Category: MIL-OSI

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Seychelles: Ambassador Cillia Mangroo presents credentials to the Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva

Source: APO


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Ambassador Cillia Mangroo, formally presented her credentials as Permanent Representative of the Republic of Seychelles to the United Nations (UN) Office in Geneva to Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva, during a ceremony held on Monday 8th September 2025.

On this occasion, Ambassador Mangroo and Director-General Valovaya discussed a range of key issues aligned with Seychelles’ national priorities and the broader United Nations Agenda, including climate change financing, women’s representation on the global stage, trade, sustainability of development goals and human rights issues.

Director-General Valovaya commended Seychelles for the importance it places on achieving the Sustainable Development Agenda and acknowledged the country’s leadership in conservation and sustainability, remarking at Seychelles’ achievement of being one of the leading nations in these efforts.

Since joining the United Nations as its 145th member on 1st September 1976, Seychelles has remained a proud and active participant in the international community, consistently advocating for equitable, sustainable and inclusive development. Ambassador Mangroo reaffirmed Seychelles’ commitment to constructive dialogue and meaningful collaboration within the UN system.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Republic of Seychelles.

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Democratic Republic of the Congo: Visiting Ituri, Jean-Pierre Lacroix pleads for concrete actions in favor of peace

Source: APO

Visiting the Ituri province on Saturday, September 6, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to supporting efforts aimed at returning lasting peace to this region scarred by many years of armed violence.

Upon his early morning arrival in Bunia, the provincial capital, Jean-Pierre Lacroix went to Fataki in the territory of Djugu. There, he met with local authorities, representatives of local communities, civil society as well as the displaced persons committee of Djaiba. Everywhere, the message from populations was the same: an urgent call for the return of peace and the acceleration of the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization Program (P-DDRCS), considered the key to lasting peace. “We want the return of peace to end our suffering,” repeated the displaced persons, whose number exceeds one and a half million in Ituri.

Recognition towards MONUSCO

Traditional chiefs praised the efforts of MONUSCO Blue Helmets who contribute to civilian protection and securing the most exposed zones. They also highlighted the importance of community projects supported by the Mission, allowing alternatives to be offered to young people tempted to join armed groups.

Support that the provincial governor, General Johnny Luboya, also recognized during his meeting with Jean-Pierre Lacroix in Bunia. “If we still hold this province today, it’s also thanks to and with the support of MONUSCO,” he declared, evoking an “excellent” collaboration between the Congolese army and the UN force.

Visible Results

According to Jean-Pierre Lacroix, several joint operations conducted by FARDC and MONUSCO have helped slow the advance of certain militias. In parallel, dialogues within and between communities, organized with the Mission’s support, have led to the signing of commitment acts for cessation of hostilities. In certain zones of Irumu and Djugu, these initiatives have allowed the progressive return of thousands of displaced persons to their original villages.

In Djugu, hundreds of thousands of people continue however to live in camps installed near MONUSCO military bases, symbol of the confidence they place in the UN presence. They took advantage of the peace chief’s visit to request reinforcement of the security apparatus in the territory.

“Expressing the International Community’s Recognition”

Jean-Pierre Lacroix wanted to pay tribute to all actors engaged in the province’s stabilization: “I came to Fataki to express the international community’s recognition to MONUSCO’s civilian and military personnel, as well as to all humanitarian actors mobilized in Ituri,” he declared.

The senior UN official promised to plead with Congolese authorities for concrete actions to be taken in favor of truly lasting peace. According to him, the success of this process depends on close collaboration between local authorities and the UN Mission. “Cooperation, trust, solidarity and synergy between MONUSCO and provincial authorities are indispensable assets for the return of peace in Ituri,” he insisted.

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

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Reforms Fueling Egypt’s Mining Sector Growth

Source: APO


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Egypt has adopted new initiatives to enhance the attractiveness of its mining sector to global investors and increase the industry’s contribution to GDP to 6% by 2030. As exploration, production, monetization and value addition of Egypt’s mineral resources accelerates, the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) will serve as a crucial platform to showcase lucrative opportunities within the mining value chain.

