NewzIntel.com

Category: Africa

  • MIL-OSI Africa: CPI remains unchanged in February

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Consumer price inflation has remained at 3.2% in February – unchanged from January.

    According to Statistics South Africa, the main contributors to the annual inflation rate were: 

    • Housing and utilities (4.4% and contributing 1.0 percentage point);
    • Food and non-alcoholic beverages (2.8% and contributing 0.5 of a percentage point), and
    • Restaurants and accommodation service.

    “Recreation, sport and culture, food and non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages and tobacco and communication recorded higher annual inflation rates in February.

    “Inflation cooled for several product categories, most notably, personal care and miscellaneous services, health, restaurants and accommodation, furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance and transport,” Stats SA Director: CPI Operations, Lekau Ranoto, said.

    The annual rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages accelerated to some 2.8% in February from 2.3% in January.

    “Fruit and nuts, vegetables, hot beverages, seafood, meat and cereals recorded higher rates. On the down side, cold beverages milk, dairy and eggs, oils and fats and sugar confectionary and desserts witnessed slower price increases,” she said.

    Ranoto said inflation in maize meal – a staple in South African households – reached a 17-month high, with samp inflation also reaching a 19-month high in February.

    “The rise in prices is driven by inflationary pressure from the farming and manufacturing of maize according to the latest producer price index data. On average, consumer prices for meat stayed the same in February, compared with January, resulting in a monthly change of 0%. The annual rate was also 0%. 

    “While meat remained subdued, inflation for hot beverages continues to accelerate. The annual change in the price index for hot beverages was 14.6% in February, up from 13.7% in January,” Ranoto said.

    Meanwhile, Stats SA has also recorded a 10.5% increase in medical aid premiums this year and health services rose by 6.1%, compared with a 5% rise last year. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: KZN Premier’s Coordinating Forum reinforces inclusive governance

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Wednesday, March 19, 2025

    The KwaZulu-Natal Premier’s Coordinating Forum (PCF) District Development Model (DDM) Indaba has reinforced the provincial government’s commitment to fostering inclusive governance, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring that municipalities operate in synergy to drive sustainable development.

    KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thamsanqa Ntuli, presided over the indaba which was held in Mayville, west of central Durban, on Tuesday.

    The PCF DDM Indaba served as a strategic platform to launch integrated service delivery initiatives and roadshows across KwaZulu-Natal’s 11 municipal districts.

    These efforts were geared toward improving the implementation of the DDM which seeks to align government policies, plans, and programs for more effective service delivery.

    The discussions focused on key governance challenges, including the need for improved coordination, and the importance of a unified approach to development.

    It reinforced the provincial government’s commitment to fostering inclusive governance, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring that municipalities operate in synergy to drive sustainable development.

    Addressing the meeting, Ntuli emphasised the importance of intergovernmental collaboration in ensuring that government services reach communities efficiently and equitably.

    “As KwaZulu-Natal continues to implement the DDM framework, the provincial government would remain steadfast in its mission to create a well-coordinated and service-driven administration that meets the needs of its people,” the Premier said.

    The PCF aims to promote and facilitate intergovernmental relations and co-operative government between the province and the municipalities in the province. The forum also seeks unity of purpose and co-ordination of effort around the development priorities of the province. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Swarbrick pleads for NZ cross-party support for sanctions on Israel

    By Russell Palmer, RNZ News political reporter

    Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says the need for Aotearoa New Zealand to impose sanctions against Israel has grown more urgent after airstrikes on Gaza resumed, killing more than 400 people.

    Swarbrick lodged a member’s bill in December and said that with all opposition parties backing it, the support of just six backbench government MPs would mean it could skip the “biscuit tin” and be brought to Parliament for a first reading.

    “I feel as though every other day there is something else which adds urgency, but yes — I think as a result of the most recent round of atrocities and particularly the public focus, attention, energy and effort that is being that has been put on them, that, yes, parliamentarians desperately need to act.

    Swarbrick claimed there were government MPs who were keen to support her bill, saying it was why her party was publicly pushing the numbers needed to get it across the line.

    “We have the most whipped Parliament in the Western world,” she said. “We would hope that parliamentarians would live up to all of those statements that they make about their values and principles when they do their bright-eyed and bushy-tailed maiden speeches.

    “The time is now, people cannot hide behind party lines anymore.

    “I know for a fact that there are government MPs that are keen to support this kaupapa.”

    Standing order allowance
    Standing Order 288 allows MPs who are not ministers or undersecretaries to indicate their support for a member’s bill.

    If at least 61 MPs get behind it, the legislation skips the “biscuit tin” ballot.

    If answered, Swarbrick’s call would be the first time this process is followed.

    Labour confirmed its support for the bill last week.

    A coalition spokesperson said the government’s policy position on the matter remained unchanged, including in response to Swarbrick’s bill.

    New Zealand has consistently advocated for a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict.

    Swarbrick pointed to New Zealand’s support — alongside 123 other countries — of a UN resolution calling for sanctions against those responsible for Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories, including in relation to settler violence.

    Conditional support
    The government’s support for the resolution was conditional and included several caveats — including that the 12-month timeframe for Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories was “unrealistic”, and noted the resolution went beyond what was initially proposed.

    None of the other 123 countries which supported the resolution have yet brought sanctions against Israel.

    “Unfortunately, in the several months following that resolution in September of last year, our government has done nothing to fulfil that commitment,” Swarbrick said.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ permanent representative to the UN Carolyn Schwalger in September noted that the Resolution imposed no obligations on New Zealand beyond what already existed under international law, but “New Zealand stands ready to implement any measures adopted by the UN Security Council”.

    NZ ambassador to the UN Carolyn Schwalger speaking at the UN General Assembly . . . “New Zealand stands ready to implement any measures adopted by the UN Security Council.” Image: Screenshot/UN General Assembly livestream/RNZ

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in December said the government had a long-standing position of travel bans on extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied territories, and wanted to see a two-state solution developed.

    Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said its military pressure against Hamas was to secure the release of the remaining hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attack, and “this is just the beginning”.

    Israel continues to deny accusations of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

    South African genocide case against Israel
    However, South Africa has taken a case of genocide against Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the trial remains ongoing with 14 countries having confirmed that they are intervening in support of South Africa.

    The attack on Israel in 2023 left 1139 people dead, with about 250 hostages taken.

    UN Secretary General António Guterres said in a tweet he was “outraged” by the Israeli airstrikes.

    “I strongly appeal for the ceasefire to be respected, for unimpeded humanitarian assistance to be re-established and for the remaining hostages to be released unconditionally,” he said.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/377 of 24 February 2025 concerning restrictive measures in view of activities undermining the stability and political transition of Sudan

    Source: Council of the European Union

    Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/377 of 24 February 2025 concerning restrictive measures in view of activities undermining the stability and political transition of Sudan.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Mozambique and Tanzania strengthen South-South cooperation in early warning and disaster preparedness

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Dodoma, Tanzania – On 3-4, March 2025, a delegation from Mozambique visited Tanzania’s Emergency Operations and Communication Centre (EOCC) National Situation Room in Dodoma. This visit was part of a technical advisory mission co-organized by UNDRR, the CIMA Foundation and the African Union Commission as part of the African Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Action System (AMHEWAS) programme.

    Tanzania and Mozambique face similar and often transboundary threats, such as droughts, floods and cyclones. Strengthening cooperation between their respective disaster risk management authorities is critical for improving coordination in early warning and early action efforts within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

    During the visit, Mozambique’s National Disaster Management Institute had the opportunity to engage with Tanzania’s Disaster Management Department counterparts and observe the operational framework of Tanzania’s National Situation Room, which was inaugurated in June 2024, supported by the Government of Italy.

    The insights gained from this exchange will be instrumental in the ongoing modernization of Mozambique’s own National Situation Room in Maputo. Within the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation funded Ready2Act project in Mozambique, the situation room will be refurbished and better connected with AMHEWAS.

    Additionally, the exchange will inform the installation of a pilot province-level situation room in Beira, set to further strengthen Mozambique’s disaster risk management infrastructure. Mozambique also hosts the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC) in Nacala that is connected to AMHEWAS.

    “This event in Dodoma is a practical example of what AMHEWAS can and should be, a network for exchanging risk information, but also, and above all, knowledge and experience, between experts and institutions.” said Mr. Luca Ferraris, President of CIMA Research Foundation

    The mission highlighted the value of South-South cooperation in disaster risk reduction, showcasing how shared experiences and collaborative learning can enhance national and regional capacities. By leveraging Tanzania’s experience, Mozambique aims to refine its own institutional mechanisms, improve connectivity with AMHEWAS, and ensure timely and coordinated disaster response.

    “The technical exchange mission with ourTanzanian counterparts was timely as Mozambique is working towards upgrading its own Situation Room. As Tanzania launched its own Situation Room in 2024, they already have some valuable experience and lessons that Mozambique can learn from. More so, Mozambique and Tanzania are neighbours, with similar risk profiles and often experience transboundary risk. This exchange builds the foundation for information sharing for better transboundary risk management.” Mr. Alberto Armando, head of the Mozambique Delegation.

    Through the AMHEWAS network, disaster risk management authorities of both countries can strengthen their relations, enabling experience and information sharing for a more coordinated management of warnings and emergencies.

    “Natural phenomena become disasters without adequate prevention. AICS works with stakeholders to enhance early warning and early action systems at all levels. Italy, renowned for its expertise in risk management and civil protection, has contributed to establishing Situation Rooms in Addis Ababa (continental level), regional centers in Niamey, Nairobi, and Abuja, and a national office in Dodoma. This know-how strengthens Partner Countries’ resilience and response capacity.” Marco Riccardo Rusconi, Director of the Italian Development Cooperation Agency. 

    This visit marks an important step in fostering resilience against climate-related disasters in the region. Through continued cooperation and knowledge sharing, both Mozambique and Tanzania are setting a precedent for effective and coordinated disaster risk management in Africa.

    “This technical exchange represents a learning opportunity, and an opportunity to reinforce the partnership among different AMHEWAS stakeholders. It is from such events that we can collectively take stock of our progress and identify priorities for further investment in early warning systems.” Tsitsi Magadza, Programme Management Officer for Early Warning Systems, UNDRR. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Members consider trade agreements involving Australia, Cambodia, China, India, Nicaragua

    Source: World Trade Organization

    The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement , covering trade in goods and services, came into force on 29 December 2022. Australia will eliminate customs duties on 98.3% of its tariff lines by the end of the implementation period in 2026, while India will do so for 69.8% by 2031. For trade in services, both parties have enhanced sectoral commitments beyond those under the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), including the movement of natural persons.

    Australia said the landmark Agreement represents a significant development in the economic relationship between Australia and India and supports both countries’ deeper integration into the global economy. Australia added that the Agreement includes provisions on strengthening investment certainty, promoting regulatory cooperation and enhancing mobility for skilled professionals.

    India said the Agreement has driven mutual growth and showcases the complementarity of both economies. The Agreement has significantly advanced trade ties and created new opportunities for business and employment. India added that both countries are committed to building on the momentum to deepen economic integration.

    The Free Trade Agreement between China and Nicaragua,  goods and services, entered into force on 1 January 2024. At the end of the transition period in 2038, 95.2% of tariff lines of China and 94.8% of tariff lines of Nicaragua will be duty-free under the Agreement. Each party will retain tariffs on approximately 5% of tariff lines after full implementation.  On trade in services, the Agreement follows a negative list approach and adds new or improved commitments compared to the parties’commitments under the GATS in a number of areas including business services and health services. Moreover, the Agreement includes, among other things, provisions on the environment, competition, dispute settlement, small and medium enterprises, and e-commerce.

    China said the Agreement establishes a high level of openness between both economies in terms of trade in goods and services and for investment. China noted that both economies are highly complementary and that there is a great potential for trade and investment cooperation.

    Nicaragua said the Agreement, which builds upon the July 2022 Early Harvest Agreement, will produce mutual benefits for both countries. Nicaragua added that the Agreement provides an opportunity to transform the country’s structure of production, trading and investment.

    The Free Trade Agreement between China and Cambodia, covering trade in goods and services, came into force on 1 January 2022. Under the Agreement, China has committed to eliminating customs duties on 97.3% of its tariffs by 2041, while Cambodia has committed to eliminating 90% of its tariffs during the same period. Much of the tariff elimination has been “front loaded” by both parties, with most tariff reductions already applied since 2022. For trade in services, Cambodia’s sectoral commitments remain the same as in its GATS commitments, except for a limited number of sectors, while China’s existing GATS commitments are further enhanced for a number of sectors under the Agreement. The Agreement also contains provisions on cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

    China said the Agreement is its first bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) signed with a least-developed country (LDC), noting that this sets a good example of cooperation with LDCs. China said it is also the first FTA that sets an independent chapter on cooperation under the BRI and that it will enhance value chains between the two countries.

    Cambodia said the Agreement is consistent with WTO commitments as it eliminates duties on a substantial amount of trade between the two countries. Cambodia noted the Agreement provides benefits beyond the economic aspect as it also contributes to Cambodia’s broader development strategies.

    Implementation of the RTA Transparency Mechanism

    The Committee also took note of one new notification of an RTA, as well as five notifications of changes since its last session in November 2024. The signature of one Agreement was also the subject of an early announcement.

    The outgoing chair, Ambassador Salomon Eheth (Cameroon), noted that there are 30 RTAs involving only WTO members and 38 involving non-members for which a factual presentation has to be prepared, counting goods and services separately. In addition, there are at least 58 RTAs currently in force that have not been notified to the WTO, with an updated list of these circulated prior to the Committee meeting and available on the RTA database. A number of delegations encouraged members to notify these agreements as soon as possible, while noting that delays may be due to constrained capacities of small delegations.

    The Committee took note of the updated schedule for the submissions of  implementation reports on RTAs. It noted that as of 1 March 2025, such reports were due for 223 RTAs with an additional 15 becoming due in 2025.

    Election of new Chair

    Members elected Ambassador José Valencia of Ecuador as the new Committee Chair. He replaces Ambassador Eheth.

    Next meeting

    The next Committee meetings for 2025 are scheduled for 17 June and 10 November.

    Share

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Cholera and Mpox cases increasing dangerously in DRC as aid cuts push health systems to near-collapse

    Source: Oxfam –

    Preventable diseases are sweeping the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Cholera cases increased by 326, Mpox by 269, and measles by 95 people in North Kivu alone, during the last week of February, according to Oxfam’s partners on the ground. 

    In January, new cases of cholera infections in the country more than doubled to over 3,850, and 67 people died, which is three times more deaths than the previous month, Oxfam calculates based on WHO data.  

    Ongoing violence and USAID funding suspension is accelerating the collapse of DRC’s fragile health system, leaving millions defenseless against preventable diseases like cholera.   

    Since the start of the conflict this year, DRC has faced major setbacks in controlling cholera and Mpox. The country lacks testing centers and functional hospitals. The destruction of displacement camps during the violence, including vital water and sanitation infrastructure, is making the situation worse. 

    “This is turning into a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe. People are drinking water straight from contaminated rivers and springs because water tanks and sanitation facilities have been destroyed. When you combine this with a collapsed health system, cholera is spreading like wildfire,” said Oxfam DRC Country Director, Dr Manenji Mangundu.  

