Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO – Report:

Strengthening families and giving young people hope emerged as key areas of discussion as President Dr Patrick Herminie received a delegation on Tuesday from the Seventh-day Adventist Mission for a courtesy call at State House.

The delegation was led by Pastor Ntep Ntep, President of the Seventh-day Adventist Mission, accompanied by Pastor Theophile Tefison, Executive Secretary; Mr Hugh Watts, Chief Financial Officer; and Mr Garry Woodcock, a theology student preparing for pastoral ministry.

Discussions focused largely on the role strong families can play in addressing some of the social challenges affecting Seychelles, particularly drug abuse, and on how the Church can complement national efforts through prevention, family support and community-based initiatives.

Among the initiatives discussed was the establishment of a Family Centre in Seychelles. The proposed centre would provide support to families and contribute towards strengthening the family as a core foundation of society, while placing greater emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

The delegation also highlighted its work with families and communities, including initiatives on Praslin and La Digue, and expressed its willingness to work alongside the government in areas where the Church’s experience and community presence could make a difference.

President Herminie welcomed the proposed collaboration, noting that the drug situation remains a serious concern and requires different sectors of society to work side by side. He stressed that efforts must continue to address demand reduction while ensuring that young people are given positive alternatives, role models and a sense of hope for their future.

“Tackling drug abuse can no longer be limited to simply telling young people not to use drugs. Greater attention must be placed on creating an environment in which young people can see opportunities ahead of them and have the support needed to make positive choices,” said the President.

For his part, Pastor Ntep Ntep said strengthening the family must remain at the core of efforts to address the social challenges affecting communities. He explained that the proposed Family Centre would provide a space dedicated to supporting and empowering families, while promoting stronger family relationships and helping to address problems before they escalate.

Pastor Ntep also highlighted the importance of perseverance and prevention in tackling drug abuse, stressing that the Church is prepared to work alongside the government and other partners in this effort.

The meeting also explored how the government and the Seventh-day Adventist Mission could support each other’s efforts, with President Herminie encouraging the delegation to identify practical areas in which the Church could contribute to the country’s broader social agenda.

With a short prayer, the meeting concluded, and the delegation offered a blessing for President Herminie.

– on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO – Report:

Two of the new hubs will be established in Ntungamo and Bushenyi districts in the Ankole sub-region, while the third will be constructed in Kalangala District to serve young people in the island district.

The expansion follows concerns from regional leaders over stiff competition for the limited training opportunities available at existing Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs.

State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye announced the development on Monday, August 24, 2026, during stakeholder engagements at the Ankole Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub and the Greater Masaka Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub.

The Ankole Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub currently serves 17 administrative units, including districts, municipalities and a city, creating intense competition for the available training slots.

Ms. Barekye said some administrative units receive an average of only 14 slots per intake, compared with more than 25 slots allocated to some other zones.

She noted that the establishment of additional hubs is expected to ease pressure on existing centres and enable more young people to acquire practical skills that can improve their employment and income prospects.

In Greater Masaka, the new hub in Kalangala is expected to address the unique challenges faced by young people in the island district, particularly the difficulties and costs associated with travelling to mainland training centres.

The existing Greater Masaka Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub serves 10 administrative units. Once the Kalangala facility is established, the administrative units will be shared between the two centres, with each hub serving five administrative units.

According to Ms. Barekye, the construction of the three facilities will commence once the respective local governments identify and formally provide suitable land for the projects.

The Director of Presidential Projects and Industrial Hubs at State House, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, said the expansion will also be accompanied by the introduction of new vocational courses.

On the directive of President Museveni, four additional courses are being introduced: weaving and knitting, plumbing, electrical installation and electrical wiring.

The new courses are intended to broaden the range of practical skills available to beneficiaries and equip young people with competencies that can be applied directly in the labour market or used to establish small businesses.

The State House also relaxed admission requirements for vulnerable young people who do not possess National Identification Cards.

Eng. Kamugisha said applicants without National IDs can now present recommendation letters from their respective LC1 chairpersons and be admitted while efforts are made to help them acquire the required identification documents.

The measure is aimed at ensuring that a lack of national identification does not prevent vulnerable young people from accessing skills training.

Meanwhile, Eng. Kamugisha further raised concerns over the low uptake of SACCO loans by graduates of the skilling programme, despite funds being made available to help beneficiaries establish income-generating activities.

