024 to collaborate in areas of mutual interest where both institutions committed to work together in the areas of training and combating fraud.

The first person to hold the office of the PPSA was Selby Baqwa, appointed on the inception of the office in 1995. He was succeeded in 2002 by Lawrence Mushwana, in 2009 by Thuli Madonsela and in 2016 by Busisiwe Mkhwebane. The current Public Protector is Kholeka Gcaleka who assumed office with effect from 1 November 2023. 

Gcaleka is among those expected to address the event as well as former Public Protectors, representatives from oversight bodies as well as Cabinet Ministers. –SAnews.gov.za

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Ministro do Mar enaltece cooperação com Japão no Fórum Económico Japão–Cabo Verde

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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O Ministro do Mar, Jorge Santos, que lidera a delegação cabo-verdiana atualmente em missão ao Japão, destacou na quinta-feira, 9 de outubro, a excelência da cooperação entre Cabo Verde e o Japão, durante a sua intervenção no Fórum Económico Japão–Cabo Verde, realizado em Tóquio.

Um evento de grande importância para a promoção da cooperação económica com o Japão, realizado no ano em que se comemoram os 50 anos do estabelecimento das relações diplomáticas entre os dois países, iniciadas a 11 de julho de 1975, e que teve lugar num momento igualmente marcante para Cabo Verde, que celebra o 50.º aniversário da sua independência nacional.

O governante destacou os projetos estruturantes desenvolvidos ao longo dos anos com o apoio japonês, nomeadamente nas áreas das infraestruturas, pescas, segurança alimentar e educação, bem como a participação ativa de Cabo Verde na Expo Osaka 2025, que celebrará, já nesta sexta-feira, o Dia Nacional de Cabo Verde, uma data simbólica para reforçar a cultura, identidade e projeção internacional do nosso país.

Perante uma audiência composta por empresários e investidores japoneses de diversos setores, o Ministro apresentou as ambições estratégicas de desenvolvimento de Cabo Verde, sustentadas no Plano Estratégico de Desenvolvimento Sustentável II (2022–2026) e na agenda “Cabo Verde – Ambição 2030”.

“As nossas prioridades incluem a diversificação do turismo, o desenvolvimento das economias azul, digital e verde, a transição energética, a ação climática e o fortalecimento do capital humano”, afirmou.

O Ministro destacou ainda a importância do vasto território marítimo cabo-verdiano (734.000 km² de Zona Económica Exclusiva) como um ativo fundamental para o desenvolvimento sustentável do país e para a captação de investimentos.

Expressando o firme interesse de Cabo Verde em atrair investimento japonês, o governante garantiu que o país oferece condições únicas e vantajosas, nomeadamente, a estabilidade política e institucional, segurança jurídica, paridade cambial com o Euro, liberdade de circulação de capitais, incentivos ao investimento, boa governança, acesso preferencial aos mercados europeu e americano, integração plena na Zona de Comércio Livre Continental Africana, e um clima atrativo para viver e investir.

No que toca às infraestruturas de apoio ao setor privado, o Ministro sublinhou os investimentos em curso, como a expansão de aeroportos e portos, o novo porto de cruzeiros, e o desenvolvimento de parques tecnológicos voltados para a inovação.

Um dos destaques da sua intervenção foi a economia azul, setor em que Cabo Verde pretende afirmar-se como plataforma marítima e logística internacional, com oportunidades de negócio em áreas como a pesca, aquacultura, transbordo, bunkering, reparação naval e investigação marinha.

Referindo-se à frutífera cooperação já existente com o Japão no setor das pescas, o Ministro mencionou a presença da empresa Japan Tuna, reforçando o interesse em expandir esta parceria com outras empresas japonesas do ramo.

“O nosso objetivo é posicionar Cabo Verde como uma base logística de excelência para a pesca japonesa no Atlântico Médio”, afirmou.

No setor do turismo, pilar central da economia cabo-verdiana, o país está empenhado em diversificar a sua oferta, incluindo o turismo cultural, náutico, de cruzeiros e de natureza, estando plenamente aberto a turistas e investidores japoneses.

O Ministro apresentou ainda oportunidades nos setores energético e da água, destacando a meta de atingir 35% de penetração de energias renováveis até 2026, e 50% até 2030. No setor da água, sublinhou os investimentos em dessalinização e reutilização segura de águas residuais, com forte integração de energias limpas, visando maior sustentabilidade hídrica.