    “Imagine a hospital without supplies, people drinking untreated water, and patients without much money still being asked to pay for their care. It’s a disaster.” he added.   

    The suspension of USAID-funded programs in the DRC is already having devastating consequences for vulnerable communities. These abrupt cuts are an immediate threat to the lives of 7.8 million internally displaced people (IDPs) who are already struggling for food, water and shelter. The worst-affected areas include Kirotshe and the city of Goma, where displaced families in overcrowded conditions have little to no access to clean water. More than 70 health facilities and testing centers in North Kivu have been completely destroyed. Those that are running are unable to cope with the multiple outbreaks of preventable diseases.   

    “Our hospital was 100 percent dependent on humanitarian support,” said Kamara Wabomundu, staff member of the CCLK/Bulimba Health Zone Central Office, one of Oxfam partners. “When our funding was cut, everything collapsed—we had no backup plan. Neither the hospitals nor the communities were prepared. We are asking people to pay for care when they can’t even afford their next meal,” added Kamara. 

    “USAID was the leading donor in DRC and most aid agencies here relied on its funding to provide life-saving assistance. The international community needs to understand that the systems are rapidly collapsing in DRC. Every moment of inaction means more lives are being lost that could be saved,” added Dr Mangundu 

    The closure of banks and microfinance institutions has made the situation even worse, paralyzing the distribution of emergency aid through cash transfers. The shutdown of Goma and Kavumu airports has also driven up food prices, making them too expensive for millions of people. 

    /ENDS 
     

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO) from January 1 to 26, 2025, 3,853 cases of cholera infections and 67 deaths were confirmed which represents a 112 percent increase from the previous month in infection rates as well as a 235 percent increase in deaths in DRC. Data on February infections and deaths comes from Oxfam partners working in DRC.  

    The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the leading humanitarian donor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Last year’s report indicates that it provided over $838 million in 2024 alone, including $414 million specifically for humanitarian needs resulting from the ongoing conflict and displacement.  

    According to the UN  2025 Humanitarian Response Plan, there are 7.8 million Internally Displaced People (IDP) in DRC — among the world’s highest displacement figures.  

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Admission campaign for foreign citizens has started

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The Polytechnic University held Open Day for international applicants online. The event was dedicated to the start of the admissions campaign. Representatives of SPbPU international services spoke about the admissions process, educational opportunities and answered questions from future students.

    For more than a century of history, Polytechnic University has established itself as one of the leading engineering universities in Russia and the world. We are proud of our graduates — talented engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs and government officials who contribute to the development of technology, economy and society. We invite you to become part of our energetic and multifaceted community. Polytechnic University is a place where you can unleash your potential, find friends from all over the world and take the first step towards a successful career. We are looking forward to seeing you at Polytechnic University. Let’s create the future together, — Vice-Rector for International Affairs Dmitry Arsenyev greeted future students.

    Students from the Institute of Computer Science and Cybersecurity, the Civil Engineering Institute, the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport, and the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade shared their impressions of studying at the university.

    Learning the language and adapting were difficult at first, but over time they opened up new opportunities. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the teachers who create additional materials to help students in their studies. The atmosphere at the university is inspiring: the polytechnics are incredibly responsive and always ready to support, – said Marvin Bethel, a student from Botswana.

    ISI student Mustafa Ibrahim is from Ethiopia. He chose Polytechnic University because of its high international rankings, its status as one of the best universities in Russia, and its campus with modern infrastructure.

    The academic environment at the university is conducive to development. The teachers are always ready to help and share knowledge in their field. Here I met students from Russia, India, Egypt, China and other countries, which significantly expanded my cultural and educational experience. The training at the Polytechnic is intensive, with an emphasis on practical skills and research, – shared Mustafa Ibrahim.

    Activists from PolyUnion, the Council of Fellowships and Tutor Forces spoke about communities and extracurricular activities for international students at the Polytechnic University.

    Useful links:

    Admission procedure

    Personal Account of a Foreign Applicant

    Polunion

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbGASU student squad fighters took part in an international project in Egypt

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – SSO “Wheel of Fortune”

    On March 13, the winter season of Russian student teams at the international construction site run by JSC CONCERN TITAN-2 – the construction of the El Dabaa NPP in Egypt – ended. The participants of the combined student construction team “Wheel of Fortune” also included five students from SPbGASU. One of them, Ekaterina Bushueva, a sixth-year student of the construction faculty of our university, was the team leader.

    The team worked within the project for two months. For some, it was not the first such experience, and some were on an international project for the first time.

    Andrey Repin, commander of the SSO “Friday”, a third-year student of the construction faculty of SPbGASU, shared his impressions: “This was my second trip to Egypt, but it was just as unusual as the first: this time the winter stage acquired a larger scale – more people, detachment events and emotions. Moreover, on this trip we were part of the St. Petersburg delegation and had to show a high level at creative events, thereby presenting our regional branch in the best light. I think we coped with this.”

    Elena Ozerova, a second-year student at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, was on an international project for the first time: “My two-month work experience at the construction site of the El Dabaa NPP in Egypt as part of the Wheel of Fortune team was not just professional development, but also a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the culture and history of Egypt, as well as to become part of a large-scale international project. The work in cooperation with the TITAN-2 company was organized at the highest level. The tasks that were set for us were interesting and required the application of knowledge acquired at the university. This experience will certainly be useful in my future career.”

    Darya Lopukhina, a third-year student at the construction faculty, said: “I will remember the trip to Egypt to work at the nuclear power plant for a long time. It was the first time I was abroad at a conscious age, and it was very interesting to observe how people live. During these two months, we managed not only to work, but also to go on excursions to Alexandria, Cairo, Giza. I was very pleased with this work and thought about further cooperation on foreign projects of “CONCERN TITAN-2”.

    To get into international work projects, it is necessary to pass a thorough selection among students of construction specialties who have worked for at least two seasons in the ranks of Russian student brigades.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ghana Bolsters Mining Sector Growth Through Local Content Participation

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 19, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Ghana is ramping up efforts to enhance local content participation in the mining industry, aiming to maximize the beneficiation of its mineral resources. By supporting small-scale miners, promoting local procurement and ensuring international firms hire and train local staff, Ghana is catalyzing employment creation, revenue generation for local businesses and driving GDP growth through the expansion of the mining industry. 

    The upcoming Mining in Motion Summit, taking place from June 2-4 in Accra, will highlight the role of local mining entities in industry expansion, showcasing the collaboration between the government and international partners to accelerate economic growth through increased local participation. 

    Ghana’s commitment to local involvement is yielding substantial results, with the small-scale gold mining sector employing one million people, indirectly supporting 4.5 million more and generating over $5 billion (https://apo-opa.co/4hMUCLw) in export revenue in 2024 alone. 

    To further empower local players, the government has introduced key policy reforms and a series of financing and skills training programs. In January 2025, Ghana announced the establishment of the Gold Board (https://apo-opa.co/4bZaBop) – set to launch in March 2025 – which will consolidate gold output from small-scale and industrial mining projects for international exports. The initiative aims to streamline gold commercialization for small-scale miners while enabling them to secure funding through certificates of gold sales. 

    In August 2024, Ghana also unveiled plans for a Cooperative Mining Policy (https://apo-opa.co/4c1IncJ) designed to establish community mining cooperatives. The cooperatives will provide training, register miners and issue concessions, fostering job creation and formalizing the sector. 

    In parallel, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources secured World Bank funding in April 2024 to implement the Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small-Scale Mining Project (https://apo-opa.co/42dyXrf). The project seeks to enhance the formalization of small-scale mining operations through District Mining Committees. Furthermore, the Minerals and Mining (Local Content & Local Participation) Regulations, 2020, require international firms to procure Ghanaian goods and services in their operations, enhancing the participation of local firms in project development and maintenance. 

    With several large-scale projects underway, including Goldstone’s Homase Mine, Atlantic Lithium’s Ewoyaa Project, the Cardinal Namdini Gold Mine and Newmont’s Ahafo North Project, the policy continues to strengthen local content participation in Ghana’s mining sector. 

    Amidst these developments, the Mining in Motion Summit will serve as a platform for high-level discussions and networking, addressing key trends and advancements in local content development within Ghana’s mining industry. 

    Stay informed about the latest advancements, network with industry leaders and engage in critical discussions on key issues impacting ASGM and medium- to large-scale mining in Ghana. Secure your spot at the Mining in Motion 2025 Summit by visiting www.MininginMotionSummit.com. For sponsorship opportunities or delegate participation, contact Sales@ashantigreeninitiative.org.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EIB Global assists cities develop climate resilient urban projects in East Africa

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    The European Investment Bank (EIB Global) has availed over €1.2 million (over Ksh 166 million) in technical assistance support to cities in East Africa for preparation of climate resilient urban development projects.

    The cities set to benefit from this technical assistance are Kericho, Nyamira, Kisumu, Embu, Eldoret and Malindi in Kenya as well as Zanzibar in Tanzania and Makindye in Uganda.

    EIB Global’s support to cities is financed through the City Climate Finance Gap Fund – a multi-donor trust fund supported by Germany and Luxembourg and implemented jointly with the World Bank and in close partnership with German Development Cooperation (GIZ). The technical assistance program focuses on early-stage project preparation with an aim of facilitating access to finance for urban projects that would otherwise potentially remain at idea stage.

    Most of the support for the cities in the region will revolve around assessing options for managing solid waste and faecal sludge, waste to energy solutions through production of biogas and wastewater treatment. Preliminary proposed solutions have recommended integrated solid waste management plans that encompass segregation of waste at source, separation of waste  collections, waste recovery and proper disposal.

    Further technical assistance promotes active mobility through evaluating non-motorised transport options, implementing urban flood proofing measures to mitigate flood risks and enhancing environmental sustainability by establishment of green public parks as well as expansion of urban forestry and biodiversity.

    In Kenya, EIB Global’s support is geared towards helping the cities access further financing support from an ongoing infrastructure investment programme known as the Kenya Urban Support Programme II, upon completion of the Gap Fund technical assistance.

    EIB Vice President Thomas Ostros said, “Cities and local governments play a key role in fighting climate change because they experience its effects the most. However, they often struggle to develop climate-resilient infrastructure, mainly due to a lack of resources and expertise to create strong, investment-ready projects. Through its support for the Gap Fund, the EIB helps cities bridge these gaps and prepare effective climate projects.”

    Technical assistance for project preparation plays a vital role in facilitating the implementation and financing of climate action projects by availing bankable opportunities. This is particularly true at urban or sub-national level where local authorities sometimes do not have enough in-house capacity to prepare robust projects that can attract public and private finance providers at an international level.

    The European Investment Bank is very active in urban climate finance especially through the City Climate Finance Gap Fund. The Bank works with other partners to advise on projects that will place cities on a path to net zero.

    Background information

    About EIB Global

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives.

    EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm devoted to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance, and a key partner of Global Gateway. We aim to support €100 billion of investment by the end of 2027 — around one-third of the overall target of this EU initiative. Within Team Europe, EIB Global fosters strong, focused partnerships alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the EIB Group closer to people, companies and institutions through our offices across the world. High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    About City Climate Finance Gap Fund:

    Cities are key to creating a climate-smart future. Over half the global population lives in cities, generating 80% of total economic output and accounting for 70% of global CO2 emissions. While urbanization is a key driver of growth, unplanned, rapid urbanization and urban sprawl threaten to increase greenhouse gas emissions and vulnerability to climate change and other shocks. As many cities and local governments take steps to become low-carbon and climate-resilient, they face barriers in accessing finance as well as difficulties in planning and project preparation, due to insufficient capacity or resources — particularly in the early stages of the project cycle. The Gap Fund supports cities in addressing this specific challenges.

    On 20th September 2023, the governments of Germany and Luxembourg announced new funding of €50 million for the City Climate Finance Gap Fund (Gap Fund), a multi-donor fund, implemented by the World Bank and the European Investment Bank with partners. These resources will support the development of low-carbon and climate-resilient urban investments and will nearly than double the fund’s capitalization, bringing it to €105 million, one of the largest early-stage technical assistance funds for cities and climate.

    It provides much-needed funding for early-stage technical assistance and capacity building so that cities from low- and middle-income countries can operationalize their climate action plans, develop robust project concepts, and access climate finance resources. Since its establishment in 2020, EIB has supported 137 cities in developing and emerging economies through the Gap Fund.  

    EIB Global Assists Cities Develop Climate Resilient Urban Projects in East Africa
    EIB Global Assists Cities Develop Climate Resilient Urban Projects in East Africa
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    EIB Global Assists Cities Develop Climate Resilient Urban Projects in East Africa
    EIB Global Assists Cities Develop Climate Resilient Urban Projects in East Africa
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    EIB Global Assists Cities Develop Climate Resilient Urban Projects in East Africa
    EIB Global Assists Cities Develop Climate Resilient Urban Projects in East Africa
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    EIB Global Assists Cities Develop Climate Resilient Urban Projects in East Africa
    EIB Global Assists Cities Develop Climate Resilient Urban Projects in East Africa
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Markets Digitalize Mining Licensing to Boost Investments

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 18, 2025/APO Group/ —

    African countries rich in minerals are accelerating the digitalization of their mining licensing processes to attract investment and maximize resource exploitation for economic growth. As part of this push, Zambia launched its Zambia Integrated Mining Information System last month, aiming to streamline the awarding of licenses. The digital platform is set to play a key role in attracting mining partners and help the country reach its goal of increasing copper production to 3.1 million metric tons by 2031. This launch follows a record-breaking $9.3 billion in mining investments in 2024 and a 79% increase in permits granted, reflecting growing global interest in Zambia’s mining potential.

    As African markets increasingly adopt digital solutions to simplify licensing procedures, African Mining Week will be at the forefront of this transformation, showcasing the vast potential of the continent’s digitalized mining sector. The event will highlight lucrative investment opportunities across various markets, featuring numerous mining blocks being licensed by African nations.

    South Africa, historically a major gold producer, plans to leverage its first digital mining licensing system to attract new investors and diversify its mining sector. Set for launch by June 2025, the system will improve the efficiency and transparency of the licensing process, reducing the time required to initiate new mining projects, including those for platinum group metals, according to Gwede Mantashe, South African Minister of Mineral Resources and Petroleum.

    Tanzania is also streamlining its mining sector with a new licensing management system designed to maximize investments in lithium, graphite and rare earth minerals – commodities that are experiencing soaring global demand. According to Aziza Swedi, Acting Director of the Tanzania Mining Commission, the country has issued 54,626 mining licenses over a seven-year period through November 2024, with plans to expedite future licensing via its digital platform.

    Rwanda has embraced digital transformation in its mining sector with the launch of the Inkomane Digital platform in October 2024. Companies such as Aterian have aligned their mineral trading operations with this tool. The platform connects mining companies, trading partners and regulatory bodies like the Rwanda Revenue Authority, enhancing compliance, workforce management, payroll generation and monitoring of mining activities. Similarly, Nigeria introduced its Mineral Resources Decision Support System in May 2024 to attract investors to its vast solid mineral reserves. The platform serves as a one-stop shop, offering easy access to geological and policy data while enabling investors to seamlessly apply for mining permits.

