MIL Africa Engine

Source: APO

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The Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources and the Portfolio Committee on Police have resolved to undertake an urgent joint oversight visit to Bloemfontein. This follows a petition from the Heidedal community raising grave concerns about the Witherow Dam quarry, where up to 50 drownings have reportedly occurred over the years.

The committees’ decision aims to obtain firsthand information, hold government departments and the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality accountable and engage directly with the affected community of Heidedal regarding safety, rehabilitation and regulatory compliance at the site.

Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Mr. Mikateko Mahlaule, underscored the seriousness of the matter, stating: “The petition remains a powerful tool for communities to seek Parliament’s intervention. It is deeply concerning that the body of water has not been fenced off, endangering the lives of children in the area. Equally worrying is the apparent disregard for several key legislations, including the National Environmental Management Act, the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act and the National Water Act.”

The committees are alarmed that, despite more than a decade of community appeals and numerous drownings, no action has been taken to secure the site or hold the responsible parties accountable. The committees further noted the broader challenge of mine rehabilitation in South Africa, calling for stronger, tangible measures from the relevant departments to ensure compliance and safety.

In line with their constitutional mandate, the committees stressed that government inaction is unacceptable and urgent action is required to ensure accountability. The committees will therefore convene all relevant stakeholders, including the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality to provide clarity and solutions to the community’s longstanding concerns.

The dates of the envisioned oversight visit will be communicated once the necessary parliamentary approval processes have been completed.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO

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Although food security has begun to improve in areas where fighting has subsided, famine has taken hold in conflict-hit locations that have been cut off from aid or under siege, according to the latest UN-backed IPC food security analysis. 

Famine conditions have been confirmed in Darfur’s El Fasher and Kadugli, where “people have endured months without reliable access to food or medical care,” the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and child rights agency UNICEF said in a joint release.

Ceasefire call

UN chief António Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan on Tuesday as disturbing images of apparent mass killings in El Fasher and elsewhere continue to circulate online.

In a tweet, Mr. Guterres appealed to the Sudanese Armed Forces and the rebel paramilitary Rapid Support Forces “to come to the negotiating table to bring an end to this nightmare of violence”.

Heavy fighting erupted in Sudan in April 2023 between the rival armies which has created a massive humanitarian disaster.

Last week saw the fall of government held El Fasher after more than 500 days of siege by rebels.

Hundreds of civilians – including humanitarian workers – are believed to have been killed, and many others are trapped behind barricades.

Millions still going hungry

The IPC analysis confirmed that roughly 21.2 million people in Sudan – 45 per cent of the population – are facing high levels of acute food insecurity, representing a slight improvement.

Furthermore, an estimated 3.4 million people are no longer facing crisis levels of hunger.

The improvements follow a gradual stabilisation since May in three states – Khartoum, Al Jazirah and Sennar – where conflict has eased and families are returning, among other developments.

“But these gains are limited,” the UN agencies said.  “The wider crisis has shattered the economy and vital services, and much of the infrastructure people rely on has been damaged or destroyed.”

‘Fragile improvements’

Favourable crop growing conditions are also expected after the harvest and into next year, with crisis levels of hunger improving to 19.3 million through January.

They warned, however, that “these fragile improvements are highly localised” as many returning families in Khartoum and Al Jazirah have lost everything and will struggle to benefit from the harvest.  

At the same time, active conflict persists in western regions, notably North and South Darfur as well as West and South Kordofan.

Meanwhile, hunger is expected to worsen starting in February as food stocks run out and fighting continues. 

Famine in besieged areas

The IPC’s Famine Review Committee (FRC) found that famine conditions are occurring in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur state, and Kadugli in South Kordofan, which have been largely cut off due to conflict. 

The UN agencies noted that conditions in Dilling, South Kordofan, “are likely similar to Kadugli, but cannot be classified due to insufficient reliable data – a result of restricted humanitarian access and ongoing hostilities.”

In the Western Nuba Mountains, conditions have shown marginal improvement, but famine remains high unless humanitarian access improves.

The FRC projects a risk of famine in 20 additional areas across Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan, including rural localities, displacement camps and several new locations in East Darfur and South Kordofan.

Additionally, Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates are alarmingly high, ranging from 38 to 75 per cent in El Fasher and reaching nearly 30 per cent in Kadugli.

This is happening as outbreaks of cholera, malaria and measles continue to rise in areas where health, water and sanitation systems have collapsed.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO

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The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has by Proclamation declared Thursday, November 6, 2025, as National Thanksgiving Day and it is to be observed throughout the Republic as a national holiday. 

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the proclamation calls on Liberians and foreign residents, Priests, Imams, Bishops, Pastors, Clergies, and religious organizations to gather in their various places of Worship, and offer praise to the Almighty God so that He may continuously protect us as a people and a nation. 