He urged graduates to take advantage of the available financing opportunities and translate the skills acquired through the programme into sustainable businesses and employment.

Greater Masaka Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub Chairperson, Mr. Rodgers Bulegeya called for an increase in enrolment, proposing that the number of beneficiaries be raised from the current 24 young people per district to 100.

Mr. Bulegeya said the growing demand for vocational training demonstrates the need for the government to expand both the number of training centres and the number of beneficiaries admitted in each intake.

The proposed hubs in Ntungamo, Bushenyi and Kalangala are expected to reduce pressure on existing centres while bringing vocational training closer to vulnerable young people who might otherwise struggle to access such opportunities.

The expansion reinforces the government’s focus on practical skills development as a pathway to youth employment, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.

– on behalf of State House Uganda.

Source: APO

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On the occasion of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), I extend my sincere greetings to the Egyptian people and the Arab and Muslim nations, praying to Almighty Allah to return this noble occasion upon all with goodness, prosperity, and blessings.

We draw inspiration from the life of our noble Prophet (PBUH), embracing the values of compassion, love, and tolerance to foster a spirit of solidarity and build a more cohesive society.

May Almighty Allah continue the recurrence of this commemoration.

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

Source: APO

Implementation of road projects under the Ministry of Works and Transport has stalled due to challenges in land acquisition and insufficient counterpart funding.

According to the Undersecretary (Finance and Administration), Barbara Mugambe, the two factors require substantial amounts of resources, which has prompted the ministry to align its borrowing towards funds for civil works separate from funds for land acquisition.

She commended Parliament’s efforts in approving loans for transport infrastructure projects but noted that the ministry does not have adequate resources to cater for all projects.

“Government has moved to change that trajectory, which is why we are borrowing money for civil works as well as money for land acquisition under the 127km Jinja-Mbulamuti-Kamuli-Mukungu road and 10km of Jinja City roads. This will help us to curb shortages regarding land acquisition,” Mugambe said.

She revealed this during an interface with the Committee on National Economy where the ministry presented a report on the status of all externally funded projects.

The report indicated that projects including the 23.7km Busega-Mpigi Expressway, 191km Rwenkunye-Apac-Lira-Puranga road and improvement of 11.45km of national roads in refugee hosting areas of West Nile sub-region were encumbered by delayed land acquisition caused by inadequate budget allocation and ownership disputes.

For projects like the 92km Kampala-Jinja Expressway Project, only 4,519 project affected persons (PAPs) out of 16,000 have been compensated to a tune of Shs502.9 billion.

“Out of the outstanding balance, the ministry has been provided with Shs338 billion for the Financial Year 2026/2027,” reads the report in part.

The report also indicated that implementation of the Bukasa Port Development Project valued at Euros50 million, is faced with a challenge of project affected persons that have failed to vacate the area until they are given land to resettle as promised by the President in 2023.

The Committee Chairperson, Hon. Jane Avur noted that continued delays on transport infrastructure projects are straining their financing.

“Why do the technocrats in the ministry push for projects for financing when you know that the critical things that should be prioritised, have not been done. Why do you want to get finances first and then work backwards,” Avur queried.

Hon. David Okwere (NRM, Bukedea County) raised concerns over 13 road works that have been abandoned adding that some roads that have been developed do not last up to their projected lifespan.

“We have discovered that many roads are being damaged by heavy cargo trailers. The Ministry of Works established weigh bridges and I want to know if they work or not. How well do you supervise implementation of these projects?” Okwere asked.

Gulu City Woman Representative, Hon. Betty Aol urged the ministry to promote the Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) policy.

“When are we going to start involving local contractors in some of these projects and build their capacity?” Aol asked.

Eng. Isaac Wani, the Commissioner in charge of National Roads explained that design reviews impact on project timelines, noting that they are undertaken in the period between completion of the project design and acquisition of funds for construction.

“For example, design for the Nebbi-Goli road was completed in 2019 but funds came in 2025, which means we spent nine years looking for funds for construction. If a design delays for five years, it will have to be updated because characteristics like traffic-usage have changed overtime,” Wani said.

He added that externally funded projects are based on development partner procurement guidelines which do not often support the BUBU policy adding that local contractors are hired under government funded projects.