    As more African nations integrate digital tools into their mining sectors, African Mining Week will spotlight the digitalization of mining operations across the continent. The event will feature discussions on new licensing systems and highlight the investment opportunities emerging as African nations unlock their mineral wealth.

    African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: High soybean prices in Zambia and Malawi may make chicken costly too: lack of competition is to blame

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Arthur Khomotso Mahuma, Economist and Researcher at the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development, University of Johannesburg

    Poultry is one of the cheapest protein sources for the growing population of the east and southern Africa region. That makes soybeans critical to food security in the region, as they are an important input in chicken feed.

    Soybean pricing and production dynamics have been challenging for Zambia and Malawi, threatening poultry production in the region.

    Poultry feed makes up 60%-70% of the total cost of poultry production. Soybean prices directly affect the affordability of poultry and the ability of producers to be competitive. Small-scale independent poultry producers in particular have a hard time because they buy feed from the open market and are too small to determine prices. Large producers source feed from their own operations and determine soybean prices.

    Figure 1: From soybeans to poultry

    Source: Authors compilation

    Zambia and Malawi are the key soybean producers in east and southern Africa. Both countries were hit hard in 2024 by climate change related weather and by the behaviour of players in the soybean market, including processors and traders.

    Zambia’s soybean production fell by 74% because of poor rains and also because of farmers being squeezed. Large buyers had negotiated very low prices in previous years, so farmers planted less.

    Malawi’s production also fell (20%), but much less than Zambia’s. Yet the surge in soybean prices in Malawi by 48% between May 2024 and November 2024 was out of proportion with the drop in production, and even surpassed Zambian prices (Figure 2). Malawian prices were the highest in the region, even though it produced enough to export.

    We are economists at the African Market Observatory, which monitors prices of staple foods and conducts research on market dynamics. We analyse market concentration and barriers to entry, within and across countries in east and southern Africa, and we do in-depth field work.

    Our work shows that competition issues, such as the ability of large buyers to influence prices and high margins, are at the heart of the surge in prices and low production in Malawi and Zambia. The climate-related weather effects are an additional factor.

    Figure 2: Soybean prices in Zambia, Malawi and South Africa (benchmark) (3-month moving averages)

    Source: Authors calculation based on data provided by the African Market Observatory (AMO)’s partners

    Market outcomes

    In Zambia, dominant buyers of soybean offered farmers very low prices during the 2023 season – well below US$400/t and the South African benchmark (Figure 2). This meant that farmers planted less than half the 2023 crop in the 2024 season.

    Crops were also affected by poor rainfall. Malawi’s 2024 production fell by 20% because of the worst drought in 100 years. The drop in production was lower than expected, demonstrating that farmers can adapt to weather changes. Prices still rose, however, driven by the highly concentrated soybean trading and processing market.

    Cheapest source of proteins

    Poultry is one of the cheapest sources of protein and has one of the lowest environmental impacts. It is essential that the value chain works well from feed to chicken rearing and becomes more resilient to extreme weather events.

    The experience of 2024 shows what can go wrong.

    Poultry demand in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to grow more than fourfold by 2050. Producers will need affordable feed.

    Among them are many small-scale independent producers who rely on competitive markets for their inputs. Yet we found that with the escalating soybean and feed prices in Malawi from late 2021, and higher prices for day-old chicks, small independent producers had negative margins, meaning they made a loss in the second half of 2021. High feed prices undermine the competitiveness of Malawi’s poultry industry.

    Aside from South Africa (which relies on genetically modified soybean), Zambia and Malawi have been the largest producers in the region. These countries have been exporting around half of their production (including soycake) to neighbouring countries with larger populations such as Tanzania and Kenya.

    Zambia’s production plummet

    Between 2020 and 2023, Zambia’s soybean production grew from 297,000 tonnes to 650,000 tonnes (Figure 3). In 2024, its production collapsed by 74% to 170,000 tonnes. This sharp decline was primarily due to farmers opting to plant less soybean because of the low prices offered from processors in 2023 (Figure 2). Farmers bought 50% less soybean seed for the 2024 season than the 2023 season.

    Figure 3: Soybean production in Zambia and Malawi

    Source: Authors calculation based on data provided by the African Market Observatory (AMO)’s partners.

    With limited storage facilities available for farmers in most countries in the region, including Zambia, farmers typically have to sell to traders and processors shortly after harvest.

    In Zambia, soybeans are produced by many small farmers, so they compete to sell their crop to a few main processors in a concentrated market. As a result, these processors have greater power to influence the terms of trade, such as price. This was especially evident in 2023 when processors offered farmers lower prices (Figure 2).

    Poor rainfall linked to the 2023/24 El Niño phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, which is the warming of the central to eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, causing drought in southern Africa while inducing heavy rainfalls and floods in eastern Africa, did have an impact across southern Africa, including Malawi and Zambia. While Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania recorded above average rainfall, their soybean output is low.

    Resilience to climate change impacts requires deepening and diversifying agriculture production across countries and regional trade to meet demand.

    Soybean prices in Malawi remain high but Zambia’s prices stabilise

    Malawi’s prices increased rapidly to over US$700/tonne in June 2024, surpassing Zambia’s, and continued to rise to almost $900/tonne at the end of the year, far above other countries in the region. The reason couldn’t be reduced production from poor rainfall, because production still exceeded local demand. This happened even as the Malawi government put export restrictions on soybeans (but not soymeal). The price surge raises competition concerns in Malawi, where trading and processing is highly concentrated. In theory, highly concentrated markets are characterised by high prices, due to a lack of price competition.

    By comparison, Zambia’s prices moderated because of imports. In addition, the low soybean prices offered to farmers in 2023 also meant that processors had crushed surplus soybeans, thereby building up soymeal stock. This reduced the demand for soybeans, as did power cuts in Zambia, which limited crushers’ operations.

    Urgent next steps

    Soybean developments over 2024 show the need to consider how competition issues within and across borders can undermine the resilience of regional food markets and hinder the ability of small producers to compete. Zambia is currently conducting a commercial poultry market inquiry. But a regional approach in monitoring markets and tackling anti-competitive conduct is necessary to support poultry production.

    – High soybean prices in Zambia and Malawi may make chicken costly too: lack of competition is to blame
    – https://theconversation.com/high-soybean-prices-in-zambia-and-malawi-may-make-chicken-costly-too-lack-of-competition-is-to-blame-250322

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Surf therapy for children with disabilities: how it’s changing lives in South Africa

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Roxy Davis, Doctor of philosophy, University of Cape Town

    Children with disabilities face significant challenges in South Africa. Firstly there are delayed diagnoses which can lead to complications. The high cost of healthcare and little financial support for their families can limit their access to healthcare services altogether.

    There is also little access to rehabilitation services. Inadequate facilities and a shortage of trained personnel are just some of the obstacles.

    I started thinking about ways to get over these obstacles when I noticed that people with disabilities weren’t well represented in my sport.

    As a competitive surfer and instructor, I had always celebrated the ocean’s ability to inspire confidence and resilience.

    Every day, the beach was alive with activity – surfers, families and ocean lovers. Yet among them, I rarely saw people with disabilities in the water.

    I began to notice that the beachfront itself, the infrastructure, the culture, and even my own surf school, weren’t actively creating space for inclusivity.

    This would eventually become the cornerstone of the Roxy Davis Foundation, established in 2019, and later my doctoral research focusing on ocean-based therapy for children with disabilities.

    I found surf therapy enhanced the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of these children.

    New therapy

    Surf therapy teaches people with disabilities to surf to promote psychological, physical and psychosocial well-being.

    The first peer reviewed publication on surf therapy appeared in 2010 and focused on Aboriginal children in Australia. It was about mitigating the inter-generational trauma suffered as a result of the government-sanctioned removal of Aboriginal children from their families, a policy that only ended in the 1970s.

    In 2020 a review of a 10-year period included 29 studies into war veterans and young adult cancer survivors, among others.

    One such study focused on children with autism spectrum disorder. The study took place in the north-west of Ireland. Children said they felt happier and free, while their parents said they were more relaxed and confident.

    A South African study with children with autism spectrum disorder explored the feasibility and unique benefits of an existing surf therapy programme and reported largely positive results.

    My own research involved an adapted surf therapy programme for children with a range of disabilities.

    Five children aged between 12 and 16 were enrolled. Altogether there were 35 participants including parents, counsellors, volunteers, physiotherapists and surf instructors.

    Four of the five children were from under-resourced communities in South Africa’s Western Cape province and all had either a physical, sensory, intellectual or cognitive impairment.

    None of the children had taken part in ocean sports before.

    Getting into the water

    For six weeks the children took part in a three-hour surf therapy session on a Friday afternoon.

    The first goal was to get the kids in the water. We used mobility mats, surfboards with handles and amphibious beach wheelchairs to help.

    Each child was taught now to surf according to their pace of learning and ability.

    There was also a “surfers’ circle” with a discussion topic for each session.

    After six weeks we conducted follow-up interviews to see what changes the children had experienced, and if these had any influence on their lives outside surfing.

    We also asked parents and counsellors to identify the most significant changes in the children.

    ‘I felt free and confident’

    Final interviews were completed one year later.

    Charlie, aged 12, with cerebral palsy: “If my brothers want to go surfing I don’t have to stay behind and just watch them, I can go surf with them. It is so cool to surf with my dad and my brothers.”

    Charlie’s teacher: “His self-awareness level and how he sees himself in the world has really improved.”

    Tala, aged 15, with cerebal palsy: “Once I started surfing, I felt free and confident. Even in other spaces, when I’m not surfing, like, ‘Yeah I can surf, I can do something like surfing that I didn’t know that I could do before.’ ”

    Tala’s school psychologist: “She went into this feeling very insecure, nervous and anxious. She said she will always remember who she was and how she felt before she went to the programme and how she came out of it … to be able to use that feeling and apply it to a different situation, that’s huge for her.”

    Princess, aged 15, with spina bifida: was determined to “wean” herself off using nappies after gaining confidence through surf therapy.

    Princess’s guardian described her experience as similar to “winning a gold medal … She was more confident in herself than ever. She is off that nappy completely now.”

    Thabo, aged 14, a leg amputee: “Before session one, I was feeling nervous and excited, but as soon as I got in the sea, the nerves disappeared. You look and realise you can actually do that. I feel like I belong in the ocean.”

    After the final session he said: “I can relax, I can be in control of my urges and my temper. I’m now not always thinking about what people think about me. I can be myself in many ways.”

    Rowan, aged 15, a quadruple amputee: “Before I started surfing, I was thinking I can’t do it until I tried it and just being there was like beyond being able to speak in my wildest dreams. I couldn’t believe I could surf in the ocean riding some waves.

    “On my first session, I was like ‘If I can do it, I can do it for the rest of my life’.”

    In his second interview he said: “My goal is to become a national champion and to become a Paralympic champion.”

    One year after the surf therapy programme he entered a provincial parasurfing competition, which he won. He was then selected to participate in the South African Para Surfing Championships in 2022, where he came second. Later that year he was selected to represent South Africa at the World Para Surfing Championships in California. Nineteen months after starting surfing, in December, on his 16th birthday, he competed in the World Championships and was placed 17th.

    Surf therapy demonstrates what’s possible when we focus on ability rather than limitation.

    – Surf therapy for children with disabilities: how it’s changing lives in South Africa
    – https://theconversation.com/surf-therapy-for-children-with-disabilities-how-its-changing-lives-in-south-africa-245290

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ethiopia’s war may have ended, but the Tigray crisis hasn’t

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Assefa Leake Gebru, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Strategic Studies , Mekelle University

    For over 20 years, Ethiopia was led by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, a coalition of four ethnic-based political parties representing Tigray, Amhara, Oromo, and Southern nations, nationalities and peoples. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front was the most influential party within the coalition. However, in 2018, when the Prosperity Party came into power, the front lost its important role in government.

    On 4 November 2020, the federal government launched an attack on Tigray, terming it a military offensive against political aggression from the Tigrayan front. This sparked a war that lasted two years, and caused severe damage to people and resources. The African Union’s lead mediator in the crisis, Olusegun Obasanjo, estimated about 600,000 civilians were killed. This makes it one of the most destructive conflicts of the 21st century.

    On 2 November 2022, the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front signed a peace deal in South Africa, the Pretoria agreement. More than two years later, however, Tigray still faces immense political and humanitarian challenges. Assefa Leake Gebru, who has studied post-war Tigray, explains what’s happening.

    What’s the current situation in Tigray?

    The 2022-2022 war and its lingering effects have thrown the Tigray region into chaos. People are grappling to get basics like food, water and medicine. The regional economy was devastated by the war. There have been no rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts so far. Humanitarian aid is limited. Imagine if your local grocery store ran out of everything and couldn’t restock – that’s the situation I have witnessed and studied in Tigray, which is affecting millions of residents.

    Additionally, the leaders of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front are now fighting among themselves for power. The division is mainly between two factions: one led by former regional president Debretsion Gebremichael and the other by Getachew Reda, who heads the interim administration.

    In January 2025, leaders of Tigray’s military forces supported calls from the Debretsion faction for new regional leadership. The interim administration opposed this, calling it a soft coup. The federal government considers the political faction led by Debretsion illegitimate. The military leaders’ decision also sparked public protests, with Tigrayans calling for a separation between the military and politics.

    This internal division has weakened the interim administration, which was installed as part of the Pretoria agreement in March 2023.

    Given this situation, the interim administration remains fragile amid serious humanitarian concerns and security threats facing the region. The interim government and dysfunctional law enforcement institutions aren’t strong enough to fix things.

    Read more: What is federalism? Why Ethiopia uses this system of government and why it’s not perfect

    Economically, jobs remain scarce. A 2024 survey found a youth unemployment rate of 81%. This situation has been created by economic collapse, asset plunder during the war and the absence of a functioning government.

    Socially, people are stressed and hurting, like a community still reeling from a major fallout. It’s a pile-up of problems that are making life incredibly tough.

    What, exactly, is the Pretoria agreement?

    The Pretoria agreement is an important peace deal between Tigray’s political leaders and the federal government. It was signed in Pretoria, South Africa, on 2 November 2022. The African Union facilitated the peace talks hosted by South Africa.

    The goal of the agreement? End the violence that began in 2020, keep people safe by calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, allow aid like food trucks to roll in, disarm Tigray fighters and set up an interim government to restore order.

    It also aimed to re-establish the Ethiopian government’s control over federal installations in Tigray.

    What has been implemented and what hasn’t?

    There has been some positive progress. The Pretoria agreement established the interim government. Some everyday services are back, like banks reopening and planes flying again. A few Tigray fighters have put down their weapons.

    But here’s where it gets messy. Soldiers from Eritrea – which supported the Ethiopian army in the Tigray war – and militias from another Ethiopian region, Amhara, are still hanging around Tigray, raising security threats. They’re preventing internally displaced persons from going back home.

    The plan to fully disarm Tigrayan fighters hasn’t been completed either. This threatens regional stability, undermines peace efforts and increases the risk of renewed violence.

    What are the implications of not fully executing the Pretoria agreement?

