Category: MIL-OSI

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Opening remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa to the meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative

Source: President of South Africa –

Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government;
Your Excellency Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of the African Union Development Agency;
Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation of South Africa, Ms Maropene Ramokgopa;
Honourable Ministers;
Members of the PICI Technical Task Team;
Guests;
Ladies and gentlemen;

Welcome to this first meeting of the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative for 2026. 

We look forward to engaging on the PICI’s 2024-2025 Progress Report, and to reflecting on the joint actions we need to take to accelerate our momentum. 

Infrastructure is a catalyst for economic growth and drives inclusive development. It enables access to markets, essential services and economic opportunities. 

By prioritising infrastructure development, we are laying the groundwork for long-term economic resilience and continental integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area. 

A report last year from the OECD and the AU Commission said that Africa could double its GDP by 2040 if countries scale up their infrastructure investment. 

It is estimated that between $130 billion and $170 billion is required annually to close the infrastructure funding gap in Africa. 

The report further notes that governments account for 41 percent of the continent’s infrastructure spend. This makes governments key to scaling up investment alongside bilateral and multilateral development partners. 

It is pleasing that despite fiscal constraints and geopolitical shifts, our projects have shown remarkable resilience. 

The Trans-Sahara Highway, for example, is now more than 90 percent complete. This brings us closer to the vision of a fully integrated 10,000 km ‘African Unity Road’.

The Algerian segment of the fibre optic link between Nigeria and Algeria is now operational.

We welcome the ongoing work to eliminate roaming charges in the East African Community through the Smart Africa Initiative, under Rwanda’s leadership. This is a model we hope to replicate across the continent.

We note also the renewed political momentum for the Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline and the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor, mobilising more than $15 billion in investment interest.

South African factories are now producing locomotives with over 70 percent local content, proving that Africa can build for Africa. 

We will shortly be going into greater detail on these and other projects under the PICI portfolio. 

To sustain the progress being made, the PICI Secretariat has to become a dedicated project facility that bridges the gap between conceptualisation and financial close. 

We will need to mobilise substantial funds to address early-stage gaps. Preparing megaprojects is resource-intensive and often lacks dedicated financing. 

With sufficient financial capacity we will be able to deploy high-level technical expertise, conduct rigorous feasibility studies and create investment-ready packages that meet international standards. 

In this way, the Secretariat will be better positioned to leverage continental support mechanisms such as the NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility to steer priority projects towards bankability and full implementation. 

The experience of the PICI has shown that high-level political ownership is the single most critical variable for unblocking bottlenecks. 

We must remain vigilant. 

Political instability in some regions has stalled critical projects. 

We must use our collective influence to shield these projects from political cycles and ensure they are incorporated into national legislation for the sake of continuity. 

Allow me to conclude by acknowledging our appreciation to all who have been part of producing the report. 

The line-function Ministers and members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee continue to play a key role in driving the projects forward in our respective countries. 

Thank you to Her Excellency Ms Nardos Bekele-Thomas of AUDA-NEPAD and her Secretariat Team for coordinating the production of this comprehensive report. 

AUDA-NEPAD has been instrumental in maintaining the PICI tracking systems and moving the projects forward. 

We extend our thanks to the PICI Technical Task Team for its rigorous work and validation of the initial reports. 

The quarterly deliberations and analytical insights have ensured that the recommendations we discuss today are grounded in technical reality and operational feasibility. 

This report is more than a record of achievements; it is a call to action. 

We must intensify our efforts, foster deeper collaboration and leverage innovative financing to bring our projects to full implementation. 

The need is great, and our people look to us with even greater expectation. 

Together, we are weaving a tapestry of progress that will ensure that every corner of our continent is connected and that every country thrives. 

I thank you.

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Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (BAD) aprova novo programa para ajudar países africanos a transformar promessas em eletricidade para milhões

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

O Conselho de Administração do Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (BAD) (www.AfDB.org) aprovou um novo projeto de assistência técnica de dois anos, no valor de 3,9 milhões de dólares, para apoiar os países africanos na implementação dos seus Compactos Nacionais de Energia no âmbito da Missão 300, a iniciativa do BAD e do Banco Mundial para ligar 300 milhões de africanos à eletricidade até 2030.

Os Compactos Nacionais de Energia são planos nacionais nos quais os governos definem como irão expandir o acesso à eletricidade, fortalecer os seus setores energéticos e atrair investimentos. Ao longo do último ano, dezenas de países africanos lançaram esses compactos, apoiados por fortes compromissos políticos e promessas de parceiros de desenvolvimento.

