MIL Africa Engine

Source: APO

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Director for Africa at UN Tourism Ms. Elcia Grandcourt, paid a Courtesy Call to the Vice-President, Mr. Sebastien Pillay, during her official visit to Seychelles. The meeting was held in the presence of the Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mrs. Amanda Bernstein, and the Principal Secretary for Tourism, Mrs. Sherin Francis.

The visit coincides with Seychelles’ preparations to host the 69th Meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for Africa, scheduled for July this year. The high-level gathering will bring together Ministers responsible for tourism from across the continent to deliberate on the evolving dynamics of the sector, with particular focus on the workforce in tourism and the realities facing African destinations.

In parallel, a conference dedicated to human capital development will be convened, addressing key areas such as training and capacity building. A comprehensive survey that has already been conducted across African countries will be unveiled during the conference to inform discussions and policy direction.

Discussions during the courtesy call also touched on the broader global context, including the ongoing situation in the Middle East and its ripple effects on tourism-dependent economies globally. Ms. Grandcourt highlighted the importance of strengthened collaboration between UN Tourism and international partners to mitigate impacts on the sector, noting that the situation remains under close observation.

Vice-President Pillay welcomed the engagement and expressed pride in seeing a Seychellois national occupying a senior leadership role within an international organisation, underscoring the country’s continued contribution by women to global tourism leadership.

Drawing from her visit, Ms. Grandcourt, commended Seychelles for its maturity and advancement in the tourism sector. Drawing from her visits to several small establishments, she noted her strong impression of the high standards of facilities and service delivery, positioning Seychelles as a benchmark for quality tourism on the African continent.

The upcoming Commission meeting also holds historical significance, marking the first time since the 1980s that Seychelles will host this important continental forum, further reinforcing the country’s standing as a key player in shaping the future of tourism in Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO

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The Office of the President has announced that immediate action has been taken following serious findings in the Special Audit of the STCL Cold Storage Facility Project, with the matter now formally referred to both the Seychelles Police Force (Financial Crime Investigation Unit) and the Anti-Corruption Commission Seychelles (ACCS) for investigation.

This course of action follows a key recommendation of the audit report, which was presented yesterday at State House to the Minister for Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment, Mr. Pierre Laporte.

The audit has identified significant weaknesses in procurement, financial management, and project oversight. Of particular concern are findings that the contract was awarded through a non-competitive process, without adequate due diligence, and that engagement with the contractor, SeyTurk Limited, commenced prior to the company’s formal incorporation.

According to the audit report, SeyTurk Limited is owned by Mr. Jean Pierre Morin (40%), Mr. Osman Ethem Karaduman (30%), and Mr. Adem Oran (30%).

The project, originally approved at approximately USD 5.5 million (approximately SCR 80 million), escalated to about USD 7.6 million (approximately SCR 110 million), representing a cost overrun of nearly USD 2.1 million (approximately SCR 30 million). Certain payments, including a force majeure claim exceeding USD 500,000 (approximately SCR 7.5 million), have also been identified as requiring further scrutiny.

Given the seriousness of these findings and the substantial level of public funds involved, the President Dr. Patrick Herminie has taken decisive action to ensure the matter is subjected to a full and independent investigation.

The President has emphasised that his Government will not tolerate mismanagement, abuse of public funds, or any form of misconduct. Where wrongdoing is established, those responsible will be held fully accountable under the law.

The Office of the President reaffirms its commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance, and will keep the public informed of any significant developments.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO

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The Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change (UPFCC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and Climate Change Hub International aimed at strengthening climate governance, legislative capacity and stakeholder coordination.

The partnership, witnessed by key stakeholders including the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) and the Women in Extractives Energy Network Uganda, on Thursday, 19 March 2026 is expected to enhance Parliament’s engagement in climate change through advocacy, oversight and access to technical expertise.

UPFCC Chairperson, Hon. Christine Nakimwero said the MoU comes at a critical transition period and will support orientation of incoming legislators on climate issues.

“As we finalise with the 11th Parliament and welcome the 12th Parliament, we need to prepare on how we want to engage the new MPs on climate change. The forum is positioned to provide new MPs with a platform to effectively articulate climate change discussions at local, national and international levels,” she said.

Kiboga East Member of Parliament, Hon. Keefa Kiwanuka welcomed the partnership, noting its potential to strengthen Parliament’s legislative, budgetary and oversight functions. 

He called for practical interventions at constituency level, including pilot projects in waste management and support in emerging areas such as carbon footprint management.

“We need to move from theory to action and translate discussions into tangible results on the ground,” he said.

Worker’s Representative, Hon. Abdul Byakatonda expressed concern over Uganda’s declining forest cover, estimated at below 10 per cent warning that it undermines sustainable agriculture and food security.

“We cannot talk of attaining middle income status without addressing deforestation and encroachment on water bodies,” Byakatonda said while urging stakeholders to set measurable targets such as increase in forest cover from 10 to 25 per cent by 2032.

The Chief Executive Officer of PSFU, Stephen Asiimwe said the private sector will play a central role in advancing climate solutions.

