Source: Embassy of Finland in Pretoria, South Africa |

Advance voting in South Africa in Finland's 2023 parliamentary elections

The advance polling stations abroad will be located in Finland's diplomatic and consular missions or their offices in 86 different countries

Finland will hold its parliamentary elections on Sunday 2 April 2023. Advance voting will be possible in South Africa from 22 to 24 March 2023. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is responsible for organising advance voting abroad. The advance polling stations abroad will be located in Finland's diplomatic and consular…

UN Women - Africa
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    • Women’s leadership slowed by patriarchal norms in Kenya elections
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Source: UN Women - Africa |

Women’s leadership slowed by patriarchal norms in Kenya elections

The number of women elected to the National Assembly remains far below the constitutional threshold of not more than a two-thirds gender majority

A 16 per cent increase in women-held elective seats was one of the successes of Kenya’s 2022 General Election. But for many women aspirants, old practices and norms continued to undermine their campaigns. The contrast between progress and such norms were on full display in Kenya’s coastal region. “The next…

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland |

Finland supports Ukraine’s grain exports

With Finland’s support, WFP is buying Ukrainian grain, which it grinds, clears through customs and delivers to the Horn of Africa, among other regions

The Black Sea Grain Initiative has facilitated the shipment of more than 18 million tonnes of grain and other food products from Ukraine between June 2022 and January 2023. Most of Ukrainian wheat (65%) and about half of its corn were taken to developing countries. The grain shipments also enable WFP to…

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland |

Tunisian Minister of Communication Technologies Nizar Ben Neji to visit Finland

His programme also includes meetings with public officials and representatives of the academic and business worlds

Minister Nizar Ben Neji will meet Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka and Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari. His programme also includes meetings with public officials and representatives of the academic and business worlds.   “5G technology is one of the drivers of digitalisation. During the visit we…

President of the Republic of Kenya
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    • Kenya: President Ruto Meets Finland's Minister For Economic Affairs
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Source: President of the Republic of Kenya |

Kenya: President Ruto Meets Finland's Minister For Economic Affairs

The President urged the Finnish private sector to consider opportunities in the Konza Technopolis and the larger plan to digitize government services

President William Ruto has said Kenya and Finland have many opportunities for partnership in both the public and private sectors. The President urged the Finnish private sector to consider opportunities in the Konza Technopolis and the larger plan to digitize government services. He added that Kenya hopes to emulate Finland’s…

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland
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    • Finland: Special Representative Suldaan Said Ahmed is working for peace in Horn of Africa
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Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland |

Finland: Special Representative Suldaan Said Ahmed is working for peace in Horn of Africa

His visits have focused on supporting peaceful resolution of internal political conflicts in Somaliland

Member of Parliament Suldaan Said Ahmed visited the Horn of Africa region in January. It was his third visit as Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto’s Special Representative on Peace Mediation. “Involving young people in peace processes and taking into account the diaspora from the region are important themes for…

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland |

Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Somalia Khadija Mohamed Almakhzoumi to visit Finland

The topics to be discussed between Ministers Ohisalo and Almakhzoumi include closer cooperation between Finland and Somalia in climate policy

The first Minister of the Environment and Climate Change of the Federal Republic of Somalia Khadija Mohamed Almakhzoumi visits Finland on 31 January–3 February 2023. The visit is on the invitation of the Finnish Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Maria Ohisalo. The purpose of the visit is to…

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland |

Kauko Aaltomaa took up his duties as Head of Mission of the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia

EUCAP Somalia is a civilian crisis management mission under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy

On 9 January, Director General Kauko Aaltomaa, who is on leave of absence from the Police Department of the Ministry of the Interior, took up his duties as Head of Mission of the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia). EUCAP Somalia is a civilian crisis management mission under…

Source: Embassy of Finland, Tunis |

Advance voting in Finland's 2023 parliamentary elections in Tunisia

The advance polling stations abroad will be located in Finland's diplomatic and consular missions or their offices in 86 different countries

Finland will hold its parliamentary elections on Sunday 2 April 2023. Advance voting will be possible in Tunisia from 22 to 24 March 2023. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is responsible for organising advance voting abroad. The advance polling stations abroad will be located in Finland's diplomatic and consular missions…

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland |

European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council to discuss Sahel and coastal countries of West Africa and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Other topical matters on the Council agenda will be the situations in Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Montenegro, Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Ethiopia

EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on 23 January. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will represent Finland at the meeting. The EU foreign ministers will continue their discussion on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The topics they will cover include continued support to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility,…