    First, the region’s humanitarian crisis could worsen. An estimated one million displaced people are grappling with high levels of food insecurity, and thousands of schools remain closed. A weak interim government and the continued occupation of parts of Tigray by armed groups has hindered the restoration of services and stifled economic progress.

    Second, the division within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front makes it hard to lead the region under an interim administration. A lack of consensus on power-sharing has hindered effective governance, undermining the intended transitional authority.

    Third, a weak interim government can’t keep civilians safe, which was a pillar of the Pretoria agreement. Economically, the lack of jobs and skyrocketing prices are hitting Tigrayans hard. Socially, everyone’s on edge.

    Finally, there’s a risk of igniting further conflict in the region along the political fault lines between Debretsion and Getachew. There is a high chance of this situation being manipulated by Eritrean forces, who weren’t involved in the negotiations that led to the Pretoria agreement. The fractures in the interim government provide an opportunity for neighbouring Eritrea to support one faction against the other, which could escalate into war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front has been one of Eritrea’s bitterest enemies. The antagonism between the two led to the 1998-2000 war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

    If these tensions keep up, Tigray will remain stuck in an awful cycle. The African Union and international community must address these issues to prevent a spiral into further chaos.

    – Ethiopia’s war may have ended, but the Tigray crisis hasn’t
    – https://theconversation.com/ethiopias-war-may-have-ended-but-the-tigray-crisis-hasnt-251846

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Victims and survivors of terrorism to be given greater support

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Victims and survivors of terrorism to be given greater support

    The government will set up a dedicated support hub to meet the needs of those affected by terrorism as well as consulting on a new national day.

    Image: Getty Images

    Victims and survivors of terrorism will receive strengthened support under new plans outlined by the government today. 

    As part of the Plan for Change, the government will set up a new dedicated support hub for victims and survivors, supporting their needs in the immediate and long-term aftermath of a terrorist attack.

    Proposals for a new national day for victims and survivors of terrorism will also be consulted on, helping the country to remember and honour those who have been tragically killed or impacted by terrorist attacks. 

    Security Minister, Dan Jarvis, said:

    The impact of a terrorist attack is long-lasting and evolving. Victims and survivors of terrorism need the highest levels of support to recover and rebuild their lives. These reforms will significantly enhance the support available to those affected.

    I would like to pay tribute to the bravery and courage of all those who helped to shape these reforms and pledge my commitment to ensuring victims and survivors of terrorism receive the support and recognition they deserve.

    The first duty of government is to keep our country safe, which is the foundation of our Plan for Change.

    Victims and survivors of terrorism have long campaigned for better recognition. Victims, survivors, their loved ones and the general public are all encouraged to offer their views to shape key aspects of the proposed national day including naming the day, date, and suggesting ways the day could be commemorated.

    Travis Frain OBE, survivor of the Westminster Bridge attack:

    Recognition and remembrance are key to building societal resilience against violent extremism, and I welcome today’s announcement that the government will be launching a consultation on the establishment of a ‘National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism’.

    This is something that I, and several other survivors, have been campaigning on for many years, and I’m pleased to see that this government recognises the importance of these issues and the role that they can play in facilitating the recovery of those impacted by horrific acts of terrorism.

    Brendan Cox, co-founder of Survivors Against Terror said:

    Survivors of terror attacks have been crying out for change for years. Today’s double announcement is a major step forward in giving survivors and victims the recognition they deserve and the support that they need.

    Terrorists aim to divide and weaken our society – our best response is to hold together – and stage one of that is looking after those who have suffered the most. 

    Other recommendations from the review will also be progressed including:

    • enhanced communications to victims to bolster awareness of the support package available to them
    • improving the support available for children and young people, to ensure they do not fall through the gaps

    Dr Cath Hill, survivor of the Manchester Arena attack:

    I wholeheartedly welcome this news. Sadly, we know as a society we are not immune from future terror attacks; therefore, it is essential that future survivors get the help and support they need.

    If we are to combat the devastation that terrorism can cause, as a society we must care for those who bear the brunt of these acts of terror. Developing a dedicated hub for support is a significant step forward and welcome by those of us who have campaigned for change.

    Cheryl Stollery (wife of the late John Stollery – Sousse, Tunisia) said:

    Today’s announcement is an important first step towards putting in place improved outcomes for all those impacted by terrorism, whether here in the UK or for UK citizens harmed in terrorism attacks overseas.

    As the survivor of a terrorist attack where my husband was killed, I know how important remembrance is so that our loved ones are not forgotten and we can come together and reflect on the importance of unity and gain strength in the face of adversity and terror.

    I am particularly keen to champion a Support Hub because I believe it will be a cornerstone for the future in being able to empower survivors to regain hope, strength, and resilience, not just in the weeks after the incident but also for the long term as needed.

    The reforms have been designed in response to direct engagement with victims and survivors, open-source literature reviews and learning from other countries’ approaches. 

    The Home Office Victims of Terrorism Unit will now work to deliver the findings of the review and will continue to engage with key stakeholders on progress. 

    This comes as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, also known as Martyn’s Law, approaches its final stages in Parliament, delivering on the government’s manifesto commitment to strengthen the security of public events and venues.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Joint Statement from the International Partners Group on the US Withdrawal from the Just Energy Transition Partnership in South Africa

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Joint Statement from the International Partners Group on the US Withdrawal from the Just Energy Transition Partnership in South Africa

    The United States has informed the Government of South Africa and the International Partners Group of its withdrawal from the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

    The partnership, originally announced at COP 26, aims to support South Africa to move away from coal and to accelerate its transition to a low emission, climate resilient economy. 

    The US contribution to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET), as set out in the JET Investment Plan, was $56m in grant funds and $1bn in commercial debt/equity from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).  

    While the withdrawal of the US is regrettable, the International Partners Group (IPG) remains fully committed to supporting South Africa to deliver its just energy transition. The level of investment made to date and remaining pledges demonstrate this. Over $2.5bn of the IPG pledge has been spent to date. The total pledged funding to support South Africa’s just energy transition also remains higher than the original pledge due to increases in pledges from both the IPG and other development partners who are not part of the IPG. Some partners are exploring possibilities for supporting work previously being carried out by the US.  

    We look forward to continuing to work with the government of South Africa and other stakeholders to allocate existing funding in support of a just energy transition that will benefit all South Africans. The political, technical and financial support from the IPG remains strong and steadfast. 

    On behalf of the International Partners Group – United Kingdom, Germany, France, the European Union, Denmark and the Netherlands.

    Further information

    • overall international pledges is $12.8bn total. This includes over $9bn from IPG and Spain, Switzerland and Canada (excluding Spanish export credits)

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tasmanian ancestral remains to return home A ceremony to repatriate Tasmanian ancestral remains held in University of Aberdeen collections since the 1850s will take place on 21 March.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    Neil Curtis preparing the ancestral remains for transporA ceremony to repatriate Tasmanian ancestral remains held in University of Aberdeen collections since the 1850s will take place on 21 March.
    The University contacted the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre in 2019, which led to a proposal to return the remains of a young man. This was approved unconditionally by the University’s governing body, Court, in 2020 and the Centre is now in a position to take the remains back to Tasmania where they will be laid to rest in a traditional ceremony conducted by Aboriginal people.
    Details of how the remains were acquired by the University are limited, with records listing only that it was part of the collection of William MacGillivray, Regius Professor of Natural History in Marischal College. After his death in 1852, the collection was purchased by the University and in the sale catalogue it was described as ‘Native of Van Diemen’s Land, who was shot on the Shannon River’.
    There is no record surviving to indicate how the skull was acquired by MacGillivray.
    The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, a non-profit community-based organisation established in 1973 to provide legal, health, educational, cultural and welfare services to Aboriginal people, considers that ‘there can be no doubt that this skull was removed from the man shot at the Shannon River in order to service (the) trade in Aboriginal body parts. The decapitation was most likely performed by one of the killers, stock-keepers, property owners or lessees involved in or associated with the man’s murder’. This may have taken place in the 1820s or 1830s.
    It is unlikely that the identity of the man will ever be known beyond that of his tribal group. The ‘Big River’ tribe to which he belonged is one of the many original tribes entirely wiped out and for which there are no surviving direct descendants.
    The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre is recognised by both Australian and international governments as the only appropriate organisation to which all repatriated Tasmanian Aboriginal skeletal remains and cultural property are returned.
    After acquisition by the University, the skull was kept as part of the Comparative Anatomy collection, before being transferred to the Human Culture collection in the early 2000s. It was used in medical education in the 19th and early 20th centuries but the collection is no longer used for teaching and there is no current or intended research associated with it.
    Andry Sculthorpe of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre said: “Aboriginal people feel the enormous responsibility of restoring to our own country both the physical remains, and through them, the spirits of our ancestral dead.
    “This is a record of racist attitudes to the study of humanity, including human remains acquired by grave robbing and other immoral activity; in this case, murder.
    “We applaud the institutions that have the courage to let go of their perceptions of intellectual supremacy, embrace their own humanity and do what is right by the people who are most impacted by the atrocities they have inflicted in the past. This young man’s murder will not be forgotten and we will bring him home to rest at last.”
    Neil Curtis, Head of University Collections at the University of Aberdeen, said: “Given the violence and racism that led to their acquisition, it would be unacceptable for these ancestral remains to be used for research, teaching or exhibitions purposes.
    “We are pleased that the remains of this young man can now be handed over to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre for appropriate burial in his homeland.”
    The University has a well-established procedure for considering repatriation from the collections in its care, and welcomes proposals for returning ancestral remains, sacred and other items, especially where they can be returned to the community from which they were taken. The University is also reviewing its collections to identify items that were looted or unethically returned so that it can initiate discussions as well as responding to proposals. This has included the return of a Benin Bronze in 2021, the first such return in the world by a museum.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: Getting world drawn to China

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    China is very, very different. Jessica Rawson repeatedly underlines this point.

    This idea might seem obvious, but she believes that people often underplay the divergence that China inherits.

    “The big trouble is Westerners don’t think they need to study China. They think, if China had a past, it would be like the Greeks, the Romans, or something they’re familiar with here,” she says. “The West doesn’t really notice China, doesn’t understand the difference, doesn’t understand why your culture is not like ours.”

    Rather than digging into the similarities we share, recognizing how ancient China charted its unique course may lead to adjustment, and then better mutual understanding, she argues.

    For the 82-year-old archaeologist, who is a former keeper of the Department of Oriental Antiquities at the British Museum — one of her many titles, her career over the past 50 years has been consistent: China’s distinctive path of development, explored through the eyes of objects, like ceramics, jades and bronze vessels.

    By looking into China’s material culture, Rawson has provided a new perspective on one of the world’s oldest civilizations, uncovering the values, beliefs, and customs embedded in the shapes, colors and motifs of its remains.

    China’s distinctiveness was revealed to Rawson long before she set foot in the country.

    During a trip to the British Museum at the age of 10 or 12, the Rosetta Stone, inscribed with Egyptian hieroglyphs — a writing system that used pictures as signs — taught her that there is a language in the world not based on alphabetic letters.

    “Why not look at Chinese if you’re interested in this,” her parents said and then gave her a small book called Teach Yourself Chinese.

    “When you’re 12, you can’t teach yourself Chinese,” she jokes. “But I started to copy the Chinese characters into a notebook.”

    “Pioneering” is a word often associated with her and her approach to looking beyond and looking around was described as “Rawsonian” by Robert Harrist Jr, professor of Chinese art history at Columbia University in the United States.

    And she has been determined to study Chinese archaeology and get inside the cosmology of others.

    “I’ve dedicated my entire life to this field,” she has written in a letter. “There had been a few resistance along the journey, but I have never thought of giving up.”

    “Since the Neolithic era, China’s developmental path has been uniquely its own. Throughout my academic career, I have increasingly recognized the importance of introducing more people to China’s history and the latest results in archaeology. Only by doing so can they cultivate a genuine interest in China.”

    Language of objects

    In 1968, when Rawson joined the British Museum, she was tasked with cataloging thousands of ceramics and jades from the Shang (c.16th-11th century BC), Zhou (c.11th century-256 BC) and Han (206 BC-AD 220) dynasties — relics she found “very surprising” at first sight.

    Seeing some objects as “China’s greatest works of art”, Rawson found that those exquisite things are often not vehicles for self-expression but functional forms for ancestor worship, crafted according to strict standards dictating their shapes, patterns, and decorations, exemplified by bronze vessels.

    She wondered why the Chinese were so obsessed with this particular type of object, but not gold or gems. Breaking it down step by step, what stands out to Rawson is that the ancients’ fascination with bronze vessels reveals the distinctiveness of China, from its climate and terrain to the cosmology of the inhabitants.

    The Loess Plateau in north-central China once buried the ores or metals under layers of heavy windblown dust. The mining alone required an immense workforce, not to mention the demanding craftsmanship needed to smelt and cast even a single piece, which explains why bronze vessels were mostly evacuated from the tombs of royalty and nobility, Rawson says.

    Life and the afterlife in China unveil fundamental differences in the nation’s ancient society, in how the ancestors were treated as being at the top of a generational hierarchy, and how families, united by shared ancestry and kinship ties, became central, she says.

    In her latest book Life and Afterlife in Ancient China Rawson explores 12 grand tombs and a major sacrificial deposit from across China.

    The “master interpreter”, as the former director of the National Gallery in London and British Museum Neil MacGregor describes Rawson, never treats an object in isolation but traces down to the usage, customs, and beliefs — shaped by climate and geology — all pointing to why the Chinese are not like Westerners or anyone else in the world.

    While China is fascinated with bronze, the West prizes gold and gems. While the Chinese eat rice from ceramic bowls, the West uses plates for salad. What Rawson believes is that every culture develops its material system.

    There are no shortcuts for a foreigner to study Chinese archaeology, Rawson once said.

    In 1975, she set foot in China for the first time. It was a time when the country only owned trains in green that chugged her through the vast landscape, from the plains with fields of rice to the endlessly stretching plateau.

    “It’s a shock to realize how big China is, how many regions are different from each other, and how they’re all different from the West and, above all, from Western Asia,” she says.

    To truly get an impression of the place, the only way is by traveling it, she believes. For the next 44 years, Rawson returned to China nearly every year, traveled alone sometimes, and even once slept at a train station to catch the earliest service.

    “China is not a quick thing to learn,” Rawson says. But she did not give up trying to get closer to that dream path. “I always wanted to work in China. In a way, people would say I am always addicted to China. I am happier thinking about China or reading about China than doing anything else.”

    What might be more difficult is introducing what sets China apart from the West, Rawson admits, yet she remains committed to doing so.

    As the British Museum stands as one of the most-visited attractions in the UK, the former keeper prioritized her work, especially the refurbishment of the China Gallery, both in 1992 and 2016, as a top priority.

    Her career as a curator did not mark a break, even after leaving the museum. She continued to curate blockbuster China-related exhibitions in the UK, such as China: The Three Emperors, 1662-1795, which was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005 at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

    During her years at the University of Oxford, a major grant by the Leverhulme Trust, which she bid on and received, not only supported the founding of a contemporary China studies program in 2002 but also led to the creation of a China center in 2008.