AMW will host Karim Badawi, Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in the Ministerial Forum, where he is expected to showcase policies transforming the country’s extractive industry. Minister Badawi will also participate in a fireside chat, titled From Policy to Practice: Implementing Egypt’s Vision for Mineral Beneficiation, where he also anticipated to highlight efforts to position the country as a leading global mining investment destination.

Industry Digitalization

Egypt is digitalizing and modernizing its mining sector services to improve operational efficiency and transparency. In June 2025, the country launched a pilot Track License Portal (https://apo-opa.co/4gg6Rkv), a unified electronic platform aimed at streamlining investors’ access to licenses and approvals through a single platform. The initiative aims to reduce license issuance time to a maximum of 20 days. Egypt is also planning the rollout of a dedicated Digital Mining Platform (https://apo-opa.co/4nrRyYB) in 2025 to simplify investors’ access to prospective mining opportunities.

Sustainable Resource Management

A new law introduced in 2025 transformed the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority into the independent Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority (EMRA) (https://apo-opa.co/4mZA1qM). The aim is to ensure sustainable management of mineral resources and partnerships with global investors. EMRA is expected to cut red tape for licenses and permits while enhancing the mining sector’s commercial operations. The approved law grants EMRA greater financial and managerial independence, allowing it to operate with enhanced commercial flexibility, manage its own budgets and invest in critical infrastructure.

Investor-Friendly Fiscal Regime

The application of the Model Mining Exploitation Agreement (MMEA) framework – introduced in 2023 – is enabling Egypt to shift away from the traditional profit-sharing agreement model to a more globally competitive royalty and tax-based system. The new framework has also attracted new investments from global players such as Centamin (https://apo-opa.co/4nfr50e) and Barrick Gold. The framework provides firms with long-term resource exploitation licenses and competitive tax rates, including a 5% government net smelter royalty on revenue, a 22.5% corporate tax rate, a 15% government financial net profit interest and a 0.5% community development contribution. The MMEA aligns with Egypt’s commitment to allowing mining firms to recover up to 50% of investment costs through tax deductions over a period of seven years from a project’s commencement.

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

About African Mining Week:
African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.

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South Africa: Water and Sanitation responds to Sunday Times article

Source: APO


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The Sunday Times article “Splashing out, Dry Taps as Water Boards drown in excess”, published on Sunday, 7 September 2025, contains statements that represent a misleading picture of the seven water boards and the Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) and their governance.

The article stated that: “Senior members of the country’s troubled water boards are earning almost R50m a year in board fees, with some pocketing as much as R100,000 per meeting…. Some of the board members racked up travel and accommodation bills exceeding R200,000 per year…. Some board members claim exorbitant fees for attending events such as staff funerals, ministerial gala dinners, imbizos, and union meet and greets.”

The article is misleading for the following reasons:

