Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO – Report:

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Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Félix Tshisekedi.

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, stated that the reception ceremony included the guard of honor salute to President Tshisekedi, the playing of the national anthems of both countries, and a commemorative photo session. This was followed by a bilateral meeting between President El-Sisi and President Tshisekedi, then an expanded session of talks attended by the delegations of both countries, and a luncheon hosted by President El-Sisi in honor of President Tshisekedi and his accompanying delegation.

President El-Sisi welcomed President Tshisekedi on his fourth visit to Egypt in recent years, reflecting the depth and distinction of Egyptian-Congolese relations. The President praised the momentum witnessed in bilateral cooperation between the two brotherly countries.

President El-Sisi also congratulated President Tshisekedi on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of the independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which falls at the end of the current month.

For his part, the Congolese president expressed his appreciation for the warm reception he always receives during his visits to Egypt, affirming his country’s gratitude for Egypt’s support in various fields. President Tshisekedi also praised President El-Sisi’s keenness to strengthen relations with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as Egypt’s efforts to promote peace across Africa in general and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in particular.

The two presidents discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations between Egypt and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. President El-Sisi stressed the need to continue efforts to boost trade exchange and investments between the two countries, emphasizing the importance of convening the Joint Committee and establishing implementation programs and mechanisms to monitor progress in bilateral cooperation across areas of mutual interest.

President El-Sisi also highlighted the extensive expertise of Egyptian companies, particularly in the fields of energy and infrastructure, expressing Egypt’s readiness to support the Democratic Republic of the Congo in all sectors.

President El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s full support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, noting Egypt’s constructive engagement in supporting international and regional efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability in eastern Congo, including through the full implementation of the Washington and Doha agreements.

In this context, the Congolese president expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s constructive role, while President El-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s constant readiness to exert every necessary effort to bring positions closer together, end the ongoing conflict, and address its humanitarian repercussions.

The two presidents further discussed developments in cooperation among Nile Basin countries, stressing the need to respect international law governing transboundary international rivers. In this regard, President Tshisekedi praised Egypt’s consensus-oriented approach and its support for the development aspirations of Nile Basin countries, emphasizing his country’s keenness to maintain and foster coordination with Egypt on this matter.

Following the talks, the two Presidents witnessed the signing of a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding. Then, they held a joint press conference, during which President El-Sisi delivered an official speech.

– on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Source: APO – Report:

President Isaias and his delegation, who are on an official visit to Egypt, yesterday visited a number of industrial plants and logistics facilities in the Greater Cairo and Suez zones.

The visit by President Isaias and his delegation included Gyto Pharma, the Suez Canal Industrial Zone, a cement and steel factory, Egypt’s Basic Industrial Corporation, as well as Ain Sokhna Port Terminal.

Upon visiting the industrial plants and logistics facilities, President Isaias and his delegation were provided briefings by authorities and managers of the institutions focusing on the objectives, vision, economic significance, and type and scale of production of the facilities, supported by video and photo presentations. They also expressed readiness to cooperate and work in partnership with Eritrea, as well as to contribute to capacity development and technology transfer.

The plants and facilities that President Isaias and his delegation visited are engaged in producing different types of medicines, solar energy systems supported by robotic technology, steel and cement for construction and other purposes, chemical fertilizers, as well as putting in place port and logistics service infrastructure.

President Isaias and his delegation also today made a tour of the new Administrative Capital in Cairo Governorate and various public service pavilions and infrastructure projects under construction. He also held discussions with project managers focusing on the prospects for future cooperation in the sectors.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

Venezuela Energy Week (VEW) 2026 is set to become a focal point for how the country’s hydrocarbons reforms are translating from policy into practice, as government stakeholders, PDVSA and international operators work to define the practical routes for investment entry into the oil and gas sector. With reforms now moving into implementation, attention is shifting from regulatory design toward the mechanisms that will determine how participation is structured, financed and sustained.