    Her efforts to promote exchanges somehow mirror another of her research achievements — the interactions in ornament culture between China, Inner Asia, and the West. While China’s path has been independent, it has never been completely isolated, and “we need to see how much we get from each other,” she says.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: MOFA response to South Africa’s DIRCO changing name of Taiwan’s liaison office on official website

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    MOFA response to South Africa’s DIRCO changing name of Taiwan’s liaison office on official website

    March 16, 2025  

    In January, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) sent another letter to the Taipei Liaison Office in the Republic of South Africa (TLO) demanding that it relocate by the end of March. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung promptly convened an emergency meeting and requested that the TLO, on the principles of parity and dignity, continue to negotiate with DIRCO. The two sides are currently exchanging views on the possibility of amending the content of the legal framework governing their bilateral relations. Taiwan has urged South Africa to accelerate talks on details regarding formal negotiations, such as the location, time, composition of the delegation, and method of signing an agreement. 

     

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has closely followed developments and noted that South Africa recently changed the name of the TLO on DIRCO’s official website while bilateral negotiations were still underway and before both sides had reached a consensus. This violated a 1997 agreement between Taiwan and South Africa. In response, Foreign Minister Lin immediately instructed MOFA’s Department of West Asian and African Affairs and the TLO to lodge solemn protests with the Liaison Office of South Africa in Taipei and DIRCO, respectively. The TLO subsequently issued a note verbale to the South African government formally expressing Taiwan’s stance and reiterating that DIRCO’s citing of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and South Africa’s “one China policy” in an effort to force the TLO to relocate was unreasonable, unjustifiable, and unacceptable. The TLO added that South Africa’s collusion with China in attempting to suppress Taiwan violated the spirit of democracy and freedom long advocated by South Africa, and called on the South African government to respect the agreement it concluded with Taiwan in 1997.

     

    The South African government has recently engaged in repeated violations of international norms, attracting the attention of the international community. This was reflected in recent remarks made by then-South African Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool, which the United States deemed unacceptable. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared him persona non grata on March 15.

     

    MOFA once again solemnly urges the South African government to proactively discuss the relevant details of this matter with Taiwan as soon as possible and not to take any actions that violate the 1997 bilateral agreement before both sides have reached a consensus.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA response to South Africa’s DIRCO changing name of Taiwan’s liaison office on official website

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan 3

    MOFA response to South Africa’s DIRCO changing name of Taiwan’s liaison office on official website

    March 16, 2025  

    In January, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) sent another letter to the Taipei Liaison Office in the Republic of South Africa (TLO) demanding that it relocate by the end of March. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung promptly convened an emergency meeting and requested that the TLO, on the principles of parity and dignity, continue to negotiate with DIRCO. The two sides are currently exchanging views on the possibility of amending the content of the legal framework governing their bilateral relations. Taiwan has urged South Africa to accelerate talks on details regarding formal negotiations, such as the location, time, composition of the delegation, and method of signing an agreement. 
     
    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has closely followed developments and noted that South Africa recently changed the name of the TLO on DIRCO’s official website while bilateral negotiations were still underway and before both sides had reached a consensus. This violated a 1997 agreement between Taiwan and South Africa. In response, Foreign Minister Lin immediately instructed MOFA’s Department of West Asian and African Affairs and the TLO to lodge solemn protests with the Liaison Office of South Africa in Taipei and DIRCO, respectively. The TLO subsequently issued a note verbale to the South African government formally expressing Taiwan’s stance and reiterating that DIRCO’s citing of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and South Africa’s “one China policy” in an effort to force the TLO to relocate was unreasonable, unjustifiable, and unacceptable. The TLO added that South Africa’s collusion with China in attempting to suppress Taiwan violated the spirit of democracy and freedom long advocated by South Africa, and called on the South African government to respect the agreement it concluded with Taiwan in 1997.
     
    The South African government has recently engaged in repeated violations of international norms, attracting the attention of the international community. This was reflected in recent remarks made by then-South African Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool, which the United States deemed unacceptable. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared him persona non grata on March 15.
     
    MOFA once again solemnly urges the South African government to proactively discuss the relevant details of this matter with Taiwan as soon as possible and not to take any actions that violate the 1997 bilateral agreement before both sides have reached a consensus.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Launches DEX+: One-Stop Platform For Seamless On-Chain and Off-Chain Trading

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, announced the launch of DEX+, the market’s first innovative CEX and DEX hybrid product that provides a seamless, one-stop experience for both on-chain and off-chain trading. This development marks a significant milestone in the evolution of hybrid crypto trading platforms. DEX+ allows users to trade directly on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) through the MEXC app and website, offering access to a wide range of on-chain assets. The initial version of DEX+ will support the Solana ecosystem, enabling users to trade over 10,000 tokens available on Raydium and pump.fun, with future expansion to additional DEXs and blockchain networks, with support for the BSC chain launching on March 26, allowing users to trade trending assets on BSC soon.

    DEX+ stands out by addressing many of the common pain points faced by users on traditional DEX platforms. Conventional DEX interfaces require users to navigate multi-step interactions with complex on-chain processes such as token approvals, transaction signings, and cryptocurrency swaps. MEXC’s DEX+ simplifies this process entirely. Users can transfer funds directly into their DEX+ account and execute buy and sell orders without dealing with intricate on-chain operations. This approach makes decentralized trading more accessible, especially for new crypto users.

    “MEXC’s DEX+ bridges the gap between centralized efficiency and decentralized freedom. Despite the growing popularity of DEXs, the lack of user-friendly interfaces and high transaction fees remain a significant hindrance to widespread adoption. Through DEX+, MEXC aims to solve these issues by providing a familiar, CEX-like trading experience while retaining the benefits of accessing on-chain assets. Users can seamlessly switch between centralized exchange and DEX+ features,” said Tracy Jin, COO of MEXC.

    MEXC is dedicated to offering a diverse range of accessible assets through its listing strategy and innovative products, all while ensuring top-tier security for its users. MEXC delivers comprehensive custodial wallet management for DEX+ users, ensuring security at an institutional level. Additionally, the platform offers Proof of Reserves, ensuring asset integrity and exceptional transparency. Users’ assets are backed 1:1, and customer fund compensation requirements are fully covered. This dual-layer protection ensures unmatched security for user assets.

    Furthermore, MEXC announced its collaboration with GoPlus, an independent third-party security provider that inspects the safety of all trading pairs listed on the platform. This added measure boosts user confidence and transparency, allowing them to trade with greater assurance and peace of mind.

    Moving forward, MEXC’s DEX+ is expected to play a pivotal role in the continued growth of DeFi and DEX ecosystems. As more users transition toward decentralized trading platforms, integrating CEX and DEX models will become increasingly important. With DEX+, MEXC strives to stand at the forefront of this innovative trend.

    To celebrate the successful launch of DEX+, MEXC is pleased to announce its incentive program: new users completing trades of 100 USDT or more on the DEX+ platform will be eligible to receive a 20 USDT reward. For more details, please visit: https://www.mexc.com/dex-rewards.

    About MEXC

    Founded in 2018, MEXC is dedicated to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Known for its extensive selection of trending tokens, airdrop opportunities, and low fees, MEXC serves over 34 million users across 170+ countries. With a focus on accessibility and efficiency, our advanced trading platform appeals to both new traders and seasoned investors alike. MEXC provides a seamless, secure, and rewarding gateway to the world of digital assets.

    For more information, visit: MEXC Website｜X｜Telegram｜How to Sign Up on MEXC
    For media inquiries, please contact MEXC PR Manager Lucia Hu: lucia.hu@mexc.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by MEXC. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6a38849c-6875-4997-9c07-705dcab201f4

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Nykredit extends the offer period concerning the recommended, voluntary public tender offer for Spar Nord Bank A/S until 3 April 2025 – Nykredit Realkredit A/S

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS PUBLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 9(3)-(5) AND SECTION 21(3) OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 636 OF 15 MAY 2020

    NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR TO ANY JURISDICTION WHERE DOING SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

    Publication of supplement concerning extension of offer period for Nykredit’s recommended, voluntary public tender offer for Spar Nord Bank A/S until 3 April 2025

    19 March 2025

    Nykredit extends the offer period concerning the recommended, voluntary public tender offer for Spar Nord Bank A/S until 3 April 2025

    In accordance with section 4(1) of the Danish Takeover Order1, Nykredit Realkredit A/S (“Nykredit”) announced on 10 December 2024 that Nykredit intended to submit a voluntary public tender offer (the “Offer”) to acquire all shares in Spar Nord Bank A/S (“Spar Nord Bank”), with the exception of Spar Nord Bank’s treasury shares, for a cash price of DKK 210 per share, valuing the aggregated issued share capital of Spar Nord Bank at DKK 24.7 billion.

    On 8 January 2025, Nykredit published the offer document regarding the Offer (the “Offer Document”), as approved by the Danish FSA in accordance with section 11 of the Danish Takeover Order. In the Offer Document, the offer period was set to expire on 19 February 2025 at 23:59 (CET) (the “Initial Offer Period”). On 18 February 2025, Nykredit published a supplement to the Offer Document, which extended the offer period to 20 March 2025. The background for the extension was to provide Nykredit with more time to obtain the approval from the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority required to complete the Offer.

    Today, Nykredit published a supplement (the “Supplement”) to the Offer Document, which further extends the offer period for the Offer. The Supplement has been approved by the Danish FSA on 19 March 2025 in accordance with section 9(3)-(5) of the Danish Takeover Order. The Supplement should be read in conjunction with the Offer Document and the previous supplement as published on 18 February 2025.

    With this Supplement, Nykredit further extends the offer period, such that the Offer will expire on 3 April 2025 at 23:59 (CEST). Subsequently, any reference to the “Offer Period” in the Offer Document or other documents relating to the Offer will refer to the period commencing on the day of publication of the Offer Document on 8 January 2025 and ending on 3 April 2025 at 23:59 (CEST) (the “Extended Offer Period”).

    The purpose of the extension is to provide Nykredit with time to obtain the approval from the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority required to complete the Offer.

    If the approval from the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority has not been granted by the expiry of the Extended Offer Period, Nykredit expects to extend the offer period further.

    The extension of the offer period entails that the expected completion of the Offer and settlement of the offer price to the Spar Nord Bank shareholders who have accepted the Offer will be extended correspondingly. Completion is subsequently expected to take place on 11 April 2025 (provided that the offer period is not extended further than to 3 April 2025 23:59 (CEST)).

    At the time of this announcement, Nykredit holds 32.79 per cent of the shares in Spar Nord Bank. A preliminary compilation of the acceptances that Nykredit has information about shows that, including the irrevocable undertakings, acceptances corresponding to more than 46 per cent of the share capital of Spar Nord Bank has been submitted, and that Nykredit’s ownership interest in Spar Nord Bank, together with the irrevocable undertakings and the binding acceptances submitted that Nykredit has information about, totals more than 80 per cent of the total share capital (excluding treasury shares) of Spar Nord Bank, indicating that the 67 per cent acceptance limit stated in the Offer has been reached. The final result of the Offer will be determined on expiry of the offer period and published in accordance with section 21(3) of the Danish Takeover Order.

    Nykredit intends to delist Spar Nord Bank from trading on Nasdaq Copenhagen and complete a compulsory acquisition of the remaining Spar Nord Bank shareholders, provided that Nykredit has obtained the necessary ownership interest, and the Offer has been completed. Spar Nord Bank shareholders who have opted not to accept the Offer, should expect that Nykredit, provided that the Offer is completed, will take steps to combine Nykredit Bank A/S and Spar Nord Bank, which will result in a further increase in Nykredit’s ownership interest in Spar Nord Bank. Not later than in continuation of the combination, Nykredit thus expects to hold a sufficient ownership interest to be able to delist Spar Nord Bank from trading on Nasdaq Copenhagen and complete a compulsory acquisition of the remaining Spar Nord Bank shareholders.

    The full terms and conditions of the Offer are contained in the Offer Document as amended by the Supplement. The Offer Document and the Supplement are published in the Danish FSA’s OAM database: https://oam.finanstilsynet.dk/ and can also, with certain restrictions, be accessed at https://www.nykredit.com/kobstilbud-spar-nord/ and https://www.sparnord.dk/investor-relations/overtagelsestilbud.

    About Spar Nord Bank

    Spar Nord Bank was founded in 1824 and is now a nationwide bank with 58 branches. Spar Nord Bank offers all types of financial services, consultancy and products, focusing its business on retail customers and primarily small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the local areas in which the bank is represented. The bank is also focused on leasing operations and large corporate customers, which are both business areas handled by the head offices.

    Spar Nord Bank has historically been rooted in northern Jutland and continues to be a market leader in this region. However, in the period from 2002 to 2024, Spar Nord Bank has established and acquired branches outside northern Jutland. Over the course of the years, the bank has adjusted its branch network in an ongoing process and now has a nationwide distribution network comprising 58 branches. These 58 branches are distributed on 32 banking areas, each of which is headed by a manager reporting directly to the bank’s executive board.

    The Spar Nord Bank Group consists of two earnings entities: Spar Nord Bank’s branches and the Trading Division. As an entity, the Trading Division serves customers from Spar Nord Bank’s branches as well as large retail customers and institutional clients in the field of equities, bonds, fixed income and forex products, asset management and international transactions. Finally, under the concept Sparxpres, the bank offers consumer loans to personal customers through Sparxpres’ platform as well as debt consolidation loans and consumer financing via retail stores and gift voucher solutions via shopping centres and city associations.

    About Nykredit

    Nykredit Realkredit A/S (“Nykredit”) is a public limited company incorporated under the laws of Denmark, company reg. (CVR) no. 12 71 92 80, having its registered office at Sundkrogsgade 25, 2150 Nordhavn, Denmark. Nykredit is a mortgage credit institution and, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary Totalkredit A/S, is a market leader of the Danish mortgage credit market with a market share of some 45.2 per cent. Nykredit offers mortgage financing for private individuals and businesses.

    Nykredit is part of the Nykredit Group, which historically dates back to 1851. In addition to carrying on mortgage credit business, the Group carries on banking business through Nykredit Bank – including banking and wealth management operations – and has a total of around 4,000 employees in Denmark.

    Nykredit is owned by an association of the Nykredit Group’s customers, Forenet Kredit. Forenet Kredit owns close to 80 per cent of Nykredit’s shares. Other major shareholders are five Danish pension funds: Akademikernes Pension AP Pension, PensionDanmark, PFA and PKA.

    Nykredit is known for the advantages offered through the association. Forenet Kredit makes capital contributions to the Nykredit Group when times are good, and Nykredit has decided to pass these on to its customers.

    Since, 2017, Forenet Kredit has paid over DKK 8 billion in capital contributions to the Nykredit Group, and in the period to 2027, Forenet Kredit has provided a further DKK 7 billion.

