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Mpumalanga residents urged to save water

Source: Government of South Africa

Mpumalanga residents urged to save water

Residents across Mpumalanga are being urged to use water sparingly as provincial dam levels continue to show marginal declines.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) said the province’s average dam levels fell from 98.7% to 98.5% in the latest Weekly State of Reservoirs Report released this week.

While levels remain high, the department said the downward trend highlights the need for continued water conservation and responsible use.

Both of Mpumalanga’s Water Management Areas recorded slight decreases. The Limpopo-Olifants Water Management Area declined from 100.3% to 100.1%, while the Inkomati-Usuthu Water Management Area dropped from 98.2% to 98.0%.

Water levels also decreased across all three districts.

Ehlanzeni fell from 100.2% to 100.1%, Gert Sibande declined from 96.7% to 96.6%, and Nkangala dropped from 100.5% to 100.2%.

The Lowveld and Ehlanzeni District recorded mixed results, with several dams declining while others remained unchanged.

Inyaka Dam was the only listed dam in the district to record an increase, rising from 100.1% to 100.4%. Witklip remained unchanged at 100.3%, while Longmere stood at 101.3%, Klipkopjes at 99.6% and Da Gama at 100.3%.

Among the dams that recorded declines, Kwena fell from 100.5% to 100.3%, Blyderivierpoort from 100.5% to 100.3%, Buffelskloof from 100.5% to 100.3%, Driekoppies from 100.3% to 100.2%, Primkop from 101.3% to 101.1%, and Ohrigstad from 92.8% to 92.2%.

Gert Sibande also recorded a mixed picture.

Grootdraai remained at 96.9%, Nooitgedacht at 99.5%, Morgenstond at 100.4% and Heyshope at 100.1%.

However, Vygeboom Dam declined from 100.5% to 99.5%, Jericho from 92.8% to 92.6%, and Westoe from 59.9% to 59.1%.

In Nkangala, Middelburg Dam was the only listed dam to record an increase, rising from 99.8% to 100.1%.

Loskop Dam recorded a slight decrease from 100.9% to 100.4%, while Witbank and Rhenosterkop remained unchanged at 99.3% and 100.4%, respectively.

Despite the relatively healthy dam levels, the department has called on households, businesses, farmers and institutions to avoid unnecessary water use.

The department reminded residents that water has no substitute and that “every drop counts”.

It urged water users to repair leaking taps and pipes, avoid wasting water and report burst pipes and leaks to the relevant water services authorities.

The department said water conservation was a shared responsibility and that simple water-saving measures incorporated into daily life could help protect scarce resources, strengthen water security and support reliable water supplies for communities.

“While current dam levels remain healthy, even small changes reinforce the need for continued water conservation and responsible use,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Asantehene opens Africa Business Investment Summit in Washington, DC with a $500m Investment Target in Africa

Source: APO

  • Asantehene presented a royal vision for Africa’s economic renaissance
  • Day 1 proceeded under the theme – The Vision Day: Unlocking Africa’s Century, A Diaspora Mandate”
  • Fireside chat with Boris Kodjoe on The Diaspora Return

The Africa Business Investment Summit 2026 opened this morning at the MGM National Harbor, in Washington D.C. Metro, with a royal keynote by the Summit’s Patron, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, as the Millennium Excellence Week hosts its first event outside of Ghana.

The opening ceremony, themed “The Asante Crown Meets the Diaspora,” convened more than 400 registered delegates, including senior government officials, C-suite executives, and US-based institutional investors. They were drawn together under a single mandate: to facilitate $500 million in structured capital commitments between African deal originators and US institutional capital during the two-day summit.

Delivering his keynote address, His Majesty articulated a vision of African economic sovereignty where the diaspora serves as architects of continental development. Speaking with characteristic authority, His Majesty called on African governments, diaspora communities, and international institutional partners to align capital, policy frameworks, and political will behind a shared agenda for the continent’s economic future.

In his address, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene said: “For too long, Africa has been described mainly in terms of its deficiencies. We have heard of the roads not built, the electricity not generated, the jobs not created, the capital not available, and the institutions not strong enough,”

Speaking further he noted that “Africa must no longer be regarded merely as a continent of future potential. Africa is already becoming a central part of the future global economy, and those who understand this early will position themselves advantageously.”

