Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

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The Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Seychelles, H.E. Mr. Henry Jardine paid a virtual farewell call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Mr. Barry Faure on Thursday 08 January 2026.

During the call, Ambassador Jardine expressed his gratitude to the Minister and staff of the Ministry for the strong collaboration during his three-year tenure as non-resident Ambassador. He emphasised that bilateral cooperation between the two countries would remain strong and that existing programmes would continue.

He highlighted several areas of cooperation, including collaboration between the Central Bank of Seychelles and the United States Department of the Treasury to combat financial crime, law enforcement training initiatives, capacity-building in the military domain, and the United States’ annual participation in Seychelles’ National Day celebrations.

Minister Faure thanked Ambassador Jardine for his commitment and engagement towards the relationship between the Seychelles and the U.S.A.

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

Source: APO

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On January 7, Ambassador Yin Chengwu and Hon. Gregory O.W. Coleman, Inspector General of the Liberia National Police, attended the handover ceremony for the China-Aid police supplies project to Liberia. The event was also attended by Counselor Zhang Yimin of Chinese Embassy, Hon. William K. Mulbah, Deputy Inspector General for Administration of Liberia National Police, and others.

Ambassador Yin noted that these police supplies are one of the outcomes of the meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Joseph Nyuma Boakai during the Beijing Summit of the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation. They concretely demonstrate China’s support for Liberia in strengthening its law enforcement capacity, reflect China’s commitment to supporting the ARREST agenda of the Liberian government. Furthermore, they serve as a vivid demonstration of China-Liberia strategic partnership. China remains committed to strengthening law enforcement cooperation with Liberia and promoting the development of China-Liberia strategic partnership.

Coleman expressed gratitude for the long-term strong support from the Chinese side. He stated that the supplies would significantly enhance the operational capacity of the Liberian police. He reaffirmed Liberia’s firm adherence to the One-China Principle and support for China’s efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Following the ceremony, both sides signed the handover certificate and cut the ribbon for the assisted supplies.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Liberia.

Source: APO

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On January 6, 2026 the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Evgueni Sobolevski, met with the First Deputy Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of Egypt and Head of the Egyptian Commercial Service, Abdelaziz Al-Sherif.

The schedule of high-level visits to Belarus and meetings of bilateral cooperation bodies, including the organization of the 8th meeting of the Belarusian-Egyptian Joint Trade Commission in Minsk, was discussed.

Particular emphasis was placed on industrial cooperation, including the resumption of assembly operations for Belarusian agricultural machinery in Egypt, and the need to establish direct interbank cooperation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.

Source: APO – Report:

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Tomorrow marks 1,000 days since armed conflict erupted in Sudan, a war that has devastated lives, shattered communities, and driven the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. What began as a deadly power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has spiraled into a full-scale humanitarian disaster, marked by mass displacement, famine-level hunger, and widespread violence. 

Across the country, health systems have collapsed, sanitation and water systems are destroyed, and disease outbreaks are sweeping through overcrowded displacement sites. Humanitarian needs are far outstripping resources. Without a dramatic increase in funding and unhindered humanitarian access, more lives will be lost and communities destroyed.

Bob Kitchen, IRC’s Vice President of Emergencies, recently visited Darfur and said,

“One thousand days of war is one thousand days of failure. After 50 hours of driving across Darfur, I witnessed a stark convergence: streams of people fleeing conflict and convoys of humanitarian aid moving toward one another through a landscape of difficulty and violence. I watched families fleeing south with whatever they could carry—and at the same time saw our teams grinding north through mountain passes to meet them with health care, clean water, and cash assistance.

“El Fasher, once home to more than 1 million people, has become a grim emblem of Sudan’s descent. Those who were able to flee to Tawila have described to IRC aid workers large-scale sexual violence, executions, forced recruitment, and children separated during escape routes. 

“In Tawila, Zalingei, and El Geneina, I met people who have survived horrors most of the world will never see, yet remain determined to keep their families alive. The IRC is one of the largest providers of lifesaving services in these areas, supporting more than half a million people who have been displaced again and again by relentless violence.

