NewzIntel.com

Category: Africa

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/SUDAN – Turning point in the Sudanese conflict? The Sudanese Armed Forces advance in Khartoum

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Thursday, 6 February 2025 wars  

    Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) – The advance of the SAF (Sudan Armed Forces) soldiers continues to regain control of Khartoum, the Sudanese capital disputed with the RSF (Rapid Support Forces) militiamen.The offensive of General Abdel-Fattah Burhan’s men began in early January in the State of Jazira, whose capital Wad Madani was conquered on January 11. A conquest marked by violence against civilians, also of South Sudanese nationality (see Fides, 17/1/2025). This city, although located 200 km from Khartoum, is an important crossroads of roads leading to the federal capital from different directions. In recent weeks, the SAF has advanced from Wad Madani along the banks of the Blue Nile, capturing towns and villages in the north of the state and in the south of Khartoum State, and then attacking RSF positions in Khartoum from several sides. A spokesman for the Sudanese Armed Forces said yesterday, 5 February, that the troops had captured Al-Rumaila district, a medical depot, an industrial area and the State mint in southern Khartoum. The capture of Al-Rumaila brings General Burhan’s military closer to the centre of Khartoum, the stronghold and command centre of the SAF led by Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo.On the eastern axis of the Nile, the army has managed to control the Green Valley and the Sheikh Al-Fadani area, located about 7 kilometres from the Soba Bridge, which connects the Eastern Nile to the city of Khartoum. If the RSF militiamen were to retreat, they could fall back on Giad, a vast complex of factories and warehouses located 45 km southeast of the center of Khartoum, where they seem to be preparing their resistance. Unless they decide to fight house to house in the center of the Sudanese capital, thus exacerbating the already serious humanitarian crisis, with civilians subjected to bombing from both sides in the fight. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 6/2/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Vuk Talks Season 2 Episode 32:

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

    Join us a we talk to 2024 matriculants who’s school has achieved 100% pass rate since its establishment.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll-R5oRT7U8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sols 4443-4444: Four Fours for February

    Source: NASA

    Earth planning date: Monday, Feb. 3, 2025
    Another successful weekend plan left us about 23 meters (about 75 feet) farther down our Mount Sharp Ascent Route (MSAR), with all our science data downlinked to Earth and the planet clocks aligned once more. We only have until 18:26 Pacific time to get this Monday’s plan uplinked (due to the Soliday over the weekend), and two full days of science to plan! 
    Our first sol science block starts at 12:06 local Gale Crater time, including a ChemCam long-distance RMI mosaic and a five-shot laser on bedrock. After ChemCam is done, Mastcam is planning 42 images, including ChemCam’s LIBS spots, some meteorite fragments, sand troughs between bedrock blocks, and interesting vein structures in our surrounding terrain. Navcam is planning to finish out that science block with a large dust devil survey. After our remote science wraps up, we’ve committed the hours between about 15:00 and 22:45 to our full contact science suite. Luckily, SRAP passed yet again and we took the opportunity to plan two targets — “San Rafael Hills” as our DRT target and “Allison Mine” as a potential meteorite target. 
    After a nice, long sleep our rover will wake up at 09:53 local Gale time and start another round of remote science to start the sol. This time ChemCam will shoot their laser at the potential meteorite and contact target Allison Mine, with Mastcam following up to document the spots. After one last 20-minute sweep of Texoli butte through Mastcam, it’s time to pack up and head back down the MSAR. Hopefully our drive goes well again and we’ll find ourselves about 36 meters (about 118 feet) away on Wednesday!
    Written by Natalie Moore, Mission Operations Specialist at Malin Space Science Systems

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DLNR News Release – HAWAI‘I WILDLIFE CONSERVATION/GAME BIRD STAMP CONTEST OPENS, Feb. 5, 2025

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DLNR News Release – HAWAI‘I WILDLIFE CONSERVATION/GAME BIRD STAMP CONTEST OPENS, Feb. 5, 2025

    Posted on Feb 5, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
     GOVERNOR

     

    DAWN CHANG
     CHAIRPERSON

     

    HAWAI‘I WILDLIFE CONSERVATION/GAME BIRD STAMP CONTEST OPENS

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Feb. 5, 2025

     

    HONOLULU – Artists are invited to submit entries to the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) for the 2025-26 Hawaiʻi Wildlife Conservation and Game Bird Stamp annual art contest. The wildlife conservation stamp is a requirement for Hawai‘i state hunting licenses and the game bird stamp is required for anyone intending to hunt game birds. Both stamps will also be available to stamp collectors.

    Game Bird Stamp – Erckel’s Francolin (Pternistis erckelii). Native to Ethiopia and Sudan, the Erckel’s spurfowl was introduced to Hawaiʻi in 1957 as a game bird. At about 16 inches long, they are brown with white streaky spots and distinct chestnut-colored feathers on the top of their heads, with white throats. Often in upland dry grasslands, they scare easily and hide from view and prefer running away rather than flushing. Listen for their loud laughing cackle, especially in the morning. They are located on the islands of Hawaiʻi, Lānaʻi, Oʻahu, and Kaua‘i.

    Wildlife Conservation Stamp – Manu-o-Kū (White “Fairy” Tern) (Gygis alba), a Hawaiian urban-community forest bird. 2025 is the Year of Our Community Forests, collections of trees in the wao kanaka, or inland region where people  live, learn and play. Community forests include trees in our neighborhoods, yards, parks, schools and along our streets. They give us gathering places, shade, air to breathe, food to eat, wood for carving, leaves for weaving and flowers for lei.

    The Manu-o-Kū is a perfect representation of our native wildlife that utilizes the urban-community forests for habitat, breeding, nesting and rearing their young. Manu-o-Kū breed on oceanic islands, both on low-lying coralline sand islands and high volcanic islands. They do not build nests; eggs are laid on whatever suitable depression is found. Nest sites include volcanic pinnacles, cliffs, rocky slopes, large bushes or trees, as well as man-made structures.

    ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

     

    SETTING: Hawai‘i habitat

     

    SIZE: Completed painting with a maximum of 24” by 36” and unframed (to be reduced to 1” X 1.5” stamp)

     

    MEDIUM: Oil or acrylic preferred

     

    ENTRY: Completed oil or acrylic painting or an 8.5” X 11” photo/print/photocopy of a completed painting.

     

    DEADLINE: All entries must be received by April 05, 2025. Notification of the winner will be made later in April.

     

    SHIPPING FEE: All paintings sent must be accompanied by a $35.00 fee to cover the cost of returning the artwork. You must visit the Administration office to pick up your artwork if a check is not included. Checks are to be made payable to the DLNR. Otherwise, a photo, print, or photocopy of an original painting may be sent without fee (see application form).

    PAYMENTS: The winner will receive a maximum award of $1,000.

    Funds from Hawai‘i Wildlife Conservation Stamp sales go into the state Wildlife Revolving Fund to support wildlife populations and habitats and to manage the state’s hunting and non-game programs.

    Last year, revenues from both stamps were used to cover some of the costs of maintaining hunting units and to add game bird and game mammal hunting opportunities where possible. Proceeds from the sale of wildlife conservation stamps will also provide funds for salaries, the annual lease rental of the Lānaʻi Cooperative Game Management Area, and support wildlife diversity programs.

