Category: MIL-OSI

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Youth Charter Issues Global Call to Action as Legacy of the 2nd Africa–CARICOM Summit

Source: APO


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As African and Caribbean leaders, global partners, and the African diaspora convene at the 2nd Africa–CARICOM Summit under the theme “Transcontinental Partnership in Pursuit of Reparatory Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations”, the Youth Charter (www.YouthCharter.org) has issued a renewed Global Call to Action to mobilise the next generation in shaping a just, inclusive, and sustainable future.

The Youth Charter Call to Action builds on three decades of work in sport, arts, culture, and digital engagement, aligning with the Summit’s focus on political, economic, and cultural partnerships while advancing reparatory justice. It urges governments, institutions, and communities across Africa, the Caribbean, and the wider diaspora to:

  1. Empower Young People – Invest in education, skills, and enterprise pathways to ensure that youth are at the forefront of continental and transcontinental development.
  2. Champion Reparatory Justice – Recognise the historical and systemic injustices faced by Africans and people of African descent, while supporting programmes that deliver restorative and sustainable impact.
  3. Build Community Campuses – Establish safe, inclusive spaces that harness sport, art, culture, and digital technologies as vehicles for opportunity, resilience, and peace.
  4. Strengthen Diaspora Links – Create platforms for African and Caribbean youth to connect, collaborate, and lead in shaping shared prosperity.
  5. Align with Global Goals – Ensure all youth engagement contributes to the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa’s Agenda 2063.

“The 2nd Africa–CARICOM Summit is not only a historic political and cultural milestone — it is a call to action for young people of Africa and the diaspora to inherit, shape, and lead the future. Reparatory justice must be lived through opportunity, education, and empowerment,” said Youth Charter Founder and Chair, Prof. Geoff Thompson.

As a legacy of the Summit, the Youth Charter will work with African Union and CARICOM partners to advance its Community Campus Model, ensuring that the voices, creativity, and leadership of young people are central to achieving reparatory justice and sustainable development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Youth Charter.

For media inquiries, interviews, or partnership opportunities, please contact:

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Youth Charter #Hashtags:
#International Olympic Committee
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#LegacyOpportunity4All
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#Empowerthenextgeneration
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#UNSustainableDevelopmentGoals

About Youth Charter:
The Youth Charter is a UK registered charity and UN accredited non-governmental organisation. Launched in 1993 as part of the Manchester 2000 Olympic Bid and the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the Youth Charter has Campaigned and Promoted the role and value of sport, art, culture and digital technology in the lives of disaffected young people from disadvantaged communities nationally and internationally. The Youth Charter has a proven track record in the creation and delivery of social and human development programmes with the overall aim of providing young people with an opportunity to develop in life.

Specifically, The Youth Charter Tackles educational non-attainment, health inequality, anti-social behaviour and the negative effects of crime, drugs, gang related activity and racism by applying the ethics of sporting and artistic excellence. These can then be translated to provide social and economic benefits of citizenship, rights responsibilities, with improved education, health, social order, environment and college, university, employment and enterprise.

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Africa’s Power Ambitions & Success Depend on a Skilled Workforce (By Cobus Van Schalkwyk)

Source: APO

By Cobus Van Schalkwyk, Managing Director, Rolls-Royce Solutions Africa (www.mtu-Solutions.com).

Across Africa, the lights are coming on—literally and figuratively. Industrial zones are expanding. Urban populations are booming. Power projects are rising from Kenya to the Cape. But behind this momentum lies a challenge few are discussing: who will build and maintain this future?

Power plants don’t run themselves. Microgrids don’t install themselves. Even the most advanced systems require skilled engineers to operate safely and efficiently. As Africa races to industrialise, decarbonise, and digitise, its biggest constraint isn’t technology—it’s talent.

According to the Engineers for Africa 2025 report, sub-Saharan Africa has fewer than seven engineers per 10,000 people, compared with a global average of over 50. In Burundi, there is one registered engineer per 825,000 people; in Uganda, one per 30,000; in Tanzania, one per 8,000. Even South Africa, the region’s industrial hub, is falling short. In 2023, it produced 32,141 engineering and science graduates—5,000 below target—and many lack the practical experience employers require.