    Questions and further information

    Any questions concerning the Offer may be directed to:

    Nykredit Bank A/S

    Company reg. (CVR) no.: 10 51 96 08

    Sundkrogsgade 25

    2150 Nordhavn
    Denmark

    Telephone: +45 7010 9000

    and

    Carnegie Investment Bank

    Filial af Carnegie Investment Bank AB (publ), Sverige

    Company reg. (CVR) no. 35 52 12 67

    Overgaden Neden Vandet 9B

    1414 Copenhagen K
    Denmark

    E-mail: annette.hansen@carnegie.dk

    For further information about the Offer, please see: https://www.nykredit.com/kobstilbud-spar-nord/.

    This announcement and the Offer Document (with supplements) are not directed at shareholders of Spar Nord Bank A/S whose participation in the Offer would require the issuance of an offer document, registration or activities other than what is required under Danish law (and, in the case of shareholders in the United States of America, Section 14(e) of, and applicable provisions of Regulation 14E promulgated under, the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). The Offer is not made and will not be made, directly or indirectly, to shareholders resident in any jurisdiction in which the submission of the Offer or acceptance thereof would be in contravention of the laws of such jurisdiction. Any person coming into possession of this announcement, the Offer Document or any other document containing a reference to the Offer is expected and assumed to independently obtain all necessary information about any applicable restrictions and to observe these.

    This announcement does not constitute an offer or an invitation to purchase securities or a solicitation of an offer to purchase securities in accordance with the Offer or otherwise. The Offer will be submitted only in the form of the Offer Document (with supplements) approved by the FSA, which sets out the full terms and conditions of the Offer, including information on how to accept the Offer. The shareholders of Spar Nord Bank are advised to read the Offer Document and any related documents as they contain important information.

    Restricted jurisdictions

    The Offer is not made, and acceptance of the Offer to tender Spar Nord Bank shares is not accepted, neither directly nor indirectly, in or from any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance of the Offer would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction or would require any registration, approval or any other measures with any regulatory authority not expressly contemplated by the Offer Document (the “Restricted Jurisdictions”). Neither the United States nor the United Kingdom is a Restricted Jurisdiction.

    Restricted Jurisdictions include, but are not limited to: Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.

    Persons obtaining documents or information relating to the Offer (including custodians, account holding institutions, nominees, trustees, representatives, fiduciaries or other intermediaries) should not distribute, communicate, transfer or send these in or into a Restricted Jurisdiction or use mail or any other means of communication in or into a Restricted Jurisdiction in connection with the Offer. Persons (including, but not limited to, custodians, custodian banks, nominees, trustees, representatives, fiduciaries or other intermediaries) intending to communicate this announcement, the Supplement, the Offer Document or any related document to any jurisdiction outside Denmark or the United States should inform themselves about these restrictions before taking any action. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction, including securities laws. It is the responsibility of all Persons obtaining this announcement, the Supplement, the Offer Document, earlier supplements, an acceptance form and/or other documents relating to the Offer, or into whose possession such documents otherwise come, to inform themselves about and observe all such restrictions.

    Nykredit is not responsible for ensuring that the distribution, dissemination or communication of this announcement, the Supplement or the Offer Document to shareholders outside Denmark, the United States and the United Kingdom is consistent with applicable law in any jurisdiction other than Denmark, the United States and the United Kingdom.

    Important Information for Shareholders in the United States

    The Offer concerns the shares in Spar Nord Bank, a public limited liability company incorporated and admitted to trading on a regulated market in Denmark, and is subject to the disclosure and procedural requirements of Danish law, including the Danish capital markets act and the Danish takeover order.

    The Offer is being made to shareholders in Spar Nord Bank in the United States in compliance with the applicable US tender offer rules under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “U.S. Exchange Act”), including Regulation 14E promulgated thereunder, subject to the relief available for a “Tier II” tender offer, and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of Danish law and practice

    Accordingly, US Spar Nord Bank shareholders should be aware that this announcement and any other documents regarding the Offer have been prepared in accordance with, and will be subject to, the disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to withdrawal rights, the Offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments of Danish law and practice, which may differ materially from those applicable under US domestic tender offer law and practice. In addition, the financial information contained in this announcement or the Offer Document has not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or derived therefrom, and may therefore differ from, or not be comparable with, financial information of US companies.

    In accordance with the laws of, and practice in, Denmark and to the extent permitted by applicable law, including Rule 14e-5 under the U.S. Exchange Act, Nykredit, Nykredit’s affiliates or any nominees or brokers of the foregoing (acting as agents, or in a similar capacity, for Nykredit or any of its affiliates, as applicable) may from time to time, and other than pursuant to the Offer, directly or indirectly, purchase, or arrange to purchase, outside of the United States, shares in Spar Nord Bank or any securities that are convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for such shares in Spar Nord Bank before or during the period in which the Offer remains open for acceptance. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Any information about such purchases will be announced via Nasdaq Copenhagen and relevant electronic media if, and to the extent, such announcement is required under applicable law. To the extent information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase is made public in Denmark, such information will be disclosed by means of a press release or other means reasonably calculated to inform US shareholders of Spar Nord Bank of such information.

    In addition, subject to the applicable laws of Denmark and US securities laws, including Rule 14e-5 under the U.S. Exchange Act, the financial advisers to Nykredit or their respective affiliates may also engage in ordinary course trading activities in securities of Spar Nord Bank, which may include purchases or arrangements to purchase such securities.

    It may not be possible for US shareholders to effect service of process within the United States upon Spar Nord Bank, Nykredit or any of their respective affiliates, or their respective officers or directors, some or all of which may reside outside the United States, or to enforce against any of them judgments of the United States courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or other US law. It may not be possible to bring an action against Nykredit, Spar Nord Bank and/or their respective officers or directors (as applicable) in a non-US court for violations of US laws. Further, it may not be possible to compel Nykredit and Spar Nord Bank or their respective affiliates, as applicable, to subject themselves to the judgment of a US court. In addition, it may be difficult to enforce in Denmark original actions, or actions for the enforcement of judgments of US courts, based on the civil liability provisions of the US federal securities laws.

    The Offer, if completed, may have consequences under US federal income tax and under applicable US state and local, as well as non-US, tax laws. Each shareholder of Spar Nord Bank is urged to consult its independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Offer.

    NEITHER THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY SECURITIES COMMISSION OR OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY IN ANY STATE OF THE U.S. HAS APPROVED OR DECLINED TO APPROVE THE OFFER OR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, PASSED UPON THE FAIRNESS OR MERITS OF THE OFFER OR PROVIDED AN OPINION AS TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OR ANY OFFER DOCUMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE IN THE UNITED STATES.

    1 Executive Order no. 636 of 15 May 2020

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Multicultural Communities Council of South Australia

    Source: Australian Human Rights Commission

    My name is Giridharan Sivaraman and I’m the Commonwealth Race Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission.

    Thank you for the opportunity to speak today.  

    I wish to acknowledge the Kaurna peoples as traditional custodians of the land we are meeting on and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of this region.

    I wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

    I would also like to acknowledge and welcome other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may be attending today’s event.

    Acknowledging that I’m on country is important. For me, as a non-First Nations person, but who has lived experience of racism and is leading anti-racism work, it’s important to understand the difference between the racism someone like me suffers, and that which is suffered and has been suffered for 238 years by First Nations people. Someone like me may suffer racism through a denial of equality, dignity and respect. The racism First Nations people suffered and continue to suffer is also a denial of equality, dignity and respect. But in addition, it is a denial of self-determination and sovereignty which included the taking of their land by settlers before me. And I, as a settler, have benefited from that denial of sovereignty. I have benefited from the taking of their land. Therefore, it is a small but important step for me to acknowledge I’m on country.  

    As many of you know, this week has been traditionally celebrated as Harmony Week in Australia, and the 21st of March as Harmony Day. This is the context in which I’ve been invited here to speak today.  

    The 21st of March has been a date globally recognised as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD). It was designated as such by the UN in 1966 and began as a day of mourning. It is a day set aside to annually observe and reflect on the mass murder of 69 people, by police, at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid in Sharpeville, South Africa. The United Nations frames the day as one in which we should be “building solidarity with the peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination.”

    For me, it is somewhat jarring that a day recognising a massacre born of racism, is replaced with a day of celebration under the banner of Harmony Day. And Australia is the only country in the world to do so.  Harmony is a wonderful ideal. But we have to ask ourselves, as a country, why are we so loathe to talk about racism? Because to get to a harmonious society, we first need to address racism.

    Racism is rarely about race. Ta Nehise Coates wrote, ‘race is the child, racism is the parent’. It’s usually about power and privilege. Structural racism ensures that power and privilege is maintained by the dominant race. In Australia that dominancy is white. It is white Anglo race, culture and identity which remains dominant, and structurally so.    

    If you are white, it’s the power and privilege to know that the institutions around you were built by people like you, for people like you and privilege people like you.  

    It is also the power and privilege to decide on the narratives that influence politics and public discourse.  

    It was a deliberate decision to rename IDERD to Harmony Day. The change was made in 1999 under former Prime Minister John Howard, to celebrate diversity and multiculturalism, instead of focusing on racism and discrimination.  

    Celebrating the diversity within our communities has value. However, in Australia, the refusal to name and confront racism has prevented meaningful progress on eliminating it.  In our work at the AHRC we have found that approaches to anti-racism across all levels of government is ad-hoc, disjointed and piece meal. Many areas of government don’t even want to use the word racism. They would rather use terms like social cohesion, or harmony. Racism isn’t Beetlejuice. Naming it doesn’t make a demon appear, the demon is already amongst us. Anyone who’s watched a horror movie knows that closing your eyes and pretending the monster isn’t there doesn’t make it go away. It’ll still get you.

    Australia is often eager to promote itself as a successful multicultural nation. But are we genuinely pluralistic or are you forced to express your culture in the shadows? I think of my own life and journey into the world of law. I was brought up in a Tamil speaking, Hindu, teetotalling, vegetarian household. I was acutely conscious of fitting into the world of law. It rewarded conformity not difference. I let go of Tamil so as to not sound different. It’s a beautiful language, of poetry and literature but it had no place anywhere outside private spaces. I remember my ceremony to be admitted as a lawyer. I was given a choice of an oath on a bible or a secular affirmation. No room for Hindu beliefs there. I remember attending events started with a Christian prayer. Even now the only religious public holidays recognised by law are Christian ones. Alcohol was the key to mingling with clients or other lawyers, otherwise you were left out. So, all I maintained was my vegetarianism. For a while their veganism was in vogue which meant i was cool for a bit but that quickly passed.  I’m part of the multicultural success story. Yet my culture, language and religion were all obstacles to my success.

    When it comes to calling the 21st of March IDERD or Harmony Day, it can be easy to say that it’s just a choice of words. But words are never neutral.  

    Throughout history, language has been used to label people, to erase struggles and to strategically shape political narratives. In Australia’s own history, racist policies enacted towards First Nations communities were called ‘protection policies’. Yet these policies involved abhorrent racial segregation, dispossession, and the tragedies that we now refer to as the Stolen Generations.

    Language is powerful. It can empower people or silence them. It can expose or obscure the truth. It can challenge or reinforce injustice.  

    In this case, replacing acknowledgement of racism with words of harmony risks contributing to the notion that racism is not a significant problem in Australia — one that requires urgent attention and policy change.  

    In 2024, polling by Essential Media found only 37% of respondents believed Australia was a racist country. Meanwhile 64% expressed that they were scared to say what they really think in case they’d be labelled as racist. Spoiler alert: if a person is worried that something they want to say may lead to being called racist… most of the time, that’s because it is racist.

    And despite the Essential Poll showing only about a third of people acknowledge racism is rife across our society, reports of racism are only rising. For example, many organisations and peak bodies, including Reconciliation SA, have noted the increase in notifications of racism since the referendum in 2023.

    Moving forward

    Racial literacy and intro to Framework

    Before we can tackle racism, it is necessary to first meaningfully acknowledge the issue. We must call out racism for what it is and recognise its ongoing harms, instead of allowing it to be obscured under words like harmony or social cohesion.  

    But there is still cause for optimism. That’s because we have a roadmap for the future.

    In November, the Commission released the National Anti-Racism Framework. It contains 63 recommendations for a whole of society approach, with proposed reforms across Australia’s legal, justice, health, education, media and arts sectors as well as workplaces and data collection.  

    In the Framework, a key theme is the need to build racial literacy. When I walk into a room, people will automatically have assumptions about me based on my name and the way I look. Understanding that is racial literacy. The next step is understanding how our institutions and systems disadvantage some people based on race. That is building our racial literacy in a way that allows us to improve our institutions and systems.  

    Stronger racial literacy across society is essential for initiatives like the Framework to properly address racism in all forms across vital areas of our lives like health, education, workplaces, justice and the media.

    Learning and education  

    Skills in racial literacy are built over a lifetime.  

    None of us can be expected to know everything. For us to tackle racism, we must all make a genuine commitment to ongoing learning and educating both ourselves and others.

    I am encouraged by noting that Reconciliation SA has taken proactive steps to deliver anti-racism training at schools and organisations.  

    However, enhancing racial literacy and education alone is not sufficient for addressing racism. It must be accompanied by actively challenging racist systems, structures, and ideas.

    Action 

    The National Anti-Racism Framework aims to tackle racism in Australia through real action and change, instead of symbolic words and gestures.  

    We are all too familiar with seeing corporate diversity campaigns that showcase staff of different backgrounds, while there are no steps to address the discrimination those staff are being actively subjected to.  We are tired of people in authority publicly condemning a horrific act of racism when it occurs, and then seeing no action being taken. We no longer want the pain and suffering of so many communities being swept under the rug and silenced with platitudes.  

    Examples like referring to IDERD as ‘Harmony Day’ hinders our collective anti-racism journey. It weakens our ability to identify and address the harm experienced by negatively racialised communities. We need to take this chance to address racism in Australia. Let’s question how racism affects our society and commit to anti-racist efforts to eliminate it.  

    I encourage everyone here today to read the Framework and reflect on your own areas of work and influence and commit to meaningful change as we embrace this collective journey to eliminate racism. 

    In my explanation of structural racism, I have talked about how it is inherently tied to, and upheld by, power and privilege. Fortunately, it is also power and privilege that can be used to dismantle it.  

    Yes, tackling racism on a systemic level in Australia requires significant action – some of which requires commitment from government. But each of us still have a role to play. 
    Everyone in this room today, whether institutionally or individually, has some sort of power or authority.  We therefore have the privilege of being able use our power to lead the way.  Challenge racism in your workplaces, advocate for anti-racism policies and speak up when you see injustice. When we collectively commit to a better future and reflect this commitment in our everyday actions, change is possible.  

    Many of the rights we take for granted today exist because people came together in solidarity, refused to accept injustice and demanded change. History shows us that when communities unite in this way, systems have to shift. At a time when the road ahead might seem overwhelming, this is the hope we must remember.  

    And if you are someone who does not experience racism, your role is even more important.  As Lilla Watson and other Aboriginal activists once said “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”  

    I’m not asking for anyone to give anything away. Defeating racism is not a zero-sum game. If we live in a society where everyone feels safe, everyone can be their whole selves, everyone can prosper and everyone can be happy, imagine how much better that would be for all of us. That’s my vision and I ask you to join me help us realise it together.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why did the Israel-Hamas ceasefire fall apart? It was never going to solve the root causes of the conflict

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Marika Sosnowski, Postdoctoral research fellow, The University of Melbourne

    When a ceasefire in the war between Hamas and Israel finally came into effect on January 19, the world breathed a collective sigh of relief.

