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In Kinshasa, women from across the country are raising their voices to demand an end to the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. Their plea took the form of a detailed advocacy note, officially submitted to Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner. The document is the result of a collective effort by women’s associations and human rights groups.

Drafted after nine consultation sessions held between February and April 2025, with support from MONUSCO, UN Women, and other UN agencies, the note outlines the critical challenges facing women and communities in conflict zones and offers concrete, realistic proposals for restoring peace.

“Children suffer with no future. Women are raped without justice. We just want life to be normal again. Let this note be heard, and acted upon.” declared Julienne Lusenge, who presented the document.

Well known for her work defending women’s rights and fighting sexual violence, Ms. Lusenge continues to champion peace and equality through her organization Solidarité Féminine pour la Paix et le Développement Intégral. She was accompanied by activists from Kinshasa, Goma, Bunia, Beni, and Bukavu, all united in their call for peace.

A Strong Call to Action

Minister Wagner expressed deep understanding and support for the initiative.

“Armed conflict, forced displacement, and sexual violence as a weapon of war are serious violations of human dignity and major barriers to development. When women call for peace, their voices must be heard with respect and urgency,” she said.

She emphasized the importance of the note, describing it as “a timely call to action, responsibility, and solidarity, national and international alike. The Ministry will continue to carry this message to regional, continental, and global platforms.”

UN Women and other institutional representatives also praised the initiative. Speaking on behalf of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mireille Laurier, Chief of MONUSCO’s Gender Section, applauded the determination of Congolese women:

“I salute the exceptional courage of these women who, despite adversity, continue their fight for a better future. Their strength deserves full recognition and support.“

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

“My daughter is three years old. She suffers from body pain. We have taken her to the hospital three times already, but haven’t received the right treatment,” says Chamisa John.

Chamisa is one of 45,000 displaced persons residing in the United Nations Protection of Civilians (PoC) site adjacent to the UN Mission in South Sudan’s (UNMISS) base.

“When I heard that peacekeepers from Rwanda are running a free medical camp, I immediately brought my daughter here,” she adds.

Chamisa is one of 600 people that Rwandan Blue Helmets have helped with various ailments and health issues. 

“The site is congested and displaced people, particularly children, get easily exposed to infections. Many of them also suffer from diabetes and hypertension,” explains Captain Jacques Nishimwe, a medical peacekeeper.

“With a reduction in aid funding there is a shortage of healthcare assistance for the displaced community. So, we decided doing such medical camps can help bridge the gap somewhat,” he adds.

For conflict-affected communities who have had to flee their homes and are sheltering in the PoC site, this means that they have to undertake a nearly six kilometer walk to medical facilities in Malakal town, something which becomes virtually impossible during the rainy season.

But with Blue Helmets from Rwanda running this two-day medical outreach, at least some relief is available for those who need it the most.

“I have had a stomach problem for a long time. It is difficult for me to get treated because I don’t have a regular income. But this medical camp by our friends from Rwanda is free of charge. The doctor provided me with the medicines I need and also educated me on aftercare,” says Andrew Nykanig, a PoC site resident.

Six medical peacekeepers from Rwanda attended to women, men and children, making sure that while challenges remain, this two-day intervention gives hope to people who need it the most.

“As a peacekeeper, there are times when you have to go beyond the mandate to protect civilians. It’s not merely about patrolling and preventing conflict, but its also about building trust with the communities we are here to serve,” concludes Captain Nishimwe.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

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Reflection on the fiftieth anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is the focus of a conference opening on Tuesday 24th of June 2025 in Abuja, Nigeria. Initiated by the Amandla Institute and the ECOWAS Commission, this two-day meeting is a valuable opportunity for participants to discuss the achievements, challenges and prospects of the West African organisation.

It is also an opportunity to take stock of the progress made by ECOWAS, to reflect on strengthening cooperation between its member states and to explore new strategies for promoting economic development, regional integration and stability in West Africa. It is also a key moment to measure the impact of ECOWAS on the lives of West African citizens and to consider the next steps to be taken by the regional organisation.