Meeting Africa’s projected doubling of energy demand by 2030 will require over 610 GW of installed capacity, up from under 250 GW today. This growth hinges on an expanded workforce across electrical, mechanical, civil, and advanced technology disciplines. Renewable and hybrid projects could generate 3.3 million new jobs by the end of the decade, with nearly 40% requiring tertiary or technical training (FSD Africa, 2024). Yet fewer than 25% of university students pursue STEM fields (UNESCO, 2024).

South Africa is currently the only African country with full signatory status in the Washington Accord, a global framework recognising the equivalence of university engineering degrees across 25 countries, including the UK and USA. This allows South African-educated and trained engineers to be recognised by global corporations without requalification—and sets a benchmark for the continent. Expanding this recognition would complement the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), by enabling the freer movement of qualified talent across borders and boosting employer confidence in local skills.

At Rolls-Royce, we are committed to being part of the solution. Our new Power Systems regional facility in Johannesburg is more than an operations hub. It supports customers of our mtu products and solutions across Africa with everything from standalone and critical backup power generators to the high-performance engines that drive locomotives and the world’s largest mining trucks. It is also a centre for capacity building. Alongside assembling and servicing mtu power and propulsion systems, we deliver accredited training in borescope inspections, engine fault isolation, e-learning, and both line and base maintenance. We aim to cultivate engineering excellence that matches the performance of the technology we deliver.

Across Southern Africa, promising training initiatives are emerging to address critical skills gaps in transport, energy, and industrial sectors. Long-term apprenticeship programmes are preparing artisans such as welders, electricians, and fitters for national infrastructure projects, while bursaries in mechanical and transport engineering are helping to build a pipeline of future specialists. In the oil and gas sector, technical academies are delivering training across the full value chain, from exploration to downstream operations. These programmes—often developed in collaboration with vocational institutes and national skills authorities—demonstrate how industry can shape a workforce capable of supporting complex systems.

At the same time, industries are increasingly investing in digital readiness. Newly formed in-house academies and partnerships with universities are not only producing core industrial technicians but also launching AI and cybersecurity initiatives to prepare young people for the future of engineering. These efforts demonstrate that when the private sector leads with purpose, meaningful progress can be achieved.

Africa needs more graduate placements, stronger university–industry partnerships, and wider access to alternative learning pathways—from bootcamps and workshops to maker labs and apprenticeships. These models can rapidly equip people with market-ready skills, align training with evolving technologies, and accelerate delivery of the continent’s infrastructure, industrial, and energy ambitions.

The solutions are known. The models are tested. What’s missing is scale—and urgency.

We believe in training through hands-on experience.  The future of power isn’t just in megawatts, it’s in the hands of the people who make it possible.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rolls-Royce Solutions.

Additional Information:
https://apo-opa.co/3V5ZS48

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Government condemns ongoing femicide and intimate partner violence

Source: Government of South Africa

Monday, September 8, 2025

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) has condemned the ongoing femicide and intimate partner violence which continues to thrive in the country. 

In a statement on Sunday, the department urged families and communities to reject the silence that allows intimate partner violence (IPV) to thrive by reporting any form of violence and to stand united in supporting survivors. 

“The department condemns the persistent violence against women and girls, particularly Women with disabilities, who face a significantly higher risk of IPV and femicide compared to women without disabilities, with some studies showing they are two to four times more likely to experience IPV.

“The department further calls on men across the nation to take responsibility, challenge harmful norms, and become active partners in creating a society free from violence,” the department said. 

Femicide and intimate partner violence are ongoing global and national crises, with millions of women and girls killed each year by partners or family members due to deep-rooted misogyny and unequal power dynamics.  According to research, every 10 minutes, a partner and or a woman is killed. 

The department added that gender-related killings (femicide) are the most brutal and extreme manifestation of violence against women and girls. 

According to recent South African Police Service Crime Statistics Reports, intimate partner violence and femicide (IPV) have remained high, particularly in the Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal Natal and Gauteng provinces. 

The DWYPD leads and coordinates South Africa’s multi-sectoral response to GBVF. 

Guided by the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF, the department collaborates with government, civil society, and communities to ensure accountability, prevention, survivor support, justice, and women’s empowerment, transforming commitments into tangible results.

Community members are urged to report any GBVF cases through the GBV Command Centre on 0800 428 428 04 or dial *120* 7867#. – SAnews.gov.za

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Call for inputs on draft water rehabilitation guidelines

Source: Government of South Africa

The Department of Water and Sanitation has invited stakeholders to submit comments on the Draft Rehabilitation Management Guidelines (RMGs) for Water Resources by 29 October 2025.