O novo projeto, conhecido como AESTAP Missão 300 Fase II, fornecerá apoio técnico direto a 13 países da Missão 300 nos próximos 24 meses, permitindo-lhes passar de planos energéticos documentados para ligações elétricas reais para residências, escolas, hospitais e empresas. Os países beneficiários são Chade, Gabão, Tanzânia, Mauritânia, República Democrática do Congo, Quénia, Nigéria, Madagáscar, Etiópia, Maláui, Lesoto, Namíbia e Uganda.

Em termos práticos, a AESTAP Mission 300 Fase II irá:

  • Ajudar os governos a melhorar a regulamentação, o planeamento e as tarifas de eletricidade para que os investimentos possam avançar.
  • Fortalecer os serviços públicos para que possam fornecer energia mais fiável e reduzir as perdas.
  • Apoiar melhores dados, investigação e aprendizagem entre países através de ferramentas como o Índice Regulatório de Eletricidade e fóruns regionais de energia.
  • Colocar consultores especializados nas Unidades Nacionais de Execução e Monitorização do Compacto para ajudar os governos a coordenar reformas e acompanhar o progresso.

Wale Shonibare, Diretor de Soluções Financeiras, Política e Regulamentação Energética do BAD, disse: “Os países assumiram compromissos ousados através dos seus compactos energéticos. Agora, na Missão 300 Fase II da AESTAP, estamos a ajudá-los a implementar esses compromissos para que mais famílias, empresários e comunidades tenham realmente acesso à eletricidade”.

O novo projeto segue a aprovação da Missão 300 Fase I da AESTAP em dezembro de 2025, que forneceu cerca de 1 milhão de dólares para ajudar os países a criar e operar as suas Unidades de Execução e Monitorização do Compacto (CDMUs). Estas unidades estão sediadas nos governos e são responsáveis pela coordenação das reformas energéticas entre os ministérios e pelo acompanhamento dos progressos.

A Fase I centrou-se na criação e no reforço destas equipas de execução – formação de pessoal, criação de ferramentas de monitorização e ajuda aos países no planeamento dos seus próximos passos. A Fase II irá dar continuidade a este trabalho, fornecendo o apoio técnico necessário para implementar as reformas planeadas. O projeto será implementado em coordenação com outros parceiros da Missão 300, incluindo o Banco Mundial, governos e organizações de desenvolvimento, a fim de garantir um esforço coordenado.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contacto para os media:
Alexis Adélé
Departamento de Comunicação e Relações Externas
media@afdb.org

Sobre o Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento:
O Grupo Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento é a principal instituição financeira de desenvolvimento em África. Inclui três entidades distintas: o Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (AfDB), o Fundo Africano de Desenvolvimento (ADF) e o Fundo Fiduciário da Nigéria (NTF). Presente no terreno em 41 países africanos, com uma representação externa no Japão, o Banco contribui para o desenvolvimento económico e o progresso social dos seus 54 Estados-membros. Mais informações em www.AfDB.org/pt

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African Development Bank (AfDB) Approves New Program to Help African Countries Turn Energy Promises into Power for Millions

Source: APO – Report:

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) (www.AfDB.org) has approved a new USD 3.9 million, two-year technical assistance project to support African countries in the implementation of their National Energy Compacts into action under Mission 300, the AfDB–World Bank initiative to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.

Energy Compacts are national plans in which governments set out how they will expand electricity access, strengthen their power sectors, and attract investment. Over the past year, dozens of African countries have launched these compacts, backed by strong political commitments and pledges from development partners.

The new project, known as AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II, will provide direct technical support to 13 Mission 300 countries over the next 24 months, enabling them to move from documented energy plans to actual electricity connections for homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses. The benefiting countries are Chad, Gabon, Tanzania, Mauritania, DRC, Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Malawi, Lesotho, Namibia, and Uganda.

In practical terms, AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II will:

  • Help governments improve electricity regulations, planning, and tariffs so investments can move forward.
  • Strengthen utilities so they can deliver more reliable power and reduce losses.
  • Support better data, research, and learning across countries through tools like the Electricity Regulatory Index and regional energy forums.
  • Place expert advisers inside national Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units to help governments coordinate reforms and track progress.

Wale Shonibare, Director of Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulation at the AfDB, said, “Countries have made bold commitments through their energy compacts. Now, through AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II, we are helping them implement those commitments so that more households, entrepreneurs, and communities actually get electricity.”