    # # #

     

    RESOURCES

    (All images/video courtesy: DLNR)

     

    HD video – Small Game Birds Put and Take, web feature (Nov. 24, 2021):

    https://vimeo.com/650077788?share=copy

     

    HD video – Small game birds put and take, media clips (Nov. 24, 2021):

    https://vimeo.com/649777485?share=copy

    Photographs – Small game bird releases Kuaokala Game Management Area (Nov. 24, 2021):

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/i5naci5zakhg1r8rw6acd/h?rlkey=7psw5565bo4oib3pgve1yrwqo&dl=0

    Information on the contest and application forms:

    DOFAW, 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 325, Honolulu, HI 96813 or at:

    https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/files/2025/01/FY25-26-Artist-Application.pdf

    Contest contacts:

    [email protected], 808-226-7757.

    [email protected], 808-347-6869.

     

    2025: Year of Our Community Forests

    https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/trees/

     

     

    Media Contact: 

    Ryan Aguilar

    Communications Specialist

    Hawaiʻi Dept. of Land and Natural Resources

    Communications Office: 808-587-0396

    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: These bones will rise again: a defiant quest for justice for Thulani Maseko

    Source: Amnesty International –

    21 January marked two years since the unlawful killing of Eswatini human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko. Amnesty International Campaigner Nkanyiso Mtolo attended a vigil in his memory.

    By Nkanyiso Mtolo

    On Tuesday 21 January, I gathered with a group of activists at the home of Tanele Maseko in Pretoria to share memories, laughter and solemn reflection. It had been two years since Tanele’s late husband Thulani Maseko, a fearless defender of justice in Eswatini*, was shot and killed at his home. With quiet grace, Tanele and her children welcomed us to their living room for a dinner and vigil. We lit candles in Thulani’s memory and resolved that his legacy would not be buried with him.

    As I sat with Thulani’s family and friends, I was struck by the way their defiance mirrored his own. The stories they shared carried the weight of loss but also the strength of determination.

    Tanele’s close friend Bonolo Makgale set the tone for the evening. She stood up, and with a voice quivering but not cowed, said: “We are here today with heavy hearts because someone we loved was taken away from us. And yet, we are here, reminded by the value of community and solidarity.”

    Others remembered Thulani’s courage. One comrade described how during a particularly repressive time in Eswatini, fellow lawyers, afraid to risk the retribution of the state, would prepare cases, but bring them to Thulani to file under his name. Put simply, he was fearless.

    The face of Thulani’s killer

    When Tanele spoke, she described how much she missed her “sweetie”, as she calls him to this day. She recalled their many conversations, often over a glass of Thulani’s favourite whisky, in which they discussed politics and human rights, their debates stretching across whole afternoons.

    It was during one such conversation in their living room that he was shot dead in 2023. On Tuesday, Tanele told us that she still vividly remembers the face of his killer, who remains unknown and at large. She vowed that when there is a real investigation into Thulani’s killing — which the Eswatini government has yet to conduct — she will provide a description of the killer and identify them before a court.

    Tanele’s defiance has become the heartbeat of the movement for justice for Thulani. Simphiwe Sidu, the couple’s friend and human rights lawyer, said that, after the killing, we would gather at Tanele’s house to offer solidarity and support. But now it is the opposite: when we gather at their home, it is Tanele and her children, with their unending resolve, who give us the strength to keep fighting for justice.

    His killing was intended to silence a voice that had become too powerful, too fearless. Yet, as Zimbabwean author Panashe Chigumadzi wrote in These Bones Will Rise Again, the struggles of people who resist cannot be buried. Their ideals and spirit rise again, carried forward by those who refuse to forget.

    Not in vain

    Indeed, despite the weight of an absolute monarchy that criminalizes dissent, bans political parties and violently silences critics, Thulani’s ideals — “justice, truth and democracy” — cannot be extinguished, as reflected in the work of activists and his supporters, who will not allow his sacrifice to be in vain.

    Local organizations and activists are calling out for justice, leading a quiet but growing movement. For instance, the Swaziland Massacre Victims and Survivors’ Association works tirelessly to document state violence. Not only does their work provide a platform for accountability and redress, but they ensure that victims of unlawful killings, such as Thulani,  torture and repression are not forgotten.

    Grassroots groups like the Foundation for Socio-Economic Justice empower workers to fight for fair wages in industries dominated by exploitation, while the Swaziland Rural Women’s Assembly mobilizes rural women to demand water rights and protection of their land. Meanwhile, Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities fights for the inclusion and protection of LGBTI people in a country where they face intense discrimination, including criminalization.

    Thulani’s spirit lives on in the courage of these Eswatini activists, the boldness of trade unions, the resilience of rural women and the growing calls for accountability online and in the streets.

    “Justice, truth and democracy” — cannot be extinguished.

    A personal fight

    For me, this fight is personal. I am honoured to be a close friend of Tanele and now an uncle to Thulani’s boys, and I carry cherished memories of us cooking together in the Maseko kitchen — meals seasoned with laughter, fierce debates and a shared determination to build strategies for justice and accountability.

    As the Country Campaigner in Amnesty International’s East and Southern Africa office, I lead campaigns in Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, and Eswatini. I had the privilege of leading the 500 Days Campaign, marking 500 days since Thulani’s death. Through this campaign, we demanded justice, mobilized global pressure on the Eswatini government, and amplified the voices of those risking everything to speak out.

    More broadly, at Amnesty International we have exposed the crackdown on activists, the misuse of repressive laws and the lack of justice for human rights violations. We have supported independent forensic investigations, provided emergency relief for at-risk activists, campaigned for the release of arbitrarily detained members of parliament, and backed legal challenges against the criminalization of LGBTI people.

    We also continue to pressure the Southern African Development Community to act on its own recommendations to ensure that Thulani’s case and human rights in Eswatini remain central to the pursuit of justice and accountability.

    A legacy to inspire

    After everyone had shared their memories of Thulani, we blew out the candles and packed them away. Although the light had faded, the flame within us had only grown stronger. In the quiet that followed, there was no sense of finality — only the unspoken promise to carry Thulani’s fight forward, to keep his memory alive not just in ritual, but in action.

    A movement for justice and accountability is emboldening — in living rooms, online and in the picket line. People are refusing to forget. They are refusing to let fear prevail. They are rising to ensure that Thulani’s ideals — of a freer, fairer Eswatini — are realized.

    Thulani’s bones will rise again — not as a distant promise but as a living testament to the unyielding fight for justice. For Thulani. For Eswatini. For us all.

    *In 2018, King Mswati III unilaterally changed the name of the country from Swaziland to Eswatini, a decision which Thulani challenged. However, many activists and human rights defenders, including Tanele Maseko, continue to use the name Swaziland.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: “I was cut when I was 13. Now I campaign against female genital mutilation in Senegal”

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Fatoumata Diallo, 50, has seven children and earns her living from farming and livestock rearing. In her village near Koussanar, in eastern Senegal, she is known for fighting against female genital mutilation (FGM). A survivor herself and member of an alert committee set up by Amnesty International to combat gender-based violence, she raises awareness about the harm caused by FGM and helps girls at risk of being cut. 

