MIL Africa Engine

Source: APO

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On Tuesday 29 July 2025, Ms. Alia Hirji, the Chief of Mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Office for Mauritius and Seychelles, paid a courtesy call to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde, at Maison Quéau de Quinssy.

Ms. Hirji is currently in Seychelles on a working visit as part of an IOM-led specialised course on maritime safety, search, and rescue for operational officers from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Seychelles.

During her visit, she took the opportunity to discuss the latest developments in IOM’s cooperation with Seychelles. Discussions focused on the strengthening of cooperation in areas such as migration profiling, labour mobility, counter-human trafficking, and diaspora engagement.

She also addressed the recent challenges regarding funding for UN agencies, including the IOM, and the issue of the newly established IOM Resilience Fund. This flexible funding initiative is designed to help maintain IOM’s core operational activities amid ongoing challenges.

The Minister reiterated Seychelles’ continued support for the IOM and ongoing cooperation in Seychelles and the region.

Seychelles has been a member of the IOM since December 2011.

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

Source: APO

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Abawu Lorna operates a modest stall at one of the bustling markets in Aru Junction, a lively town in Central Equatoria.

As the breadwinner, she is taking care of her family, including her unemployed husband, and the cost of sending her five children to school. While the financial burden is heavy, Abawu’s business is one of many benefiting from an increase in local produce from nearby farms.

“We used to buy all commodities from Uganda, but since farmers have improved production here, we are now sourcing locally at a cheaper price.”

Her story is one of the many that Radio Miraya, operated by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, is spotlighting as it focuses on the immense challenges facing the world’s newest nation, including an economic crisis, rising conflict, and a stalled peace deal.

Strategically located along one of the busiest highways, Aru Junction links the capital Juba to Uganda, making it the main supply route for commodities, ranging from food to building materials.

The steady stream of travelers brings brisk business opportunities, particularly benefitting farmers.

Central Equatoria’s climate, marked by a distinct long rainy season stretching from April to November, makes it possible for farmers to cultivate and harvest twice a year. Located on the plains of this region, Aru Junction’s fertile soil makes tilling the land particularly lucrative.

But for farmers, the relative peace and stability in this area is just as important.

“When there is enough food, there is no violence,” says community leader, Sultan Isaac Ladu Sarafino, speaking on Radio Miraya’s Community Conversations programme.

Sarafino tells the audience that, despite challenges such as limited access to capital, Aru Junction farmers can make the most of their location and the peace it offers to cultivate both for subsistence and market sale.

The stability at Aru Junction is also enticing people who previously left the area to return.

Betty Ropani, who fled to Uganda when conflict broke out in her village in Yei in 2016, has resettled in Aru Junction. Using land allocated to her by local authorities, she now grows maize and tomatoes. She believes a small loan could significantly boost the gains she is already realizing from cultivation.

“I want to acquire more land so that I can support my children still in Uganda,” says the mother of four.

Betty was among a group of residents who gathered at the Aru Junction Administration office for a community outreach event hosted by UNMISS.

The residents are concerned about violence in other parts of the state.

“We want to connect with other areas and trade there,” remarked one resident, “But, for now, we are separated by insecurity.”

The Boma Administrator echoes the need for strengthened security and acknowledges the impact of Nepalese peacekeepers who regularly  patrol the area.

“Your presence in this area gives us confidence. We would like to see more of this across the state, so we can open trade corridors for our farmers and traders,” says Andama Zakeyo Hussein.

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

Source: APO

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HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Communications and Roads of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Jean-Pierre Bemba met with Acting Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the State of Qatar to the Democratic Republic of the Congo Shafi Newaimi Al Hajri.

The meeting reviewed cooperation relations between the two countries.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The State of Qatar.