The new project follows the approval of AESTAP Mission 300 Phase I in December 2025, which provided about USD 1 million to help countries set up and run their Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units (CDMUs). These units sit inside governments and are responsible for coordinating energy reforms across ministries and tracking progress.

Phase I focused on creating and strengthening these delivery teams – training staff, setting up monitoring tools, and helping countries plan their next steps. Phase II will build on this by providing the technical support needed to implement planned reforms. The project will be implemented in coordination with other Mission 300 partners, including the World Bank, governments, and development organizations, to ensure a coordinated effort.

– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media contact:
Alexis Adélé,
Department of Communication and External Relations,
media@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group:
African Development Bank Group is the leading development finance institution in Africa. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Special Fund (NSF). Represented in 41 African countries, with a field office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

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La Banque africaine de développement approuve un nouveau programme pour aider les pays africains à transformer leurs promesses énergétiques en électricité pour des millions de personnes

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Le Conseil d’administration de la Banque africaine de développement (www.AfDB.org) a approuvé un nouveau projet d’assistance technique, doté de 3,9 millions de dollars sur deux ans, pour aider les pays africains à mettre en œuvre leurs Pactes nationaux pour l’énergie dans le cadre de la Mission 300. Cette initiative, portée par le Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement et le Groupe de la Banque mondiale, vise à raccorder 300 millions d’Africains à l’électricité d’ici à 2030.

Les pactes énergétiques sont des plans nationaux dans lesquels les gouvernements définissent la manière dont ils vont étendre l’accès à l’électricité, renforcer leur secteur énergétique et attirer des investissements. Au cours de l’année écoulée, des dizaines de pays africains ont lancé ces pactes, soutenus par des engagements politiques forts et des promesses des partenaires du développement.

Le nouveau projet, dénommé « AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II », fournira une assistance technique directe à 13 pays de la Mission 300 au cours des 24 prochains mois afin de leur permettre de passer de plans énergétiques écrits à de véritables raccordements à l’électricité pour les foyers, les écoles, les hôpitaux et les entreprises. Les pays bénéficiaires sont le Tchad, le Gabon, la Tanzanie, la Mauritanie, la République démocratique du Congo, le Kenya, le Nigéria, Madagascar, l’Éthiopie, le Malawi, le Lesotho, la Namibie et l’Ouganda.

Concrètement, le nouveau projet va :

  • Aider les gouvernements à améliorer la réglementation, la planification et les tarifs de l’électricité afin que les investissements puissent se concrétiser.
  • Renforcer les services publics afin qu’ils puissent fournir une énergie plus fiable et réduire les pertes.
  • Soutenir l’amélioration de la qualité des données, de la recherche et de l’apprentissage dans les pays grâce à des outils tels que l’Indice de réglementation de l’électricité en Afrique et les forums régionaux sur l’énergie.
  • Déployer des conseillers experts au sein des Unités nationales de mise en œuvre et de suivi des pactes afin d’aider les gouvernements à coordonner les réformes et à suivre les progrès accomplis.

« Les pays ont pris des engagements audacieux dans le cadre de leurs pactes pour l’énergie, a souligné Wale Shonibare, directeur des solutions financières, de la politique et de la régulation de l’énergie à la Banque africaine de développement, Aujourd’hui, grâce à l’AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II, nous les aidons à mettre en œuvre ces engagements afin que davantage de ménages, d’entrepreneurs et de communautés aient effectivement accès à l’électricité. »

Cela fait suite à l’approbation de la phase I de l’AESTAP Mission 300 en décembre 2025, qui a fourni environ un million de dollars américains pour aider les pays à mettre en place et à gérer leurs Unités de mise en œuvre et de suivi des pactes (CDMU). Ces unités siègent au sein des gouvernements et sont chargées de la coordination des réformes énergétiques entre les ministères et du suivi des progrès.

La phase I du projet s’est concentrée sur la création et le renforcement de ces équipes de mise en œuvre : formation du personnel, mise en place d’outils de suivi et accompagnement des pays dans la planification de leurs prochaines étapes. La phase II s’appuiera sur ces acquis en fournissant l’assistance technique nécessaire à la mise en œuvre des réformes prévues. Le nouveau projet sera mis en œuvre en coordination avec d’autres partenaires de la Mission 300, notamment le Groupe de la Banque mondiale, les gouvernements et les organisations de développement, afin de garantir une action coordonnée.