    According to the United Nations Population Fund’s latest figures, 85 per cent of women and girls aged between 15 and 49 in Senegal’s Tambacounda region have undergone some form of FGM. Like Fatoumata, almost 14 per cent of them have undergone the most severe form which consists of sewing shut the labia, leaving a small opening for urination and menstruation. 

    “I have been fighting against FGM for 20 years because I’ve experienced it myself. I was put in a group of 10 to 20 girls, and we were taken by women into the bush to be cut. One of the girls died because she was cut in a savage way. Unfortunately, they couldn’t stop the bleeding. They took her to the health centre on a donkey. But she died on the way. It left an indelible mark on me.

    I was cut when I was around 10. With this type of excision, they cut you and then perform another operation. So, when you go into the bedroom with your husband on your wedding day, they have to cut you again before giving you to your husband. I got married, and this is what happened to me. I felt excruciating pain, and was in a state of shock for several days. I was 13.

    So, I was subjected to both an early marriage and mutilation. That is what led me to join the fight. My husband supports me in everything I do. I have daughters and they have daughters themselves, but they haven’t been cut. I didn’t do it to any member of my family.

    I have saved a lot of young girls, I can’t say how many.

    Fatoumata Diallo

    Koussanar, the city next to my village, is at a crossroads with neighbouring countries. Mali has no law against FGM and Gambia has one but does not apply it. Women travel to these countries to have their babies mutilated. When I hear a baby girl has been born, I go to the family just after the naming ceremony to tell them, ‘I know that there’s a newborn in your home and that it’s a girl, but you must not have her cut because there is a law against that.’ I show them pamphlets on the consequences of excision, explaining what it does to the child. I tell them that if they do it, I will report them. 

    There was a recent case of five girls whose grandmother and mother wanted to take them to another place to have them cut. When I heard about this, I got together with some other women, and we went to talk to the grandmother and mother, without directly broaching the subject of excision. I told them that the girls were in the middle of a school year, they would miss lessons, and it would be detrimental to them. I advised the mother not to take her daughters. I also said, ‘I don’t know what you were going to do, but I will report you, and you know what that will happen’. The mother said that she was not going to do it.

    Fatoumata Diallo (left) with three other members of the alert committee set up by Amnesty International to combat gender-based violence in Tambacounda region, eastern Senegal

    As part of my fight against FGM, I present programmes on FGM and gender-based violence on Koussanar community radio with Amnesty’s alert committee and in collaboration with the commune. For these programmes, I invite religious leaders to talk about excision. Other times, I call in specialists such as midwives to talk about the consequences of excision.

    During the programmes, some listeners call in to say, ‘’It happened to me too’. And even after the programme has finished, women come to my home and say, ‘What you said on the radio is my story.’

    In the long run, I am confident women will abandon this practice.

    Fatoumata Diallo

    During community awareness-raising sessions, I talk about the law [that banned cutting in 1999] and also the health consequences of FGM. We need to keep raising awareness so that the practice of excision decreases even further. It’s a cultural thing, it is deeply rooted, so it’s a long-term battle. In the long run, I am confident women will abandon this practice.

    People are divided about my fight. Everyone knows about my activism. Some are for it, others are against. I sometimes bump into people, both men and women, and say hello but they don’t reply. That doesn’t stop me from continuing my work. I am committed to the fight, so I feel obliged to do this. I have saved a lot of young girls, I can’t say how many. I know that what I’m doing is a good thing.”

    Through a human rights education programme implemented since 2017 in Burkina Faso, Senegal and Sierra Leone, Amnesty International is working to combat gender-based violence (GBV) through education, awareness-raising and advocacy, with a view to changing attitudes and behaviours and helping to reform legislation in these countries.

    Amnesty International Senegal is setting up community alert committees to report cases of GBV, including FGM, to the relevant authorities.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly calls on the President

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 06 FEB 2025 3:39PM by PIB Delhi

    H.E. Mr Philemon Yang, President of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) called on the President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (February 6, 2025). 

    Welcoming the President of the UN General Assembly to India, the President said that his Presidency of UNGA comes at a time when we are marking an important milestone of 80 years of establishment of the United Nations. 

    The President noted that the year 2025 will also see important UN conferences like the Fourth Conference on Financing for Development, and the Third UN Ocean Conference, etc. She assured him of India’s active and constructive participation at all these platforms. 

    The President emphasized the need for early and comprehensive reform of key multilateral bodies, including the UN Security Council, to make them reflective of contemporary global realities. 

    The President appreciated Mr Philemon Yang’s emphasis on science and data-driven approach to sustainable development, and his inclusive vision. She also commended his leadership in the adoption of the “Pact for the Future” at the Summit for the Future held in New York in September 2024. She said that India will continue to champion the causes of the Global South, including at the UN, guided by the philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”. 

    The two leaders also discussed the close and friendly bilateral relations between India and Cameroon, which have grown steadily over the years, especially in development partnership and capacity building.  The President noted that India shares a special bond with Africa, and it was during India’s Presidency in 2023 that the African Union was included in G-20 as a permanent member.

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR/SKS

    (Release ID: 2100255) Visitor Counter : 77

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Sudan: Toxic effects of conflict spilling over into South Sudan – UNMISS Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Briefing by Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), on the situation in South Sudan.

    ——————————

    The ongoing conflict in Sudan is fuelling unrest in South Sudan, where economic hardship and political uncertainty have intensified, the Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) told the Security Council.

    “The toxic effects of the Sudan conflict are spilling over into South Sudan, as witnessed by the unrest, in Juba and beyond, following the reported killing of South Sudanese in Wad Madani,” said Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UNMISS.

    The unrest comes amid a worsening economic crisis. “The cost of an average food basket has risen by 200 percent, the inflation rate stands at 107 percent, and approximately ten months of government salaries are unpaid,” Haysom added.

    In a further development, the South Sudanese government has requested UNMISS to vacate part of its headquarters within 45 days, a move that Haysom described as imposing “significant cost and a logistical timetable that we do not currently have resources to accommodate.” He noted that movement restrictions on peacekeepers in some areas further complicate UNMISS operations but emphasized the mission’s commitment to constructive dialogue through the High-Level Coordination Committee.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOAc19Yci0g

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: DRC: Volatile situation with risk of escalation – Press Conference | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Briefing by Ms. Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Protection and Operations, United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the situation in the country.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzkJjm62KgI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Security Council experiences VR screening | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for South Sudan Nicholas Haysom and the Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, Fu Cong, commend a virtual reality (VR) screening exceptionally held at the UN Security Council this Wednesday. All Security Council members got the opportunity to get an immersive experience of a video showcasing the critical work of UN peacekeepers on the ground in South Sudan.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2illmxcUDVc

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Request for clarification of the numbers of residency permits issued in the EU – E-000294/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000294/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Malika Sorel (PfE)

    At the 9th European Migration Forum, held at the European Economic and Social Committee on 28 and 29 November 2024, former Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, stated that in 2023 more than 3.7 million residency permits had been issued in the EU. She added that 34 % of those permits had been issued for work and 14 % for education, and stressed that these numbers testified to the success of her migration policy[1].