The various speakers at the opening ceremony highlighted the major steps taken by ECOWAS to become one of the leading institutions for cooperation and integration in Africa. For the former Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria, and co-founder of the Amandla Institute, Dr J. Kayode Fayemi, despite internal and external challenges, including funding problems, ECOWAS has achieved admirable growth and consolidation over the 50 years of its existence. “Indeed, ECOWAS has long been the engine of African regional integration, representing a model from which others continue to draw inspiration,’ said Dr J. Kayode Fayemi.

For his part, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E Dr Omar Alieu Touray, called for an in-depth reflection on the five decades of the regional organisation, the trials and successes of its journey towards integration, and the way forward in a rapidly changing world. He recalled some of the challenges facing ECOWAS today, namely the withdrawal of three of its member states, the intensification of insecurity in the Sahel and the emergence of geopolitical rivalries in West Africa.

He informed participants of the organisation of a summit on the future of West Africa, which will provide an opportunity for a series of reflections on various themes, in order to discuss issues likely to hinder or accelerate the efforts of all parties towards the realisation of ECOWAS Vision 2050. For H.E Dr Omar Alieu Touray, this conference fits in perfectly with the summit agenda, and is a reminder that at the heart of the regional integration programme, the people of West Africa, in all their diversity, can shape a common destiny anchored in peace, prosperity and mutual respect.

“Let this conference serve as a compass, not only to remember, but also to renew. May our dialogue be bold, thoughtful and, above all, useful. May this meeting inspire us to renew our commitment to the enduring ideals of ECOWAS and the hope of a more united and resilient West Africa”, said H.E Dr Omar Alieu Touray.

Among the participants at this meeting was the former Nigerian President and one of the founding fathers of ECOWAS, General Yakubu Gowon. He gave an overview of the conditions and circumstances that led to the signing, on the 28th of May 1975, of the Treaty of Lagos establishing ECOWAS. He also recalled the key role played by eminent West African personalities in the creation of the regional organisation, starting with its co-founder, the Togolese president at the time, the late General Gnassingbé Eyadéma.

“The ambition of ECOWAS is to strengthen cooperation between its member states, promote regional integration and stimulate economic growth,” said General Yakubu Gowon.

The meeting has in attendance former Executive Secretaries and Presidents of the ECOWAS Commission, including Dr Lansana Kouyaté and Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo.

Other personalities taking part in the conference include Professor Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal, the former President of Sierra Leone, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, and the Director of Cabinet of the President of the Commission, Abdou Kolley.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

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From Accra to outlying areas, Ghana’s innovation hubs are showing what’s possible when local knowledge meets international support. This is how they’re scaling solutions, building networks, and shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs. 

After the pandemic, many of Ghana’s innovation hubs faced significant challenges. Several hubs struggled to deliver services, support startups effectively, or sustain their own business models. Without intervention, the broader ecosystem risked fragmentation.

‘We were coming off the back of COVID, and most hubs had been hit hard,’ says Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman of the Ghana Hubs Network. ‘Their service and product models had collapsed. They needed to rebuild, and quickly.’

From 2022 to 2025, the Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF V) Ghana Tech project supported Ghana’s innovation hubs with targeted training and expert guidance. The NTF V project partnered with the Ghana Hubs Network and international trainers to help hubs improve their operations, deliver better support to startups, and play a stronger role in the innovation economy.

Investing in foundational skills

In 2022, NTF V launched an eight-week training programme for hub staff and leadership. Led by Swiss-based business models and tools expert Nadine Reichenthal, the programme introduced tools such as the business model canvas, empathy mapping, and value proposition design. Additional sessions covered marketing, communication, business planning and startup coaching techniques.

‘This training helped hubs gain structure and clarity,’ says Adu-Gyamfi. ‘It enabled them to rethink how they operate and how best to support the startups in their network.’

In 2023, the focus shifted to coaching hub leaders to apply the tools in practice. By 2025, the Ghana Hubs Network had taken full ownership of this process and began delivering training and guidance independently.

‘That was a turning point,’ he says. ‘It meant the ecosystem no longer depended on external facilitation. We were now equipped to sustain and scale the knowledge locally.’