  • The article gives the impression that individual senior board members may be earning up to R50 million a year in board fees. This is incorrect. The maximum amount earned by a board member in the last financial year was R1.7 million.
  • The statement that some board members are “pocketing as much as R100,000 per meeting” is also misleading. This figure is derived from a response by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to a National Assembly question posed by Mr Visvin Reddy, a member of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation. The figures provided included both meeting fees (hourly rate) and fixed board fees (16 hours per month) for preparation, research, and other official functions. Therefore, it is incorrect to calculate a “per meeting” amount from a figure that includes multiple remuneration components.
  • Board members attend standard and extraordinary board meetings, often preceded by subcommittee sessions. These meetings are extensive and require substantial preparatory work. Board members are the accounting authorities of the water boards and must perform their duties diligently.
  • All board fees are determined according to the DWS remuneration policy, which is developed from an independent study comparing public sector boards and approved by the Minister. The policy is reviewed annually in line with the Consumer Price Index. Hourly rates range from R1818 (chairperson of a large board) to R1150 (member of a small board), which is lower than average rates in the private sector. Most board members are seasoned professionals in finance, engineering, law, or science.
  • The reference to remuneration for attending “staff funerals, ministerial gala dinners, imbizos, and union meet and greets” creates a false impression of poor governance. Board members are often required to attend ministerial or intergovernmental meetings, imbizos, and stakeholder engagements as part of their statutory oversight duties. Attendance at such events is sometimes essential to their role.
  • Board members may undertake international travel to attend water-related conferences, which helps them stay abreast of global sector developments. All such travel must be motivated and approved by the Minister, who often reduces the delegation size for cost savings.
  • The total cost of all board fees combined accounts for less than 0.1% of the Water Boards’ operational budget.
  • The water boards and the TCTA have consistently received unqualified audits from the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), reflecting sound financial governance. Actual consolidated revenue collected reached R38.9 billion, exceeding the projected R33.2 billion. This improvement is attributed to enhanced credit control practices, particularly by larger water boards.
  • In the 2023/24 financial year, the combined asset value of all water boards surpassed R90 billion, highlighting the scale of investment in South Africa’s water infrastructure. Rand Water and UMngeni-uThukela Water remain the dominant players in terms of asset strength, reinforcing their leadership in the sector.

The resolution of South Africa’s water service delivery challenges requires coordinated action by the DWS, municipalities (as water service authorities), the private sector and the public. This was reinforced at the National Water Indaba held in March 2025, which produced a comprehensive declaration of joint commitments and actions. The Indaba declaration is available at: https://www.dws.gov.za/wsindaba/declaration.aspx.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.

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République centrafricaine – Bouar : Des agents pénitentiaires mieux outillés aux standards internationaux

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Le 6 septembre 2025, 24 surveillants de la Maison centrale de Bouar (Nana-Mambéré) ont reçu leurs attestations au terme d’une formation de six mois consacrés aux règles Nelson Mandela. Une initiative portée par la MINUSCA et les autorités pénitentiaires locales pour renforcer les bonnes pratiques et garantir le respect des droits des détenus.

Démarrée en janvier 2025, la formation a été assurée par des experts pénitentiaires de la MINUSCA en collaboration avec le directeur régional des services pénitentiaires et le régisseur de la Maison centrale de Bouar. Les participants optimisent leurs connaissances sur les standards internationaux de gestion des établissements pénitentiaires, tant sur la théorie que la pratique.

Directeur régional des services pénitentiaires de la Région de l’Équateur, Zachée Prioua Yatongo a, à l’occasion, exhorté les bénéficiaires à mettre en pratique les acquis. « Cette formation marque un tournant dans leur parcours professionnel », a-t-il déclaré, saluant l’appui constant de la MINUSCA.

Le régisseur de la Maison centrale, Olivier Saint Cyr Kaïbo Mano, insiste, lui, sur l’impact attendu de la formation, soulignant :  « L’objectif est d’améliorer les conditions de détention et de respecter la dignité humaine, tout en promouvant une justice équitable. »

A l’intention des récipiendaires, Bineta Ndoye, chargée des affaires pénitentiaires à Bouar, a rappelé, au nom de la Mission, que « Ces certificats symbolisent votre assiduité et votre détermination à transformer le système pénitentiaire, mais aussi votre dévouement à servir la Centrafrique à travers ce maillon essentiel de la chaîne pénale qu’est l’Administration pénitentiaire », les exhortant à appliquer les acquis au quotidien.

Gloria Bembide, surveillante pénitentiaire et responsable du quartier des femmes et bénéficiaire, estime que cette formation lui donne « les outils nécessaires pour concilier sécurité en détention et respect des droits humains ».

Son collègues, Mbonzo Ngbeyangba Alex Didier, voit dans cette attestation une source de motivation supplémentaire : « Dans l’exercice de mes fonctions, je sais désormais que la priorité doit être accordée au respect des droits des détenus. »

À travers cette action, la MINUSCA réaffirme son engagement à appuyer les autorités centrafricaines dans la construction d’un système pénitentiaire plus juste, plus sûr et respectueux des droits humains.