Distribué par APO Group pour African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contact médias :
Alexis Adélé
Département de la communication et des relations extérieures
media@afdb.org

À propos du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement :
Le Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement est la première institution de financement du développement en Afrique. Il comprend trois entités distinctes : la Banque africaine de développement, le Fonds africain de développement et le Fonds spécial du Nigéria. Présente dans 44 pays africains et disposant d’un bureau de représentation extérieure au Japon, le Groupe de la Banque contribue au développement économique et au progrès social de ses 54 pays membres régionaux.  

Plus d’informations : www.AfDB.org

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President El-Sisi Visits the Egyptian Military Academy in the New Capital

Source: APO


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Early this morning, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi conducted an inspection visit to the Egyptian Military Academy in the New Capital. Upon his arrival, the President was received by the Director of the Egyptian Military Academy Lieutenant General Ashraf Zaher.

Spokesman for the Presidency Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy stated that President El-Sisi began his visit by performing Fajr prayer with the academy’s students. Then the President observed the morning lineup’s physical fitness and witnessed the marching, equestrian, cycling, and cross-country parade passing the podium.

President El-Sisi also delivered a speech prior to the start of the morning lineup.

Following this, the President met with female students of the College of Medicine and female participants in the Ministry of Transport course, before heading to the equestrian club at the academy.

Along the way, President El-Sisi passed by fitness and cycling groups, challenge fields, and team-work activity areas, where students demonstrated various skills. The President was received at the club by its director and a number of officers. The President was briefed on the latest developments related to the equestrian club, observed archery and show jumping demonstrations. The President then headed to the equestrian track to follow up on the horse breeding nucleus experiment.

The President had breakfast with the academy’s students and engaged in dialogue with them, emphasizing the importance of practicing sports and of instilling a culture of physical activity among the Egyptian people. The President stressed the importance of academy students continuing to practice sports after graduation.

President El-Sisi reiterated that the curricula taught at the academy ensure educational merit, explaining that the academy’s education and examination system was designed according to the highest standards following thorough study and review.

The President noted that consideration is being given to establishing specialized, high-level military colleges that would teach civilian subjects such as politics, economics, medicine, and engineering.

President El-Sisi stressed the importance of respecting cultural differences among people and avoiding polarization. The President pointed out that the academy’s programs consolidate concepts of coexistence and acceptance among students. The President reaffirmed his keenness to personally follow up on students’ conditions and the state of the academy, with the aim of continuously improving and enriching the experience. The President advised academy students on the importance of making good use of time and social media.

President El-Sisi further emphasized that appointment to government positions must be based on objective, neutral, and abstract criteria, without any favoritism, to ensure justice and credibility, stressing his firm keenness to ensure the application of this principle.

The President concluded his inspection tour of the Egyptian Military Academy by viewing a presentation of the academy’s electronic historical record by the Director of the Academy.

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

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‘AmaPanyaza’ crime prevention wardens declared Peace Officers

Source: Government of South Africa

‘AmaPanyaza’ crime prevention wardens declared Peace Officers

The Crime Prevention Wardens (CPWs) – popularly known as amaPanyaza – have been formally declared as Peace Officers in terms of Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Act.

This was announced by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, during a joint media briefing with Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.

The wardens were disbanded last year following an investigation by the Public Protector (PP), which found that the CPWs’ establishment, appointment and deployment were not underpinned by an appropriate legislative framework and directed remedial actions to be taken.

Briefing the media on Friday, Kubayi assured that all the remedial actions directed by the PP have been acted upon.

“Government has worked collaboratively across spheres to address the legal deficiencies identified and to align the process with the applicable legislative framework. In this regard, over 9 000 wardens will be declared Peace Officers.

“[The] Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development has Gazetted and declared the Gauteng traffic wardens as Peace Officers and therefore making them lawful to operate,” she said.

The CPWs will receive specialised and accredited training, and then absorbed by the Community Safety Department in Gauteng.

“Government… confirms that training is a critical requirement in the process of declaring any category of persons as Peace Officers. Such training must attest to the competency of individuals to exercise powers contemplated in section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, and is considered by the Minister of Police when assessing requests for declaration. 

“We confirm that the wardens are currently undergoing a second phase of training to qualify in line with their designated functions, following recommendations contained in the relevant technical report.

“This process is being undertaken alongside engagements with the relevant stakeholders to ensure full compliance with all legal and statutory requirements,” Kubayi said.

The Peace Officers may only exercise powers within a “specified jurisdiction, in relation to defined offences, and strictly within the scope set out in the declaration published in the Government Gazette”.