Practical application in the field

AgricoHub, an rural hub focused on agritech and entrepreneurship, is one of the many hubs that completed the full training cycle. Co-founder David Yeboah joined the first cohort in 2022.

‘Before, we supported startups, but not in a structured way,’ he says. ‘Now, we use tools like the empathy map and value proposition canvas to help founders identify customer needs and refine their offerings.’

Yeboah highlights the success of one entrepreneur who manufactures and exports shea butter. ‘We worked closely with her using what we’d learned. She’s now been accepted into UNICEF’s Startup Lab (based in the capital). That’s the kind of result we’re aiming for.’

AgricoHub has since trained over 20 startups, several of which are now part of a Startup Cooperative Credit Union to access funding and peer support. ‘We’ve embedded these tools into our daily work,’ Yeboah says. ‘They’ve become part of how we do business.’

“The training built my confidence. I now mentor other hub leaders, and we’re building a peer-learning platform for startups to share knowledge with one another.” David Yeboah, AgricoHub co-founder

Strengthening partnerships and access to funding

A critical barrier for many hubs was limited access to funding and difficulty meeting grant requirements. In response, NTF V introduced a follow-on programme in 2025 focused on grants, fundraising, and partnership development. This was done in conjunction with the Ecosystems and Institutions division with training led by Tonia Dadwe. Participants learned how to identify funding opportunities, engage with donors, and build sustainable funding strategies.

‘This filled a major gap,’ says Adu-Gyamfi. ‘Hubs were previously unable to position themselves well with funders. The training gave them the tools to meet requirements and communicate their value more effectively.’

National reach, local impact

Over 50 hubs across Ghana participated in the training, ensuring that all regions had the opportunity to benefit.

‘We were deliberate about geographic spread,’ says Adu-Gyamfi. ‘Hubs in smaller towns and rural areas play a vital role in job creation and problem-solving in their communities. Strengthening them is critical to inclusive economic growth.’

He adds that well-equipped hubs often become anchors for local innovation. ‘They support MSMEs (small businesses), encourage entrepreneurship, and enable solutions to local challenges. That’s how you strengthen the economy from the ground up.’

Reaching underserved regions

While the formal training under NTF V has ended, both Adu-Gyamfi and Yeboah are clear that this is just the beginning. There is increasing demand for maker spaces in underserved regions, and a growing need for support in agritech, green economy, and digital services.

‘There is real appetite for hands-on facilities like maker spaces in rural areas,’ says Adu-Gyamfi. ‘Many young people have ideas, but no access to tools or prototyping resources. That’s something we must address.’

AgricoHub’s startup cooperative encourages peer learning and reduces overreliance on coaching staff. ‘We want startups to take ownership of their development and learn from each other’s experience,’ says Yeboah.

The Ghana Hubs Network is now exploring new partnerships to scale this work.

‘We’ve made significant progress, but there are still more hubs and startups that need support,’ says Adu-Gyamfi. ‘With the right partners, we can build on what we’ve started and expand the impact.’

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, has advised government to table a supplementary request to Parliament to address the pay disparities between science and arts teachers.

He offered the advice during plenary on Tuesday, 24 June 2025, wherein he warned that arts and humanities teachers across the country had gone on strike, demanding pay equity and the matter needs to be addressed.

Ssenyonyi also said that curbing public corruption would unlock the much needed funds. “The IGG says we lose over Shs 10 trillion to corruption every year. Stop stealing taxpayers’ money and there will be money to pay the teachers,” he said.

Arts subject teachers began striking in early June over salary disparities, earning less than half of what their colleagues in other subjects receive. 

“They are saying they are teachers too, just like the science teachers, but they have been discriminated against severely. They have warned that they are not going to carry out assessments, and that is a big concern for our young people who are in school,” Ssenyonyi said.

According to available information, graduate science teachers earn Shs4 million while diploma holders earn Shs3 million. Most arts teachers meanwhile earn below Shs1 million.

Teachers with similar qualifications and workloads, the leader of the Opposition noted, were being paid grossly unequal salaries, with arts teachers earning up to four times less than their science counterparts.

