Source: The Presidency, Republic of Ghana |

“Democracy in West Africa in Danger” – President Akufo-Addo to Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament

President Akufo-Addo was addressing the 2nd Ecowas Parliamentary Seminar, in Winneba, on Friday, 29th September, 2023, under the theme

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has charged members of the Parliament of ECOWAS to find solutions to the emerging re-militarisation of governance, the attempted confiscation of democracy by elites and the wanton desire to destroy democracy by terrorist groups and armed criminal gangs in the region.…

Source: Republic of South Africa: The Parliament |

South Africa: Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Adopts its Report on National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF) Bill

In facilitating effective public participation on the NCGBVF Bill, the committee conducted in-person and virtual public hearings on 6 and 13 June 2023

The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has today adopted the A-list and B-list of the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF) Bill. The Bill was tabled in Parliament and referred to the committee on 11 October 2022. It was classified by the Joint Tagging…

Source: United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) |

Special Representative Leonardo Santos Simão Concluded Five-day Visit to Nigeria

In Abuja, the Special Representative participated in the 4th meeting of the Steering Committee of the Regional Strategy for Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience of areas affected by the Boko Haram crisis in the Lake Chad Basin

As part of his regional familiarization tour following his appointment as Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr. Leonardo Santos Simão, concluded today a five-day visit to Abuja, Nigeria. During his visit, the Special Representative met with…

Source: Afreximbank |

African Continental Free Trade Area to create immense opportunities for Algerian businesses

Mrs. Awani congratulated Algeria for becoming a Member State of Afreximbank in June 2022

“It Is time for Africa to take her destiny in her own hands and to determine her own developmental agenda. However, doing so will not be easy. It will require commitment, courage, and deliberate action. Traders need to seek out new market opportunities rather than the conventional route of turning…

Source: World Health Organization - Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean |

Somalia launches US$11.4 million project to strengthen emergency care services at regional hospitals

This collaborative initiative comes as the country’s health system grapples with high levels of communicable and noncommunicable diseases, as well as injuries and disabilities caused by ongoing conflict and widespread use of improvised explosive devices

The Federal Government of Somalia, through its Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services, has launched a new project that aims to strengthen the medical emergency services at federal and state referral hospitals. Critical care capacities will be a particular focus.The US$ 11.4 million project is funded by the World…

Source: World Health Organization - Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean |

World Health Organization (WHO) scales up response following Sudan declaration of cholera outbreak

Dr Nima Abid, WHO Representative in Sudan, visited Gedaref State on 17 September 2023 and met with health authorities and partners to coordinate the response

Sudan has declared a cholera outbreak in Gedaref State, where 264 suspected cholera cases, 4 confirmed cases and 16 associated deaths had been reported by 25 September 2023. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether cholera has also spread to Khartoum and South Kordofan states, where increased cases of acute watery…

Source: Save the Children |

Nigeria: Urgent funds needed to manage diphtheria outbreak, with more than 7,200 cases and 453 deaths

Currently only 42% of children under 15 in Nigeria are fully protected from diphtheria, and in this most recent outbreak, 80% of the confirmed cases have been found to be people who are unvaccinated

A staggering 7,202 cases of diphtheria, a highly contagious bacterial infection that can be fatal without treatment, were confirmed in Nigeria last week, with cases skyrocketing in recent months and children severely affected, said Save the Children. There have been 453 deaths confirmed since the outbreak started in May 2022, with most cases recorded in the…

Source: Department of Water and Sanitation, Republic of South Africa |

South Africa: Water and Sanitation interacts with political leaders and councilors on water supply issues

Recent water supply challenges within some municipalities in Gauteng province prompted Minister Senzo Mchunu, together with Deputy Ministers, Mr David Mahlobo and Ms Judith Tshabalala to embark on a two-day fact-finding mission on 26-27 September 2023

Deputy Ministers of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala, and Rand Water Board Chairperson, Mr Ramateu Monyokolo, yesterday (27 September 2023) interacted with the political leaders and the councilors of City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and the City of Tshwane, on ways to resolve water supply issues in…

Source: Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation |

Joint Communiqué on the occasion of working visit to the Republic of South Africa, by the Right Honourable, Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane for official launch of Bi-National Commission

The two Heads of State and Government acclaimed the Official Launch and the Inaugural Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) as momentous and historic occasion

At the invitation of President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, The Right Honourable, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, paid a Working Visit to the Republic Inaugural Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) between the two countries. The two…

Source: Republic Of South Africa: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment |

South Africa: Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment on high rainfall and flooding resulting in abalone and seahorse washouts

DFFE would like to thank all volunteers from Save the Seahorse and Cape Nature for responding en masse to collect seahorses stranded on the beach

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has noted concerns around large numbers of abalone, alikreukel and other shellfish washed up in Uilkraalsmond and Buffeljagsbaai (Gans Baai) over the past 24 hours. This is likely a result of the exceedingly high rainfall and flooding over the past week.…