Distribué par APO Group pour United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

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Gaani 2025 : Le Gouvernement marque sa solidarité aux communautés Baatonu, Boo et Peulh

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Les peuples Baatonu, Boo et Peulh ont célébré ce week-end l’édition 2025 de la Gaani dans une ambiance de grande ferveur. Cette fête, qui allie tradition et modernité, a réuni de nombreuses personnalités politiques et administratives. On y a noté la présence d’une forte délégation gouvernementale composée de la Vice-présidente de la République, de Ministres et Ministres Conseillers, de Députés, ainsi que de leaders religieux et de chefs traditionnels venus du Nord du Bénin et des pays voisins. 

Pendant trois jours, la nouvelle arène, flambant neuve, a accueilli des milliers de participants venus de toutes les régions du Bénin, mais aussi des touristes étrangers. Considérée comme l’une des plus anciennes fêtes culturelles du pays, la Gaani, qui retrace l’épopée des ancêtres et l’organisation monarchique traditionnelle, conserve un rôle social, culturel et symbolique essentiel dans la préservation de l’identité communautaire. 

Entre l’ancien site et le nouveau Palais, les animations ont fait vibrer la ville jusqu’à la nuit du dimanche. De la foire de la Gaani à la cérémonie Kayessi, en passant par les prestations artistiques, culturelles et sportives, la sortie des tambours sacrés, le parcours rituel du Roi et la course de chevaux, tout s’est déroulé dans une atmosphère festive autour de Sa Majesté SERO TOROU TOUKO SARI. Dans ce nouveau complexe moderne, regroupant l’arène, les villas et la résidence royale, tambours sacrés, trompettes, danses de chevaux et sonorités guerrières ont donné tout leur éclat à l’événement. 

Au nom des communautés, le Maire de Nikki, Roland Gounou LAFIA, a exprimé sa gratitude au Chef de l’État pour la construction du majestueux Palais royal de Nikki, symbole de grandeur et de patrimoine. Le président du parti Union Progressiste le Renouveau, Joseph DJOGBENOU, a salué « la vitalité d’une tradition qui traverse les siècles et incarne les fondements vivants de notre identité ». Il a rendu hommage au Roi et au peuple du Baru Tem pour leur fidélité à la mémoire, à la culture et aux valeurs qui fondent la Nation. De son côté, le Vice-président du parti Les Démocrates, Éric HOUNDÉTÉ, a vu dans cette fête « un peuple en liesse, uni par une culture commune, la convivialité et la fraternité ». 

Vers un protocole pour donner une dimension internationale à la Gaani 

Au nom de la délégation, le Ministre de la Culture, Jean-Michel ABIMBOLA, a expliqué que le Gouvernement avait choisi d’organiser cette édition dans le nouveau Palais afin de tester les installations mises en place par le comité d’organisation local. « Cette édition devait nous servir de test pour évaluer et corriger, afin que dès l’année prochaine, nous puissions organiser une véritable édition zéro de la Gaani dans ce nouveau cadre », a-t-il indiqué. 

Il a aussi annoncé l’élaboration d’un protocole destiné à donner une dimension internationale aux grands évènements culturels du pays. « Comme à Ouidah, à Porto-Novo et ailleurs, le Gouvernement s’investit de plus en plus dans ces évènements, non pas pour retirer la main aux communautés, mais pour leur donner une meilleure visibilité et permettre aux Béninois comme aux étrangers d’en profiter pleinement. (…) Vous avez vu la beauté du Palais, mais aussi certaines insuffisances. Le Gouvernement en tirera les leçons pour mettre en place un protocole définitif qui valorisera ce patrimoine unique, ici à Nikki et dans tout le Baru Tem », a-t-il ajouté. 