On concerns over abandoned projects, Wani explained that these transitioned from the former Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) during the rationalisation process to the Ministry.

“The Ministry of Works and Transport presented papers to Ministry of Finance and we managed to get supplementary funding, so most of these projects have resumed and works are ongoing. The main issue was that contractors had not been paid, but this has since been resolved,” he said.

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

Source: APO – Report:

Africa’s mining sector is entering a new investment cycle, driven by growing demand for critical minerals, efforts to expand domestic processing and a push to develop the infrastructure needed to move projects from discovery to production. As governments revise mining codes and seek greater local value creation, the legal and regulatory frameworks underpinning these projects are becoming increasingly important to investors.

That dynamic will be explored at African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, taking place in Cape Town from October 14–16, where legal and advisory specialists will join industry leaders to examine how regulatory frameworks, financing structures and strategic partnerships can accelerate mineral development.

As part of the “Accelerating Mineral Production: The Energy, Water & Waste Nexus” panel, Iyunola Adekanye, Partner at Dentons, and Ope Osinubi, Senior Associate at Clifford Chance, are expected to discuss the legal and policy considerations shaping investment across Africa’s mining value chain. The session comes as mining companies and governments increasingly look beyond resource development itself to address the energy, water and infrastructure constraints that can determine whether projects reach production.

Dentons has been expanding its mining and natural resources capabilities as activity grows across Africa’s critical minerals sector. In June 2026, the firm opened a new office in Kolwezi, the mining hub of the DRC, strengthening its presence in one of the continent’s most important copper and cobalt markets. The move gives the firm a closer base from which to support mining companies and investors navigating the DRC’s regulatory environment, transactions and project development.

The expansion comes as the DRC seeks to attract greater investment into exploration, mining and downstream processing while increasing the domestic value captured from its mineral resources. Dentons’ wider African mining practice spans 17 countries and provides legal support across mining transactions, regulatory matters, project development and investment, reflecting the increasingly cross-border nature of Africa’s mineral supply chains.

Clifford Chance, meanwhile, advises mining companies, financiers and strategic investors on transactions spanning project finance, acquisitions, infrastructure and resource development. Its work across Africa includes advising financial institutions such as Deutsche Bank, the African Development Bank, Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement, Standard Bank and Stanbic IBTC Bank on financing transactions supporting infrastructure and resource-sector development.

The firm has also advised on major energy and mining-related financings, including a $250 million financing for Aradel Energy in Nigeria, highlighting the growing intersection between resource development, energy infrastructure and access to capital.

At AMW 2026, Adekanye and Osinubi will examine how stronger regulatory frameworks and well-structured partnerships can help reduce investment risk, mobilize capital and address the infrastructure gaps holding back mineral production.

As Africa seeks to move further up the mineral value chain, the ability to align government policy, investor protections, financing structures and infrastructure development will be critical. The discussion at AMW 2026 will highlight the legal architecture behind that investment push – and the role advisors can play in turning ambitious mining strategies into bankable projects.

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO – Report:

Integrated energy solutions company Lindsayca has been confirmed as Exclusive Sponsor of the Cocktail Reception at the Caribbean Energy Week (CEW) 2027 in-country launch, taking place in Georgetown on September 1, 2026.

Hosted at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, the launch will bring together government officials, energy companies, investors, financiers and regional stakeholders to examine Guyana’s rapidly expanding energy project pipeline and its growing influence on the wider Caribbean energy market. Discussions will focus on the opportunities emerging across the country’s oil and gas sector, gas-to-power infrastructure and broader energy value chain, while considering how Guyana’s development can contribute to greater regional energy security and integration.

Lindsayca’s participation comes at a significant point in Guyana’s energy development, with the country advancing major projects aimed at translating its growing hydrocarbon resources into reliable domestic energy supply and wider economic value. The reception will provide an opportunity for Lindsayca to engage with policymakers, investors, project developers and industry leaders participating in the launch.

Nelson Drake, Board Director and Senior Vice President of Business Development at Lindsayca, is confirmed to speak at the launch, bringing the company’s perspective on Guyana’s evolving energy infrastructure landscape and the opportunities emerging across the wider Caribbean market.