    • 1.How does the Commission justify as many residency permits as the population of a city like Berlin being issued in a single year[2]?
    • 2.Why were the permits making up the other 52 % issued if not for work or education?
    • 3.What information does the Commission have on the profiles of the persons who have obtained residency permits for education, what type of university education have they received in their countries of origin, and what degree level do they hope to obtain in the EU?

    Submitted: 23.1.2025

    • [1] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/2024-european-migration-forum-highlights-key-role-civil-society-implementing-pact-2024-12-18_en
    • [2] 3.6 million inhabitants in 2019; https://www.cci-paris-idf.fr/fr/prospective/crocis/comparaisons-internationales/paris-berlin-influence-politique-poids-economiques
    Last updated: 6 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: In Memoriam: UNESCO Pays Tribute to Professor Christophe Mbida Mindzié

    Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre

    It is with deep sadness that UNESCO has learned of the passing of Professor Christophe Mbida Mindzié. He passed away on January 15, 2025.

     Professor Christophe Mbida Mindzié was an eminent researcher and an ardent defender of Africa’s tangible and intangible heritage.

    Professor Christophe Mbida Mindzié was a key figure in heritage preservation and a leader in cultural management in Africa. His unwavering commitment over several decades left an indelible mark on World Heritage and the UNESCO community. His immense contribution led to the recognition of numerous African sites as World Heritage Sites. Thanks to his work as an archaeologist and his passion for World Heritage, many Cameroonian sites have been documented with great scientific rigor. He trained many young professionals in Africa.

    Professor Christophe Mbida Mindzié dedicated himself early on to the preservation of Cameroon’s cultural heritage, driven by a passion for history and a deep respect for the past. His journey led him to become a leading authority on African heritage, renowned for his scientific rigor and steadfast commitment.

    Christophe Mbida Mindzié obtained his Master’s degree from the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon (1980) and his doctorate from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (1996) in Belgium. Upon his return to Cameroon, he was appointed Director of Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Culture in 2002. Fourteen years later, he resumed the same position until 2022 at the Ministry of Arts and Culture, before becoming Head of the Department of Arts and Archaeology at the University of Yaoundé 1.

    In 2020, he was a founding member of the National Committee of ICOMOS Cameroon, serving as First Vice-President and interim President for nearly a year, during which he presided over the General Assembly of the Committee just weeks before his passing. He was a member of the Steering Committee of the Africa 2009 program, where he contributed to the structuring of the Directorate of Cultural Heritage within the Ministry of Arts and Culture and played a key role in training many Cameroonian and African professionals. He also prepared and coordinated all nomination dossiers for Cameroon’s World Heritage inscriptions. Additionally, he contributed to the preparation of the nomination dossier for Mbanza Kongo, Vestiges of the Capital of the former Kingdom of Kongo in Angola, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2017. He is the author of numerous publications on tangible and intangible cultural heritage and has directed several doctoral theses.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nigerian agencies unite to combat organized crime with support from INTERPOL and AFRIPOL

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    6 February 2025

    LYON, France – In a major blow to organized crime, 12 different Nigerian law enforcement agencies, supported by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL, have launched a sweeping operation that has resulted in the arrests of 36 individuals and seizures worth USD 3 million.

    The operation (23-27 September 2024) brought together Nigerian authorities for a Nigerian law enforcement agencies and criminal justice stakeholders working on a broad range of crime areas were involved in the operation, including financial crime and cybercrime as well as drug and human trafficking.

    Following two months of preparation, national authorities carried out increased border checks, targeted raids at identified hotspots and followed up on actionable leads over five operational days.  Most arrests were made for cyber-enabled fraud and the vast majority of the detained suspects were under the age of 35, reflecting a trend of greater youth involvement in organized crime.

    Among the crimes uncovered, common tactics included ‘romance baiting’, in which criminals cultivate online relationships to manipulate victims into investing or transferring their money; investment and cryptocurrency scams, where perpetrators lure victims in fictitious financial schemes; and celebrity scams, which involve the impersonation of well-known figures to solicit money from fans. Three of the arrests were for sextortion, where the suspects were extorting money from victims to prevent the release of compromising or explicit material.

    Notable seizures from the operation included 19kg of cocaine, valued at 2.8 million USD; 51kg of cannabis; five cars; two weapons; and 215 rounds of ammunition. The action days also exposed cases of human trafficking, with the identification of 12 victims who had been lured abroad with promises of work but were instead forced into sexual exploitation or forced labour. The investigation led to the arrest of a female recruiter, who had posed as a victim to evade detection, and the seizure of USD 16,000 from her account.

    Cyril Gout, INTERPOL’s Acting Executive Director of Police Services, said:

    “West African Organized Crime Groups are considered to be among the most aggressive and expansionist criminal groups for their involvement in a broad range of illegal activities, from people smuggling, human trafficking, extortion and kidnapping to oil theft, cybercrime and money laundering. The success of this operation underscores the critical importance of sustained, multi-agency collaboration in disrupting these networks. By working together, at a national and international level we can effectively combat this global threat and bring justice to those affected by these crimes.”

    Ambassador Jalel Chelba, Acting Executive Director of AFRIPOL, said:

    “The success of this operation demonstrates the profound impact of coordinated efforts between national and international law enforcement bodies. AFRIPOL is dedicated to fostering partnerships that bridge the gaps in intelligence sharing and operational coordination, ensuring a united front against the complexities of transnational organized crime. This landmark initiative in Nigeria not only strengthens national capacities but also exemplifies the collective resolve of African member states to combat evolving criminal threats. Our close cooperation with INTERPOL was pivotal to the achievements of this operation and we will continue to work closely with our partners to promote security and stability across the continent.”

    The operation was supported by officers from INTERPOL and AFRIPOL

    Reinforcing national capacity to strengthen global security

    During the operation, coordinated by INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau and AFRIPOL’s National Liaison Office in Abuja, officers from both INTERPOL and AFRIPOL were deployed to support criminal intelligence analysis, assist operation coordination and to facilitate crosschecks against databases.

    The success of this operation was driven by the collaborative efforts among Nigerian law enforcement agencies, justice stakeholders and the partnership between AFRIPOL and INTERPOL. This joint effort demonstrates the results that can be achieved by effective intelligence sharing and coordinated action from all relevant agencies, paving the way for a new era of cooperation.

    The operation was delivered under the framework of the ISPA programme, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, to support AFRIPOL in strengthening its position as the lead institution in Africa for preventing and combating transnational organized crime, terrorism and cybercrime.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Safety bulletin 1/2025 published

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    This bulletin urges prospective customers intending to stay on liveaboard vessels to book through reputable vendors only.

    Image courtesy of Ali Aref – Dive Pro Liveaboard

    Today, we have issued a safety bulletin to prospective customers following the loss of life on Egyptian liveaboard dive boats operating in the Red Sea.

    Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Andrew Moll OBE, said:

    The MAIB is aware of 16 accidents that have occurred over the last 5 years involving liveaboard dive vessels operating in the Red Sea. It is deeply regrettable that a number of these accidents have resulted in the loss of life and our thoughts are with all those affected.