Avec cette nouvelle arène, qui illustre l’engagement du Gouvernement à promouvoir la culture dans toutes les régions, la Gaani dépasse désormais le simple cadre des retrouvailles des communautés Baatonu, Boo et Peulh. Elle s’impose comme un grand rendez-vous où se rencontrent art, culture et spiritualité.

Distribué par APO Group pour Gouvernement de la République du Bénin.

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Le Bénin met en lumière sa destination touristique au Brésil à l’occasion du Black Travel Summit 2025

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Dans la continuité des récentes visites officielles de Son Excellence Monsieur Patrice TALON, Président de la République du Bénin, au Brésil, le pays participera au Black Travel Summit 2025, qui se tiendra du 13 au 16 novembre 2025 à Rio de Janeiro. Cette participation s’inscrit dans la dynamique des échanges établis avec les autorités brésiliennes, notamment avec l’Agence brésilienne de promotion du tourisme (EMBRATUR). Elle reflète la volonté du Bénin de promouvoir sa destination touristique auprès du public brésilien, des diasporas afro-descendantes et des acteurs internationaux du tourisme, tout en consolidant les liens entre les deux pays.

Le Black Travel Summit : Une plateforme mondiale stratégique

Le Black Travel Summit est le rendez-vous annuel incontournable des créateurs, professionnels, entrepreneurs et investisseurs afro-descendants du secteur du voyage. Depuis sa création, il s’impose comme une plateforme globale qui célèbre, accélère et renforce l’impact des initiatives afro-descendantes dans le tourisme international. L’événement réunit des leaders d’opinion, des influenceurs et des médias spécialisés, offrant un espace unique pour partager des expériences, promouvoir des destinations et stimuler des partenariats durables.

Chaque édition combine conférences, ateliers, sessions de networking, panels thématiques et rencontres B2B, permettant aux participants d’échanger sur les tendances du secteur et de créer des synergies entre les continents. Pour le Bénin, cette vitrine représente une opportunité de présenter ses richesses, de renforcer ses relations avec les diasporas et de positionner le pays comme une destination touristique capable d’attirer des voyageurs internationaux à la recherche d’authenticité et de diversité.

Le Bénin : Un Monde de Splendeurs à découvrir

Depuis 2016, le Bénin a placé le tourisme au cœur de sa stratégie de développement économique et social, en le considérant comme un levier majeur pour stimuler la croissance et créer des opportunités durables. Le gouvernement a ainsi engagé d’importants investissements pour moderniser et étendre les infrastructures touristiques, tout en valorisant le patrimoine historique, culturel et naturel du pays. Cette transformation profonde vise à diversifier l’économie, générer des emplois pérennes et dynamiser les secteurs connexes tels que l’hôtellerie, le transport et les loisirs. Le Bénin propose une palette unique d’expériences : un voyage au cœur de l’histoire avec les Palais royaux d’Abomey, classés au patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO ; la découverte de la cité lacustre de Ganvié, joyau du patrimoine vivant ; la célèbre Esplanade de l’Amazone ; la cité historique de Ouidah ; l’exploration de la faune et de la flore dans le Parc national de la Pendjari ou encore l’immersion dans les arts, la culture et la spiritualité Vodun.

Cette richesse et cette diversité ont été saluées à l’échelle internationale : le Bénin figure parmi les 10 meilleures destinations à découvrir en 2024 selon Lonely Planet et parmi les 25 nouvelles destinations incontournables à visiter en 2025 selon le prestigieux magazine américain AFAR. Ces distinctions confirment non seulement l’attractivité exceptionnelle du pays, mais également la pertinence et l’efficacité de sa stratégie visant à faire du tourisme un pilier central de son développement.

Une vitrine stratégique pour les diasporas et les professionnels du tourisme

La participation du Bénin au Black Travel Summit permet également de renforcer la visibilité du pays auprès des diasporas afro-descendantes en Amérique du Sud et aux États-Unis, tout en favorisant le développement de partenariats avec des investisseurs, tour-opérateurs et acteurs internationaux du tourisme. L’agence Bénin Tourisme, représentant officiel du pays, coordonnera la présence béninoise sur le salon, assurera la promotion de la destination et l’accueil des visiteurs et partenaires. Des rendez-vous B2B, des sessions de networking et des rencontres avec les médias et influenceurs internationaux seront organisés afin de maximiser l’impact et l’attractivité du Bénin comme destination touristique incontournable en Afrique.