“O objetivo do Governo de Cabo Verde é construir resiliência económica, ambiental e social, promovendo um desenvolvimento sustentável”, enfatizou o Ministro do Mar que assumiu que o Governo está convicto de que os investimentos japoneses gerarão benefícios significativos tanto para os investidores como para o país, contribuindo para uma parceria mutuamente vantajosa e duradoura.

Na parte final da sua intervenção, o Ministro convidou oficialmente os empresários presentes a visitarem Cabo Verde, conhecerem de perto as oportunidades existentes e investirem num país estável, aberto ao mundo e preparado para receber investimento de qualidade.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Governo de Cabo Verde.

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Ministro da Saúde acompanha andamento das obras do Hospital da Trindade retomadas em Setembro

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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Com o objetivo de se inteirar do andamento das obras em curso para a construção de raiz do novo Hospital da Trindade e acompanhar de perto a execução do projeto, o Ministro da Saúde Jorge Figueiredo, deslocou-se, ontem, 09 de outubro, às instalações do Hospital da Trindade para uma visita de trabalho.

A visita que durou mais de uma hora, serviu para o Governante constatar, in loco, o nível de andamento dos trabalhos, conhecer as especificidades do projeto, os constrangimentos enfrentados e os prazos assumidos.

Jorge Figueiredo, manteve ainda encontro com os engenheiros e arquitetos da ICV (Infraestrutura de Cabo Verde), onde explicaram as particularidades do projeto que inicialmente era apenas para remodelação do edifício construído nos anos 80, e que devido aos graves problemas encontrados na estrutura do edifício, a quando da demolição ditou um novo projeto para reconstrução de uma nova infraestrutura de raiz.

Os trabalhos retomaram-se deste o dia 04 de setembro, com um prazo de execução de 14 meses e um orçamento de mais de 230 mil contos financiados através do fundo Kuwait e do Governo de Cabo Verde.

O objetivo do Governo é construir um novo edifício moderno para melhorar as condições de atendimento aos pacientes no serviço de psiquiatria do Hospital Dr. Agostinho Neto e dotar o país de um centro com melhores condições estruturais e que respeite as normas e os protocolos internacionais para o tratamento das patologias mentais.

Trata-se de um empreendimento de saúde com 5 blocos que vão desde área administrativa, a enfermaria, o bloco técnico áreas para cozinha e conexos e uma área para oficinas ocupacionais como ateliê de música, entre outros.

Nesta visita, o Ministro da Saúde esteve acompanhado do Conselho de Administração do HAN, da Diretora Nacional da Saúde em Substituição, dos Diretores dos Serviços de Seguimento e Avaliação e de Gestão das infraestruturas e Equipamentos de saúde, bem como do Diretor do Serviço de Psiquiatria do HAN.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Governo de Cabo Verde.

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Sudan: United Nation (UN) Human Rights Chief appalled by continued killing of civilians in El Fasher

Source: APO – Report:

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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday condemned in the strongest terms the continued killing and injuring of civilians in El Fasher. This follows reports that at least 53 civilians were killed and more than 60 injured by the Rapid Support Forces between 5 and 8 October alone. Preliminary information from the area suggests the number may be even higher.

“I am appalled by the RSF’s endless and wanton disregard for civilian life,” said Türk. “Despite repeated calls, including my own, for specific care to be taken to protect civilians, they continue instead to kill, injure, and displace civilians, and to attack civilian objects, including IDP shelters, hospitals and mosques, with total disregard for international law. This must end.”

The UN Human Rights Office has confirmed that at least 46 civilians were killed in artillery and drone strikes in the Abu Shouk and Daraja Oula neighbourhoods and the Abu Shouk IDP camp. This includes at least 14 civilians who were killed during attacks on 5 and 7 October on the Saudi Hospital – the last major functioning health care facility in North Darfur. The hospital, which has repeatedly come under attack, was already operating at a reduced capacity, before suffering further substantial damage in these latest attacks.

At least seven other civilians were reportedly summarily executed in home-to-home searches during RSF ground attacks. Initial information indicates that these killings may have been ethnically motivated, targeting members of the Zaghawa community.

“I urge the RSF – indeed all parties to the conflict – to draw lessons from this week’s conviction of Ali Kushayb by the International Criminal Court for the war crimes and crimes against humanity he committed in Darfur,”said Türk.

The High Commissioner also reiterated his call for UN Member States with direct influence to take urgent measures to protect civilians and to prevent further atrocities in El Fasher and across Darfur.

