MIL Africa Engine

Source: APO

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Many residents of Gogrial West County are unaware of their fundamental right to be protected, often silently enduring violence, theft, or domestic abuse.

Despite being a relatively peaceful part of Warrap State, people living here are sometimes subject to conflicts and their consequences, crime, risks related to climate change and, last but not least, the frequent incidents of domestic violence mostly suffered by women and girls. 

“They, like everyone else, have the right to live safely and with dignity,” stated Bakhita Burke, Gender-Based Violence Coordinator at Women for Change, a women-led non-governmental organization, adding that a lack of tangible conflict is no guarantee of peace on the home front.

“Behind closed doors, many women continue to suffer,” she said, remarking that recent months have seen a concerning increase of suicides related to physical abuse. 

Ms. Burke and some other 50 invited guests, including political and community leaders, survivors of violence and other stakeholders, discussed a variety of topics, all related to advocacy for human rights, at a workshop in Kuajok facilitated by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). 

Another such issue is cattle raiding and the profound distress this harmful and unlawful practice causes. Alongside gender-based violence, cattle theft emerged as another significant issue during discussions. Daniel Mangar, Executive Director for Gogrial West County, elaborated on the profound economic and emotional distress caused by these incidents.

“These thefts may seem minor to outsiders, but they create fear, tensions and financial losses for anyone affected,” commented Mariang Martin Agoth, Executive Director of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, highlighting the importance of partnerships.

“Humanitarians step in precisely where government resources fall short, trying to make sure that displaced families and other vulnerable community members are not forgotten.” 

Lucy Okello, a Protection, Transition & Reintegration Officer serving with UNMISS, reflected on the bigger picture and the people of South Sudan the peacekeeping mission is here to serve. 

“Each statistic we discuss represents real families, facing real and severe hardship. Our talk today must be translated into actions tomorrow.”

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

Source: APO

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The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) began airdropping emergency food assistance to thousands of families in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State, where surging conflict since March has forced families from their homes and pushed some communities to the brink of famine.

These distributions mark WFP’s first access in over four months to deliver life-saving food and nutrition assistance to more than 40,000 people facing catastrophic hunger in the most remote parts of Nasir and Ulang counties, areas only accessible by air.

“The link between conflict and hunger is tragically clear in South Sudan and we’ve seen this over the past few months in Upper Nile,” said Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP Country Director in South Sudan. “Without a major scale-up in assistance, the counties of Nasir and Ulang risk slipping into full-blown famine. We urgently need to get food to these families, and we are doing everything possible to reach those who need it most before the situation spirals.”

More than one million people across Upper Nile are facing acute hunger, including over 32,000 people already experiencing Catastrophic levels of hunger (IPC5) – the highest level of food insecurity. This figure has tripled since armed conflict flared in March, triggering mass displacement, including across the border into Ethiopia where WFP is providing life-saving food aid to around 50,000 people who have fled from Upper Nile in search of food and safety.

WFP aims to reach 470,000 people in Upper Nile and Northern Jonglei through the lean season – the hungriest time of year, which runs through August – but continued fighting and logistical constraints have hindered access and a comprehensive response. WFP has only been able to reach 300,000 people in Upper Nile so far this year. 

The main river routes into the state must be reopened urgently in order to reach hungry families with sustained humanitarian support. These routes are the most cost-effective way to reach large swathes of Upper Nile and northern Jonglei states to deliver crucial assistance but have been blocked by active fighting since mid-April. WFP has 1,500MT of food ready to transport once river routes are operational again.

“Where we have been able to consistently deliver, we’ve seen real progress,” McGroarty said. “In the first half of this year, we pushed back catastrophic hunger in areas of Jonglei State through regular deliveries of food assistance, and we can do the same in Upper Nile. But if we can’t get the food to people, hunger will deepen and famine is a real and present threat.”

A global funding slowdown is worsening the already dire humanitarian situation in South Sudan. Nationwide, 7.7 million people – 57 percent of the population – are facing crisis, emergency, or catastrophic levels of hunger. An unprecedented 2.3 million children are at risk of malnutrition.

Due to funding gaps, WFP has prioritized assistance with reduced rations for only the most vulnerable 2.5 million people—just 30 percent of those in acute need – to stretch limited resources. WFP urgently needs US$274 million to continue life-saving operations through December.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

Source: APO

Sosthene Nguema Nguema, Minister of Oil & Gas of Gabon, has joined this year’s Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference – taking place September 3-4 in Luanda – as a keynote speaker. Minister Nguema’s participation comes as the country implements a strategic shift towards deepwater exploration and production, seeking to unlock additional resources across the country’s offshore acreage. As one of Africa’s biggest deepwater producers, Angola offers significant experience in the field, highlighting a strategic opportunity for bilateral collaboration.  