    However, that ceasefire agreement, and its associated negotiations, have now been cast aside by new Israeli attacks on Gaza.

    A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the strikes came after Hamas’ “repeated refusals” to “release our hostages”, and the group’s rejection of all proposals presented by US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.

    Even before Israel cut off all humanitarian aid and electricity to Gaza in the past two weeks, Hamas claimed it had not met the levels of humanitarian aid, shelter and fuel it agreed to provide in the terms of the ceasefire. However, this is a distraction from a larger issue.

    This ceasefire was always more like a strangle contract than a negotiated agreement between equal parties. Israel, as the party with far greater military and political power, has always had the upper hand.

    And while the first phase of the ceasefire, which lasted 42 days, saw the successful release of 33 hostages held by Hamas in exchange for nearly 1,800 Palestinian prisoners, the ceasefire also enabled Israel to use it for its own political and military ends.

    Buying time

    The most common conventional concern about ceasefires is that the parties to a conflict will use them for their own ends.

    Typically, the worry is that non-state armed groups, such as Hamas, will use the halt in violence to buy time to regroup, rearm and rebuild their strength to continue fighting.

    But states such as Israel have this ability, too. Even though they have standing armies that might not need to regroup and rearm in the same way, states can use this time to manoeuvre in the international arena – a space largely denied to non-state actors.

    Trump’s rise to power in the US has seemingly given the Israeli government carte blanche to proceed in ways that were arguably off limits to previous US presidents who were also largely supportive of Israel’s actions.

    This includes the plan of forcing Gaza’s population out of the strip. This plan was raised earlier in the war by Trump advisor Jared Kushner and Israeli officials as a supposed humanitarian initiative.

    Trump has now repeated the call to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan – or possibly other parts of Africa – and for the US to take “ownership” of the coastal strip and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East”.

    On the face of it, this plan would be a war crime. But even if it is never fully implemented, the fact it is being promoted by Trump after many years of domestic Israeli and international opprobrium shows how political ideas once thought unacceptable can take on a life of their own.

    Political and military maneouvering

    Israel has also used the ceasefire to pursue larger political and military goals in Gaza, the West Bank, southern Lebanon and Syria.

    Even though the ceasefire did reduce overall levels of violence in Gaza, Israel has continued to carry out attacks on targets in the strip.

    It has also escalated the construction of settlements and carried out increasingly violent operations in the West Bank. In addition, there have been egregious attacks on Palestinian residents in Israel.

    And though nearly 1,800 Palestinian prisoners were released during the ceasefire, Israel was holding more than 9,600 Palestinians in detention on “security grounds” at the end of 2024. Thousands more Palestinians are being held by Israel in administrative detention, which means without trial or charge.

    During the ceasefire, Israel also accelerated efforts to evict the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, from its headquarters in East Jerusalem. And the Israeli government has also proposed increasingly draconian laws aimed at restraining the work of Israeli human rights organisations.

    On the military front, the ceasefire arguably alleviated some pressure on Israel, giving it time to consolidate its territorial and security gains against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and in Syria.

    In the past two months, two deadlines for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon passed. Israel has instead proposed establishing a buffer zone on Lebanese territory and has begun destroying villages, uprooting olive trees and building semi-permanent outposts along the border.

    In a speech in February, Netanyahu also demanded the “complete demilitarisation of southern Syria” following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. And Defence Minister Israel Katz said this month Israel would keep its troops in southern Syria to “protect” residents from any threats from the new Syrian regime.

    Be careful what you wish for

    While Palestinians are known for their sumud – usually translated as steadfastness or tenacity – there is a limit to what humans can endure. The war, and subsequent ceasefires, have created a situation in which Gazans may have to put the survival and wellbeing of themselves and their families above their desire to stay in Palestine.

    There is a general assumption that ceasefires are positive and humanitarian in nature. But ceasefires are not panaceas. In reality, they are a least-worst option for stopping the violence of war for often just a brief period.

    A ceasefire was never going to be the solution to the decades-old conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Instead, it has turned out to be part of the problem.

    Marika Sosnowski does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Why did the Israel-Hamas ceasefire fall apart? It was never going to solve the root causes of the conflict – https://theconversation.com/why-did-the-israel-hamas-ceasefire-fall-apart-it-was-never-going-to-solve-the-root-causes-of-the-conflict-249944

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Acquisition Complete for 9.1% Stake in CAMRAIL S.A

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PERTH, Australia, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canyon Resources Limited (ASX: CAY) (‘Canyon’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that its wholly owned in-country subsidiary, Camalco Cameroon SA (‘Camalco’), has acquired the 5.3% equity interest in CAMRAIL SA (‘Camrail’) from Total Energies Marketing Cameroun SA (‘Total Cameroon’). Refer to the Company’s ASX announcement dated 7 March 2025 for further information. The acquisition with Total Cameroon was finalised on 14 March 2025, following the internal approval by the Apex Committee of Total Cameroon.

    Camalco has now successfully secured a strategic 9.1% holding in Camrail, having previously completed the acquisition of a 3.8% interest from Societe d’Exploitation des Bois du Cameroun (‘SEBC’) on 28 February 2025.

    The total consideration for the combined acquisitions amounted to XAF 1,388,550,000 (approximately A$3.4 million), funded from the Company’s existing cash reserves.

    Completion of these strategic transactions with Total Cameroon and SEBC provides Camalco a direct stake in Cameroon’s rail infrastructure operator and importantly, secures the Company a seat on the Camrail Board.

    This strategic investment is a critical step in Canyon’s broader objective of establishing an efficient transport and logistics network to support the development of its world-class Minim Martap Bauxite Project.

    Minim Martap ranks among the world’s richest bauxite deposits, with an Ore Reserve of 109Mt at 51.1% Al2O3 and 2.0% SiO2 and a JORC Mineral Resource Estimate of 1,027Mt at 45.3% Al2O3.

      Ore (MT) Alumina (Al2O3) Silica (SiO2)
    Total Mineral Reserves (Proved)1 109 51.1% 2.0%
    Total Mineral Resources2 1,027 45.3% 2.7%
    Measured 382 47.3% 2.7%
    Indicated 597 44.2% 2.7%
    Inferred 48 43.2% 3.7%

    (1) Mineral Reserves reported as per JORC Code
    (2) Mineral Resources reported as per JORC Code, at a cut-off grade of 35% Al2O3 – Makan & Ngaoundal tenements not included

    Table 1: Minim Martap Ore Reserve Statement (2022 BFS) & Mineral Resources Estimate

    Mr Jean-Sebastien Boutet, Canyon Chief Executive Officer commented: “We are pleased to have successfully completed our 9.1% acquisition in Camrail and to now be working alongside its existing shareholders, the State of Cameroon and Africa Global Logistics. This investment is a major step forward in de-risking the logistics pathway for Minim Martap, and I want to acknowledge the continued dedication of the Canyon and Camalco team as we push towards first production in 2026.

    “Minim Martap is a world-class, tier-one bauxite project, with the potential to become a long-term, low-cost supplier into a growing and supply-constrained market. With our Definitive Feasibility Study on track for completion in Q3 2025, mine planning progressing as scheduled, and Integrated Rail Facility engineering underway, we are making tangible strides toward project execution.

    “Importantly, we are also advancing discussions regarding delivery schedules for rolling stock and progressing negotiations on port facilities. In addition, the initial phase of our two-stage ramp-up has successfully commenced, reflecting our commitment to ensuring a structured and efficient development pathway for the project. We remain focused on securing the remaining rail and port agreements and look forward to providing further updates as we continue to execute on our strategy.”

    Image 1: Camrail transport route (source: http://www.camrail.net/)

    This announcement has been approved for release by the Canyon’s Board of Directors.

    Forward looking statements

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate”, “may”, “will”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “opportunity”, “plan”, “potential”, “project”, “seek”, “believe”, “could”, “future” and other similar words that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on an assessment of present economic and operating conditions, and on a number of assumptions regarding future events and actions that are expected to take place. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, its directors and management that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or anticipated in these statements.

    The Company cannot and does not give any assurance that the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement will actually occur and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update or revise forward-looking statements, regardless of whether any new information, future events or any other factors affect the information contained in this announcement, except where required by applicable law and ASX requirements.

    Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves

    The information in this announcement that relates to the Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves at the Minim Martap Bauxite Project has been extracted from the ASX releases by Canyon entitled ‘Minim Martap Mineral Resource Estimate upgrade adds Measured Resource’ dated 11 May 2021, and ‘Positive BFS for Canyon’s Minim Martap Bauxite Project’ dated 21 June 2022, available at www.canyonresources.com.au and www.asx.com (Canyon Releases). Canyon confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the Canyon Releases and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the Canyon Releases continue to apply and have not materially changed.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fc0ead90-8ff1-4f2d-9e53-2f4d7d1e9fa4

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Flooding in the Sahara, Amazon tributaries drying and warming tipping over 1.5°C – 2024 broke all the wrong records

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew King, Associate Professor in Climate Science, ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, The University of Melbourne

    Climate change is the most pressing problem humanity will face this century. Tracking how the climate is actually changing has never been more critical.

    Today, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) published its annual State of the Climate report, which found heat records kept being broken in 2024. It’s likely 2024 was the first year to be more than 1.5°C above the Earth’s pre-industrial average temperature. In 2024, levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere hit the highest point in the last 800,000 years.

    The combination of heat and unchecked emissions, the organisation points out, had serious consequences. Attribution studies found a link between climate change and disasters such as Hurricane Helene, which left a trail of destruction in the southeastern United States, and the unprecedented flooding in Africa’s arid Sahel region.

    Slowing these increasingly dangerous changes to Earth’s climate will require a rapid shift from fossil fuels to clean energy.

    The record heat of 2024

    From the North Pole to the South Pole, the oceans and our land masses, the report catalogues alarm bells ringing ever louder for Earth’s vital signs.

    Steadily rising global average temperatures show us the influence of the extra heat we are trapping by emitting greenhouse gases. The ten warmest years on record have all happened in the past ten years.

    The report shows 2024 was the warmest year since comprehensive global records began 175 years ago. The planet was an estimated 1.55°C (plus or minus 0.13°C) warmer than it was between 1850 and 1900.

    Together, 2023 and 2024 marked a jump in global mean temperature from previous years. There was a jump of about 0.15°C between the previous record year (2016 or 2020 depending on the dataset) and 2023. Last year was even warmer – about 0.1°C above 2023.

    Last year was the first year the planet was likely more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This doesn’t mean we have broken the 2015 Paris Agreement goal of holding warming under 1.5°C – temperatures would need to be sustained over a number of years to formally lose that fight. But it’s not good news.

    There are a few extra factors at play in this record-breaking global temperature, including an El Niño event boosting eastern Pacific Ocean temperatures in the first part of 2024, falling pollution from shipping leading to less cloud over the ocean, and a more active sun as well.

    Researchers are hard at work unpicking why the Earth’s average temperature jumped in 2023 and 2024. But it is clear the 2024 record-breaking warmth and most other damning statistics in the report would not have occurred if it wasn’t for human-induced climate change.

    Much of the Northern Hemisphere was more than 2°C warmer in 2024 than 1951-1980 levels and many equatorial areas saw new annual temperature records.
    NASA GISS, CC BY-NC-ND

    Carbon dioxide up, glacial melt up, sea ice down

    It’s not just global temperatures breaking records.

    Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere reached 427 parts per million last year. Sea level rise has accelerated and is now about 11 centimetres above early 1990s levels, and the oceans are at their highest temperatures on record.

    Seasonal sea-ice in the Arctic and around Antarctica shrank to low levels (albeit short of record lows) in 2024, while preliminary data shows glacial melt and ocean acidification continued at a rapid pace.

    Almost all parts of the world were much warmer in 2024 than even recent averages (1991–2020) and much of the tropics experienced record heat.

    From cyclones to heatwaves, another year of extreme events

    In the English-speaking media, extreme events affecting North America, Europe and Australia are well covered, such as the devastating Hurricane Helene in the US and the lethal flash flooding in Spain.

    By contrast, extreme weather and its fallout in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia get less coverage.

    In September 2024, Super Typhoon Yagi killed hundreds and caused widespread damage through the Philippines, China and Vietnam. Later in the year, Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte and Mozambique causing more than 100,000 people to be displaced. Hundreds died in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan due to spring floods following an unusual cold wave.

    Unusual flooding hit parts of the arid Sahel and even the Sahara Desert. Meanwhile the worst drought in a century hit southern Africa, devastating small farmers and leading to rising hunger.

    Much of South and Central America was hit by significant drought. Huge tributaries to the Amazon River all but dried up for the first time on record. Severe summer heat hit much of the Northern Hemisphere, while more than 1,300 pilgrims died during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca as heat and humidity pushed past survivable limits.

    Globally, extreme weather forced more people from their homes than any other year since 2008, which had widespread floods and fires.

    Did climate change play a role in these extreme events? The answer ranges from a resounding yes in some cases to a likely small role in others.

    Scientists at World Weather Attribution found the fingerprints of climate change in Hurricane Helene’s large-scale rain and winds as well as the flooding rains in the eastern Sahel.

    Paying the price for decades of inaction

    This report is a dire score card. The numbers are sobering, scary but sadly, not surprising.

    We have known the basic mechanism by which greenhouse gases warm the planet for over 100 years. The science behind climate change has been around a long time.

    But our response is still not up to the task.

    Currently, our activities are producing ever more greenhouse gas emissions, trapping more heat and causing more and more problems for people and the planet. Every fraction of a degree of global warming matters. The damage done will keep worsening until we end our reliance on fossil fuels and reach net zero.

    Andrew King receives funding from the ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather and the National Environmental Science Program.

    Linden Ashcroft has received funding from the Australian Research Council and is affiliated with the ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather

    – ref. Flooding in the Sahara, Amazon tributaries drying and warming tipping over 1.5°C – 2024 broke all the wrong records – https://theconversation.com/flooding-in-the-sahara-amazon-tributaries-drying-and-warming-tipping-over-1-5-c-2024-broke-all-the-wrong-records-252490

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Teaser: Introducing Collab

    Source: Plant and Food New Zealand – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: Teaser: Introducing Collab

    It’s here! Collab presenter Phil Johnstone briefly describes this new podcast series about global trends in international development and humanitarian crisis response. Hear brief descriptions of the first three episodes and a heads-up about episode four in April 2025 which will be a travelogue about development work in Papua New Guinea.

    – –

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Press Release 19 March 2025 WMO report documents spiralling weather and climate impacts

    Source: World Meteorological Organization

    “Our planet is issuing more distress signals — but this report shows that limiting long-term global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius is still possible. Leaders must step up to make it happen — seizing the benefits of cheap, clean renewables for their people and economies – – with new National climate plans due this year, ” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

    “While a single year above 1.5 °C of warming does not indicate that the long-term temperature goals of the Paris Agreement are out of reach, it is a wake-up call that we are increasing the risks to our lives, economies and to the planet,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

    The report said that long-term global warming is currently estimated to be between 1.34 and 1.41 °C compared to the 1850-1900 baseline based on a range of methods – although it noted the uncertainty ranges in global temperature statistics.