Venezuela’s current framework is being operationalized through a limited set of established and negotiated channels, including participation in PDVSA joint ventures, crude-backed repayment structures and production-linked agreements tied to existing oilfields. International operators such as Chevron, for instance, remain active within existing joint venture structures, including Petropiar in the Orinoco Belt and Petroboscán in western Zulia, which continue to underpin production and export activity under PDVSA-led arrangements.

Alongside joint venture activity, crude-based repayment mechanisms are becoming an increasingly important financial pathway for foreign participation. These arrangements – including crude-for-debt structures and production-linked repayment agreements – allow international partners to recover value through physical oil cargoes or allocated output rather than conventional financial transfers.

Companies such as Repsol and Eni have operated within similar frameworks, where repayment structures effectively shape cash flow recovery, exposure management and the timing of capital return. However, these mechanisms continue to operate under constraints, including delayed settlements, non-standard payment schedules and ongoing uncertainty around contract enforcement, all of which continue to weigh on long-term reinvestment planning. VEW 2026 will help stakeholders assess how these frameworks can be refined to improve predictability, strengthen implementation and support more scalable and sustained investment participation.

Beyond hydrocarbons, Venezuela is beginning to open selective pathways in the power sector. Recent policy discussions and incremental reforms have pointed toward greater private participation in electricity generation, alongside early-stage efforts to improve operational efficiency across the grid and expand space for independent power producers. While still in a gradual phase of liberalization, these developments suggest an additional entry point for international and regional investors, particularly in generation, infrastructure rehabilitation and distributed energy solutions.

As reforms progress, VEW 2026 will serve as a key platform for aligning policy intent with operational realities, bringing together public and private stakeholders to assess how existing mechanisms are functioning in practice and where adjustments may be needed. Key issues such as payment timing, contractual enforcement and risk allocation remain central to the investment environment, shaping whether current frameworks can support scalable reinvestment or remain limited to sustaining baseline production. Beyond policy direction, the event will help clarify investment entry points and how capital can be deployed across both hydrocarbons and emerging power sector opportunities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO

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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has assured the World Health Organization (WHO) of Uganda’s continued commitment and preparedness to contain the ongoing Ebola outbreak, emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation and swift public health interventions to prevent the spread of the disease.

The President made the remarks today during a meeting with the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at State House Entebbe. The meeting was also attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Health and the WHO Uganda Country Office. President Museveni informed the WHO delegation that Uganda remains vigilant and has put in place robust measures to contain the outbreak within its borders while also working closely with neighboring countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where some of the
cases have originated.

The President revealed that he had already held productive discussions with the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, H.E. Félix Tshisekedi, on strengthening collaboration between the two countries to limit the cross-border spread of Ebola. “We have been engaging our counterparts in the DRC to ensure that we work together in addressing this challenge” President Museveni noted.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, briefed the meeting on the current status of the outbreak, stating that Uganda is presently managing nineteen confirmed Ebola cases. According to Dr. Atwine, fourteen of the nineteen cases involve members of the same family who entered Uganda from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She, however, reported encouraging progress in the containment efforts, noting that no new Ebola case had been registered in the previous three days.

“Our surveillance and response teams remain fully engaged. We continue to monitor contacts, strengthen screening measures, and ensure that all suspected cases are promptly identified and managed,” Dr. Atwine said. She further disclosed that the Ministry of Health had identified four strategic locations within the Democratic Republic of Congo, close to the Uganda-DRC border, where medical camps would be established to support local health authorities in managing Ebola cases.

The proposed treatment and response centers are intended to serve communities near the border and reduce the number of Ebola patients crossing into Uganda in search of treatment. Dr. Atwine explained that many Congolese patients have increasingly sought treatment in Uganda due to the confidence they have developed in Uganda’s ability to effectively manage epidemics and public health emergencies. The Minister of Health, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, highlighted the significance of the initiative, saying it would strengthen cross-border disease control efforts and help address the outbreak closer to its source.