The proclamation is in consonance with an Act of National Legislation enacted in 1883 declaring the First Thursday in the Month of November of each year as a National Thanksgiving Day.

The Presidential proclamation stated that it is befitting that a day be set aside for the Nation and its people to give thanks and adoration to the Lord for His dispensation of grace, mercy, and providence, as well as the perseverance of lives. 

The Proclamation recounted that the people of the Republic of Liberia have always given thanks and praises to the Almighty God for His tender mercies and manifold blessings bestowed upon them and the Nation, especially for continuous protection in time of peace, disaster and natural phenomena over the years.

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

Source: APO

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The President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, received a delegation from the Task Force on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme, led by its Head, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, in the presence of Dr. Kalilou SYLLA, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture.

Dr. Ibn Chambas informed President Touray of the end of the current team’s mandate in December 2025 and presented the conclusions of the ETLS Task Force’s last meeting held in Abidjan in early July 2025, as well as the recommendations that were made to make it more operational.

The ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) is a major economic achievement in the construction of the Common Market and regional integration in West Africa. It was established to facilitate the achievement of one of the Community’s primary objectives, namely the creation of a Free Trade Area.

The TF/SLE’s mission is to ensure the effective free movement of persons and goods within the Community through arbitration and amicable settlement of disputes between Member States, and through advocacy and mediation with the high political authorities of the States.

It should be noted that on the same day, the President Touray received H.E. Andrey Podelyshev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation accredited to Nigeria and to ECOWAS, for talks on matters of mutual interest.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO

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Violence against children in Namibia remains alarmingly high despite the government’s commitment to ending it.

The 2019 Namibia Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) shows that nearly 40% of girls and 45% of boys suffered from physical, sexual, or emotional abuse during childhood. Physical violence is the most widespread, affecting 32.9% of girls and 41.2% of boys before they turn 18.

Many victims do not seek help for the violence they face. Only about half of children and young people experiencing physical violence disclose it, with even fewer reporting abuse. Approximately girls (32.0%) and boys (35.2%) know where to find help, and only around 15% of all children receive support.

Namibia has been a pioneer in child protection, being one of the first countries to adopt a proactive approach to ending violence against children and to developing national plans with dedicated resources. The country also maintains a strong policy and legislative framework for protecting women and children from violence, exploitation, and abuse.

Nevertheless, the need and urgency to improve service delivery and multisectoral coordination are crucial. The adoption of the Global Responding to Child Maltreatment: A Clinical Handbook for Health Professionals demonstrates the country’s political will and dedication to safeguarding and protecting every Namibian child’s safety.

The Namibian Responding to Violence Against Children: A Clinical Handbook for Health Professionals in Namibia was launched on 26 September during a colorful event as part of the commemoration of the Day of the Namibian Child.

Honorable Linda Mbwale, the Deputy Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, said that the launch of the clinical guidelines is timely as it contributes to the ongoing ‘standardization of service provision for child victims of abuse, ensuring that no matter where a child seeks help, whether at a police station, hospital, or with a social worker, they receive the same quality of care, protection, and dignity’. She further stressed that the guidelines symbolize Namibia’s commitment to upholding international standards while adapting them to local needs. She also emphasized that ‘it bridges the gap between global best practice and national realities, ensuring that our professionals are not only well equipped but also culturally and contextually responsive’. 

At the same event, Mr. Noriaki Sadamoto, the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Japanese Embassy in Namibia, highlighted the partnership between the Japanese government, WHO, and the Namibian government to strengthen the health sector. This partnership has received support from the Japanese government, amounting to up to USD 2 million from 2019 to 2024, for various contemporary issues. He mentioned that the clinical handbook was developed as part of the 2024 project titled Increasing Access to Quality Nutrition and Protection Services for Vulnerable Populations, including women and children, valued at USD 500,000.00. The aim was to enhance clinical care and promote safer, more patient-centred services.

Dr Richard Banda, WHO Representative, praised the Namibian government for its commitment to ending violence against children and expressed his gratitude for the partnership with the Government of Japan in turning this commitment into action.

He further stressed the need to strengthen the health sector’s response to violence against children within the broader child protection framework. Dr. Banda highlighted that early detection and intervention are vital in addressing child maltreatment, and that healthcare professionals and social workers, because of their distinct roles, are essential in recognizing signs of abuse early. He concluded that early identification enables prompt intervention, preventing further harm and promoting the child’s overall well-being. Violence against children is a complex issue that requires collaboration among various professionals. 

The event was attended by hundreds of children from local schools in Swakopmund, including youth leaders from various organizations. WHO will continue to partner with the government in strengthening the capacity of the health workforce to address violence against children.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Namibia.