Developed in line with Chapter 3 of the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998), the guidelines aim to strengthen the protection, use, conservation, management, and control of water resources in an efficient, sustainable, and equitable manner in South Africa.

According to the department, the RMGs, which have been under development since 2020, provide step-by-step measures to guide water users in rehabilitation measures/interventions that can be followed for each water resource.

“The guidelines identified and categorised five water resource themes into rivers, wetlands, estuaries, groundwater, as well as lakes and dams, as per the definition of the NWA, and further outline five phases to be followed to undertake the process of rehabilitation,” the department said in a statement.

They include:
•    Diagnostic Phase, which entails determining the conditions and the type, size, and extent of impacts on characteristics of watercourses.
•    Planning and Assessment aimed at the assessment and collation of available information from maps and datasets on the affected watercourses and the review and assessment of legal considerations.
•    Defining Rehabilitation Objectives, which provides the objective of rehabilitation to ensure the impacts on the characteristics of watercourses are addressed. 
•    Execution Phase, which involves providing recommendations on techniques and methods to address impacts identified. Consideration is also given to the protection of water resources, ecosystem services, people, and livelihoods.
•    Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Phase, which   involves overseeing the monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of maintenance and rehabilitation interventions.

The department recently held a public consultation in Pretoria, bringing together stakeholders from government, catchment management agencies, water boards, research institutions, civil society, and the private sector to discuss the draft guidelines and proactive measures to address water quality degradation promote rehabilitation and restoration to maintain water ecosystem function.

Consultations have also taken place through sector platforms such as the Project Steering Committee, Freshwater Ecosystem Network, Catchment Management Fora, Western Cape Estuaries Task Team, and intergovernmental engagements between Water and Sanitation, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Water Research Commission (WRC), as well as the 2024 Wetland Indaba.

“Stakeholders are expected to provide inputs on the draft guidelines [covering] rivers (Volume 1), wetlands (Volume 2), estuaries (Volume 3), lakes and dams (Volume 4), and groundwater (Volume 5), including Guidelines in Practice Report by no later than 29 October 2025.

“This can be done by using the link: https://www.dws.gov.za/wem/rehabguidlines.aspx. Stakeholders are requested to forward their inputs and/or comments to Kgotso Mahlahlane at MahlahlaneK@dws.gov.za and copy Samkele Mnyango  at MnyangoS@dws.gov.za,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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SA, Algeria moves to boost trade through new routes and partnerships

Source: Government of South Africa

Monday, September 8, 2025

South Africa and Algeria have agreed to establish trade routes to improve bilateral trade and market access between the two countries.

This follows a meeting between Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Parks Tau, and Algerian Minister of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion, Kamal Rezig, held in Algeria over the weekend.

The meeting discussed the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Economic Cooperation, signed in December 2024 during the Bi-National Commission between Algeria and South Africa. The agreement covers cooperation in trade, industrial development and infrastructure development.

Tau said the MoU serves as “an umbrella instrument from which all other bilateral economic agreements on trade and investment-related matters draw their specific individual mandates.”

“We also proposed the establishment of the Joint Trade and Investment Committee which will act as a platform for the two parties to meet regularly to enable trade and investment facilitation,” Tau said.

Tau said South Africa’s commitment to continental integration and its partnership with Algeria and other African nations, laid in building a resilient, inclusive and innovation-driven economy.

“Minister Rezig and I agreed to explore opportunities on each other’s markets to enhance cooperation in oil and gas, automotive, infrastructure development, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, aviation, agriculture and agro-processing,” he said.

During the visit, Tau also met with Algerian Acting Prime Minister, Sifi Ghrieb, where they discussed the importance of establishing a business council, which will be used as a vehicle to fast-track trade between the two countries.

“The business council will also enhance collaboration and share technical expertise in strategic sectors. We also discussed at length the re-instatement of the South Africa-Algeria air route that will facilitate people-to-people and commercial relations between the two countries,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

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L’État de Cross River et Afreximbank signent un Accord d’Accueil pour la Conférence sur l’Investissement AfSNET 2026

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

La Banque Africaine d’Import-Export (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) et le Gouvernement de l’État de Cross River ont officiellement signé un Accord d’Accueil pour la 6ème  Conférence sur l’Investissement du Réseau des Gouvernements Sous-Souverains  Africains 2026, marquant ainsi une étape importante dans la coopération régionale et la promotion des investissements à travers l’Afrique. 