Honorable Sampson Ahi, Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, who represented the President of the Republic of Ghana, detailed macroeconomic indicators signalling domestic economic recovery and industrial policy priorities: “ Our ambition is transformation. We want an economy that moves beyond exporting raw materials to manufacturing finished products, creating value, jobs, and shared prosperity. We want capital that drives productivity, entrepreneurship, and innovation. This is the philosophy behind the twenty-four-hour economy program, which is a commitment stimulating round-the-clock production, improving productivity, and developing a competitive and export-oriented economy.”

The first day of the summit concluded under the theme “The Vision Day: Unlocking Africa’s Century, A Diaspora Mandate”, exploring through a series of plenary sessions the most pressing deal themes in US–Africa investment today.

Programme spotlights included: The Diaspora Return, a fireside chat with Boris Kodjoe, Beyond Remittances: Building Africa’s Sixth Region, diaspora capital beyond transfers, The New Gold Rush: Africa’s Seat at America’s Critical Minerals Table,  Ghana’s Gold Moment: From the Gold Coast to Global Market Power, The Diaspora Dollar: Fintech and the Next Remittance Corridor and Powering the Continent: Energy, Infrastructure and the US–Africa Partnership

The second and final day of the event will continue to explore investment opportunities across the continent through sector spotlights on the Creative Economy, Health & Pharma, Technology, and Digital Financial Services.

Following these plenaries, the event will conclude with bilateral investment meetings that will translate the vision outlined in the plenary hall into concrete investment decisions.

Review Day 1 Plenary Sessions: https://apo-opa.co/4cPkRRP

Watch Day 2 Live Stream: https://apo-opa.co/4gYIxFP

  • Day 2 to explore investment opportunities and conclude with bilateral investment meetings

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Millennium Excellence Foundation.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Nina Smith
nina@polisolpublicaffairs.com

ABOUT THE AFRICA BUSINESS INVESTMENT SUMMIT 2026:
The Africa Business Investment Summit (ABIS) 2026 is an exclusive, invitation-only gathering engineered for one purpose: results. Hosted by the Millennium Excellence Foundation, ABIS 2026 convenes the most influential voices in African development finance, private investment, and government policy. The summit is designed to facilitate a minimum of $500 million in structured capital commitments between African deal originators and US-based institutional investors. 27–28 August 2026, MGM National Harbor, Washington D.C. Metro. Website: ABIS-Africa.com

ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION:
The Millennium Excellence Foundation (MEF) is a global organisation dedicated to fostering excellence, leadership, and sustainable development across Africa and the African diaspora. MEF convenes leaders across government, business, and civil society to drive meaningful impact at scale.

Website: MillenniumExcellenceFoundation.org 

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Federal Government (FG) Activates Emergency Task Force to Respond to Diphtheria Outbreak in Katsina, Kano

Source: APO

The Federal Government has activated an emergency task force to contain the outbreak of diphtheria among children in parts of Katsina and Kano States, with immediate measures being deployed to strengthen surveillance, close immunisation gaps and ensure timely access to treatment.

The directive was issued by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, as part of the Federal Government’s continuing commitment to protect the health of Nigerian children and strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), affected state governments and international health partners, has constituted a multi-agency task force to coordinate the response.

The task force will be co-chaired by the Director-General of NCDC and the Director of Public Health, with membership drawn from NPHCDA; the Honourable Commissioners for Health of Katsina, Kano, Zamfara and Sokoto States; the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF; and the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme in Katsina State. The Ministry’s Chief Epidemiologist will serve as Secretary.

The task force has been directed to act immediately on three fronts:

  • Outbreak containment and immunisation: Conduct outbreak investigations, strengthen disease surveillance and intensify community sensitisation to close population immunity gaps through the immunisation of unvaccinated children. As part of the immediate response, NPHCDA has deployed 500,000 doses of vaccines to Katsina and Kano States to support intensified immunisation activities in affected and at-risk communities.
  • Expanded access to treatment: Work with the Katsina State Government to establish treatment annexes in hospitals across the state’s three senatorial districts — Katsina, Daura and Funtua — to bring care closer to affected communities and facilitate early intervention.
  • Emergency support for referral care: Mobilise urgent support to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, the principal referral centre for the state and parts of neighbouring states, including Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT), intravenous antibiotics, additional clinical personnel and personal protective equipment (PPE).