Lindsayca is currently developing Guyana’s 300 MW gas-fired power plant and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility at Wales under the country’s landmark Gas-to-Energy (GTE) program. In June 2026, the project entered its final phase, with engineers preparing the facility to receive natural gas and begin the commissioning process. Electricity generation is targeted for December 2026. Once operational, the facility is expected to approximately double Guyana’s electricity-generation capacity, marking a major milestone in the country’s energy transformation.

The company’s regional portfolio extends beyond Guyana, with energy infrastructure projects across the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Argentina and the Gulf of Mexico. In the Dominican Republic, Lindsayca is advancing the Manzanillo Power Land project, a more than 400-MW combined-cycle thermal power plant. The project is progressing toward completion of its combined-cycle phase, with turbine works, heat recovery steam generator installation, piping, structural works and testing advancing as part of the development program.

The Georgetown launch will serve as a precursor to the main Caribbean Energy Week, taking place in Guyana from July 13–15, 2027. Held under the patronage of Guyana’s President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and with the endorsement of Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat, CEW 2027 will spotlight Guyana’s emergence as a major energy hub and examine its growing role in shaping the Caribbean’s energy future. The event is organized by Energy Capital & Power.

To register for the Caribbean Energy Week 2027 In-Country Launch in Georgetown on September 1, 2026, visit: https://apo-opa.co/4gD94HE

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO – Report:

On a slightly overcast Thursday morning, a convoy of 14 UNMISS vehicles leaves Juba. Led by Nepalese peacekeepers and carrying military advisers, UN Police and civilian staff, the patrol team is heading to Sokare in Liwolo payam – the first UNMISS road mission to the area in three years.

This is where more than 35,000 displaced people have sought shelter after fleeing their homes near the border following recent border clashes in Kajo Keji.

The objective is straightforward: meet displaced families and local authorities, assess the security situation and urgent needs, and bring back recommendations for the Government, humanitarian partners and UNMISS leadership in Juba.

Getting there, however, is anything but straightforward.

About an hour outside Juba, the convoy leaves the main Juba-Yei road and turns onto a narrow track heading south.

Four months into the rainy season, the road has been badly damaged. Its rocky surface is carved with deep ruts. Loose rocks and boulders are scattered across the track, while deep, muddy craters can only be navigated in four-wheel drive.

The radio crackles. The convoy stops. One of the vehicles is stuck.

Its engine whines in low gear as the driver tries to free a wheel wedged between two boulders. Inside the tilted vehicle, he struggles to see clearly. Outside, a colleague stands on a large boulder and guides him as he moves the vehicle slowly back and forth, trying to get out of the rut.

Eventually, the vehicle gets through.

About an hour later, another vehicle develops a brake problem. Everyone gets out and waits while the brake pads are replaced. Another hour passes.

The convoy continues slowly, climbing and descending the rough track. The vehicles hit rocks along the way, their rear bumpers clanging as they move through the forests of Central Equatoria.

After 10 hours on the road, the patrol stops for the night and sets up camp in Kaya, near the White Nile.

The following day, after another six hours on the road, the convoy reaches Kajo Keji and heads to the office of the County Commissioner, Wani Jackson Mule.

“Currently, everyone is safe in Sokare,” says Commissioner Mule. “But we don’t have the capacity to provide them with food and non-food items, and we seek humanitarian support.”

He tells the UNMISS team that the International Committee of the Red Cross and UNHCR have provided assistance, but that the needs of the displaced families are greater than what is currently available.

That evening, the team sets up camp in Kajo Keji town. Early the next morning, they leave again.

“We left Juba on Thursday, and it took us almost 17 hours to cover 140 kilometres to Kajo Keji. That’s two days on the road, and this morning we are headed to Sokare, which is four hours away. We were hoping to make it sooner, but this is the reality,” says Col. Clarke Brown, the senior UN military adviser leading the mission.

Around midday on the third day, the patrol reaches the Episcopal Diocese of Liwolo in Sokare Payam, where about 1,000 families are sheltering.

The team meets with Bishop Joseph Aba, one of the first humanitarians to open the church’s doors to displaced families. He briefs them on the conditions facing the people sheltering there.

The UNMISS team then speaks with mothers and other displaced people.

“We have food and crops at home that we cannot harvest again this year. The church has been kind to accommodate us, but we lack food and health services, and my children have missed school for more than five weeks,” says Kila Grace Simon, a displaced mother of five.