L’accord a été signé lors de la session sur l’engagement commercial des Gouvernements Sous-Souverains  qui s’est tenue en marge de la Foire Commerciale Intra-Africaine 2025 (IATF2025) à Alger, en Algérie. Il a été signé par le Président du Conseil d’Administration d’Afreximbank, le Professeur Benedict Oramah, et le Gouverneur Exécutif de l’État de Cross River, S.E. Prince Bassey Edet Otu. 

Cet accord officialise le rôle de l’État de Cross River en tant qu’hôte officiel de la Conférence sur l’investissement AfSNET 2026, qui se tiendra à Calabar, dans l’État de Cross River, au Nigeria. Cet événement réunira des Dirigeants Sous-souverains, des Investisseurs, des Partenaires de développement et des Acteurs clés afin d’explorer les opportunités commerciales et d’investissement dans toutes les régions d’Afrique. 

Lancé par Afreximbank en 2021 en collaboration avec le Secrétariat de la ZLECAf, l’AfSNET sert de plateforme pour renforcer le rôle des Entités Sous-souveraines dans la promotion du commerce et du développement Intra-Africains. La conférence annuelle vise à placer les Gouvernements municipaux et régionaux au centre du commerce Intra-Africain. L’édition 2026 mettra en avant les projets prêts à être investis, facilitera la mise en relation entre les investisseurs et les Gouvernements locaux et favorisera l’intégration régionale. 

Le Gouverneur Exécutif de l’État de Cross River, le Prince Bassey Edet Otu, s’est montré enthousiaste à l’égard de cette opportunité :   

« Nous sommes honorés d’accueillir l’AfSNET 2026 et de présenter Cross River comme une porte d’entrée pour les investissements au Nigeria et en Afrique de l’Ouest. Cet événement catalysera la croissance économique, favorisera les partenariats et rehaussera le profil de notre État sur la scène continentale. » 

Les préparatifs de l’AfSNET 2026 sont déjà en cours, les deux parties s’étant engagées à organiser un événement de classe mondiale. La conférence comprendra des séances de plénières, des expositions, des réunions B2B et des présentations culturelles, offrant un environnement dynamique propice au dialogue et à la conclusion d’accords. 

S’exprimant lors de la cérémonie de signature, le Président Oramah a déclaré : « Lorsque Afreximbank a lancé AfSNET en 2021, notre vision était claire : amplifier la voix des Gouvernements Sous-souverains dans l’élaboration de la politique économique, débloquer les opportunités d’investissement et accélérer les échanges commerciaux à travers l’Afrique. Nous sommes fermement convaincus que le développement doit être décentralisé, qu’il doit prendre naissance là où les besoins sont les plus prononcés dans nos villes, provinces, comtés et régions, puis se propager vers l’extérieur pour influencer le progrès national et continental ». 

S’exprimant lors du même événement, le Secrétaire Général du Secrétariat de la ZLECAf, S.E. Wamkele Mene, a déclaré : « L’intégration et la transformation de l’Afrique ne se feront pas uniquement par le haut. Elles se construiront à partir de la base, dans les municipalités, les États et les provinces où les politiques deviennent réalité dans la vie des gens. La ZLECAf fournit le cadre, l’IATF fournit le marché, et l’AfSNET est le pont entre le pouvoir local et l’impact continental. Saisissons cette occasion pour autonomiser nos Entités Sous-Souveraines, accélérer la mise en œuvre de la ZLECAf et construire une Afrique plus connectée, plus inclusive et plus compétitive à l’échelle mondiale ». 

L’engagement des Entités Sous-Souveraines  a également été l’occasion de lancer le Forum des Gouverneurs du Nigeria Investopedia . L’Investopedia est destiné à servir de document unique fournissant aux investisseurs des informations sélectionnées, crédibles et transparentes sur les projets en cours dans les 36 États du Nigeria. Il a été développé avec le soutien d’Afreximbank et d’autres partenaires. 

Lors du lancement de l’Investopedia du Forum des Gouverneurs du Nigeria, le Gouverneur de l’État d’Ogun, S.E. le Prince Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun, a déclaré que l’Investopedia du Forum des Gouverneurs du Nigeria positionnera les États comme des destinations crédibles et compétitives pour les capitaux afin de permettre à des millions de personnes d’accéder à la prospérité. 