“These duties may only be exercised when an officer is properly appointed and in possession of a valid certificate of appointment, failing which, any action taken has no legal force or effect.

“Government has therefore ensured compliance with the legal and policy basis underpinning this declaration, including alignment with the National Road Traffic Act, 1996, the steps taken to give effect to the Public Protector’s remedial actions, and clarity on the scope of authority, powers and limitations applicable to the wardens,” Kubayi explained.

Force multiplier

Cachalia described the declaration as a “significant milestone in strengthening law enforcement capacity”.

“These Peace officers will play a critical role in supporting the criminal justice system. They will serve as a force multiplier for the SAPS by assisting with law enforcement functions within their designated powers.

“Their role enhances visibility, improves response capacity, and contributes to the prevention and detection of crime, particularly in high-pressure environments such as our road networks.”

He praised the Gauteng Provincial Government for creating innovative ways to fight crime.

“The rule of law is a core value of our constitutional order. But it’s not a straight jacket. It allows for innovative responses to public needs, including what is a core interest of our people, public order and safety.

“We are now in a position to implement this brainchild of Premier Lesufi in a way that is lawful and constitutionally compliant. It’s going to make a difference to the communities in Gauteng,” he said.

The Gauteng Premier echoed the Police Minister’s sentiments, stating that the province is determined to push back against criminality.

“This is a victory for the rule of law and for integrated crime fighting that helps align our efforts and strengthen the hand of the State against criminality. Our decision to support the SAPS was nothing else but to ensure that we push back crime in our province.

“Every time statistics were released, we knew that Gauteng was the epicentre of crime in our country.

“As the economic hub of our country, there was no way we could fold our arms when children are killed, women are attacked [and] people are mugged. We felt we must go beyond words… to push back crime in our province,” Lesufi asserted. – SAnews.gov.za

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South Sudan’s White Army explained: what it is – and what it isn’t

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Jan Pospisil, Researcher at the Austrian Institute for International Affairs

The UN issued warnings of potential mass violence between the South Sudanese government and the White Army in January 2026. A peace agreement ended a five-year civil war in the country in 2018. This was followed by a period of relative calm that ended in 2025 in the wake of clashes between the government and White Army. Attempts to bring peace since have faltered. The government has charged and suspended first vice-president Riek Machar over claims he commanded the White Army during the violence in Nasir, Upper Nile State. Jan Pospisil, who has studied South Sudan’s conflict dynamics, explains the origins of the White Army and its political impact.

What is the White Army?

The White Army is best understood as a set of temporary, community-mandated self-defence mobilisations, organised along sectional and clan lines.

The term “White Army” refers to the ash traditionally used in Nuer cattle camps to repel mosquitoes. The ash is smeared on the bodies and faces of young men and gives them a whitish appearance. The Nuer are one of South Sudan’s largest ethnic groups. They primarily keep cattle and inhabit the greater Upper Nile region.

Authority in the White Army flows upward from communities, not downward from political leaders.

The White Army’s orientation is primarily defensive: protecting cattle, land and local autonomy in an environment where the state is experienced less as a provider of security than as a source of threat.

But this defensive logic coexists with raiding and inter-communal violence.

Its history explains its ambivalent role.

The White Army grew out of Nuer youth self-defence formations that had existed since the 1960s.

In 1991, the White Army started to pro-actively use this name and was drawn into national conflict around the so-called Nasir split. This is when suspended vice-president Riek Machar and other predominantly Nuer commanders broke with John Garang’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. Garang, who died in 2005, was from another of South Sudan’s major ethnic groups, the Dinka.

White Army forces fought alongside the Nasir faction (led by, among others, Machar) and were central to a massive attack on Bor later in 1991. The Bor massacre led to the death of several thousand Bor Dinka, a sub-group of the Dinka people who primarily inhabit Jonglei State.

Attacks were carried out largely by White Army fighters pursuing revenge over cattle raids and local objectives that aligned only partially with Machar’s political aims. This is an episode Machar apologised for in 2011, saying he

was responsible for both the good things and the bad things that came as a result of the Nasir Declaration.

The apology was revealing. It acknowledged political responsibility without implying operational command.

The Bor massacre remains a dominant lens through which many Bor Dinka understand the White Army: as an organised anti-Dinka force opposing the ruling party. This is understandable, but is also a source of lasting misperception about how the group operates.

What’s the relationship between Riek Machar and the White Army?

Machar has benefited politically from White Army mobilisation. But he does not direct it.

