Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

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The President of the Republic of Seychelles, Dr Patrick Herminie, will undertake an official overseas mission from 3 to 10 February 2026, encompassing participation in the World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai, followed by a State Visit to the Republic of India.

From 3 to 5 February 2026, President Herminie will participate in the World Governments Summit alongside more than 35 fellow Heads of State and Government. This year’s Summit marks the largest gathering in its history, providing an unparalleled platform for global dialogue on the future of governance and public policy. It will bring together international organisations, policymakers, business leaders, and thought leaders from over 40 countries to advance innovative, practical solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. 

The World Government Summit serves as a forum for shaping future-ready governments, focusing on critical themes such as health systems, social well-being, emerging technologies, sustainable development, and strategies to enhance quality of life. President Herminie’s participation underscores Seychelles’ commitment to forward-looking governance, people-centred development, and international cooperation in addressing shared global challenges.

Following the Summit, President Herminie will proceed to India for a State Visit from 5 to 10 February 2026, undertaken at the invitation of His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India. The invitation was formally conveyed by the Vice-President of India, Hon. Shri Chandrapuran Ponnusami (C.P.) Radhakrishnan, during his visit to Seychelles in October 2025 for the inauguration of President Herminie as the sixth President of the Republic of Seychelles. The visit takes place at a particularly significant moment as Seychelles and India commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations, underscoring the enduring friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

During the State Visit, President Herminie will hold high-level bilateral discussions with the Prime Minister of India, , the President of India H.E. Smt. Droupadi Murmu, the Vice-President and senior members of the Indian Government. He is also expected to engage with leaders from various Indian states and to visit cultural, environmental, and health institutions, providing opportunities to exchange best practices and explore avenues for enhanced cooperation. 

The State Visit is intended to further consolidate the long-standing partnership between Seychelles and India, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening collaboration in areas of mutual interest, including healthcare, capacity building, economic development, trade and investment, climate and environmental sustainability, tourism, and regional and maritime security. Particular emphasis will be placed on cooperation that supports national priorities aimed at improving the efficiency of public services, strengthening resilience within the health system, fostering skills development, and supporting sustainable economic opportunities for Seychellois citizens.

President Herminie will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Ministers and senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment, Health, Environment, Climate Energy and Natural Resources, as well as Tourism and Culture. Representatives of the private sector will also form part of the delegation, reflecting the Government’s integrated approach to diplomacy, one that aligns foreign policy engagement with economic development, investment promotion, and job creation.

This overseas mission underscores President Herminie’s commitment to proactive and results-oriented diplomacy, aimed at strengthening Seychelles’ international partnerships while advancing initiatives that promote social well-being, economic resilience, and long-term prosperity. State House reiterates that the visit is undertaken in the national interest, with a clear focus on delivering tangible benefits for the people of Seychelles and reinforcing the country’s constructive role within the international community.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO

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The National Library of Seychelles this morning hosted the first official commemoration of Abolition of Slavery Day, led by President Dr. Patrick Herminie, bringing together history, culture and national reflection

The ceremony opened with poetry by young Seychellois Tyler Rosalie, whose performance of “En let pou mon met” immediately set a reflective tone. His line, “We have broken the chains that bound our hands, now let us free our minds of the chains,” drew the attention of the President and resonated strongly with those present, capturing the spirit of a commemoration focused on the past and collective resilience.

In his address, President Herminie said the nation had gathered not only to mark a date in history, but to listen to its echoes. He described the abolition of slavery as not simply the end of a system, but the beginning of a long and unfinished journey, from enforced silence to voice, from dispossession to belonging, and from survival to self-definition.

The President noted that slavery tore people from their homelands and stripped them of names and lineages, yet from this rupture emerged something extraordinary: a Creole people forged through resilience, adaptation and creativity. He reminded those present that the ocean surrounding Seychelles is both a source of beauty and sustenance, and a witness that carried pain and separation, just as it now carries connection and possibility.

Traditional dance performances of Sokwe and Tinge followed, highlighting two endangered cultural expressions rooted in ancestral belief and resistance. Sokwe drew particular interest, with dancers clad in costumes made of banana leaves, a tradition believed to chase away evil spirits and symbolising protection, healing and continuity. The programme continued with the poem “I Gou” by Raspyek, offering a raw and powerful reflection on memory and identity 

The most symbolic moment of the ceremony came with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by President Herminie alongside Ms. Cecilia Adrienne, a descendant of enslaved people. The plaque marks a permanent national commitment to honouring those who endured slavery. A tender will be launched later this year for the construction of a monument to be placed at the commemorative site.

As for her part, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mrs. Amanda Bernstein, placed the commemoration within its historical context, recalling that when the Emancipation Act came into force in 1835, the majority of Seychelles’ population were enslaved people drawn from across the region. While slavery ended in law, she noted, its impact extended far beyond abolition, shaping the country’s identity, culture and traditions.

Music added a message of hope and resilience with the performance of “En Referen Lespwar”, written and composed by Jean-Marc Volcy, and performed with accompanying singers Farhine Ali, Alessandro Evenor, Laureen Leon, Jose Bibi and Leah Celestine.

Guests were also given a preview of the exhibition “Echoes Across the Ocean”, featuring more than 50 artworks by five Seychellois artists exploring slavery, memory and identity. Emmanuel D’Offay honours forgotten faces erased from history, while Leon Radegonde reflects on labour and inherited memory through works of quiet strength. Urny Mathiot confronts an “atrocious” period of Seychelles’ early history with disquieting reflections, Egbert Marday’s “Pompe Story” recalls resistance and injustice, and Michel Denousse, through art photography, presents multiple perspectives on slavery.

