MIL Africa Engine

Source: APO

VUKA Group’s (https://WeAreVUKA.com/) Mining Review Africa (MRA) is inviting mining companies across the continent to join its “Breaking Boundaries: Empowering Women to Thrive in Mining” campaign, a month-long editorial initiative celebrating the women driving innovation, leadership and transformation across Africa’s mining sector.

This campaign will run throughout August in celebration of Women’s Month, shining a spotlight on exceptional women who are shaping the future of mining, from boardrooms and technical teams to processing plants, exploration sites and mining operations.

As part of the campaign, MRA will publish a series of feature articles and video interviews showcasing the personal journeys, achievements and impact of women strengthening the mining industry.

Participating companies will benefit from prominent exposure on Mining Review Africa’s digital platforms while recognising the women making a meaningful contribution to their organisations and the wider industry.

MRA’s Editor-in-Chief, Gerard Peter, said the campaign is about celebrating both recognised industry leaders and the many women whose contributions often go unseen.

“Every woman in mining has an inspiring story to tell. While we celebrate many remarkable leaders, there are countless others across Africa whose dedication, resilience and achievements deserve to be recognised. This campaign is about giving those women the platform to share their stories and inspire others,” he said.

Peter said empowering women in mining goes beyond representation and requires creating opportunities for their achievements to be recognised and their voices to be heard.

“Empowerment in mining means opening doors, nurturing talent and recognising excellence. By sharing these stories, we want to highlight the incredible contribution women are making across every part of the mining value chain while encouraging the next generation to see mining as a career where they can thrive.”

The campaign will feature women from across the industry, including executives, engineers, geologists, metallurgists, health and safety professionals, operators and community leaders, highlighting their leadership, innovation and commitment to advancing the sector.

To support this initiative, MRA is encouraging mining companies to nominate women from within their organisations whose stories reflect excellence, resilience and meaningful contribution to the industry.

As one of Africa’s leading mining publications, MRA aims to ensure these stories reach a broad audience across the continent through its digital platforms, inspiring conversations around leadership, inclusion and transformation.

Mining companies interested in participating in the Breaking Boundaries: Empowering Women to Thrive in Mining campaign are invited to contact Rochelle Botha at rochelle.botha@wearevuka.com.

Join Mining Review Africa this Women’s Month as it honours the strength, courage, leadership and achievements of the women breaking boundaries and shaping the future of African mining.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

Media Contact: 
Gerard Peter: Editor-in-Chief 
Mining Review Africa 
VUKA Group 
Email: gerard.peter@wearevuka.com 
Phone: +27 (0) 81 813 7580 

Rochelle Botha: Business Development Manager  
Mining Review Africa  
VUKA Group 
Email: Rochelle.Botha@wearevuka.com 

About Vuka Group:
VUKA Group is a leading platform for convening Africa’s green economy, investment, and climate transition communities through high-level summits, industry forums, and strategic convenings, including the Carbon Markets Africa Summit. 

About Mining Review Africa:
Mining Review Africa is the leading bi-monthly magazine and digital platform in the African mining industry. Every month, MRA reaches an audience of over 50 000 influential mining authorities and key decision makers through a variety of channels, including an interactive website, videos and print distribution at all major mining conferences in Africa and across the globe.

MRA serves as a knowledge, news and information sharing platform which drives upliftment and sustainable development across the mining sector in Africa through articles on project developments and the technology and financial models that drive them.

Through close interaction with major, mid-tier and junior mining houses; suppliers of capital; technology and plants, MRA is recognised as the industry’s thought leadership, innovation and strategic business content leader.

Source: APO

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Responding to the charges brought against detained Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) journalist MacPherson Mukuka, reportedly related to the violation of Section 10 of Zambia’s 2025 Cyber Crimes Act, which prohibits recording a private conversation without prior notice and posting it on social media, Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director said:

“MacPherson Mukuka’s arrest raises serious concerns about the application of Zambia’s Cyber Crimes Act and its potentially chilling effect on investigative journalism. Its impact is especially dangerous coming just weeks ahead of Zambia’s general elections.

“By charging him under Cyber Crimes laws, the authorities are misusing the criminal justice system to intimidate and harass journalists simply for doing their work..

“Authorities must immediately and unconditionally release MacPherson Mukuka and drop all charges against him. They must ensure that the media can report on issues of public interest without fear of reprisals, in line with Zambia’s international human rights obligations.

Authorities must end their attacks on journalists and uphold the human rights of everyone including the right to freedom of expression and media freedom in the country.

“Amnesty International is also closely following the ongoing police harassment of Millenium TV journalist Rogers Mwimba, whom the police have summoned for questioning after he posted a video of revellers at a night club dancing to an opposition campaign song.”

Background

ZNBC Mcpherson Mukuka was detained on 17 July for recording a ‘private conversation without prior notice’ and posting it on social media and only charged on 21 July. The recording in question reportedly involved public servants in a Presidential Campaign Team committee discussing how they will work with polling station staff to “help people vote for their master.”

On 21 July another journalist, Rodgers Mwimba of Millenium TV, was summoned for questioning by police, after he posted a video of people dancing to an opposition campaign song.