The task force will provide weekly updates to the Coordinating Minister on progress, emerging challenges and additional requirements, with identified bottlenecks escalated for immediate resolution.

The Federal Government reaffirms its resolve to protect Nigerian children from vaccine-preventable diseases and remains committed to a swift, coordinated and evidence-based response to bring the outbreak under control.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, Nigeria.

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South Africa Moves to Institutionalise the African Fisheries and Aquaculture Database

Source: APO – Report:

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AU-IBAR, through the European Union-funded Fisheries Governance Project Phase Two (FishGov2), convened a capacity-building training on institutionalising and operationalising the African Fisheries and Aquaculture Database (AFAData) in Cape Town from 23 to 24 July 2026. Sixteen participants took part, including thirteen national technical officers from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, as well as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat and AU-IBAR. Ms Hellen Guebama of AU-IBAR, Dr Motseki Hlatshwayo of the SADC Secretariat, and Mr Belemane Semoli, Acting Deputy Director General of Fisheries Management, opened the workshop.

AFAData is a continental repository for the entry, retrieval, updating and analysis of fisheries and aquaculture data by African Union Member States, linked to AU-IBAR’s Animal Resources Information System (ARIS). It is now operational and open to all Member States at https://afadata.au-ibar.org/. South Africa is one of five countries — with Madagascar, Senegal, Tunisia and Uganda — selected to accelerate operationalisation by populating the database during hands-on training.

Opening remarks: data as the basis of public policy

Speaking on behalf of AU-IBAR, Ms Hellen Guebama situated the training within the reform agenda that FishGov2 supports—implementing the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa through stronger institutional capacities, information systems, and data-driven decision-making.

“High-quality data is now essential for developing effective public policies, guiding investments, measuring sector performance, and ensuring rigorous monitoring of commitments made at the national, regional, and continental levels.”

— Ms Hellen Guebama, AU-IBAR

She recalled the platform’s political mandate — its adoption by African Ministers at the Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and the Environment, which recommended its gradual deployment across Member States — and noted that South Africa is now actively engaged in that continental dynamic. Thanking the Government of South Africa for its collaboration, she closed with an expectation rather than a formality:

“I am convinced that this training will be an important step in strengthening the national information system on fisheries and aquaculture in South Africa and that it will contribute to better decision-making, for the benefit of fishing communities, fish farmers and the sustainable development of the sector.”

— Ms Hellen Guebama, AU-IBAR

What the training delivered

Ms Adeline Oduor of AU-IBAR led participants through the database design and logic before the national team moved to live data entry. Three outcomes stand out.

  • A national account was created, with a designated focal point to manage membership.

  • South Africa’s 2024 annual fisheries and aquaculture data was reviewed jointly and entered in full — the training ended with real national data in the platform, not a demonstration dataset.

  • The Acting Deputy Director General designated data validators in each Chief Directorate: Marine Resources Management for fish trade and vessels; Fisheries Research and Development for capture fisheries and effort; and Aquaculture and Economic Development for aquaculture production and farms.

The third outcome is the most consequential. Naming validators within existing directorate structures turns AFAData from a system a country has been trained on into a system a country reports through — the difference between capacity built and capacity institutionalised.

Because participants worked with genuine data, the sessions also surfaced refinements that will improve the platform for every Member State that follows: registration numbers rather than vessel names as unique identifiers, corrections to import templates and species reference lists, and definitional questions of continental relevance — how to classify restocking with hatchery fingerlings, or wild-caught fish fattened in cages.

Contribution and relevance

For continental reporting: AFAData strengthens the representation of fisheries and aquaculture in the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Declaration and its Biennial Review process, which commenced in 2026. A sector that cannot report consistently cannot be counted, and a sector that is not counted is not prioritised.

For national systems: South Africa now has a populated account, trained personnel across three chief directorates, and named validators—a functioning reporting chain rather than a one-off event.

For regional integration: SADC’s participation links national practice to regional oversight, supporting harmonised reporting across the region.

For the sector: reliable data on production, effort, trade and aquaculture underpins rational resource management, credible investment cases and defensible policy — ultimately in the interest of fishing communities and fish farmers.

The lessons from Cape Town will inform the next phase of the rollout to remaining Member States. AU-IBAR thanks the Government of South Africa, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the SADC Secretariat and the European Union for their support, and encourages Member States yet to nominate an AFAData focal point to do so.

– on behalf of The African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).