His current prosecution is therefore deeply ironic. Machar is accused of commanding a force that has, time and again, demonstrated its structural resistance to sustained external control, including his own.

He is now being tried for exercising a form of command that he has long sought but never fully possessed.

From the 1991 Nasir split to the civil war between the government and the Machar-led opposition that erupted in December 2013 and the renewed violence of 2025, White Army forces have repeatedly fought alongside Machar’s forces.

However, the White Army exists as an amalgamation of community militias that are tied to particular areas rather than as one organised force. Their size depends on the capacity of regional leaders to mobilise the youth at a given time.

During the civil war, White Army mobilisations delivered some of the opposition’s most significant battlefield successes.

Yet these forces often withdraw once immediate objectives – such as the defeat of militias aligned with the government in a certain territory – are achieved. This leaves opposition units unable to hold territory.

The assumption that’s made is that these temporary alliances equate to control of the White Army. They don’t. Confusing the two has repeatedly distorted how South Sudan’s conflicts are understood – and mismanaged.

Conflating the White Army with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-in-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) serves a political purpose. It legitimises state counterinsurgency, including airstrikes over the course of 2025 that hit civilian areas. It recasts local resistance as elite manipulation.

But it also obscures deeper drivers of South Sudan’s violence: the collapse of civilian protection, the outsourcing of force to allied ethnic militias such as the Agwelek or the Abushok, and the ethnicisation of political belonging since 2013.

If the White Army continues to be misunderstood, the danger is further ethnicisation of South Sudan’s politics. This is where complex communal violence is reduced to criminal conspiracy and used to legitimise militarised state responses.

Treating political crises as matters for prosecution rather than compromise risks deepening the very dynamics that have fuelled South Sudan’s wars since 2013.

The state portrays the White Army as a terrorist group: why is this a problem?

In the case it has brought against Machar, the government is advancing a familiar claim: that the White Army is an armed wing of the SPLM/A-IO acting on Machar’s orders.

The charge matters. It underpins not only Machar’s prosecution, but also a wider narrative that treats community mobilisations as opposition conspiracy in South Sudan.

The claim rests on a fundamental misunderstanding of what the White Army is, and has been for more than three decades.

Firstly, the group draws on long-standing Nuer community self-defence traditions, even if it became politically visible in national conflict in the early 1990s. It is neither purely protective nor purely predatory. This makes the White Army difficult to incorporate into elite peace agreements, and easy to mischaracterise as irrational or terrorist.

Secondly, the White Army is not a standing militia, nor an insurgent organisation with a central command. Authority flows from the community.

To understand why the White Army mobilises as it does, it is important to consider December 2013. The mass killing of Nuer civilians in Juba at the outbreak of civil war marked a decisive rupture in South Sudan’s political order. Violence that had previously been mediated through elite rivalry and fragmented local conflicts became overtly tribalised.

For many Nuer communities, December 2013 was experienced not as a power struggle within the ruling party, but as an existential attack marked by mass killings, displacement and the collapse of civilian protection.

This interpretation – whether accepted or rejected by external observers – has shaped mobilisation ever since. White Army fighters interviewed by journalists and researchers over the past decade have been consistent: they did not fight because Machar was removed from office, but because Nuer civilians were killed.

And since 2013, Nuer diaspora networks across North America, Europe and east Africa have played a role in supporting White Army mobilisations. This support has taken multiple forms: fundraising, advocacy and social media campaigning, logistical assistance, and political pressure on opposition leaders.

Diaspora involvement reinforces White Army mobilisation by amplifying narratives of collective victimhood and unfinished justice, often from a distance that strips away the everyday constraints faced by communities on the ground.

As a result, South Sudan’s 2013 war did not merely fragment the state; it reshaped political identities far beyond its territory.

– South Sudan’s White Army explained: what it is – and what it isn’t
– https://theconversation.com/south-sudans-white-army-explained-what-it-is-and-what-it-isnt-274656

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Closing remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative (PICI) Heads of State and Government Meeting

Source: President of South Africa –

Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Ministers,
Representatives of Member States,
Ladies and gentlemen,

As we conclude our deliberations today, allow me to extend my sincere appreciation to all of you for the depth of engagement and the renewed sense of collective purpose that has defined this meeting.

Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its development journey.  

Through the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative, we are charting a course to accelerate the continent’s transformation by placing strategic infrastructure at the heart of our shared vision.  

This initiative is not simply about building roads, bridges, and energy corridors. It is about connecting our people, our economies and our aspirations.  