    While MAIB does not have the jurisdiction to investigate accidents involving non-UK flagged vessels operating within the territorial waters of another coastal state, we have made the appropriate authorities aware of our national interest and offered every assistance with any safety investigation they conduct.

    Our safety bulletin provides important guidance to those intending to stay on liveaboard vessels. It is important to remember that such vessels are unlikely to be built, maintained, equipped, and operated to the standard of similar vessels in the UK and we urge the exercise of extreme caution when choosing a boat.

    The bulletin, available via this link, contains details of what happened, initial findings, safety lessons and a recommendation.

    In line with the principles of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Casualty Investigation Code, the UK has been registered as a substantially interested state in the Egyptian safety investigations into these accidents.

    Media enquiries (telephone only)

    Media enquiries during office hours 01932 440015

    Media enquiries out of hours 0300 7777878

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Female genital mutilation is a leading cause of death for girls where it’s practised – new study

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Heather D. Flowe, Professor of Psychology, University of Birmingham

    Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) is a deeply entrenched cultural practice that affects around 200 million women and girls. It’s practised in at least 25 African countries, as well as parts of the Middle East and Asia and among immigrant populations globally.

    It is a harmful traditional practice that involves removing or damaging female genital tissue. Often it’s “justified” by cultural beliefs about controlling female sexuality and marriageability. FGM/C causes immediate and lifelong physical and psychological harm to girls and women, including severe pain, complications during childbirth, infections and trauma.

    We brought together our expertise in economics and gender based violence to examine excess mortality (avoidable deaths) due to FGM/C. Our new research now reveals a devastating reality: FGM/C is one of the leading causes of death for girls and young women in countries where it’s practised. FGM/C can result in death from severe bleeding, infection, shock, or obstructed labour.

    Our study estimates that it causes approximately 44,000 deaths each year across the 15 countries we examined. That is equivalent to a young woman or girl every 12 minutes.

    This makes it a more significant cause of death in the countries studied than any other excluding infection, malaria and respiratory infections or tuberculosis. Put differently, it is a bigger cause of death than HIV/Aids, measles, meningitis and many other well-known health threats for young women and girls in these countries.

    Prior research has shown that FGM/C leads to severe pain, bleeding and infection. But tracking deaths directly caused by the practice has been nearly impossible. This is partly because FGM/C is illegal in many countries where it occurs, and it typically takes place in non-clinical settings without medical supervision.

    Where the crisis is most severe

    The practice is particularly prevalent in several African nations. In Guinea, our data show 97% of women and girls have undergone FGM/C, while in Mali the figure stands at 83%, and in Sierra Leone, 90%. The high prevalence rates in Egypt, with 87% of women and girls affected, are a reminder that FGM/C is not confined to sub-Saharan Africa.

    For our study, we analysed data from the 15 African countries for which comprehensive “gold standard” FGM/C incidence information is available. Meaning, the data is comprehensive, reliable and widely accepted for research, policymaking and advocacy efforts to combat FGM/C.

    We developed a new approach to help overcome previous gaps in data. We matched data on the proportion of girls subjected to FGM/C at different ages with age-specific mortality rates across 15 countries between 1990 and 2020. The age at which FGM occurs varies significantly by country. In Nigeria, 93% of procedures are performed on girls younger than five years old. In contrast, in Sierra Leone, most girls undergo the procedure between the ages of 10 and 14.

    Since health conditions vary from place to place and over time, and vary in the same place from one year to the next, we made sure to consider these differences. This helped us figure out if more girls were dying at the ages when FGM/C usually happens in each country.

    For example, in Chad, 11.2% of girls undergo FGM/C aged 0-4, 57.2% at 5-9 and 30% at 10-14. We could see how mortality rates changed between these age groups compared to countries with different FGM patterns.

    This careful statistical approach helped us identify the excess deaths associated with the practice while accounting for other factors that might affect child mortality.

    Striking findings

    Our analysis revealed that when the proportion of girls subjected to FGM in a particular age group increases by 50 percentage points, their mortality rate rises by 0.1 percentage points. While this may sound small, when applied across the population of affected countries, it translates to tens of thousands of preventable deaths annually.

    The scale is staggering: while armed conflicts in Africa caused approximately 48,000 combat deaths per year between 1995 and 2015, our research suggests FGM/C leads to about 44,000 deaths annually. This places FGM among the most serious public health challenges facing these nations.

    Beyond the numbers

    These statistics represent real lives cut short. Most FGM/C procedures are performed without anaesthesia, proper medical supervision, or sterile equipment. The resulting complications can include severe bleeding, infection and shock. Even when not immediately fatal, the practice can lead to long-term health problems and increased risks during childbirth.

    The impact extends beyond physical health. Survivors often face psychological trauma and social challenges. In many communities, FGM/C is deeply embedded in cultural practices and tied to marriage prospects, making it difficult for families to resist the pressure to continue the tradition.

    Urgent crisis

    FGM/C is not just a human rights violation – it’s a public health crisis demanding urgent attention. While progress has been made in some areas, with some communities abandoning the practice, our research suggests that current efforts to combat FGM/C need to be dramatically scaled up.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has potentially worsened the situation, owing to broader impacts of the pandemic on societies, economies and healthcare systems. The UN estimates that the pandemic may have led to 2 million additional cases of FGM/C that could have been prevented. Based on our mortality estimates, this could result in approximately 4,000 additional deaths in the 15 countries we studied.

    The way forward

    Ending FGM/C requires a multi-faceted approach. Legal reforms are crucial – the practice remains legal in five of the 28 countries where it’s most commonly practised. However, laws alone aren’t enough. Community engagement, education, and support for grassroots organisations are essential for changing deeply held cultural beliefs and practices.

    Previous research has shown that information campaigns and community-led initiatives can be effective. For instance, studies have documented reductions in FGM/C rates following increased social media reach in Egypt and the use of educational films showing different views on FGM/C.

    Most importantly, any solution must involve the communities where FGM/C is practised. Our research underscores that this isn’t just about changing traditions – it’s about saving lives. Every year of delay means tens of thousands more preventable deaths.

    Our findings suggest that ending FGM/C should be considered as urgent a priority as combating major infectious diseases. The lives of millions of girls and young women depend on it.

    – Female genital mutilation is a leading cause of death for girls where it’s practised – new study
    – https://theconversation.com/female-genital-mutilation-is-a-leading-cause-of-death-for-girls-where-its-practised-new-study-249171

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The ‘degrowth’ movement envisions global climate justice, but must adapt to global south realities

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Claudius Gräbner-Radkowitsch, Junior Professor of Pluralist Economics, Europa-Universität Flensburg

    It is widely accepted that human activities are the primary drivers of global warming and environmental crises, including the rapid loss of biodiversity. However, the debate over how best to address these issues is far from settled. In political circles, “green growth” – the concept of making economic activities more sustainable – has emerged as the most popular solution.

    Is green growth enough?

    The idea behind green growth is to continue expanding economies while minimising environmental harm. However, critics argue that this approach has failed to significantly curb climate change and biodiversity loss.