M. Sindé CHEKETE, Directeur Général de l’agence Bénin Tourisme, déclare :

« Notre participation au Black Travel Summit à Rio de Janeiro s’inscrit pleinement dans la continuité des actions menées par Bénin Tourisme pour promouvoir sa destination à l’international et affirmer sa place sur la scène touristique mondiale. C’est une opportunité singulière de présenter notre destination aux voyageurs brésiliens, mais aussi de renforcer nos liens avec les diasporas afro-descendantes, en leur faisant découvrir la richesse culturelle, naturelle et patrimoniale du Bénin. »

Mme. Anita MOREAU, Directrice Générale du Black Travel Summit, ajoute :

« Nous sommes honorés d’accueillir Bénin Tourisme en tant que partenaire du Black Travel Summit de cette année. Avec Diaspórica : Legacy in Motion qui se déroule au Brésil — un pays profondément lié au patrimoine béninois — ce partenariat touche directement le cœur de notre diaspora. Pour de nombreux participants, dont l’ADN et les origines remontent au Bénin, il représente à la fois une reconnexion avec leurs racines et une célébration de l’Afro-tourisme comme un pont qui unit culture, patrimoine et peuples à travers les continents. »

Distribué par APO Group pour Gouvernement de la République du Bénin.

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Macpherson welcomes steps taken to accelerate infrastructure delivery

Source: Government of South Africa

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Dean Macpherson, has welcomed two major steps taken by Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) to accelerate infrastructure delivery and attract additional investment into South Africa’s economy.

ISA first launched the second bid window for project preparation last week, which will assist in ensuring that public projects are ready for implementation, and secondly signed a framework with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to establish a Joint Project Preparation Facility.

The Bid Window II for project preparation support, launched on Thursday, enables National and Provincial departments, State-Owned Entities, public entities and municipalities to apply for funding that will prepare projects to become bankable and ready for implementation. 

Building on the success of Bid Window I, which culminated in the unveiling of the Top 7 infrastructure initiatives at the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) earlier this year, Bid Window II will provide financial, technical, legal and governance support to qualifying projects.

Meanwhile, the landmark Framework Agreement signed between ISA and the Afreximbank in Algeria on Monday will establish a Joint Project Preparation Facility (JPPF). 

Afreximbank has committed USD 5 million (roughly R87 million) to this collaboration, which will focus on advancing projects in critical sectors such as energy, transport and logistics, and digital infrastructure. 

The JPPF brings together Afreximbank’s financial expertise and ISA’s strategic oversight to accelerate the preparation of high-quality, bankable projects that can unlock investment, stimulate growth, and close South Africa’s infrastructure gap.

In a statement on Monday, Macpherson congratulated ISA’s acting head, Mameetse Masemola, on implementing these measures as they will strengthen South Africa’s project pipeline and help crowd in funding from Development Finance Institutions and private investors. 

He said these wins prove the importance of Infrastructure South Africa and the work they are doing, and the expanded role the entity could play in infrastructure delivery to help turn the country into a construction site, which will help grow the economy and create jobs.

“These two steps taken by Infrastructure South Africa represent an important move to turn our country into a construction site. 

“Bid Window II will ensure that more projects are properly prepared, de-risked, and ready to attract investment, while the Joint Project Preparation Facility with Afreximbank is a vote of confidence in South Africa’s infrastructure programme and its potential to drive economic growth and job creation.” 

The Minister commended ISA for taking action.

“I want to commend ISA and our partners for taking these bold actions to ensure that South Africa has a credible, bankable and investment-ready pipeline of infrastructure projects. 