Source: APO

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On July 29, commencing at 2 p.m., for approximately 40 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Hugues Alexandre BARRO CHAMBRIER, Vice President of the Government of the Gabonese Republic, who is visiting Japan to participate in the National Day Event of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

1. At the outset, Minister Iwaya, while congratulating Gabon on the peaceful holding of democratic elections in April of this year, stated that Japan has been cooperating in various fields such as health, environmental conservation, and reinforcement of the rule of law, and has also contributed to the democratization process in recent years. Minister Iwaya also stated that he would like to strengthen bilateral relations, including in the economic field, and to take the opportunity of TICAD 9 to further cooperate with Gabon.
2. In response, Vice President Barro Chambrier stated that Gabon has a young population and needs economic transformation and diversification, and expressed his hope that Japanese companies would invest in Gabon in the areas of infrastructure, energy, minerals, and timber.
3. Both sides affirmed their commitment to work closely together in the international arena and exchanged views on the situation in East Asia such as their policies toward North Korea including on the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue. In addition, Minister Iwaya asked for Vice President Barro Chambrier’s understanding and cooperation for the immediate resolution of the abductions issue and gained the support.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Source: APO

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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through its Subregional Office for Southern Africa (SFS), convened a regional training workshop on innovative value chain development methodologies from 7 to 9 July in Pretoria, South Africa. The workshop was organized under the European Union (EU)-funded STOSAR II Project, in partnership with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat and other regional stakeholders.

The two-and-a-half-day workshop brought together 55 national experts and officials from 16 SADC Member States, alongside representatives from FANRPAN, AUDA-NEPAD, SACAU, and other partners committed to advancing agricultural transformation across the region.

In his opening remarks, Dr Lewis Hove, FAO Resilience Team Leader for Southern Africa, who, speaking on behalf of Dr Patrice Talla, the FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa, underscored the workshop’s significance as a key milestone for STOSAR II:

Dr Hove said, “Today’s workshop marks a significant milestone for STOSAR II. It is one of the first major regional activities under the second phase of the project, and it brings to life a key new focus on Value Chains. This component reflects our collective ambition to turn data and strategies into real improvements along agricultural value chains, leaving no one behind.”

The workshop focused on equipping national experts and officials with the knowledge and tools to develop inclusive, evidence-based, and digitally enabled value chains. Participants explored how instrument-based approaches to investment planning can inform and strengthen National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIPs) and Sector Development Plan Agreements (SDPAs), ensuring that investments directly support country priorities and the regional agricultural policy framework.

The sessions also highlighted inclusive aggregation systems and the growing role of information and communication technologies (ICT) and artificial intelligence (AI) in value chain development, which are innovations that can help improve market access, agricultural productivity, and sustainable economic opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses.

Strengthening networks and sharing solutions

The workshop further provided a platform to reinforce the SADC’s Community of Practice on Agribusiness, Investment, and Trade, promoting peer learning, dialogue and regional collaboration.

The African Union Development Agency (AU-NEPAD) Head of Agriculture, Dr Manyewu Mutamba, said: “This intervention on value chains is both timely and strategic, as it directly supports the implementation of the CAADP Kampala Declaration on Building Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems by focusing on agro-industrialization, trade, and increased investment in agrifood systems. This training initiative will contribute meaningfully to our shared goal of strengthening sustainable food systems across the continent.” 

Throughout the highly interactive sessions, participants shared national experiences, lessons learned and innovations shaping agrifood policy and practice in Southern Africa.

Hands-on demonstrations showcased cutting-edge tools such as FAO’s Ex-Ante Carbon-balance Tool (EX-ACT), the only greenhouse gas accounting tool covering the entire agricultural sector and the RuralInvest toolkit, designed to support the preparation of bankable, sustainable business proposals. Participants also engaged with the latest ICT-enabled innovations from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), including remote sensing and earth observation technologies capable of high-accuracy soil analysis and yield prediction.

A collective path forward

As Southern Africa navigates a complex landscape of challenges and opportunities, the workshop reaffirmed the transformative potential of inclusive and innovative value chains.

With support from the European Union, FAO and its partners are working hand-in-hand with national experts to help them lead this transformation and shaping agri-food systems that are more productive, resilient and inclusive.