« Les États portent la plus grande responsabilité dans le déficit de financement des infrastructures du Nigeria. Les budgets publics ne peuvent pas le soutenir, et nous devons mobiliser les capitaux Africains et mondiaux pour exécuter des projets Sous-souverains. Cela permettra non seulement de combler les lacunes en matière d’infrastructures, mais aussi de créer des emplois, de stimuler une croissance inclusive et d’ouvrir une nouvelle ère de prospérité », a ajouté S.E. Abiodun.  

L’engagement Commercial des Sous-souverains de cette année à Alger marque sa cinquième édition depuis sa création en 2021. Il a réuni des Gouverneurs, des Maires et des Dirigeants de Gouvernements Sous-Souverains de toute l’Afrique et des Caraïbes. Les éditions précédentes de la conférence se sont tenues à Durban, en Afrique du Sud (2021), à Abuja, au Nigeria (2022), au Caire, en Égypte (2023), et à Kisumu, au Kenya ( 2024). Cet événement annuel rassemble des Dirigeants Sous-Souverains de tout le continent afin d’échanger des idées sur la manière de promouvoir le développement dans les régions Africaines.  

Parmi les projets qui ont vu le jour grâce à l’initiative AfSNET, on peut citer le financement de parcs industriels et de zones économiques spéciales dans l’État d’Ogun, au Nigeria, le soutien au développement d’un port en eau profonde dans l’État de Cross River, au Nigeria, l’aide à la préparation de grands projets tels que l’initiative Nyanza Light Metals dans le KwaZulu-Natal, en Afrique du Sud, en vue de leur financement, et le soutien à des études de faisabilité et de financement pour la première usine de fabrication continue de médicaments essentiels en Afrique, basée sur la technologie blockchain, à Kisumu, au Kenya.  

Distribué par APO Group pour Afreximbank.

Contact médias :
media@intrafricatradefair.com
press@afreximbank.com 

À propos de la Foire Commerciale Intra-Africaine :
Organisée par la Banque Africaine d’Import-Export (Afreximbank), la Commission de l’Union Africaine (CUA) et le Secrétariat de la Zone de Libre-Échange Continentale Africaine (ZLECAf), la Foire Commerciale Intra-Africaine (IATF) a pour objectif de fournir une plateforme unique facilitant l’échange d’informations sur le commerce et l’investissement afin de soutenir l’augmentation du commerce et des investissements Intra-Africains, en particulier dans le contexte de la mise en œuvre de l’Accord de Libre-Échange Continental Africain (ZLECAf). L’IATF rassemble des acteurs continentaux et mondiaux afin de présenter et d’exposer leurs produits et services et d’explorer les opportunités commerciales et d’investissement sur le continent. Elle fournit également une plateforme pour partager des informations sur le commerce, l’investissement et les marchés avec les parties prenantes et permet aux participants de discuter et d’identifier des solutions aux défis auxquels sont confrontés le commerce et l’investissement Intra-Africains. Outre les participants Africains, la Foire est également ouverte aux entreprises et aux investisseurs de pays non Africains intéressés par les affaires en Afrique et désireux de soutenir la transformation du continent par l’industrialisation et le développement des exportations.  

Pour plus d’informations, veuillez consulter le site www.IntrAfricanTradeFair.com. 

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O Estado de Cross River e a Afreximbank assinam um Acordo de hospedagem para a Conferência de Investimento AfSNET 2026

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

O Banco Africano de Exportação e Importação (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) e o Governo do Estado de Cross River assinaram oficialmente um Acordo de hospedagem para a 6ª Conferência de Investimento da Rede de Governos Sub-Soberanos Africanos 2026, marcando um marco significativo na cooperação regional e na promoção de investimentos em toda a África. 

O acordo foi assinado durante a sessão de Engajamento Empresarial Sub-Soberano realizada à margem da atual Feira de Comércio Intra-Africana 2025 (IATF2025) em Argel, Argélia. Foi assinado pelo Presidente e Chairman do Conselho de Administração da Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah e pelo Governador Executivo do Estado de Cross River, S.E. Príncipe Bassey Edet Otu. 