“We intend to establish a Carbon Credit Secretariat to facilitate these discussions. Our vision is to position Uganda as a low-carbon economy with climate-smart businesses reaching communities at the grassroots,” Asiimwe said.

Clinton Mawanda, Programmes Director Climate Hub International wants the forum to focus on new innovations in climate change, noting that climate action presents employment opportunities.

“We are killing our planet because of ignorance. Climate change is the next biggest employer with opportunities in carbon markets and emissions management,” Mawanda said.

Julius Ankunda who heads the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), said the partnership will strengthen accountability and enable Uganda to tap into global climate financing.

“We shall continue budget tracking and evidence-based advocacy to ensure government is accountable and that Uganda positions itself for climate funds,” Ankunda said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

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Children having to sit next to their dead parents, and a woman forced to give birth in a canoe, are some of the heart-wrenching stories of terrified evacuations now emerging from South Sudan’s Akobo County.  

One Save the Children staffer who was caught up in the violence has told a harrowing story of suffering and survival, following the repeated evacuations of towns across Akobo County in eastern Jonglei state since the start of the year [1].

Escalating violence has forced the withdrawal of aid agencies from key areas, triggering mass displacement and leaving families stranded and without essential and life-saving services. 

More than 100,000 people are estimated to have fled Akobo town to Ethiopia since the start of March, according to UNICEF, while some 267,000 people have been displaced by conflict in Jonglei state since the end of last year. 

Reath James Nyaluak*, a Save the Children worker, was displaced from Walgak to Akobo town in February, and describes the terrifying journey: 

“As we were moving out of Walgak, I saw a lot of people suffering. I saw children seated next to their deceased parents –an unimaginable situation. I saw pregnant women, some of whom had to give birth in the forest. I saw elders dying. 

“During the journey from Walgak to Akobo town, a former colleague left his children with his brother, who then used another road to reach safety. However, his brother and the children were attacked, his brother killed, and four of the children were abducted. Until now, we don’t know if the kids are alive or not.” 

While helping families evacuate Akobo town following a government-issued evacuation order on 6 March, Reath helped a woman deliver her baby in a canoe: 

“One family – an expectant mother, a blind older lady and a 6-year-old child – were stranded at the Akobo East side of the river. I could see the woman was in some distress. I decided to swim across the river, get a canoe, and cross the river again to bring the family to safety. The family got in and then while crossing back over the river, the woman gave birth to her baby in the canoe. It was a baby girl, who she named “canoe” in the local language.”

Save the Children was forced to suspend all humanitarian operations and relocate staff from Akobo East earlier this month following an uptick in violence.

At the time of withdrawal, Save the Children was providing critical health, nutrition, education, child protection and water and sanitation services to about 100,000 children in Akobo town, who are now going without these essential services and facing increasing violence. More than 45 staff have had to relocate.

Chris Nyamandi, Save the Children’s Country Director in South Sudan, said: 

“Reath’s story underscores the human cost of violence in South Sudan. We aren’t talking about numbers, we are talking about people whose lives are being completely torn apart by attacks, displacement and fear. 

“There is next to no humanitarian assistance reaching the tens of thousands of people displaced by this violence. Families are absolutely desperate, eating whatever they can find, sleeping under trees or out in the open. One can only imagine the kind of psychological impact such a situation would have on a vulnerable child. 

“South Sudan needs a meaningful peace. Current tensions risk pushing South Sudan back into conflict just eight years since a peace agreement was signed, and a few months before the country marks its 15th year of independence. Children deserve better – they deserve a future free from fear and violence. They deserve safety, education, healthcare. They are getting none of this in Akobo.”

Save the Children calls on all parties to the conflict to prioritize the protection of civilians, respect international humanitarian law, and ensure safe, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access to already affected communities. 

Save the Children strongly emphasizes that humanitarian organizations are neutral and impartial actors whose sole purpose is to provide lifesaving support to children and communities in need. Restrictions or forced relocation of humanitarian personnel and operations risk leaving thousands of vulnerable people without access to essential services at a time when needs are already acute.

Save the Children has worked in South Sudan since 1991, providing children with access to education, healthcare and nutrition services, and supporting families with food security and livelihoods assistance.

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Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Save the Children.

Source: APO

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VUKA Group’s (https://WeAreVUKA.com/) Mining Review Africa has introduced French and Portuguese translations on its website, responding to growing demand from readers across the continent. 

This allows users to access content in multiple languages, improving accessibility for audiences in regions where English is not widely used. 

The move follows insights gathered by VUKA Group during its flagship mining events held across Africa, including DRC Mining Week, Angola International Mining Conference and Nigeria Mining Week The organisers noted a clear need for more inclusive communication, particularly in countries where French and Portuguese are dominant languages in business and industry engagement. 

By enabling multilingual access, Mining Review Africa aims to better serve its diverse readership, including industry professionals, policymakers and investors who rely on timely mining news and insights. 

“This development is part of our ongoing commitment to making mining content more accessible across Africa,” Mining Review Africa’s Editor-In-Chief, Gerard Peter said. “We recognise that language should not be a barrier to information, especially in a sector that plays such a critical role in the continent’s economic growth.” 

The translation feature is now live and available to all users on the Mining Review Africa website. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.