Continued collaboration will be key to transforming value chains into engines of resilience, growth and investment of a food-secure Southern Africa that leaves no one behind.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.

Source: APO

• Game reserve radically improved communication across the park, boosting efforts to protect vulnerable wildlife and rangers 
• Modern features enable more efficient operations 

Background and implementation 

Pilanesberg Game Reserve is home to almost all animal species native to Southern Africa, including the Big Five. The reserve has, over the years, established itself as a stronghold for rare rhino species. In the high-stakes world of protecting the wellbeing of species, game rangers and visitors, reliable communication is vital. 

Pilanesberg transitioned from a basic, analog two-way radio system to a state-of-the-art Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) solution by Hytera. Hytera’s partner Altron Nexus (now named Sentiv after a management buyout), donated a Hytera HR106X DMR repeater and Hytera H-series DMR devices equipped with GPS tracking as well as a Hytera Smart Dispatch Plus software platform to Pilanesberg’s Anti-Poaching unit, led by Field Ecologist Steve Dell. 

This represented a significant change because previously the reserve relied on ageing analog radios that only supported voice communication, with a single repeater resulting in limited coverage across the reserve and no advanced features. Because of the analog system and single receiver, there were parts of the park that had unreliable, or nonexistent, communication. The DMR upgrade introduced a second repeater linked via a microwave connection that has resulted in seamless, reliable, almost park-wide coverage. 

Key features and benefits of Hytera’s H-series technology 

1. Personnel Safety and Emergency Response 

• Hytera’s system enhances ranger safety with smart, automated features designed for fast incident response. 
• Man Down Alert: Radios detect if a user has fallen or is motionless, automatically sending an emergency alert and location to the control room. 
• Emergency Button: One-touch panic alerts with real-time location ensure immediate support. 
• GPS Tracking: Live positioning helps teams monitor ranger movements and respond quickly when needed. 
• Online / Offline Status so that the Control room at all times can see which user is online or offline 

2. Reliable, Park-Wide Communication 

• Extended Coverage: multi-site repeaters linked via microwave ensure near-complete coverage across rugged terrain. 
• Digital Voice & Data: DMR technology supports clear, efficient communication. 
• Text Messaging & Voice Recording: Enables effective coordination and post-event review. 

3. Operational Insight and Security 

• Movement Analytics: Track patrol routes, speed, and direction for incident review. 
• Data Security: Up to 256-bit encryption protects sensitive communications. 

Benefits for Pilanesberg 

Pilanesberg is a 56,000 hectare nature reserve with mountainous areas that previously lacked any signal for communications. This means that rangers in the park conducted 24-hour security operations under harsh conditions without the security of robust communication. This presented a risk.  

Since adopting Hytera’s DMR system, rangers have the security of a robust communication system. Hytera’s DMR system has assisted field ecologists and rhino protection rangers to obtain an advantage over poachers entering the park and destroying wildlife and the country’s natural habitat. 

“Reliable communication is the backbone of effective conservation and anti-poaching efforts, whether it’s protecting rhinos, managing fires, supporting technical teams or ensuring the safety of our staff in the field or conducting air operations. Upgrading to a digital radio network has significantly boosted our conservation operations,” says Dell. 

“The park is hilly with mountains and valleys, and the digital network has ensured almost-total coverage. Very importantly, it has enabled real-time tracking. Tracking is vital – if someone is out in the field, needs assistance or cannot talk for whatever reason, the control room always has real-time visibility. Anything can happen in very remote areas. If needed, the emergency alerts result in instant support, dispatching help to exactly where the radio is located. Importantly, using the system is simple and uniform. The improved communications have significantly boosted our overall conservation efforts and operations.” 

Franco Stronach, Head of Indirect Channel at Hytera South Africa says Hytera defines sustainable development as a path to profitability and long-term growth. Working alongside our partner Sentiv, we have delivered a reliable, scalable system to support Pilanesberg in its conservation efforts.” 