    Despite international efforts since the 1970s, carbon emissions have continued to rise. As the World Inequality Report reveals, nearly half of historical emissions occurred after 1990. Incremental policy changes, technological innovations and shifts in consumer behaviour have not been enough to reverse this trend. This failure has led to the growing appeal of “degrowth” – a more radical alternative that challenges the current global economic system.

    What is ‘degrowth’?

    “Degrowth” emerged in Europe, particularly in France, in the late 2000s. Philosophers such as André Gorz and economists such as Serge Latouche were among its early proponents, with researchers such as Tim Jackson later popularising the concept in the English-speaking world. They argue that the root cause of environmental destruction lies not only in human activity but also in a global economic model that has prioritised growth and profit since the Industrial Revolution.

    Initially, degrowth was a critique of Western lifestyles and notions of progress. Environmental concerns were just one part of the movement’s broader agenda. Over time, however, environmentalism has become central to the movement’s goals.

    A stenciled message in favour of degrowth.
    Paul Sableman, CC BY



    À lire aussi :
    Idea of green growth losing traction among climate policy researchers, survey of nearly 800 academics reveals

    What about the global south?

    Today, many degrowth advocates assert that the richer countries of the global north, being largely responsible for environmental degradation, should be the ones to scale back economic activity to avert ecological catastrophe. But what about the poorer countries of the global south? Should they adopt degrowth strategies? Some argue this would impose a neocolonial agenda, with wealthier countries once again dictating the terms of global development. Others note that many poorer countries need economic growth to combat poverty. And even if degrowth were limited to the north, it could still have significant effects on the south – both positive and negative.

    A review of academic literature on degrowth and the global south reveals two main perspectives: those who see degrowth as incompatible with the south’s development needs, and those who believe it could offer synergies with sustainable development goals.

    Supporters of degrowth often point out that many of its core ideas originate in the global south. Anthropologist Jason Hickel cites figures such as Sri Lankan philosopher Ananda Coomaraswamy, Indian economist J.C. Kumarappa and Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore as inspirations. While these thinkers may not use the term “degrowth”, they promote ideas aligned with it, such as the Latin American Sumak kawsay (or “Buen vivir”) or the South African Ubuntu. These non-Western perspectives have been instrumental in shaping the degrowth discourse in the global north.

    Degrowth as decolonisation

    Degrowth advocates argue that scaling back economic activity in the north could help dismantle the unequal global division of labour, in which raw materials are extracted from the south and processed into consumer goods in the north. This system disproportionately benefits wealthier nations while leaving poorer countries with the social and environmental costs. Federico Demaria, a researcher in political ecology, argues that northern countries must “pay for past and present colonial exploitation in the south” – a central theme in contemporary degrowth discourse.

    An aerial view of a gold mine in Brazil.
    Tarcisio Schnaider/Shutterstock

    Some researchers suggest that dependence on economic growth is problematic for both the north and south. They argue that growth alone does not guarantee poverty reduction – wealth distribution and institutional reforms are just as crucial. Degrowth could help both regions avoid unsustainable development models by focusing more on social well-being than perpetual economic expansion.

    Challenges for degrowth in the global south

    However, many scholars believe degrowth is unattractive for the global south. Critics argue that the concept is too Eurocentric and fails to resonate amid the specific challenges faced by poorer nations. Interviews with academics and activists in the south show that while they may agree with some of the ideas behind degrowth, they reject its language, which they see as rooted in Western thinking. Economist Beatriz Rodríguez Labajos and her co-authors suggest that researchers from the north and south should look at “strengthening potential synergies, through an assertive recognition of the barriers to doing so”.

    There is also concern that promoting degrowth in the south could be perceived as a new form of colonialism. Imposing Western notions of degrowth could prevent poorer countries from following the same path to prosperity that the north took, which often involved exploiting the resources of the south. The degrowth movement’s failure to fully address the colonial roots of economic development poses a challenge to its decolonization-oriented ambitions.

    The problem of global dependencies

    Finally, global dependencies further complicate the degrowth debate. Many people in the south rely on export-driven economies that serve Western markets. A reduction in economic activity in the north could harm populations in the south who depend on those exports.

    This interdependence presents a dilemma for the degrowth movement. Proponents argue that degrowth is not about abandoning economic activity but reforming the global trade, finance and governance systems to prevent negative impacts on the south. For degrowth to succeed, its advocates must formulate concrete proposals that address these global dependencies without exacerbating inequalities or harming the most vulnerable.

    This article is part of a project involving The Conversation France and AFP audio. It has received financial support from the European Journalism Centre, as part of the Solutions Journalism Accelerator programme supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. AFP and The Conversation France have retained their editorial independence at every stage of the project.

    We offer this article as part of the Normandy World Forum for Peace, organised by the Normandy region of France on September 26-27, 2024. The Conversation France is a partner of the forum. For more information, visit the Normandy World Forum for Peace’s website.

    Claudius Gräbner-Radkowitsch is a member of the Bündnis90/Die Grünen (The Greens) party. He has received research grants, notably from the Austrian FWF and the German DFG.

    Birte Strunk ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. The ‘degrowth’ movement envisions global climate justice, but must adapt to global south realities – https://theconversation.com/the-degrowth-movement-envisions-global-climate-justice-but-must-adapt-to-global-south-realities-238276

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Female genital mutilation is a leading cause of death for girls where it’s practised – new study

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Heather D. Flowe, Professor of Psychology, University of Birmingham

    Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) is a deeply entrenched cultural practice that affects around 200 million women and girls. It’s practised in at least 25 African countries, as well as parts of the Middle East and Asia and among immigrant populations globally.

    It is a harmful traditional practice that involves removing or damaging female genital tissue. Often it’s “justified” by cultural beliefs about controlling female sexuality and marriageability. FGM/C causes immediate and lifelong physical and psychological harm to girls and women, including severe pain, complications during childbirth, infections and trauma.

    We brought together our expertise in economics and gender based violence to examine excess mortality (avoidable deaths) due to FGM/C. Our new research now reveals a devastating reality: FGM/C is one of the leading causes of death for girls and young women in countries where it’s practised. FGM/C can result in death from severe bleeding, infection, shock, or obstructed labour.

    Our study estimates that it causes approximately 44,000 deaths each year across the 15 countries we examined. That is equivalent to a young woman or girl every 12 minutes.

    This makes it a more significant cause of death in the countries studied than any other excluding infection, malaria and respiratory infections or tuberculosis. Put differently, it is a bigger cause of death than HIV/Aids, measles, meningitis and many other well-known health threats for young women and girls in these countries.

    Prior research has shown that FGM/C leads to severe pain, bleeding and infection. But tracking deaths directly caused by the practice has been nearly impossible. This is partly because FGM/C is illegal in many countries where it occurs, and it typically takes place in non-clinical settings without medical supervision.

    Where the crisis is most severe

    The practice is particularly prevalent in several African nations.
    In Guinea, our data show 97% of women and girls have undergone FGM/C, while in Mali the figure stands at 83%, and in Sierra Leone, 90%. The high prevalence rates in Egypt, with 87% of women and girls affected, are a reminder that FGM/C is not confined to sub-Saharan Africa.

    For our study, we analysed data from the 15 African countries for which comprehensive “gold standard” FGM/C incidence information is available. Meaning, the data is comprehensive, reliable and widely accepted for research, policymaking and advocacy efforts to combat FGM/C.