– on behalf of United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

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Dr Kalilou SYLLA succeeds commissioner Massandje Toure-Litse as Head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture

Source: APO – Report:

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A citizen of Côte d’Ivoire and holder of a PhD in Economics from Félix Houphouët-Boigny University in Abidjan, where he has been teaching since 1997, Dr Kalilou SYLLA took up his post on the 1st of October 2025 as Head of the ECOWAS Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, replacing Ms Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, who has been called to other high responsibilities by her country.

Prior to his appointment, Dr Kalilou SYLLA, who has 27 years of professional experience, served as Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Côte d’Ivoire, where he coordinated foreign trade policy and served as chief negotiator for trade agreements and at the WTO. He has also worked to mobilise and support private sector actors on issues related to foreign trade, as well as the modernisation and digitalisation of the foreign trade sector.

Former Chief of Staff at the Ministry for African Integration, he coordinated negotiations for Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and relations with regional organisations such as ECOWAS, UEMOA, CILSS and the African Union.

His time at the ECOWAS Commission between 2007 and 2012, as Head of the Office of the Commissioner for Macroeconomic Policies, enabled him to acquire in-depth knowledge of the institutional functioning of the organisation.

He has also headed pan-African structures such as the Network of West African Farmers’ Organisations and Agricultural Producers (ROPPA) and the Pan-African Farmers Organisation (PAFO), where he has helped to strengthen the capacities of agricultural actors and mobilise innovative financing for the sector.

A specialist in macroeconomic, trade and agricultural policies, Dr Kalilou SYLLA has worked on the formulation and implementation of regional integration programmes, strategic planning, the free movement of goods and people, and the competitiveness of agricultural sectors. He also has expertise in managing projects funded by partners such as IFAD, the European Union, the World Bank and UNDP, demonstrating recognised expertise in resource mobilisation and international cooperation.

At the head of the Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, the new Commissioner’s main mission will be to strengthen the economic and food resilience of the West African region.

His priorities will be to accelerate agricultural transformation, promote food security, stimulate regional trade and strengthen the competitiveness of ECOWAS economies in a global context marked by crises and geopolitical changes.

The new Commissioner has several publications to his credit. These include “Corruption on the roads in Africa in a context of conflict. Experience of Côte d’Ivoire. Multidisciplinary Journal of Economics and Social Affairs”, published in 2018, as well as “Socio-economic impact of the 2002 political-military conflict in Côte d’Ivoire”. In 2015, he published “Youth in West Africa, a potential for building”; and in 2012, a book entitled “Emerging from underdevelopment: what new paths for West Africa? (Volume 1) Historical aspects, institutions and integration.

He has also received several distinctions, including that of Officer of the Ivorian Order of Merit in 2019, winner of the CODESRIA Prize for Research on Civil Society and AIDS in 2003, the Prize for Excellence in Economics from the University of Abidjan in 2000 and the Prize for Excellence for the best doctoral thesis in economics from the University of Abidjan in 2018. Dr Kalilou SYLLA is fluent in French and English. He has a basic knowledge of Portuguese and Spanish.

– on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

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Seychelles participates in the 24th Republic of Seychelles participated in the 24th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit in Nairobi, Kenya

Source: APO – Report:

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The Republic of Seychelles participated in the 24th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit of Heads of State and Government, held from 7 to 9 October 2025 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya. The Seychelles delegation was led by Mr. Conrad Mederic, Permanent Representative to the African Union and Non-Resident Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles accredited to Kenya. He was accompanied by Ms. Trisha Hoareau, Second Secretary from the Department of Foreign Affairs of Seychelles.

During the Summit, H.E. Dr. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, officially assumed the Chairmanship of COMESA, taking over from H.E. Mr. Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi. The symbolic handover was marked by the presentation of the COMESA gavel, signifying the transfer of leadership.

The Summit was convened under the theme: “Leveraging Digitalisation to Deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth’’. Discussions emphasised improving access to markets and strengthening regional and global value chains. In addition to economic discussions, the Heads of State reviewed the outcomes of the 20th Meeting of the COMESA Committee on Peace and Security, convened virtually from 29 to 30 September 2025, underscoring the importance of peace and stability as prerequisites for sustainable economic development.

During the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 8 October 2025, Ambassador Mederic provided an update on Seychelles’ ongoing Presidential elections, following the first round held on 27th September. He reaffirmed the country’s commitment to democratic principles and constitutional processes. He also expressed the Government’s appreciation to the COMESA Secretariat for the pre-election assessment conducted in July, and to the COMESA-AU observer mission for their continued support throughout the electoral processes.

The next Summit will be held in Harare, Zimbabwe in 2026.

– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Republic of Seychelles.