Dr. Baryomunsi noted that establishing treatment facilities within the DRC would significantly reduce cross-border movement of Ebola patients while supporting local response efforts. President Museveni welcomed the proposal and advised that the treatment centers be established as close to the border as possible to effectively serve vulnerable populations.

“It should be near the border, not far inside the DRC, because we are targeting those who are trying to escape and seek treatment elsewhere,” the President advised. The President also highlighted the difficult but necessary decision by the government to suspend this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo, one of the country’s largest annual religious gatherings.

The annual event typically attracts more than three million pilgrims and visitors from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, West Africa, and other parts of the world. President Museveni said suspending the celebrations was an important public health measure aimed at preventing a possible surge in infections. Dr. Tedros commended Uganda for taking decisive action, describing the suspension of the Martyrs Day celebrations as a courageous and responsible decision.

“Thank you for stopping the Martyrs Day celebrations. It was going to be a super-spreader event,” Dr. Tedros told President Museveni.

The WHO Director-General praised Uganda’s leadership and the country’s proven capacity to respond effectively to public health emergencies, citing its experience in handling previous Ebola outbreaks and other infectious diseases.

He pledged the World Health Organization’s continued support through financial resources, logistics, technical expertise, and additional personnel to strengthen Uganda’s response efforts.

Dr. Tedros further welcomed Uganda’s innovative approach of extending support beyond its borders by establishing treatment facilities near affected communities in the DRC. He also encouraged President Museveni to continue engaging President Tshisekedi and other regional leaders in coordinated efforts to address the outbreak and prevent its spread across the region. The meeting underscored the strong partnership between Uganda and the World Health Organization in safeguarding public health and demonstrated a shared commitment to strengthening regional
preparedness, surveillance, and response mechanisms against Ebola.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Republic of Uganda – Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Source: APO

Nineteen ministers have taken Oaths of Allegiance and of Member of Parliament following their approval by the Appointments Committee. 
The 19 ministers are ex-officio Members of Parliament who do not represent any constituencies but were appointed as ministers by the President.

The ministers took oath on Wednesday, 10 June 2026 at a House sitting chaired by Speaker, Jacob Marksons Oboth.

The process of taking oath is governed in accordance with Rule 3 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, which provides that:
“No Member shall take his or her seat in Parliament before taking and subscribing to the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of a Member of Parliament specified in the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution”.

However, under Article 78(4) of the Constitution, ex officio members do not have the right to vote on any issue requiring a decision of Parliament.

Among those sworn in was Hon. Sanjay Tanna, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, who will head Trade Ministry. While administering the oaths,  Oboth noted that much was expected from Tanna in advancing Uganda’s trade and industrialisation agenda.

The other ministers who took oath were, Hon. Sam Mayanja (Attorney General), Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka who takes the Minister of Defence docket.

The others were Hon. Balaam Barugahara (Local Government), Hon. Cissy Mulondo (State Minister for Finance), Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba (Information, Communication Technology and National Guidance), Hon. Monica Musenero (Energy and Mineral Development) and Hon. Tom Butime ( Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities).
The ceremony formally enables the ministers to discharge their duties in Parliament, including presenting government business, responding to matters raised by Members and participating in debates.

In a related development, the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi presented a 30-member Shadow Cabinet to oversee and scrutinise the work of the Cabinet.

The appointment of the Shadow Cabinet is provided for under Rule 15(2) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament. 
“The Leader of the Opposition shall, in consultation with his or her party leadership, appoint a shadow cabinet from Members of the opposition in Parliament to provide alternative policy and administration,” the rule states.

The Shadow Cabinet includes among others, Hon. Harriet Nakwedde Deputy Opposition Whip and Minister for Presidency; Hon. Erias Nalukoola as Shadow Attorney General; Hon. Hassan Kaps Fungaroo as Shadow Minister for Security, Hon. Joseph Ssewungu, Shadow Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs and Hon. Eugenia Nassolo (Shadow Minister for Cooperatives and Microfinance). 

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