There is a petition in court challenging the 2025 Cyber Crimes Act and the Cyber Security Act. Zambia will hold general elections on 13 August to elect a president, members of the national assembly, councillors and council chairs.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.

Source: APO

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Just 38 people, out of around 190, have survived an horrific attempt to cross by boat from western Africa to the Canary Islands. The survivors disembarked at Nouadhibou, Mauritania, on 18 July, where Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams assisted them on arrival. The deadly incident highlights the perils of the Atlantic migration route. MSF urges West African governments of countries along the migration route, European states, and regional and international organisations to work collectively to prevent further loss of life, with saving lives at sea an immediate priority.

According to initial testimonies collected from survivors, the boat left The Gambia in late June with around 190 people on board. After spending 25 days at sea, the surviving 38 people were first assisted by fishermen, then by the Mauritanian coastguard, before being brought to the Mauritanian Red Crescent, which requested MSF’s support.

“What our teams saw in Nouadhibou is deeply shocking,” says Fouzia Bara, MSF migration programme manager. “People arrived after weeks spent at sea, exhausted, traumatised and grieving the loss of relatives and other passengers who did not survive the crossing.” 

“One of the survivors our teams cared for said she had seen her sister die before her eyes,” says Bara. “No-one should have to endure such suffering while seeking safety or dignity.”

People attempting to take the Atlantic route from western Africa to the Canary Islands, which is part of Spain, face dangers including long, perilous crossings, at high risk of shipwreck. People also often experience dehydration, violence, severe psychological trauma and loss of life.

In recent weeks, MSF teams in Nouadhibou have supported survivors of three disembarkations, on 14 and 18 July, assisting a total of 387 people. We have provided 66 medical consultations and referred nine people to specialist health facilities in Nouadhibou. On 18 July alone, MSF responded to two successive disembarkations between midnight and 7 p.m., including the boat that had departed from The Gambia. People who reached shore in Nouadhibou were suffering from post-traumatic shock and psychosis, had bone fractures, trauma injuries, and hypothermia.

Survivors described terrifying conditions at sea, as well as the loss of relatives and other passengers during the crossing. 

The Atlantic migration route has become one of the deadliest in the world, with almost 10,000 people were reported dead or missing while attempting the Atlantic crossing in 2024, and more than 3,000 in 2025.1 It is very likely that the actual number of people who have died is higher than the reported figures, as not all sea crossings are reported or lead to rescues. Although arrivals at the Canary Islands have decreased this year, the risks remain extreme. Recent incidents underline the persistent dangers faced by refugees and migrants attempting to reach Europe, many of whom depart from points located more than 2,000 kilometres from their intended destination.

“The deaths of these men, women and children must not be met with silence,” says Bara. “We urge governments and relevant authorities to place the preservation of human life at the centre of their migration policies, to strengthen search and rescue capacities, and to ensure that no person in distress at sea is left without assistance.” 

MSF calls for urgent measures to prevent further deaths on the Atlantic route. Search and rescue mechanisms must be strengthened, adequately resourced, and able to respond effectively to the needs of people in distress at sea, including providing humane and dignified assistance to survivors. At the same time, safe and legal pathways are needed to reduce the risks people are forced to take when seeking protection, safety or a better future.

MSF launched activities in Mauritania following the increase in tragedies at sea. In Nouadhibou, we began providing direct assistance during disembarkations and interceptions in December 2024, before strengthening our response in opening our Centre for Reception, Care and Assistance in April 2025. The centre supports people with different vulnerabilities including migrants, people in transit, or Mauritanians.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

Source: APO

The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has agreed on the need to address growing concerns over rising xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa at the next AU summit.

His commitment came after bilateral talks with President John Dramani Mahama, who reiterated his request on the sidelines of the AU Extraordinary Summit on Universal Health Coverage and ending AIDS, held in Accra.

President Mahama disclosed that the South African President, on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, dispatched a special envoy led by his Foreign Minister to meet with him in Accra over the crisis.

He told the AU Commission Chair that he made Ghana’s position clear to the envoy: that Ghana harbours no ill will toward South Africa but remains deeply concerned about the attacks and the resulting capital losses suffered by foreign nationals forced to abandon their investments and return home. He noted that this development undermines Africa’s solidarity and ongoing efforts toward continental integration.

President Mahama emphasised that “sweeping the matter under the carpet” would not resolve its root causes, hence the need to place it on the agenda for discussion at the summit.

He added that tabling the issue would also give South Africa a formal, constructive platform to present its perspective and work toward a lasting solution.

“This will offer South Africa the opportunity to explain itself, and possibly we can all find a lasting solution to this crisis,” he emphasised.

The AU Commission Chairperson acknowledged that the attacks have affected nationals from several African countries. He revealed that during a recent visit to South Africa, he raised the matter directly with the South African President.

While commending the South African government’s public condemnation of the violence, he expressed concern over the apparent impunity enjoyed by perpetrators.

The escalation of xenophobic violence recently compelled the Ghanaian government to airlift several citizens home on three separate chartered flights, with plans underway for further evacuations.

In response to the crisis, Ghana has officially written to the AU Commission requesting that the matter be formally placed on the agenda for the next summit.

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