O acordo formaliza o papel do Estado de Cross River como anfitrião oficial da Conferência de Investimento AfSNET 2026, agendada para acontecer em Calabar, Estado de Cross River, Nigéria. O evento reunirá líderes sub-nacionais, investidores, parceiros de desenvolvimento e principais interessados para explorar oportunidades de comércio e investimento nas diversas regiões de África. 

A AfSNET, lançada pelo Afreximbank em 2021 em colaboração com a Secretaria da AfCFTA, serve como uma plataforma para fortalecer o papel das entidades Sub-Soberanas na promoção do comércio e desenvolvimento intra-africano. A conferência anual tem como objetivo colocar os governos municipais e estaduais no centro do comércio intra-africano. A edição de 2026 irá destacar projetos prontos para investimento, facilitar a conexão entre investidores e governos locais, e promover a integração regional. 

O Governador Executivo do Estado de Cross River, Príncipe Bassey Edet Otu, manifestou entusiasmo pela oportunidade: 

“Estamos honrados por ser os anfitriões do AfSNET 2026 e apresentar o Cross River como um gateway para investimentos na Nigéria e na África Ocidental. Este evento irá catalisar o crescimento económico, fomentar parcerias e elevar o perfil do nosso estado no palco continental.” 

As preparações para o AfSNET 2026 já estão a decorrer, com ambas as partes comprometidas em fornecer um evento de classe mundial. A conferência incluirá sessões plenárias, exposições, reuniões B2B e mostras culturais, oferecendo um ambiente dinâmico para diá. e realização de negócios. 

Falando durante a cerimónia de assinatura, o Presidente Oramah disse: “Quando a Afreximbank lançou a AfSNET em 2021, a nossa visão era clara: amplificar as vozes dos governos sub-soberanos na elaboração de políticas económicas, desbloquear oportunidades de investimento e acelerar o comércio em África. Acreditamos firmemente que o desenvolvimento deve ser descentralizado, originando-se onde as necessidades são mais pronunciadas nas nossas cidades, províncias, concelhos e regiões, e disseminando-se para influenciar o progresso nacional e continental.” 

Falando no mesmo evento, o Secretário-Geral do Secretariado da AfCFTA, H.E. Wamkele Mene, disse: “A integração e transformação da África não será alcançada apenas de cima para baixo. Será construída a partir da base; nos municípios, estados e províncias onde a política se torna realidade na vida das pessoas. A AfCFTA fornece a estrutura, a IATF fornece o mercado e a AfSNET é a ponte entre o poder local e o impacto continental. Aproveitemos este momento para empoderar os nossos sub-soberanos, acelerar a AfCFTA e construir uma África mais conectada, inclusiva e competitiva a nível global.” 

O Envolvimento Empresarial Sub-Soberano também proporcionou uma oportunidade para o lançamento da Investopedia do Fórum dos Governadores da Nigéria. A Investopedia destina-se a servir como um documento único que fornece aos investidores informações curadas, credíveis e transparentes sobre o pipeline de projetos nos 36 estados da Nigéria. Foi desenvolvida com o apoio da Afreximbank e outros parceiros. 

Ao lançar o Investopedia do Fórum dos Governadores da Nigéria, o Governador do Estado de Ogun, Sua Excelência Príncipe Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun, afirmou que o Investopedia do Fórum dos Governadores da Nigéria posicionará os Estados como destinos de capital credíveis e competitivos, a fim de desbloquear a prosperidade para milhões de pessoas. 

Os Estados têm a maior responsabilidade pelo défice de financiamento de infraestruturas da Nigéria. Os orçamentos públicos não conseguem sustentá-lo e precisamos de mobilizar capital africano e global para executar projetos subnacionais. Isso não apenas resolverá as lacunas de infraestrutura, mas também criará empregos, promoverá um crescimento inclusivo e desbloqueará uma nova era de prosperidade”, acrescentou S.E. Abiodun. 

A edição deste ano do Encontro Empresarial Sub-Soberano em Argel marca a sua quinta edição desde 2021, quando foi fundado. Esteve presente um grupo de governadores, prefeitos e líderes de governos sub-soberanos de toda a África e do Caribe. Edições anteriores da conferência foram realizadas em Durban, África do Sul (2021), Abuja, Nigéria (2022), Cairo, Egito (2023) e Kisumu, Quénia (2024). O evento anual junta líderes subnacionais de todo o continente para trocar ideias sobre como promover o desenvolvimento nas regiões africanas. 