“As we approach this catastrophic milestone, the world must not look away. Civilians have paid the highest price for a conflict they did not choose and need decisive international action, unfettered humanitarian access, increased funding, and real diplomatic pressure on those fueling this crisis. The people of Sudan deserve safety, dignity, and the chance to rebuild their lives.”

The IRC’s 2026 Emergency Watchlist highlights Sudan is a stark symbol of the “New World Disorder,” in which:

• Warring parties and regional backers continue to benefit from conflict;
• Diplomacy has repeatedly fractured, with failed ceasefires, U.N. Security Council vetoes and fragmented mediation efforts; and
• Humanitarian funding has collapsed by 50%, leaving millions without the assistance required to survive.

The IRC urges immediate and sustained international action, including increased humanitarian funding, guarantees of safe passage for civilians and diplomatic pressure on all parties to prevent further loss of life and support pathways to peace.

– on behalf of International Rescue Committee (IRC) .

Source: APO

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Across the Central Sahel region, millions of children carry deep mental scars resulting from exposure to extreme violence and armed conflict. Through its Better Learning Programme (BLP), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has helped close to 100,000 children across the region to begin to recover, giving children, teachers, and entire communities a chance to rebuild hope after trauma. A severe lack of funding means support is only available for a fraction of those in need. Donors must step up and fund these programmes at the scale this crisis demands. At the same time education authorities must ensure that mental health and psychosocial support are fully integrated into teacher training and classroom practice — as an essential part of helping children learn and thrive again.

Across Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which make up the Central Sahel, 12 million people now require humanitarian support, including 8.2 million children.

“Imagine a child in your care telling you: ‘I saw a motorbike hit a child until his head exploded.’ This offers a small window into the immense trauma being endured by children in some of the world’s most complex – and neglected – humanitarian crises, in the Central Sahel,” said Hassane Hamadou, NRC’s regional director for Central and West Africa.  

“Gunfire, displacement, and food insecurity have become part of daily life, with many children also witnessing terrible atrocities. Children urgently need psychosocial support to process this trauma, and to give them the tools not only to begin healing, but also for their communities to begin to rebuild.” 

Testimonies collected by NRC demonstrate that children continue to live with the trauma and sense of danger generated by such experiences long after the immediate threat has passed. Their mental wounds are compounded by a lack of educational opportunities, and an even deeper lack of psychosocial support, which both have a detrimental effect on children’s ability to learn.  

Amid these challenges, governments across the Central Sahel are showing leadership by helping to keep children learning and integrating psychosocial wellbeing into education policy and practice. NRC’s Better Learning Programme, developed in partnership with the Arctic University of Norway and implemented in partnership with education ministries, builds on this momentum. It offers a tested approach to address trauma and restore learning abilities; several countries, including Burkina Faso, are now adopting it at national scale.  

The programme, which mobilises the support network of caregivers, teachers, and counsellors, aims to restore a sense of normality, and hope. It works to provide children with the tools and techniques needed to process their trauma and regulate their emotions during times of stress. This includes breathwork and other exercises for emotional regulation. This in turn helps them to feel safer, get back to learning, and ultimately to return to some semblance of childhood. 

Many children confided in their parents and teachers, explaining how the programmes have helped them begin to recover. “These are movements that turn a sad person into a happy person,” explained one child from Dori in Burkina Faso.  “I was scared when I heard shots and I took a deep breath, it passed,” said another.

Teachers have also faced huge challenges trying to support children who lived through traumatic experiences. The programme has offered them practical support, allowing them to strengthen their own skills. “When we use the exercises, I feel calmer, more able to manage the class even when it’s crowded or noisy. It helps me to focus and not let fear take over,” reported a teacher working with the BLP programme. 

“These programmes have given a lifeline to children who have experienced situations beyond the imagination of most people,” said Hamadou. “With NRC’s work we have shown just how effective psychosocial support can be – for children, teachers, and ultimately for communities building a future.  