We need to ensure that these projects translate into tangible progress for every community, every region and every citizen. This means we need to mobilise resources and unite governments, partners and the private sector.  

Our discussions today have reaffirmed the tangible progress being made across the continent.  

The highways, bridges, corridors and cables that are being built are lifelines of trade, integration and opportunity. They represent the arteries of a modern, interconnected and competitive Africa.

This meeting has confronted the persistent challenges that continue to slow our momentum, including financing constraints, weak coordination mechanisms, limited secretariat capacity and security risks.  

These are real and pressing obstacles. But they are not insurmountable.

As we look ahead to the forthcoming African Union Summit in mid-February, our task is clear: to translate today’s reflections into a strong, coherent and actionable mandate.  

We seek a mandate that re-energises political support for the initiative, that strengthens its institutional base, and that secures the sustainable financing and partnerships necessary to deliver the next generation of transformative infrastructure.

Let us continue to ensure that PICI remains fully aligned with the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area, so that every road we pave, every bridge we build, every data link we connect contributes directly to deeper integration, expanded trade and shared prosperity.

The spirit of unity and practical solidarity displayed here today gives us confidence that, together, we will overcome the barriers before us and accelerate Africa’s infrastructure transformation.

Let us leave this meeting not only with a report to adopt, but with a renewed conviction that Africa’s development is, and must remain, championed by Africans.  

It must be driven by our leadership, financed through our ingenuity and sustained by our shared vision for a continent that is connected in every sense.

I thank you.

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ConstructAfrica Announces Appointment of Tadiwanashe Taimu to Its Advisory Board

Source: APO

ConstructAfrica (https://ConstructAfrica.com) is delighted to announce the appointment of Tadiwanashe Taimu to the ConstructAfrica Industry Advisory Board (CIAB) as the Board’s Youth Representative.

Tadiwa is a highly accomplished construction project manager and emerging industry leader with experience spanning large-scale, mixed-use, and infrastructure-led developments across public and private sectors. She brings strong expertise in project coordination, cost and scope alignment, and multidisciplinary stakeholder engagement throughout the project lifecycle. Her work across hospitality, commercial, residential, and retail sectors reflect a holistic understanding of the built environment and its role in sustainable development.

Dr. Ogunshakin OBE, chair of the Advisory Board, said, “I am delighted to welcome Tadiwanashe on board as a member of the ConstructAfrica) Industry Advisory Board (CIAB). Her energy, passion, insightful and innovative perspective on how best to engender capacity building and sustainable development within the African construction industry sector would be invaluable to the Board. The CIAB is keen to ensure the youth of tomorrow across the African continent are fully engaged in the future direction of CA activities. We are looking forward to Taimu’s contributions as we progress with the rollout of the CA strategic plan, Ambassador programme, and youth stakeholders’ engagement over the coming years.

In addition to her professional practice, Tadiwa has held prominent leadership roles within the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), including service as the Tomorrow’s Leaders Representative for Sub-Saharan Africa and as a member of the CIOB Member Engagement Committee. In these capacities, she has contributed to governance initiatives, regional capacity building, and the advancement of emerging professionals in the construction industry.

“We are honoured to welcome Tadiwa to the ConstructAfrica Industry Advisory Board,” said Dr. Segun, Founder and Publisher of ConstructAfrica. “Her insight, technical expertise, and commitment to nurturing the next generation of construction professionals will be invaluable as we deepen our engagement across Africa’s built environment. Tadiwa’s perspective as a dynamic, emerging leader will help ensure that the Board reflects the diversity of voices shaping the future of infrastructure and development.”

Tadiwa’s appointment reflects ConstructAfrica’s commitment to advancing thought leadership, strategic insight, and actionable intelligence across Africa’s construction and infrastructure landscape. As the youngest member of the CIAB, she brings a future-focused perspective that will inform the Board’s work in strengthening industry capability, shaping informed dialogue, and supporting the next phase of sector transformation.

Commenting on her appointment, Tadiwa said, “I am deeply honoured to join the ConstructAfrica Industry Advisory Board and grateful for the opportunity to contribute at such a pivotal time for Africa’s built environment. My journey in the industry has reinforced the importance of integrity, accountability, and collaboration rooted in the African principle of Ubuntu — the understanding that progress is strongest when it is collective and inclusive. I look forward to contributing a youth-informed, future-focused perspective while supporting ConstructAfrica’s mission to strengthen transparency, capability, and long-term value creation across Africa’s construction and infrastructure sectors.”