The formal commemorative activities will continue over the coming week, concluding on 10 February with a cultural talk by Dr. Odile de Commarmond. The exhibition will continue at regional level until 1 May, ensuring that reflection on slavery, resilience and identity reaches communities across Seychelles.

Joining President Herminie at the ceremony were Vice President Mr. Sebastien Pillay, Cabinet Ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, senior government officials, and invited guests, reflecting the importance of the occasion and the nation’s collective dedication to remembering and honouring Seychelles’ history.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO

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President John Dramani Mahama will pay a three-day State Visit to the Republic of Zambia from 4 to 6 February 2026, at the invitation of his Zambian counterpart, President Hakainde Hichilema.

President Mahama will be accompanied by Her Excellency Mrs Lordina Dramani Mahama, First Lady of the Republic.

During the visit, President Mahama will hold bilateral talks with President Hakainde Hichilema on matters of mutual interest, including strengthening diplomatic relations, enhancing trade and investment cooperation, and exploring collaborative opportunities within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

A key highlight of the visit will be an address to the National Assembly of Zambia, where he is expected to share Ghana’s vision for a more integrated and prosperous Africa. President Mahama will also meet with members of the Ghanaian community in Lusaka to interact with compatriots living and working in Zambia.

There will also be a Ghana-Zambia Business Dialogue, co-chaired by Presidents Mahama and Hichilema. The dialogue will provide a platform for Ghana to showcase its digital technologies and fintech services to Zambian businesses and government institutions, fostering economic partnerships and knowledge exchange between the two countries.

President Mahama’s State Visit to Zambia underscores his unwavering commitment to his vision of an Africa that is seamlessly connected through enhanced transport infrastructure, expanded trade linkages, and the free movement of people and goods.

The President remains a strong advocate for the accelerated implementation of the AfCFTA, which he believes is critical to transforming African economies, creating sustainable employment opportunities for the continent’s burgeoning youth population, and positioning Africa competitively in the global economy.

Prior to the State Visit to Zambia, President Mahama will depart Accra on Sunday, 1 February 2026, for Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), at the invitation of His Highness the Ruler of the UAE, to participate in the World Governments Summit 2026, scheduled for 2 to 4 February.

The President will be transported to Dubai on board a special aircraft provided by the Ruler of the UAE, which will also take him and his delegation to Zambia to commence the State Visit.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

Source: APO

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President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday launched the Sheapark Resource Hub Project in Wa, noting that the launch was a deliberate policy choice, which reflects the government’s determination to reset Ghana’s development trajectory by investing in the people, unlocking regional strengths, and ensuring that no part of the country is left behind in the Reset Agenda.

President Mahama said the Upper West Sheapark Resource Hub is anchored in the powerful idea that national development must grow from the regions outward, not necessarily from the centre alone.

“It is part of a broader regional transformation agenda that aligns fully with our flagship national priorities in the Reset Agenda, the Big Push, and the 24-Hour Economy Initiative,” he said.

The President noted that the shea sector occupies a unique and strategic place in Ghana’s rural economy, particularly in the country’s savannah belts. He said across the Upper West Region and other regions of the north, shea trees are not merely economic assets but part of the cultural identity and ecological heritage.

Mr Mahama reiterated that for generations, women have sustained households and communities through shea picking and processing, and yet, despite Ghana’s position as one of the world’s leading producers of shea nuts, the women who form the backbone of this industry have remained trapped in poverty and at the lowest end of the value chain.

President Mahama thanked the Wa Naa, Alhaji Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo VI, who chaired the function, for declaring that the chopping down of shea nut trees should be made a crime and that assemblies and security agencies should enforce it. He appealed to charcoal makers to avoid selecting shea nut trees when selecting trees for charcoal burning.

President Mahama also took the opportunity to commend and express appreciation to the main drivers of this initiative, the Right Honourable Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, and Professor Kwame Addo.

He said the Upper West Sheapark Resource Hub represents a decisive shift from raw extraction to value addition, from informality to enterprise, and from subsistence activity to agro-industrial production.

“This hub is envisioned as a world-class, phased agro-industrial ecosystem designed around sustainability, innovation, and inclusion, and it will bring together modern shea processing facilities for cosmetic production, for food, for nutraceuticals, and for pharmaceutical markets,” he said.

The President said it will also bring together quality control laboratories; training and capacity-building centres; storage, logistics, and warehousing; direct market access; solar-powered energy solutions; water treatment and recycling plants; business incubation; cooperative aggregation; and export facilitation.

He said at full maturity, the Sheapark ecosystem is expected to empower over 7,000 women in the Upper West and support thousands of youth jobs.

President Mahama said the project will anchor value chains not only for shea but also for associated products such as groundnuts, soybeans, sorghum, dawadawa, cotton, and honey.

He said the Sheapark Resource Project is aligned with the centrepiece of the Reset Agenda, which is adding value to products before exporting them.

The President said the Sheapark Resource Hub will operate across shifts, processing, logistics, quality control, packaging, and distribution, creating round-the-clock employment opportunities, especially for young people.

He said the Sheapark Resource Hub is grounded in climate-smart agriculture, sustainable land use, renewable energy integration, waste valorisation and recycling systems, environmental stewardship of the Sheapark lands, and biodiversity.

He said the government has supplied 3,000 Wellington boots and 3,200 gloves to women in the region engaged in the shea industry.

“We know that one of the dangers of shea nut picking is snake bites—snake and scorpion bites. And so these boots will help our women when they go into the bush to pick the shea nuts, so that they can protect themselves against snake and scorpion bites,” he said.

President Mahama said the government is also well advanced in establishing the Women’s Bank, which will support women in business and entrepreneurship.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.