With a goal to increase production to 220,000 barrels per day (bpd), Gabon is revising its Hydrocarbons Code – launched in 2019 and featuring improvements to production sharing contracts (PSC), fiscals and profit sharing – to entice new investment into frontier basins. The Ministry of Oil & Gas has identified deepwater investment as a strategic priority given that up to 72% of the country’s deepwater acreage remains unexplored. As such, the government is inviting investment into deepwater blocks.  

Major players are already ramping up their portfolios across the market, seeking to tap into commercial oil and gas deposits. Examples include BW Energy, VAALCO Energy, CNOOC and Perenco. BW Energy and its partner VAALCO Energy recently signed PSCs for exploration blocks Niosi Marin and Guduma Marin, covering an eight-year exploration period with a two-year extension option. The partners will drill one well and conduct a 3D seismic acquisition campaign. Perenco spud the Hylia South West discovery in early 2024, revealing substantial oil-bearing columns in the Ntchengue Ocean reservoir, while CNOOC launched wildcat drilling on Blocks BC-9 and BCD-10 in 2023. These projects seek to unlock a new hydrocarbon province in Gabon’s deepwater acreage.  

Angola’s deepwater oil and gas projects have positioned the country as one of the continent’s leading deepwater producers. The majority of the country’s one million bpd of crude production is derived almost entirely from the offshore fields of Cabinda together with the deepwater fields of the Lower Congo basin. Looking ahead, upcoming projects are expected to further consolidate Angola’s position as a deepwater leader. These include the Agogo Integrated West Hub, an ultra-deepwater development spearheaded by Azule Energy. The project will start operations in H2, 2025, adding 120,000 bpd to the producing Block 15/06 complex. The country’s first non-associated gas project – featuring the Cameia and Golfinho fields – is also advancing and is expected to bolster gas production through the monetization of Angola’s deepwater reserves. The project – led by the New Gas Consortium – targets first gas production by 2026. In offshore Kwanza, the basin’s first large deepwater development plans a 2028 start. Dubbed the Kaminho deepwater development, the project achieved a final investment decision in 2024 and will produce 70,000 bpd via an FPSO unit.  

By leveraging Angolan collaboration, Gabon stands to benefit from substantial deepwater experience, supporting project development as well as the creation of a new deepwater players in Central Africa. Minister Nguema’s participation at AOG 2025 reflects the country’s commitment to working with regional partners to advance oil and gas development and is expected to unlock new opportunities for collaboration, trade and investment.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO

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“Since I started participating in the activities of this project, many changes have happened in my life. Today, I am an empowered, resilient, and determined woman. I’ve learned how to manage my own business, and each day I continue to grow. I was able to build the first restaurant in my community, buy a freezer, and dig a well in my backyard.”

This is the testimony of Zura Constantino, a 30-year-old woman from Ancuabe district — one of the regions most affected by the armed conflict in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique.

Since 2017, Cabo Delgado has been the epicenter of a humanitarian crisis caused by armed conflict, which has affected more than one million people, the majority of whom are women and children. The situation has been further worsened by successive natural disasters, such as cyclones and floods, which have had a deep impact on the lives of local communities.

In this context of vulnerability, UN Women — in partnership with Girls Child Rights (GCR) and with financial support from the Government of Norway — implemented the project “Promoting Women’s Participation and Leadership in Peace, Security and Recovery Processes in Mozambique.” The initiative aimed at ensuring that women and girls contribute to and to have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience, and to benefit equally from the prevention of conflicts and disasters in Mozambique.

Zura Constantino is a vibrant and determined young woman from a rural community in Mozambique, who always dreamed of creating something meaningful for herself and those around her. Facing limited economic opportunities and the hardship of being abandoned by her husband, Zura was left to raise her child alone. Her turning point came when, she participated in financial literacy training and joined a community savings and rotating credit group, promoted by GCR. With support from the group and by applying the knowledge she gained, she took a bold step: she applied for a collective loan of 2,000 MZN to invest in her small food business.

Through dedication and hard work, Zura transformed her reality. From selling basic goods like tomatoes and bread, earning less than 500 meticais a day, she expanded her offerings, began selling cooked meals, and now, on busy days, earns up to 2,000 meticais daily. With the profits she saved, she took a leap of faith and is now building the first restaurant in her community — a long-held dream made possible through access to information, credit, and collective support.

Today, Zura is an inspiring example of resilience and transformation. She is one of 6,365 women affected by the conflict, aged between 18 and 59, who have benefited from financial literacy training and support through 194 community savings and credit groups established in Cabo Delgado. Each group consists of an average of 25 members, who are encouraged to save a minimum of 72.8 meticais, with savings cycles occurring twice a year.

Stories like Zura’s stand as a powerful example of how access to capital, capacity-building programmes, and social support can enable women to overcome adversity, lead with confidence, and become drivers of peace and development in their communities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.