Alguns dos projetos que se materializaram a partir da iniciativa AfSNET incluem financiamento para parques industriais e Zonas Económicas Especiais no Estado de Ogun, Nigéria, apoio ao desenvolvimento de um porto profundo no Estado de Cross River, Nigéria, e ajuda na preparação de grandes projetos como a iniciativa Nyanza Light Metals em KwaZulu-Natal, na África do Sul, para a viabilidade financeira, e apoio a estudos de viabilidade para a primeira instalação de fabricação contínua de medicamentos essenciais habilitada para blockchain de África, em Kisumu, Quénia. 

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Afreximbank.

Contacto de imprensa:
media@intrafricatradefair.com
press@afreximbank.com 

Sobre a Feira Intra-Africana de Comércio:
Organizado pelo Banco Africano de Exportação e Importação (Afreximbank), pela Comissão da União Africana (AUC) e pelo Secretariado da Área de Livre Comércio Continental Africana (AfCFTA), a Feira Intra-Africana de Comércio (IATF) destina-se a fornecer uma plataforma única para facilitar a troca de informações sobre comércio e investimento em apoio ao aumento do comércio e investimento intra-africano, especialmente no contexto da implementação do Acordo de Livre Comércio Continental Africano (AfCFTA). A IATF reúne intervenientes continentais e globais para exibir os seus bens e serviços e explorar oportunidades de negócios e investimento no continente. Também proporciona uma plataforma para partilhar informações sobre comércio, investimento e mercado com as partes interessadas e permite que os participantes discutam e identifiquem soluções para os desafios que confrontam o comércio e investimento intra-africano. Além dos participantes africanos, a Feira de Comércio também está aberta a empresas e investidores de países não africanos interessados em fazer negócios em África e ao apoiar a transformação do continente através da industrialização e desenvolvimento das exportações. 

Para mais informações, por favor visite www.IntrAfricanTradeFair.com

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Cross River State and Afreximbank sign Hosting Agreement for AfSNET 2026 Investment Conference

Source: APO

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) and the Government of Cross River State have officially signed a Hosting Agreement for the 6th African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference 2026, marking a significant milestone in regional cooperation and investment promotion across Africa. 

The agreement was signed during the Sub-Sovereign Business Engagement session held on the margins of the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Algiers, Algeria. It was signed by the President & Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Prof Benedict Oramah and the Executive Governor of Cross River State, H.E Prince Bassey Edet Otu. 

The agreement formalises Cross River State’s role as the official host of the 2026 AfSNET Investment Conference, scheduled to take place in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. The event will convene sub-sovereign leaders, investors, development partners, and key stakeholders to explore trade and investment opportunities across Africa’s regions. 

AfSNET, launched by Afreximbank in 2021 in collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat, serves as a platform to strengthen the role of Sub-Sovereign entities in driving intra-African trade and development.  The annual conference aims to put city and state governments at the centre of intra-African trade. The 2026 edition will spotlight investment-ready projects, facilitate matchmaking between investors and local governments, and promote regional integration. 

Speaking during the signing ceremony, President Oramah said: “When Afreximbank launched AfSNET in 2021, our vision was clear: to amplify the voices of Sub-Sovereign governments in shaping economic policy, unlocking investment opportunities, and accelerating trade across Africa. We firmly believe that development must be decentralised, originating where the needs are most pronounced in our cities, provinces, counties, and regions and cascading outward to influence national and continental progress.” 

Speaking at the same event, Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, H.E. Wamkele Mene said: “Africa’s integration and transformation will not be achieved from the top down alone. It will be built from the ground up; in municipalities, states, and provinces where policy becomes reality in people’s lives. AfCFTA provides the framework, IATF provides the marketplace, and AfSNET is the bridge between local power and continental impact. Let us seize this moment to empower our sub-sovereigns, accelerate the AfCFTA, and build an Africa that is more connected, inclusive, and globally competitive”. 

Executive Governor of Cross River State, Prince Bassey Edet Otu, expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity:  “We are honoured to host AfSNET 2026 and showcase Cross River as a gateway to investment in Nigeria and West Africa. This event will catalyse economic growth, foster partnerships, and elevate our state’s profile on the continental stage.” 

Preparations for AfSNET 2026 are already underway, with both parties committed to delivering a world-class event. The conference will feature plenary sessions, exhibitions, B2B meetings, and cultural showcases, offering a dynamic environment for dialogue and deal-making. 