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Liberia Positions Itself at United Nations (UN) Security Council, Hosts Guterres and E10 Ahead of December Presidency

Source: APO – Report:

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Liberia’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Lewis G. Brown II on Monday hosted a working lunch in honor of UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the 10 elected members of the Security Council.

The lunch held at UN Headquarters in Manhattan, positioned Liberia at the center of United Nations diplomacy. 

Liberia, coordinating both the A3, Africa’s three Council members and the E10 — the 10 non-permanent members since August 1, held the lunch to align positions ahead of one of the busiest months on the Council’s calendar.

The lunch, not ceremonial brought together the E10 which includes Bahrain, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia.

Three of the states DRC, Liberia and Somalia also constitute the A3, the group that articulates African priorities inside the Council.

Liberia’s dual coordinating mandate has given Ambassador Brown unusual convening power this month, at a time when the Council is handling crises across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

The month also includes two signature events: an August 19 open debate on Council working methods, and the August 25 high-level debate on “Food Under Fire” — conflict and hunger.

Diplomats are also monitoring Ukraine, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, and the planned closure of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon at year’s end — any of which could trigger emergency sessions.

LIBERIA SETS TONE ON MIDDLE EAST AND REFORM:

At the Council’s 10,207th meeting on August 17, Ambassador Brown presented Liberia’s position on the Middle East, warning that prospects for a two-state solution are “rapidly diminishing” due to continued violence, Palestinian displacement, and settlement expansion.

He invoked Liberia’s 1947 vote for UN General Assembly Resolution 181, the original partition plan, to frame the stance as one of long-standing principle.

Speaking for the entire E10 during the working methods debate, Brown called for reforms to Note S/2024/507.

He urged time-bound leadership of subsidiary bodies after two years of delays in appointing sanctions committee chairs, and pushed for elected members who make up two-thirds of the Council to be included at the beginning of the drafting resolutions, including thorough shared “penholdership” now dominated by the P5.

As A3 coordinator, Liberia is also steering African positions on Libya, South Sudan, the DRC’s eastern conflict, and AU-led responses in the Sahel and Horn of Africa.

Diplomats say the A3 under DRC, Liberia and Somalia has favored political solutions over sanctions, a posture expected to continue through August.

The coordinating role carries added significance because Liberia will assume the Security Council presidency in December for the first time since 1961.

President Joseph Boakai is expected to chair high-level sessions that month.

UN officials described August as a “rehearsal” for the larger task. 

Monday’s lunch, they say demonstrated how Liberia intends to use the presidency by driving direct dialogue between the Secretary-General and elected members, rather than leaving coordination to fragmented channels.

Liberia’s engagement is being  described as consequential for both the August’s immediate decisions and for laying groundwork for December.

– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

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Inspetor-Geral da Inspeção-Geral das Atividades Económicas (IGAE) toma posse: Governo quer uma instituição moderna, preventiva e parceira da transformação económica

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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O Governo, através do Ministro da Economia, Comércio, Indústria e Transição Digital, António Baptista, defendeu, esta sexta-feira, 28 de agosto, uma Inspeção-Geral das Atividades Económicas (IGAE) moderna, profissional, digital e orientada para a prevenção e para a transformação da economia cabo-verdiana.

Esta posição foi defendida durante a tomada de posse de Elisângelo de Deus Léger Monteiro como novo Inspetor-Geral da IGAE, testemunhada pelo Primeiro-Ministro, Francisco Carvalho, e que contou com a presença de membros do Governo, dirigentes e colaboradores da instituição, bem como de representantes de entidades públicas e privadas ligadas aos setores da economia e da fiscalização.

Na sua intervenção, o Ministro António Baptista sublinhou que a fiscalização económica deve ser entendida como parte integrante da política de desenvolvimento do país e defendeu que a IGAE deve ir além da fiscalização e da sanção, assumindo um papel ativo na transformação da economia cabo-verdiana.

A ideia central defendida pelo Ministro, que considerou a fiscalização económica como uma componente essencial da estratégia de desenvolvimento do país, foi “Fiscalizar para transformar”.

Mais do que isso, António Baptista salientou que a ambição de produzir mais, transformar mais, exportar mais e aumentar a presença dos produtos nacionais nos mercados exige o reforço das normas de qualidade, segurança, rastreabilidade e certificação.