“We are happy science teachers got a raise. But you cannot do it for some and not others,” he argued.

He further pointed to absurd situations where headteachers with arts qualifications supervise science teachers who earn more than them, calling it a “management crisis.”

He also cited the Auditor General’s report for the year ending 2024, which revealed that retired science teachers receive pensions higher than the monthly net pay of currently serving arts teachers.

In response, the Government Chief Whip, Hon. Denis Hamson Obua, confirmed that engagements between the education ministry and the leadership of arts teachers were ongoing.

“There is no intimidation at all, we believe in dialogue and consensus,” he assured the House.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa who chaired the House acknowledged the urgency of the matter and asked the sector minister to update the House once negotiations conclude.

The Minister of State for Higher Education, Hon. Chrysostom Muyingo, said the ministry had held a number of meetings with the teachers and that their leadership had agreed to suspend the strike.

“Government is committed to raise the salaries of all our public servants in a fair manner,” Muyingo said, promising feedback from consultations by Thursday.

Meanwhile Hon. Sarah Opendi (NRM, Tororo District Woman Representative) added her voice to the debate, highlighting equally pressing concerns about pay disparities among government lawyers.

“There is a serious pay disparity among the lawyers working in the police force and other lawyers in government,” Opendi said.

She warned that the discrepancy was fueling an exodus of legal officers from the Uganda Police Force to other departments, particularly the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General’s Chambers, where pay is significantly higher.

“This matter was presented here. The last time, the Attorney General said they had appealed. I want to confirm, there is no active appeal,” she said.

The Deputy Speaker backed her call and directed that the Attorney General update the House on the issue. 

– on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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In line with this year’s theme marking the World Blood Donor Day celebrated on 14 June the South Sudan National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS) conducted several activities. With support from World Health Organization (WHO) and the Red Cross, NBTS organized a blood donation campaign and drive to raise awareness of the life-saving role of blood and plasma donation and to encourage regular donation from first-time and long-term donors. Additionally, NBTS held a round table with leaders from the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Laboratory, the Red Cross, and the community to advocate for more support for sustainable national blood programs and promote values of compassion, community and solidarity.

The theme for this year is “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives”. It encapsulates the essence of blood donation and highlights the power of community and solidarity in saving lives. Blood and blood products are essential life-saving medicines, without a substitute. One blood donation often saves three lives. At the global level, blood is needed to save 14 million lives of mothers involved in childbirth annually, while South Sudan needs blood for mothers during childbirth, traumatic injuries, and babies and children with severe anaemia, malnutrition, and severe malaria.

From the blood donation campaign and drive, 86 units of blood were collected from 54 long-term donors and 32 new donors that will save lives of those in need. The campaign also featured an awareness and advocacy component, with the participation of various stakeholders, including high-level government officials.”

Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative to South Sudan commended the Ministry of Health’s efforts and reaffirm WHO’s commitment to collaborate with the NBTS and partners to improve the provision of essential healthcare services, including blood transfusion services. 
“WHO has been working closely with the Ministry of Health, specifically the NBTS to streamline and promote blood transfusion services” Said Dr Karamagi “Going forward, WHO will support NBTS in reviewing and updating the strategic plan and implementation guidelines, enhancing their capacity to provide blood transfusion services, and increase availability of blood products through the Health Sector Transformation (HSTP) Project”  

“This partnership shows that when we work together, we can overcome critical gaps in ensuring there is a safe and adequate blood supply. The blood collected will directly save lives in our health facilities,” said Dr. Angelo Aruop Akeen, Director of the National Blood Transfusion Services.

WHO staff who volunteered to donate described the experience as meaningful and fulfilling.
“Knowing that a small act like this can make a difference in someone’s survival is deeply motivating,” said Dr Bayo Pontius, Reproductive, Maternal and Neonatal Health Officer, one of the WHO staff who participated in the drive. “This is a powerful reminder that each of us can contribute to saving lives.”

Every drop counts! “A blood donation can save a mother, a baby, a future.”

– on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – South Sudan.