    A WMO team of international experts is examining this further in order to ensure consistent, reliable tracking of long-term global temperature changes to be aligned with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

    Regardless of the methodology used, every fraction of a degree of warming matters and increases risks and costs to society.

    The record global temperatures seen in 2023 and broken in 2024 were mainly due to the ongoing rise in greenhouse gas emissions, coupled with a shift from a cooling La Niña to warming El Niño event. Several other factors may have contributed to the unexpectedly unusual temperature jumps, including changes in the solar cycle, a massive volcanic eruption and a decrease in cooling aerosols, according to the report.

    Temperatures are just a small part of a much bigger picture.

    “Data for 2024 show that our oceans continued to warm, and sea levels continued to rise. The frozen parts of Earth’s surface, known as the cryosphere, are melting at an alarming rate: glaciers continue to retreat, and Antarctic sea ice reached its second-lowest extent ever recorded. Meanwhile, extreme weather continues to have devastating consequences around the world,” said Celeste Saulo.

    Tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, and other hazards in 2024 led to the highest number of new displacements recorded for the past 16 years, contributed to worsening food crises, and caused massive economic losses.

    “In response, WMO and the global community are intensifying efforts to strengthen early warning systems and climate services to help decision-makers and society at large be more resilient to extreme weather and climate. We are making progress but need to go further and need to go faster. Only half of all countries worldwide have adequate early warning systems. This must change,” said Celeste Saulo.

    Investment in weather, water and climate services is more important than ever to meet the challenges and build safer, more resilient communities, she stressed.

    The report is based on scientific contributions from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, WMO Regional Climate Centres, UN partners and dozens of experts. It includes sidebars on monitoring global temperature for the Paris Agreement and understanding the temperature anomalies in 2023 and 2024. It includes supplements on climate services and on extreme weather.

    It is one of a suite of WMO scientific reports which seek to inform decision-making. It was published ahead of World Meteorological Day on 23 March, World Water Day on 22 March and World Glaciers Day on 21 March.

    Three methods for establishing an up-to-date estimate of current global warming as of 2024, compared with the IPCC AR6 method, which uses averages over the previous 10 years and is representative of warming to 2019. The best estimate resulting from each method is shown as a dark vertical line, and the uncertainty range is shown by the shaded area.

    Key Indicators

    Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

    Atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, as well as methane and nitrous oxide, are at the highest levels in the last 800,000 years.

    Carbon dioxide concentrations in 2023 (the last year for which consolidated global annual figures are available) were 420.0 ± 0.1 parts per million (ppm), 2.3 ppm more than 2022 and 151% of the pre-industrial level (in 1750). 420 ppm corresponds to 3,276 Gt  – or 3.276 trillion tonnes of CO₂ in the atmosphere.

    Real-time data from specific locations show that levels of these three main greenhouse gases continued to increase in 2024. Carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for generations, trapping heat.

    Global Mean Near-surface Temperature

    In addition to 2024 setting a new record, each of the past ten years, 2015-2024, were individually the ten warmest years on record.

    The record temperature in 2024 was boosted by a strong El Niño which peaked at the start of the year. In every month between June 2023 and December 2024, monthly average global temperatures exceeded all monthly records prior to 2023.

    Record levels of greenhouse gases were the primary driver, with the shift to El Niño playing a lesser role.

    Ocean Heat Content

    Around 90% of the energy trapped by greenhouse gases in the Earth system is stored in the ocean.

    In 2024, ocean heat content reached its highest level in the 65-year observational record. Each of the past eight years has set a new record. The rate of ocean warming over the past two decades, 2005-2024, is more than twice that in the period 1960-2005.

    Ocean warming leads to degradation of marine ecosystems, biodiversity loss, and reduction of the ocean carbon sink. It fuels tropical storms and contributes to sea-level  rise. It is irreversible on centennial to millennial time scales. Climate projections show that ocean warming will continue for at least the rest of the 21st century, even for low carbon emission scenarios.

    Ocean Acidification

    Acidification of the ocean surface is continuing, as shown by the steady decrease of global average ocean surface pH. The most intense regional decreases are in the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, the northern tropical Pacific, and some regions in the Atlantic Ocean.

    The effects of ocean acidification on habitat area, biodiversity and ecosystems have already been clearly observed, and food production from shellfish aquaculture and fisheries has been hit as have coral reefs.

    Projections show that ocean acidification will continue to increase in the 21st century, at rates dependent on future emissions. Changes in deep-ocean pH are irreversible on centennial to millennial time scales.

    Annual global ocean heat content down to 2000 m depth for the period 1960–2024, in zettajoules (1021 J). The shaded area indicates the 2-sigma uncertainty range on each estimate.

    Global Mean Sea Level

    In 2024, global mean sea level was the highest since the start of the satellite record in 1993 and the rate of increase from 2015-2024 was double that from 1993–2002, increasing from 2.1 mm per year to 4.7 mm per year.

    Sea level rise has cascading damaging impacts on coastal ecosystems and infrastructure, with further impacts from flooding and saltwater contamination of groundwater.

    Glacier Mass Balance

    The period 2022-2024 represents the most negative three-year glacier mass balance on record. Seven of the ten most negative mass balance years since 1950 have occurred since 2016.

    Exceptionally negative mass balances were experienced in Norway, Sweden, Svalbard, and the tropical Andes.

    Glacier retreat increases short-term hazards, harms economies and ecosystems and long-term water security.

    Sea-ice Extent

    The 18 lowest Arctic sea-ice minimum extents in the satellite record all occurred in the past 18 years. The annual minimum and maximum of Antarctic sea-ice extent were each the 2nd lowest in the observed record from 1979.

    The minimum daily extent of sea-ice in the Arctic in 2024 was 4.28 million km2, the 7th lowest extent in the 46-year satellite record. In Antarctica, the minimum daily extent tied for the 2nd lowest minimum in the satellite era and marked the 3rd consecutive year that minimum Antarctic sea-ice extent dropped below 2 million km2. These are the three lowest Antarctic ice minima in the satellite record.

    Extreme events and impacts

    Extreme weather events in 2024 led to the highest number of new annual displacements since 2008, and destroyed homes, critical infrastructure, forests, farmland and biodiversity.

    The compounded effect of various shocks, such as intensifying conflict, drought and high domestic food prices drove worsening food crises in 18 countries globally by mid-2024.

    Tropical cyclones were responsible for many of the highest-impact events of 2024. These included Typhoon Yagi in Viet Nam, the Philippines and southern China.

    In the United States, Hurricanes Helene and Milton in October both made landfall on the west coast of Florida as major hurricanes, with economic losses of tens of billions of dollars. Over 200 deaths were associated with the exceptional rainfall and flooding from Helene, the most in a mainland United States hurricane since Katrina in 2005.

    Tropical Cyclone Chido caused casualties and economic losses in the French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte, Mozambique and Malawi. It displaced around 100,000 people in Mozambique.

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Speech by Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President and Chairman of the Boards of Directors African Development Bank Group, at the High-Level Conference on…

    Source: African Development Bank Group

    [PROTOCOLS]

    Your Excellencies,

    Honourable Ministers,

    Distinguished delegates,

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Good morning.

    I am delighted to join you all today at this high-level conference, focusing on smallholder farmers.

    On behalf of the African Development Bank Group, I wish to convey our profound gratitude to our host, His Excellency President William Ruto, his government and the people of Kenya for their generous support for hosting this High-Level Conference in Nairobi.

    I would have joined you for the sessions at this high-level conference yesterday, but I had a very important engagement at the State House, Kenya. It was such a great honour, yesterday for His Excellency President William Ruto to confer on me the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H), Kenya’s highest national honour and distinction.

    I wish to express my deepest gratitude once again to President Ruto for this exceptional honour, given only to 19 Heads of State and Government and global leaders since 1963.

    I am especially delighted that the conferment of this honour was given the same day that farmers and agribusinesses of Africa are gathered right here at the High-level conference on ‘Scaling Financing for Smallholder Farmers”.

    As you know, I am a great supporter of African farmers and agribusinesses. So, I wish to ask that you all join me in thanking President Ruto for this great honour.

    Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

    I wish to commend our partners, the Pan African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO) and all the partner organizations that have worked tirelessly with our teams from the African Development Bank to organize this high-level conference.

    We meet here in Nairobi to reposition and expand opportunities for Africa’s smallholder farmers who contribute over 80% of the continent’s food production.

    I will be speaking to you today on: “Progress Since Dakar 2 Feed Africa Summit: a portrait of success in building coalitions for supporting smallholder farmers to transform African economies”.

    Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

    Africa will be the epicentre of feeding the world, since 65% of the uncultivated arable land left in the world is in Africa. Therefore, what Africa does with its agriculture will determine the future of food in the world.

    It is with this goal of unleashing the potential of Africa to feed itself, and to do so with pride, that the African Development Bank, in partnership with the Government of Senegal and the African Union, organized the Feed Africa Summit (or Dakar 2) in 2023.

    The theme of the Summit was on Achieving Food Sovereignty and Resilience. Attended by 34 heads of state and government, Dakar 2 showed the political commitment of governments towards ensuring food security and food sovereignty in Africa.

    Many of you were there!

    At the heart of Dakar 2 were 41 Presidential Boardrooms that launched Country Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts outlining national production targets, enabling policies, smallholder farmers’ support, rural infrastructure development, and innovative financing solutions.

    Dakar 2 gave us a renewed sense of purpose and marked a turning point in Africa’s pursuit of food security through the power of partnerships and cooperation.

    Dakar 2 showed us the power of partnerships. At the Dakar 2 Feed Africa Summit, development partners committed $30 billion to support the Compacts, with the African Development Bank Group pledging $10 billion.

    In less than a year after the Dakar 2 Feed Africa summit, financial commitments from development partners from around the world increased to $72 billion.

    This is unprecedented in the history of agriculture in Africa.

    Since then, the African Development Bank has made tremendous progress in our combined continental quest to Feed Africa, approving 77 operations valued at $3.9 billion to support the implementation of Compacts in 32 countries.

    This year, the African Development Bank plans to approve an additional $1.72 billion in project investments and policy-based operations.

    Central to the Compacts is the Bank’s flagship initiative, the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) which aims to double food production by providing proven technologies to more than 40 million smallholder farmers by 2025.

    The TAAT platform has delivered heat-tolerant wheat varieties, drought-tolerant maize varieties, and high-yield rice varieties, as well as capacity building, training and other related services to 25 million farmers across the continent.

    Our efforts with partners have increased Africa’s crop production by an estimated 120 million tonnes of additional food. A total of $1.7 billion in investments has been influenced by TAAT’s climate-smart technologies – and about 247 million Africans have better nutrition today, due to TAAT.

    TAAT is also a key driver of the African Development Bank’s $1.5 billion African Emergency Food Production Facility approved in 2022 to avert a looming food crisis following global geopolitical tensions. The facility is a continental initiative to support 20 million smallholder farmers in 35 countries to access certified seeds and fertilizer to produce 38 million metric tons of food.

    As of December 2024, the African Emergency Food Production Facility had delivered 459,000 tons of seed, distributed 2.8 million tonnes of fertilizer to 12.3 million farmers. It has supported the production of 37.6 million metric tons of additional food in Africa. are on course to meeting and even surpassing the target we set just about two years ago.

    Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

    We are working hard to connect farmers to market off-takers, and to accelerate the processing and value addition to food and agricultural commodities. We are doing this through the development and roll out of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones.

    The African Development Bank has committed $934.51 million to the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, which has been matched with co-financing from our partners amounting to $938.27 million. Currently, we have 27 ongoing Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones projects across 11 countries.

    However, despite lots of progress being made, one area that continues to remain a challenge for farmers, especially smallholder farmers, and small and medium sized agribusinesses, is lack of access to finance.

    There exists an annual financing deficit of $75 billion for farmers and small and medium enterprises. Data from 35 lenders found a perception of higher risks and lower returns by commercial banks to lending to agriculture-linked small and medium enterprises.

    Therefore, we must find efficient ways to “de-risk” lending to farmers and small and medium enterprises. This can be achieved by absorbing incremental risk and thereby increasing lenders’ risk appetite and by leveraging outside private sector finance into the agricultural sector.

    The three major investment channels deployed effectively by the African Development Bank in addressing these challenges include: (1) the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA), (2) the African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism, and (3) the Inputs Supplier Risk Sharing Program.

    First: as of February 2025, the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa program had approved $2.52 billion in financing for over 24,000 of Africa’s women-led businesses. This has been achieved through partnerships with the Africa Guarantee Fund which now works with over 185 financial institutions across 44 African countries.

    Second: The African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism has implemented trade credit guarantee projects in 8 countries, including Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda and Mozambique. The $17.1 million trade credit guarantee was leveraged by 4.7 times, including 13 times leverage in Tanzania. It has enabled the distribution of 125,193 metric tons of fertilizer worth $62.8 million, which benefited 776,971 smallholder farmers during the 2019–2024 seasons. These projects also facilitated access to finance for over 126 hub agro-based enterprises involved in fertilizer distribution, with women beneficiaries representing 36% of the African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism projects. 

    And the third channel is the African Development Bank’s new $600 million Inputs Supplier Risk Sharing Program. This is to support the development of more robust agricultural inputs market systems through de-risking of the inputs supply ecosystem. This is focusing on Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and Zambia. Initially this will be undertaken through the deployment of a risk sharing mechanism, backed by the Bank’s Partial Credit Guarantee instrument, to attract private sector, and donor resources for the development of a sustainable agricultural-inputs market system.

    Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

    In addition, the African Development Bank is working with Mastercard and other partners on developing the “Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy,” or the MADE Alliance Africa. The Bank’s first phase commitment includes $300 million to the MADE Alliance Africa’s initial five years of programming. By doing so, the African Development Bank aims to bring 3 million farmers in Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria into the digital economy.

    I am pleased to inform you that we will be consulting with our Board of Directors of the African Development Bank to establish a $500 million facility to unlock $10 billion of financing for smallholder farmers, as well as small and medium sized agribusiness enterprises.           

    This will include the use of trade credit guarantees, first loss coverage, blended finance, and origination incentives that defray the high transaction costs of serving enterprises, as well as technical assistance.

    Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

    From Dakar 2 Feed Africa summit to Nairobi ‘Scaling up finance for farmers” conference today, we stand on the threshold of making history by pushing the boundaries of innovation and building extensive collaborative alliances to accelerate action towards bridging the financing gap facing smallholder farmers and small and medium sized agribusinesses.

    The African Development Bank remains fully committed to collaborating with the Pan African Farmers’ Organization and its subsidiary farmers’ organizations, as well as development partners and financial institutions, to fully unlock financing for smallholder farmers and small and medium sized agribusiness enterprises.

    Together, let us expand access to finance at scale for farmers and small and medium sized agribusinesses.

    Together, let us provide strong policy support for farmers.

    Africa must never abandon its farmers.

    Together, let us unleash the potential of agriculture in Africa.

    Let us make Africa the breadbasket of the world.

    And together, let us feed Africa, with pride!

    Thank you very much.

    MIL OSI Economics –