O Ministro defendeu ainda uma fiscalização que apoie e oriente os operadores que cumprem as regras, mas que atue com firmeza perante práticas que coloquem em causa a saúde pública, os consumidores e a concorrência leal.

Uma IGAE mais digital e inteligente

Ao tomar posse, Elisângelo Monteiro, que já havia dirigido a IGAE entre 2015 e 2020, afirmou assumir novamente a função com “responsabilidade acrescida e sentido de humanidade mais apurado”.

O novo Inspetor-Geral assumiu o compromisso de reforçar a modernização e a transformação digital da instituição, apostando na inovação, na utilização de dados e numa forte componente científica para tornar a fiscalização mais eficaz e assertiva.

“Estamos confiantes de que seremos a polícia económica mais digital da nossa comunidade”, afirmou Elisângelo Monteiro, que apelou igualmente ao reforço dos investimentos e da capacidade institucional da IGAE, considerando que investir na instituição é garantir maior proteção, segurança alimentar e um ambiente de negócios mais saudável e atrativo ao investimento e ao empreendedorismo.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Governo de Cabo Verde.

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Angola: Titular do Ministério da Administração Pública, Trabalho e Segurança Social (MAPTSS) fala das novas prestações da Segurança Social

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

Teresa Rodrigues Dias informou que o INSS vai continuar a ter espaço para a criação de novas prestações que devem ser realizadas de forma gradual, responsável e financeiramente sustentável.

A título de exemplo apontou a primeira eventualidade que deverá continuar a ser estudada sobre doenças comuns.

Explicou que a futura prestação por doença comum deverá procurar compensar, dentro dos limites definidos pela lei, uma parte da remuneração perdida durante o período de incapacidade temporária para o trabalho.

A segunda eventualidade é a protecção dos segurados no desemprego involuntário, que representa um risco social, com profundas consequências para o trabalhador, para a família e para a própria economia.

Esta eventualidade, disse, deverá funcionar como uma protecção temporária do rendimento, articulada com políticas activas de emprego, formação profissional, reconversão de competências e reintegração no mercado de trabalho.

A terceira eventualidade, disse, será a revisão da protecção na morte e das pensões de sobrevivência, tendo em conta que a morte de um trabalhador ou pensionista pode deixar o agregado familiar numa situação de grande fragilidade económica. Aí, será necessário assegurar que os regimes de subsídio por morte, subsídio de funeral e pensão de sobrevivência sejam coerentes, acessíveis e ajustados às transformações das famílias angolanas.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Governo de Angola.

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Eritrea: Modern Medical Equipment Installed at Adi-Keih Hospital

Source: APO

Modern medical equipment installed at Adi-Keih Hospital is making a significant contribution to the healthcare services provided by the hospital. The observation was made by beneficiaries and health professionals.

Dr. Tsegazeab Kiflezgi, Medical Director of the hospital, said that the Government is making significant investments to equip health facilities with modern medical equipment and qualified personnel, contributing to the improvement of healthcare services provided to the public.

Noting that several pieces of digital equipment have been installed at the hospital since 2023, Dr. Tsegazeab said that the development has increased satisfaction among both patients and health professionals.

Dr. Tsegazeab also called on the public to increase awareness, maintain a proper diet and engage in regular physical exercise to help control the prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. He also advised the public to avoid canned foods.

Mr. Teshome Tekle, from the physiotherapy unit, indicated that the hospital provides healthcare services to patients from the Adi-Keih and Senafe sub-zones, as well as from the Northern Red Sea Region. He said that the modern medical equipment installed at the hospital is contributing to the provision of effective healthcare services.

The beneficiaries, noting that they are receiving effective and timely healthcare services from the hospital, expressed gratitude to the Government for installing the modern medical equipment.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

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Communities in Cameroon take an active role in preventing cholera

Source: APO

Placing communities in Cameroon at the heart of cholera prevention efforts is the basis of a new initiative between Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Cameroon’s Ministry of Health (MoH). The project – launched in November 2024 in Djoungolo, a neighbourhood of the country’s capital, Yaoundé, that has been regularly affected by cholera – addresses factors that contribute to the resurgence and transmission of the disease to strengthen prevention capacities often already in place.

“We had already introduced community cleaning days in each neighbourhood to clear drainage channels, clean the areas in front of homes and public spaces,” says Simon Ahanda, neighbourhood chief in Djoungolo. “Residents were already mobilised to fight diseases linked to poor sanitation.”