“This is how we will get shovels in the ground, stimulate economic growth, and create thousands of jobs for our people,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

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SA to boost domestic HIV funding efforts amid donor cuts, Mashatile

Source: Government of South Africa

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has announced that government is concentrating on augmenting domestic funding and initiating national campaigns to address the issue of funding in the country’s fight against HIV/Aids. 

This amid international donor cuts.

“Let me reiterate that as government, we acknowledge the impact of US funding cuts on our response; even so, the government is diligently working to preserve our achievements in the fight against HIV/Aids. While these accomplishments may be momentarily jeopardised, we will prevail,” the Deputy President said. 

This follows the announcement by the United States President, Donald Trump’s administration about significant cuts to foreign aid.

Until recently, the United States government’s AIDS fund, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), supported numerous nonprofits in South Africa. 

These organisations assisted provincial health departments in getting people tested for HIV and ensuring they received treatment.

Speaking in his capacity as Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) at the opening of the 12th SA AIDS Conference at Emperor’s Palace, in Kempton Park, Gauteng, on Monday, the Deputy President said South Africa is also exploring partnerships with BRICS nations and the private sector to cushion the impact. 

BRICS is a forum for cooperation among a group of leading emerging economies, comprising Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

Held under the theme: “Unite for Change – Empower Communities and Redefine Priorities for HIV/AIDS”, the four-day conference brings together leaders, researchers, implementing partners, academics, and advocates from South Africa, the continent, and other countries to address the evolving landscape of combating HIV and its management.

Mashatile emphasised the importance of empowering communities and shifting away from top-down, clinic-centred approach.

“To empower communities and redefine priorities for HIV/Aids, our strategies must prioritise giving power and resources to those who are most affected. This means moving away from a top-down, clinic-centred approach and towards one that is community-owned and driven.”

In redefining priorities for HIV/Aids, the Deputy President called for all stakeholders to take advantage of the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB, and STIs (NSP 2023-2028), which calls for universal access to healthcare, greater awareness and education, and the dismantling stigma.

“We must ensure access to comprehensive and inclusive healthcare services that leave no one behind. And we must continue to champion education, awareness, and destigmatisation efforts that break down barriers and foster a culture of understanding and support.”

He also acknowledged the challenges that continue to persist in meeting the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 95-95-95 targets.

These targets are a global strategy for ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030, aiming for 95% of all people living with HIV to know their status; 95% of those who know their status to be on sustained antiretroviral treatment; and 95% of those on treatment to be virally suppressed.

While South Africa has made significant progress towards the targets, the Deputy President acknowledged that the country is still falling short in initiating and maintaining people on treatment.

“The country is currently sitting at 96-78-97. One of the first tasks the Minister of Health prioritised in the seventh administration is closing the gap in the second 95.” 

In February this year, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi launched a campaign to find 1.1 million people who are infected with HIV but are not on treatment, which runs parallel to the “End TB Campaign,” with a target of testing five million people during the years 2025/26.

South Africa carries the highest burden of HIV and tuberculosis (TB) globally in relation to its population, with a higher prevalence among people aged 15 to 49.

Adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 record the highest number of new infections per week compared to all other population groups.

“We are a resilient country with a brilliant track record in HIV management.  Together, we can shape a future where HIV/AIDS is no longer a threat, but a distant memory of our collective strength and determination,” he added. – SAnews.gov.za

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Cinco mil jovens e adultos que concluíram cursos entre 2018 e 2024 vão receber certificados de formação

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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O Governo decidiu autorizar o IEFP a entregar certificados de formação a cerca de 5.000 jovens e adultos que concluíram cursos entre 2018 e 2024, mas não tinham recebido os documentos por falta de pagamento integral das propinas.

A medida, publicada na Resolução n.º 89/2025, surge após o alargamento da gratuitidade da formação profissional a todos os níveis do Cadastro Social.

Com esta decisão, garante-se igualdade de tratamento, justiça social e valorização do investimento público já feito na qualificação de milhares de cabo-verdianos em todo o país.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Governo de Cabo Verde.