    We developed a new approach to help overcome previous gaps in data. We matched data on the proportion of girls subjected to FGM/C at different ages with age-specific mortality rates across 15 countries between 1990 and 2020. The age at which FGM occurs varies significantly by country. In Nigeria, 93% of procedures are performed on girls younger than five years old. In contrast, in Sierra Leone, most girls undergo the procedure between the ages of 10 and 14.

    Since health conditions vary from place to place and over time, and vary in the same place from one year to the next, we made sure to consider these differences. This helped us figure out if more girls were dying at the ages when FGM/C usually happens in each country.

    For example, in Chad, 11.2% of girls undergo FGM/C aged 0-4, 57.2% at 5-9 and 30% at 10-14. We could see how mortality rates changed between these age groups compared to countries with different FGM patterns.

    This careful statistical approach helped us identify the excess deaths associated with the practice while accounting for other factors that might affect child mortality.

    Striking findings

    Our analysis revealed that when the proportion of girls subjected to FGM in a particular age group increases by 50 percentage points, their mortality rate rises by 0.1 percentage points. While this may sound small, when applied across the population of affected countries, it translates to tens of thousands of preventable deaths annually.

    The scale is staggering: while armed conflicts in Africa caused approximately 48,000 combat deaths per year between 1995 and 2015, our research suggests FGM/C leads to about 44,000 deaths annually. This places FGM among the most serious public health challenges facing these nations.

    Beyond the numbers

    These statistics represent real lives cut short. Most FGM/C procedures are performed without anaesthesia, proper medical supervision, or sterile equipment. The resulting complications can include severe bleeding, infection and shock. Even when not immediately fatal, the practice can lead to long-term health problems and increased risks during childbirth.

    The impact extends beyond physical health. Survivors often face psychological trauma and social challenges. In many communities, FGM/C is deeply embedded in cultural practices and tied to marriage prospects, making it difficult for families to resist the pressure to continue the tradition.

    Urgent crisis

    FGM/C is not just a human rights violation – it’s a public health crisis demanding urgent attention. While progress has been made in some areas, with some communities abandoning the practice, our research suggests that current efforts to combat FGM/C need to be dramatically scaled up.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has potentially worsened the situation, owing to broader impacts of the pandemic on societies, economies and healthcare systems. The UN estimates that the pandemic may have led to 2 million additional cases of FGM/C that could have been prevented. Based on our mortality estimates, this could result in approximately 4,000 additional deaths in the 15 countries we studied.

    The way forward

    Ending FGM/C requires a multi-faceted approach. Legal reforms are crucial – the practice remains legal in five of the 28 countries where it’s most commonly practised. However, laws alone aren’t enough. Community engagement, education, and support for grassroots organisations are essential for changing deeply held cultural beliefs and practices.

    Previous research has shown that information campaigns and community-led initiatives can be effective. For instance, studies have documented reductions in FGM/C rates following increased social media reach in Egypt and the use of educational films showing different views on FGM/C.

    Most importantly, any solution must involve the communities where FGM/C is practised. Our research underscores that this isn’t just about changing traditions – it’s about saving lives. Every year of delay means tens of thousands more preventable deaths.

    Our findings suggest that ending FGM/C should be considered as urgent a priority as combating major infectious diseases. The lives of millions of girls and young women depend on it.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Female genital mutilation is a leading cause of death for girls where it’s practised – new study – https://theconversation.com/female-genital-mutilation-is-a-leading-cause-of-death-for-girls-where-its-practised-new-study-249171

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: SONA 2025 rehearsals

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

    SONA 2025 rehearsals

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRk-vaJscgw

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Deputy Minister Mhlauli conducts a site visit to Afrika Tikkun PYEl Jobs boost implementing partner

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

    Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli conducts a site visit to Afrika Tikkun PYEl Jobs boost implementing partner

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5DboPmgQ5w

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhauli conducts a site visit to Delft Library

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

    Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhauli conducts a site visit to Delft Library PYEI NYS programme implementing partners

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55zK0JZy1TE

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Oando’s Expansion in Africa’s Energy Sector to Take Center Stage at Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025 in Paris

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

    PARIS, France, February 6, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive Officer will speak at the Invest in African Energy 2025 Forum in Paris this May. As one of Africa’s largest indigenous energy companies, Oando is experiencing significant growth, driven by its landmark acquisition of Eni’s Nigerian subsidiary last year and its recent expansion into Angola.

    In August 2024, Oando finalized the acquisition of a 100% shareholding in the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) from Eni for $783 million. This strategic move increased Oando’s participating interests in OMLs 60, 61, 62 and 63 from 20% to 40%, effectively doubling the company’s total reserves to approximately one billion barrels of oil equivalent. With plans to scale production to 100,000 barrels per day by 2028, the acquisition solidifies Oando’s position as a key player in Nigeria’s upstream sector.

    IAE 2025 (http://apo-opa.co/4aMELLc) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 13-14, 2025 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

    Oando continues to strengthen its presence across Africa with a significant milestone in Angola. Through its upstream subsidiary, Oando Energy Resources (OER), the company has been awarded operatorship of Block KON 13 in the onshore Kwanza Basin. Following a competitive bidding process organized by Angola’s National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels, OER now holds a 45% participating interest and will lead the block’s development in partnership with Effimax and Sonangol. Strategically located in the prolific Kwanza Basin, Block KON 13 offers substantial exploration potential in both pre-salt and post-salt plays, with estimated prospective resources ranging between 770 million and 1.1 billion barrels of oil. Two exploration wells previously drilled to a depth of 3,000 meters have indicated the presence of oil and gas across various intervals.

    In addition to expanding its asset base, Oando is integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its drilling operations to enhance efficiency and decision-making. By leveraging AI, the company aims to optimize resource utilization and improve performance in upcoming projects. This initiative reflects Oando’s commitment to adopting innovative technologies to maintain its leadership in the energy sector.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Influencer Impressions Videos

    Source: Samsung

    The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S25 Series has arrived, and we invited top South African influencers to put it to the test. From its cutting-edge features to the sleek design of a phone that sets a new standard as a true AI companion, watch as they share their first-hand experiences with this game-changing AI smartphone. Whether you’re curious about its performance, camera capabilities, or overall user experience, these videos will give you a preview of some of the top features and everything the Galaxy S25 Series has to offer. Check out the videos to see what these influencers think.
     
     

     

    View this post on Instagram

     
    A post by Gift Ndou (@Lachief_)

     

     

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    A post by Grant Hinds (@Granthinds)

     

     

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    A post by Nasty C (@nasty_csa)

     

     

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    A post by Tyron Tech (@tyron_tech)

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Afreximbank challenges Africa’s miners to take bold steps to own the continent’s resources

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

    CAPE TOWN, South Africa, February 5, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Africa must take bold steps to own its resources, create jobs and build industries that sustain prosperity for generations, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has told African leaders, policymakers, mining industry leaders and global partners at the African Mining Indaba 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa, on Sunday.