Listening to communities before taking action

Since October 2021, Cameroon has experienced recurring cholera outbreaks. While emergency responses treat patients and reduce the risk of death, additional measures are needed to prevent the disease from returning. Underlying causes include limited access to safe drinking water; inadequate sanitation infrastructure; poor waste management; and inadequate hygiene practices. It is in this context that MSF chose to develop a different approach, based on community involvement.

Our teams held consultations with residents, community leaders, health authorities, and other local stakeholders. The discussions identified community priorities, the challenges communities face, and existing measures. The consultations showed that communities had already identified several challenges and developed local initiatives that needed strengthening. This approach is part of the Patients and Populations as Partners (PPP) approach and made it possible to adapt project activities to the realities on the ground.

“We could not come in with ready-made solutions,” says Frida Tebere, MSF’s PPP manager. “Patients and communities know their realities, their challenges and the problems they face every day better than anyone.” 

“Our role is to listen, create dialogue and build solutions together with them,” says Tebere.

Solutions adapted to the local context

Community consultations helped guide project activities towards concrete priorities including improving access to safe drinking water, strengthening hygiene and sanitation practices, supporting the early detection of suspected cases, and promoting better understanding and adoption of prevention measures.

MSF is supporting the promotion of good hygiene practices, the rehabilitation of seven water points, and the establishment of a chlorine production unit to improve access to safe drinking water. The use of chlorine caused concern among communities. Discussions showed that the concern was based on the practicality of chlorine use – the correct dosage and how to store treated water – and not on treating water itself.

The project developed a strategy centred on model households. These are volunteer families who are trained in chlorine use and, having gained practical experience, then share their knowledge with neighbours.

“At first, we had concerns about using chlorine,” says a member of a model household. “After the explanations and demonstrations, we understood how to use it correctly. Today, we also show other families how to treat their water.”

Continuously strengthening community capacities

More than 1.2 million people have been reached through awareness-raising activities since 2025. Approximately 5,000 households are targeted each month in the Djoungolo health district.

Community engagement is a key component of the project. Participation goes beyond awareness-raising. At some sites, communities also help secure worksites and equipment during the rehabilitation of water points. This involvement strengthens local ownership of the infrastructure and aims to create the conditions necessary for its continued use and sustainability.

The project also supports health facilities and communities through a chlorine production unit intended to supply health facilities and households for water treatment. MSF remains ready to support the response to future cholera outbreaks, including through free patient care, strengthening the capacities of healthcare workers, supporting peripheral health facilities when needed, and contributing to preventive or reactive vaccination campaigns.

The objective is therefore to create a continuum between prevention, preparedness and response: strengthening community involvement and health facilities, while maintaining the capacity to respond rapidly as soon as a cholera case is confirmed.

Collective responsibility for sustainable prevention

In a context where humanitarian needs are increasing while available funding is declining, cholera prevention cannot rely on a single organisation. The experience in Djoungolo shows that communities never start from scratch. They already have knowledge, initiatives, and solidarity mechanisms that can contribute to preventing the disease. The role of health organisations is therefore not only to provide expertise, but also to identify, strengthen, and support solutions that already exist locally.

In Djoungolo, preventing cholera is not simply about providing safe water, chlorine, or awareness messages. It is about enabling people to understand the risks, participate in decision-making, and have the means to take action. Prevention becomes more sustainable when communities are not simply recipients of a response, but full partners in shaping it.

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

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Ituri : à Fataki et Bule, la Mission de l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en République Démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO) renforce la protection des civils pour accompagner le retour des déplacés

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

À Fataki et Bule, dans le territoire de Djugu en Ituri, les Casques bleus de la MONUSCO poursuivent leurs opérations de protection des civils dans un contexte sécuritaire encore fragile. Le commandant de la Force de la MONUSCO, le lieutenant-général Ulisses de Mesquita Gomes, s’y est rendu le 26 août alors qu’il effectuait une visite de quatre jours dans la province.

Dans ces deux localités, les affrontements entre les Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC) et les combattants de la Convention pour la révolution populaire (CRP) ont entraîné, ces derniers mois, d’importants mouvements de population.