ConstructAfrica looks forward to Tadiwa’s contributions to the CIAB as it continues to enhance data-driven decision-making, support strategic partnerships, and provide critical market intelligence to stakeholders across Africa’s infrastructure and construction sectors.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of ConstructAfrica.

About ConstructAfrica:
ConstructAfrica is a data-driven platform dedicated to enhancing transparency, efficiency, and collaboration across the African construction and infrastructure ecosystem. By integrating project data with market insights, ConstructAfrica supports investors, developers, governments, and industry stakeholders in making more informed decisions that accelerate sustainable development across the continent.

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Nigeria to Host 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo Under the Patronage of the Office of the Vice President

Source: APO – Report:

Preparations are underway for the 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo (RACE 2026) (https://RegTechAfrica.com), Africa’s flagship platform on regulatory technology, digital innovation, and policy reform, scheduled to hold from 20–22 May 2026 at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Conference will be held under the Patronage of the Office of the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, in partnership with the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI), and in collaboration with the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA)—underscoring its strategic importance to Nigeria’s and Africa’s economic transformation agenda.

Anchored on the theme “Building Trust, Infrastructure, Inclusion, and Policy for a Borderless Economy,” RACE 2026 will convene regulators, policymakers, technology leaders, innovators, investors, and development partners to shape the future of Africa’s digital and regulatory landscape in an era of accelerating cross-border trade and financial integration.

As Africa advances the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)—a single market of over 1.4 billion people and a projected value of US$3.4 trillion—the Conference will address one of the continent’s most pressing challenges: how to align technology, regulation, and policy to enable seamless, trusted, and inclusive economic activity across borders.

“RACE 2026 is positioned as a strategic policy and innovation platform—where technology-enabled regulation becomes a catalyst for trust, inclusion, and sustainable economic growth across Africa,” Cyril Okoroigwe, Chair Organising Committee.

A Platform for Regulatory Innovation and Economic Empowerment

The Conference will spotlight how RegTech, SupTech, artificial intelligence, digital identity, interoperable payment systems, cybersecurity, and data-driven compliance solutions can reduce friction, lower risk, and unlock opportunities for governments, businesses, startups, and citizens.

Key outcomes will focus on:

  • Building trust through technology-enabled regulation and smarter supervision
  • Strengthening digital infrastructure for interoperable payments, identity, and data exchange
  • Driving inclusion for SMEs, startups, women, and underserved populations
  • Modernising policy frameworks to support innovation while safeguarding financial integrity

High-Level Engagement and Global Participation

RACE 2026 will feature 50+ world-class speakers, 10 thematic tracks, and over 1,000 in-person and virtual participants from across Africa and the global financial and technology ecosystem. The hybrid event will include ministerial dialogues, regulators’ CEO forums, innovation showcases, and curated B2B and B2G networking sessions.

A major highlight will be the Global Startup World Cup – Regional Challenge, positioning Abuja as a launchpad for Africa’s most promising technology startups to compete on the global stage.

Speaking on the partnership, Dr. Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, Technical Adviser to the President / Executive Secretary, Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI):

“The 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo aligns strongly with Nigeria’s commitment to economic and financial inclusion. By bringing together regulators, innovators, and policymakers, the Conference provides a critical platform to harness technology and smart regulation as tools for trust-building, inclusion, and sustainable economic growth—both within Nigeria and across Africa.”

Call to Action: Registration and Partnerships

Attendance at the 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo is strictly by registration, which is mandatory for all participants. Early registration is strongly encouraged due to limited capacity and high-level security protocols at the venue.

Organizations interested in partnerships, sponsorships, exhibitions, or strategic participation are invited to engage with the Organising Committee.

Partnership & Sponsorship Enquiries:
Email: info@regtechafricaconference.com

Registration & Event Information:
Website: www.RegTechAfricaConference.com

Positioning Africa for a Borderless Future

Through strategic media engagement and the #BorderlessAfriconomy and #RACE2026 campaigns, the Conference aims to reshape global narratives—presenting Africa not as a high-risk market, but as a policy-aware, innovation-ready, and investment-attractive continent.

The 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo is expected to play a defining role in advancing Africa’s journey toward borderless economic empowerment, where trust, technology, and policy work together to deliver shared prosperity.

Event Details:
Venue: State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja
Date: 20–22 May 2026
Format: Hybrid (In-person & Virtual)
Website: www.RegTechAfricaConference.com

– on behalf of RegTech Africa.

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