Other families raise similar concerns, including food, healthcare, shelter and education.

The team also meets local officials and the Brigadier General of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces to discuss the security situation.

After two hours of interviews and interactions, the patrol begins the journey back to Kajo Keji, tired but happy that their findings will help garner the support needed by displaced families.

– on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Source: APO

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Mozambique has reached a major milestone in strengthening the regulation of medicines and imported vaccines, with its national regulatory authority recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having a stable, well-functioning and integrated regulatory system.

The Autoridade Nacional Reguladora de Medicamentos de Moçambique (ANARME) has achieved Maturity Level 3 (ML3) for the regulation of medicines and imported vaccines under WHO’s global classification of national regulatory authorities.

Mozambique becomes the 10th country in Africa to reach ML3, joining Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe and marking further momentum in strengthening regulatory systems across the region.

For people in Mozambique, stronger regulation means greater assurance that medicines and vaccines are appropriately evaluated for quality, safety and efficacy and monitored throughout their lifecycle. It also strengthens the country’s ability to identify and respond to safety concerns and substandard or falsified products, while supporting timely access to quality-assured health products.

“Mozambique’s achievement is the result of sustained investment in regulatory capacity that will deliver crucial benefits for public health,” said Dr Sylvie Briand, WHO Chief Scientist and Assistant Director-General a.i. for Health Systems, Access and Data. “Strong regulatory systems protect people, build confidence in health products and help countries respond more effectively to evolving public health needs and challenges. Mozambique’s progress also contributes to advancing regulatory capacity across Africa and promoting more equitable access to safe and quality-assured medicines and vaccines.”

Building a stronger regulatory system

Mozambique’s achievement follows years of sustained efforts to build the institutions and capabilities needed for effective regulation.

WHO worked closely with ANARME throughout this process, assessing the national regulatory system and supporting the authority in addressing identified gaps and strengthening priority areas.

WHO evaluates national regulatory systems using its Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT), which assesses the regulatory functions required to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of medical products. These include registration and marketing authorization, licensing, market surveillance and control, pharmacovigilance, regulatory inspection, laboratory testing and oversight of clinical trials, as applicable.

WHO’s maturity levels range from 1 to 4. Reaching ML3 confirms a stable, well-functioning and integrated regulatory system, while ML4 represents an advanced system focused on continuous improvement.

Benefits for Mozambique and the African continent

An ML3 regulatory system can support more timely and predictable regulatory decisions, reinforce safety monitoring and help ensure that health products entering and remaining on the market meet appropriate standards.

It also creates greater opportunities for regulatory cooperation and reliance – approaches that help authorities make use of the work and decisions of trusted regulators, reduce unnecessary duplication and allocate limited resources more efficiently, while maintaining rigorous standards for quality, safety and efficacy.

As the first Portuguese-speaking country in Africa to reach ML3, Mozambique’s experience can also contribute to strengthening regulatory systems and fostering greater cooperation, knowledge sharing and reliance among Portuguese-speaking countries and across the African continent. Its achievement further reinforces a more connected African regulatory ecosystem, providing a solid foundation on which the newly established African Medicines Agency can build to advance regulatory convergence and cooperation across the region.

Strengthening confidence in regulatory recognition

Mozambique’s achievement comes as WHO strengthens the process through which the performance of national regulatory systems is recognized.

The newly established Technical Advisory Group on Regulatory Systems Strengthening (TAG-RSS) brings together independent international experts to advise WHO on whether recommendations concerning regulatory authorities reaching ML3 and ML4 and WHO-Listed Authorities, are supported by the findings of WHO evaluation processes. Its recommendations provide an additional level of independent assurance, strengthening the impartiality, transparency and credibility of WHO’s recognition process.

Mozambique is among the first countries to achieve ML3 following consideration and recommendation by the TAG-RSS.

As part of the same TAG-RSS process, South Africa was recommended to retain its ML3 status for the regulation of vaccines manufactured, imported or distributed in the country, following an additional WHO assessment. This extends the recognition first granted in 2022 and underscores the sustained performance of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).

The two recognitions highlight continued progress in strengthening regulatory systems across Africa, as well as the importance of continued performance, improvement and assessment in sustaining regulatory maturity.

WHO will continue working with ANARME and SAHPRA to sustain these gains and support continuous improvement as science, technologies and public health needs evolve.

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