This year’s Sub-Sovereign Business Engagement in Algiers marks its fifth edition since 2021, when it was founded. It was attended by governors, mayors, and leaders of sub-sovereign governments from across Africa and the Caribbean. Past editions of the conference were held in Durban, South Africa (2021), Abuja, Nigeria (2022), Cairo, Egypt (2023), and Kisumu, Kenya (2024). The annual event brings together sub-national leaders from across the continent to exchange ideas on how to promote development in African regions.  

Some of the projects that have materialised from the AfSNET initiative include funding for industrial parks and Special Economic Zones in Ogun State, Nigeria, supporting deep seaport development in Cross River State, Nigeria, and helping prepare major projects like the Nyanza Light Metals initiative in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa for bankability, and supporting feasibility and bankability studies for  Africa’s first blockchain-enabled, continuous manufacturing facility for essential medicines in Kisumu, Kenya.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media contact:
media@intrafricatradefair.com
press@afreximbank.com 

About the Intra-African Trade Fair:
Organised by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), African Union Commission (AUC) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is intended to provide a unique platform for facilitating trade and investment information exchange in support of increased intra-African trade and investment, especially in the context of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). IATF brings together continental and global players to showcase and exhibit their goods and services and to explore business and investment opportunities in the continent. It also provides a platform to share trade, investment and market information with stakeholders and allows participants to discuss and identify solutions to the challenges confronting intra-African trade and investment. In addition to African participants, the Trade Fair is also open to businesses and investors from non-African countries interested in doing business in Africa and in supporting the continent’s transformation through industrialisation and export development.  

For more information, please visit www.IntrAfricanTradeFair.com. 

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Deputy President Mashatile to open 12th SA AIDS Conference

Source: Government of South Africa

Deputy President Mashatile to open 12th SA AIDS Conference

Deputy President Paul Mashatile, in his capacity as Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), will on Monday afternoon, 8 September 2025, open the 12th SA AIDS Conference at Emperor’s Palace, in Gauteng.

Hosted under the theme: “Unite for Change – Empower Communities and Redefine Priorities for HIV/AIDS“, the conference will bring 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.

The conference’s Chair, Candice Chetty-Makkan and Co-Chair, Dr Kate Rees, stated that the country finds itself at a critical juncture in global health, and this year has been unusually challenging for many.

“With significant changes reshaping the HIV programme landscape, the participation in the conference is vital to ensuring that communities remain at the centre, priorities are redefined with vision, and progress is sustained,” Chetty-Makkan and Rees said. 

They believe that together, participants have the opportunity to shape strategies that will strengthen the South African and global response and drive meaningful change.

The Deputy President will lead the opening plenary, alongside SANAC Civil Society Forum Chairperson Solly Nduku, SANAC Private Sector Forum Chairperson Mpumi Zikalala, Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, and Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko. 

The delegates will include representatives from development partners, including United Nations agencies and the United States government. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Political killings task team commended for arrests in Ntombela’s murder

Source: Government of South Africa

Monday, September 8, 2025

The National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has commended the South African Police Service (SAPS) Political Killings Task Team for the swift arrest of suspects linked to the murder of a whistleblower, Xolani Ndlovu Ntombela.

The suspects, a local chief and the hitman are appearing before the Howick Magistrate’s Court on Monday and face a number of charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, murder, as well as possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

The murder docket of Xolani Ndlovu Ntombela forms part of the 121 dockets returned to the task team to continue with investigations.

The dockets were returned to the task team on Thursday, 28 August 2025, and within a week, the team arrested a 55-year-old local chief and a 23-year-old hitman for the 2022 murder.

The late Xolani Ntombela was shot and killed in November 2022, inside his homestead.

A preliminary investigation by the task team has so far revealed that Ntombela was murdered for exposing the illegal sales of land in Emasosheni in the Mpophomeni area in Howick, KwaZulu Natal.

General Fannie Masemola has applauded the team for the swift arrests.

“The turnaround time and swift arrests following the return of the dockets is encouraging and it is a step in the right direction. We urge the team to continue with their investigations in the remaining 120 dockets. 

“We need to solve all these cases because families need answers and closure,” said General Masemola.

The task team’s investigations had since July 2018 led to the conviction of more than 130 accused for murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. – SAnews.gov.za