Face à cette situation, les Casques bleus maintiennent une présence sur le terrain, avec des patrouilles régulières, notamment aux côtés de l’armée congolaise, afin de protéger les civils, de sécuriser les principaux axes routiers et de permettre aux populations de reprendre progressivement leurs activités. Les premiers signes de cette reprise sont visibles : des habitants retournent dans leurs champs et préparent progressivement leur retour dans leurs villages.

À Fataki, une présence pour protéger et rassurer

Les Casques bleus népalais de la MONUSCO maintiennent une présence régulière, notamment le long de la RN27, une route essentielle pour les déplacements des populations et les échanges commerciaux à Fataki. De jour comme de nuit, ils patrouillent sur les principaux axes et dans les zones à risque, notamment aux côtés des FARDC. Leur présence s’étend également aux localités plus éloignées pour prévenir les violences, rassurer les communautés et faciliter leurs déplacements.

Au-delà des patrouilles, ils échangent avec les communautés et les autorités locales pour favoriser la reprise des activités et le retour progressif des déplacés.

Pour le colonel Rufin Mapela, administrateur du territoire de Djugu, ces efforts commencent à produire des résultats.

« Dans l’ensemble, nous constatons une amélioration de la situation sécuritaire avec la collaboration de la MONUSCO. Nous restons confiants dans la poursuite de cette collaboration opérationnelle afin de consolider les acquis et de permettre aux populations de regagner progressivement leurs milieux », a-t-il déclaré à l’occasion de la visite du commandant de la Force de la MONUSCO.

À Bule, l’espoir d’un retour renaît

À quelques dizaines de kilomètres de là, la protection des civils s’appuie notamment sur la base opérationnelle de Bayoo, tenue par les Casques bleus bangladais. Dans cette zone particulièrement affectée par les affrontements, ils mènent des patrouilles et des actions de proximité auprès des communautés.

Au-delà des patrouilles, le contingent bangladais mène plusieurs initiatives en faveur des communautés dans l’ensemble de sa zone de responsabilité. L’opération « Secure Harvest », destinée à sécuriser l’accès aux zones agricoles, a bénéficié à plus de 36 000 personnes, tandis que l’initiative « Safe Schooling », qui contribue à sécuriser l’accès à l’école, en a touché plus de 24 000. Depuis décembre 2025, 17 campagnes médicales ont également permis de fournir des soins à près de 1 700 personnes.

Ces actions prennent une importance particulière à Bule, où une grande partie de la population avait fui les affrontements pour trouver refuge, notamment dans le site de déplacés de la plaine de Savo. Après environ neuf mois d’absence, certains habitants reviennent désormais pendant la journée pour nettoyer leurs maisons, cultiver leurs champs et préparer leur retour.

Dans la zone, plus de 60 000 personnes vivant dans des sites de déplacés envisagent de regagner leurs villages. Mais le retour reste difficile : de nombreuses habitations et infrastructures ont été détruites, tandis que l’accès à l’eau potable, aux soins et aux autres services essentiels demeure limité.

« Nous sommes là pour protéger la population »

Pour le commandant de la Force de la MONUSCO, l’évolution observée à Fataki et Bule est encourageante, mais les efforts doivent se poursuivre aux côtés des forces congolaises.

« Nous avons longuement échangé avec le leadership des FARDC. Nous constatons que la situation sécuritaire à Fataki et Bule s’améliore grâce aux efforts conjoints de la MONUSCO et des FARDC. Nous continuons nos opérations sur le terrain pour protéger les civils et lutter contre les groupes armés. Nous espérons que les populations pourront regagner leurs villages et reprendre une vie normale. Nous sommes là pour les protéger », a déclaré le lieutenant-général Ulisses de Mesquita Gomes.

Pour Jim Mutunda, représentant du gouverneur de l’Ituri, la présence de la MONUSCO aux côtés des forces nationales contribue à créer les conditions nécessaires au retour des civils.

« Le souhait du gouverneur est que les populations puissent quitter les sites de déplacés et rentrer dans leurs milieux. La MONUSCO est présente aux côtés des FARDC à travers les missions et les patrouilles conjointes pour accompagner et sécuriser les populations », a-t-il fait savoir.

Après Komanda et Bogoro la veille, cette étape à Fataki et Bayoo a permis au commandant de la Force de réaffirmer l’engagement de la MONUSCO à poursuivre ses efforts pour la protection des civils en Ituri.

Distribué par APO Group pour Mission de l’Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).

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