“It is now vital that donors invest in a way that allows these programmes to be implemented at the scale required. Ministries and educational leaders must strengthen the support they give to teachers and ensure that psychosocial support is properly integrated throughout both teacher training and the wider curriculum.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

Source: APO

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The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) reports that the Vaal Dam and the broader Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) continue to perform strongly, maintaining stability in line with the latest weekly reservoir status update. This positive outlook is supported by the ongoing rainfall season.

The Vaal Dam remains above full capacity, currently at 103.17%, with no measurable change compared to last week. This sustained level highlights both the resilience of the system and the effectiveness of the Department’s strategic management.

The IVRS, which supplies water to Gauteng and surrounding provinces, also reflects consistent performance, holding steady at 100.8%. Such stability underscores efficient management practices and proactive planning to strengthen drought resilience and ensure sufficient water availability ahead of the peak summer rainfall season.

Key dams within the system recorded the following status:

• Sterkfontein Dam (Free State): Stable at 100.1%, unchanged from the previous report.
• Bloemhof Dam: Slight decline to 98.13%.
• Grootdraai Dam (Mpumalanga): Currently at 101.71%, reflecting a minor decrease from 102.1% previously.

Storage facilities linked to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) also show encouraging trends:

• Katse Dam: Improved from 100.4% to 100.8%.
• Mohale Dam: Recorded a marginal decrease from 102.5% to 102.3%.

These figures collectively demonstrate the strong performance of the system, supported by consistent inflows and reliable management.

DWS remains committed to maintaining a proactive approach to flood preparedness and hydrological risk management. The Department continues to track inflows closely and provides early warnings and technical updates to all relevant stakeholders.

Earlier this year, DWS advised that some dams could be maintained at higher storage levels in anticipation of a potentially dry summer. However, the latest seasonal outlook from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) now anticipates above-normal rainfall for the current season.

To support operational planning: 

• DWS engages with SAWS monthly to review forecast conditions. 
• Meeting frequency is increased during heavy rainfall periods to support timely decision-making. 
• While forecasts guide strategic planning, they do not provide the precise short-term information required for real-time flood operations, which rely on local hydrological measurements. 

As the national custodian of the country’s water resources, DWS issues alerts, tracks catchment conditions, and offers technical support. Operational disaster response such as evacuations and emergency relief falls under the mandate of local, district, and metropolitan disaster management authorities.

During flood situations, DWS implements its Flood Preparedness Plan and submits continuous situation updates to the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) and other intergovernmental structures to maintain coordinated action across all levels of government.

The Department also underscores that water security in the IVRS should not be viewed solely through the status of the Vaal Dam. The system functions as an integrated network supported by several reservoirs and inter-basin transfer schemes, including the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Water and Sanitation, Republic of South Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

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The Border Management Authority (BMA), working in close collaboration with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), has intercepted more than 20 minors near the Limpopo River in the vicinity of the Beitbridge border fence.

The children, aged between 5 and 17 years, are believed to have been en route from South Africa to Zimbabwe when they were intercepted during routine border safeguarding operations. Among the group were 10 adults; however, preliminary verification conducted by BMA officials has confirmed that only one adult is the parent of one child. The remaining minors were found to be travelling without parental supervision or lawful guardianship.

“The interception has raised serious concerns regarding child protection, possible exploitation, and non-compliance with immigration and child welfare legislation. All individuals have been placed under the care of the relevant authorities, and processes are underway to ensure the safety, wellbeing, and lawful handling of the minors in line with South African laws and international child protection protocols, Dr Masiapato said.

The BMA is working closely with SAPS, the Department of Social Development, and other relevant stakeholders to verify identities, establish circumstances surrounding the movement of the children, and determine appropriate interventions.

Dr Michael Masiapato, has reiterated the Authority’s zero-tolerance approach to the unlawful movement of children across South Africa’s borders. “The protection of vulnerable persons, particularly children, remains a priority for the BMA. We will continue to intensify joint operations with our security cluster partners to prevent exploitation and safeguard the integrity of our borders,” he said.

– on behalf of South African Government.