He adds: “Hytera is empowering conservationists in parks across the country, including Pilanesberg, The Kruger National Park, Timbavati Game Reserve and Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve. It has been important for us to see beyond just the practical utility of the equipment, which in itself is world-leading. For us, the difference being made is Hytera’s embodiment of social responsibility, a business priority to make a meaningful impact in a sector of the country that holds special cultural significance.” 

Training and after-market support 

Hytera understands that real, meaningful impact requires a long-term investment in the country. It conducts annual certified training sessions in South Africa, bringing in trainers to educate resellers and distributors on system configuration and support. With main distributors and hundreds of resellers, Hytera ensures widespread, localised support. Equipped with their support from Hytera, resellers provide end-user training, including operational guidance and feature demonstrations. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Hytera.

About Hytera:
Hytera Communications Corporation Limited (SZSE: 002583) is a leading global provider of professional communications technologies and solutions. With voice, video and data capabilities, we provide faster, safer, and more versatile connectivity for business and mission critical users. We make the world more efficient and safer by enabling our customers to achieve more in both daily operations and emergency response. Learn more at https://apo-opa.co/41bBkde / https://Hytera.co.za/. 

Source: APO

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), has announced Liberia’s inclusion among the newly appointed members of the United Nations Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters.

This milestone follows the decision of the UN Secretary-General to appoint 25 distinguished tax experts to the Committee, each serving a four-year term ending on June 30, 2029. Representing Liberia on this globally significant body is Mr. Darlingston Y. Talery, a highly respected tax policy specialist and former Commissioner for Domestic Tax at the LRA. Mr. Talery currently heads the Department of Domestic Resource Mobilization at ECOWAS Commission.

Mr. Talery’s appointment is a major step for Liberia, showcasing the country’s growing prominence in global tax policy dialogue and reinforcing its commitment to transparent, fair, and effective tax governance.

“The inclusion of Liberia in this globally significant committee sends a clear message about the capacity, credibility, and growing influence of Liberia’s public institutions,” said H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs. “This appointment not only recognizes the professional excellence of Mr. Talery but also positions Liberia as an active contributor to the global conversation on fair and inclusive tax systems.”

Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority, James Dorbor Jallah, hailed the appointment as a proud achievement for the nation and the LRA:

“Mr. Talery’s appointment is a proud moment for our institution. It is the result of years of investment in capacity-building and policy innovation. Liberia is ready to contribute meaningfully to international tax cooperation and bring home the benefits of fair global tax practices.”

The appointment process followed a communication from the UN Secretary-General, dated November 20, 2024, inviting all 193 UN Member States to nominate qualified candidates. Of the 58 nominations received globally, 25 were appointed, including Liberia’s Mr. Talery.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this appointment aligns with the administration’s broader goal of increasing Liberian representation in foreign and international organizations. The Ministry is encouraging all Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions to collaborate in identifying and nominating qualified Liberians for such positions, following the example set by the LRA in Talery’s nomination.

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), acting under its Resolution 2004/69 and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (endorsed by the UN General Assembly in Resolution 69/313), mandates the formation of this Committee to enhance international tax cooperation. The 25-member body comprises experts nominated by Member States and appointed by the Secretary-General in their personal capacities, ensuring diverse geographic representation and a wide range of tax system expertise.

Liberia’s inclusion marks a milestone for the Government, reflecting the strong partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the LRA. The Government of Liberia considers this recognition as a validation of its efforts to position the country as a proactive voice in shaping global financial and tax policies.

The Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters plays a critical role in advancing global tax transparency, combating illicit financial flows, supporting domestic resource mobilization, and improving the coherence of international tax rules. Liberia’s representation will ensure that the perspectives and development challenges of African nations particularly those in fragile and post-conflict contexts are effectively represented in the Committee’s deliberations.

Liberia now joins a diverse group of countries represented on the Committee, including Nigeria, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, France, India, China, Belgium, Brazil, and Australia, among others.

With the support of Liberia’s Mission to the United Nations and development partners, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the LRA reaffirm their commitment to advancing international tax cooperation, promoting equity in global financial systems, and securing Liberia’s place as a leader in multilateral development processes.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.