    In a keynote address at the ministerial symposium of the Indaba, Mr. Denys Denya, Senior Executive Vice President of the Afreximbank Group, argued that the continent was standing at a crossroads and could either continue exporting its wealth and remain a marginal player in the global economy or take the bold steps to own its resources.

    He noted that “While the global mining industry generated approximately US$1.7 trillion in revenue in 2023, Africa’s share of this wealth remains disproportionately low. Our continent extracts the raw materials that power the world’s industries, yet it is estimated that we retain as little as between four per cent and 20 per cent of the total value of our minerals due to minimal local processing and limited downstream development. The result? Lost economic opportunities, exposure to volatile commodity cycles and a persistent reliance on external markets for refined products derived from our own resources.” “The choice is ours. The time to act is now. Let us work together: governments, financial institutions, investors, and industry players to build an Africa where mining is not just about extraction but about transformation, innovation and wealth creation,” said Mr. Denya. “Africa has the resources, the market potential, and the policy frameworks to transition from a resource-dependent continent to an industrial powerhouse. However, success will depend on bold, decisive action from all stakeholders. Policymakers must implement clear, enforceable regulations that mandate local value addition and create investment-friendly environments. Private sector investors must step up with capital and technology to develop processing, refining, and manufacturing facilities.”

    Reversing this trend demanded bold, coordinated action, he argued. “We must move beyond extraction and invest in refining, smelting and advanced manufacturing. African nations must increase local processing capacity for minerals such as bauxite, lithium, cobalt and iron ore.”

    He added that regional collaboration was essential as no single country could build a mining value chain in isolation.

    Mr. Denya highlighted the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in developing intra-African mineral value chains and strengthening cross-border collaboration and said that attracting capital for mining-related infrastructure, technology transfer and skills development were critical.

    “Our mining policies must also prioritise environmental, social and governance standards, ensuring that mining benefits communities rather than displacing them,” he said, adding that the approach would create millions of skilled jobs for the youth and reduce reliance on volatile global markets while strengthening intra-African trade.

    Reiterating Afreximbank’s commitment to supporting Africa’s mining sector and ensuring that mineral wealth drove economic growth rather than perpetuate resource dependency, Mr. Denya announced that, over the past three years, the Bank had approved more than US$1 billion in support of mining and mineral sector projects across the continent, including financing the development and construction of a bauxite processing plant in Guinea, supporting the expansion of a manganese processing plant in Gabon and providing working capital financing to a diamond company in Botswana.

    Other major projects being supported by the Bank include a petrochemical fertilizer plant in Angola, a titanium dioxide pigment plant in South Africa and the feasibility study for the development of a limestone mine processing plant in Malawi, he added.

    Mr. Denya said that the establishment of the US$10-billion AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, managed by FEDA, Afreximbank’s impact investment subsidiary, would provide critical financial support to countries and businesses transitioning to the new trade regime, including those in the mining sector, and that the Bank’s efforts to harmonise standards and implement the Africa Collaborative Transit Guarantee Scheme would also facilitate seamless movement of minerals and mining equipment across borders, reducing logistical bottlenecks.

    Afreximbank was also leveraging digital platforms, such as the Africa Trade Gateway and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, to enable efficient transactions and market access, which would ensure that Africa’s vast mineral wealth was utilised to drive industrialisation, value addition and economic resilience across the continent, he added.

    Mr. Denya also noted that Afreximbank, in collaboration with development partners, was driving the development and expansion of industrial parks and special economic zones (SEZs) to address infrastructure challenges that hinder industrial growth.

    One of the most transformative initiatives under that pillar was the DRC/Zambia Electric Vehicle Battery Manufacturing Special Economic Zones – a project that positions Africa at the centre of the global energy transition by the implementation of battery precursor SEZs aimed at making the two countries globally competitive investment destinations for the battery electric vehicle value chain.

    The African Mining Indaba 2025, taking place from 3 to 6 February, is the premier gathering where Africa policymakers, industry leaders and global partners work to shape the future of the African mining sector.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: XTransfer and Ecobank Group Partner to Empower African Small and Medium-sized Enterprises’ (SMEs) Foreign Trade

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

    XTransfer and Ecobank Group Partner to Empower African Small and Medium-sized Enterprises’ (SMEs) Foreign Trade XTransfer will leverage Ecobank’s extensive network across Africa, enabling its Chinese clients to collect funds in local African currencies while assisting African SMEs in making payments in their local currencies to negate foreign exchange issues LOMÉ, Togo, February 6, 2025/APO Group/ — XTransfer, the world-leading and China’s No.1 B2B Cross-Border Trade Payment Platform, and Ecobank Group (www.Ecobank.com), the leading private pan-African financial services group with unrivalled African expertise, have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding of Cooperation (MOU) to roll out comprehensive cross-border financial services to Africa’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in foreign trade. The collaboration will facilitate trade between China and African countries. In recent years, China and Africa have continued to deepen trade cooperation, with the scale of imports and exports rising rapidly. In 2023, bilateral trade reached a record US$282 billion. From January to November 2024, China’s exports to Africa totalled US$160 billion, a 1.4% increase from the previous year, while imports from Africa reached US$107 billion, marking a substantial rise of 6.6%. Despite this growth, African SMEs engaged in foreign trade face numerous challenges related to cross-border payments and fund collections. These challenges include difficulties in opening accounts with traditional banks, a high risk of funds being frozen, difficulties in foreign exchange and related losses, lengthy remittance times and high remittance costs. The partnership between XTransfer and Ecobank Group will foster collaboration between both parties to provide comprehensive cross-border payment solutions for African SMEs’ foreign trade. XTransfer will leverage Ecobank’s extensive network across Africa, enabling its Chinese clients to collect funds in local African currencies while assisting African SMEs in making payments in their local currencies to negate foreign exchange issues. Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, stated, “We are excited about the partnership with Ecobank. This collaboration represents a significant milestone for XTransfer and greatly enhances our global payment capabilities. Leveraging Ecobank’s extensive payment network in Africa will accelerate our business expansion in the region. We are looking forward to the synergies and opportunities this partnership will create. Together, we will drive innovation and improve the financial landscape, making financial services more efficient and accessible for African SMEs.” Jeremy Awori, CEO Ecobank Group, said, “We are proud to partner with XTransfer to advance seamless cross-border payment solutions between Africa and China. This partnership builds on our established strategy, which includes a representative office in China and a dedicated China desk. By integrating XTransfer’s cutting-edge solutions with our pan-African payment platform, we simplify payments, reduce transaction costs, and enable African businesses to thrive in global trade.” The partnership will facilitate trade between SMEs in China and African countries and also streamline foreign trade transactions between African companies and their global partners. Ultimately, this will help reduce the costs of global trade and enhance the global competitiveness of African SMEs. This partnership aligns with Ecobank’s goals of driving financial integration by facilitating seamless cross-border trade, which is the backbone of the continent’s economy growth. By collaborating with XTransfer, Ecobank is strengthening its position as a key player in the global payments industry by reducing trade barriers, enabling African SMEs to thrive in international markets and contribute to the continent’s sustainable development. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated. Media Contact: XTransfer Limited Maggie NG Public Relations Director Tel: +852 6287 2989 Email: maggie.ng@xtransfer.com     Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Christiane Bossom Group Communications Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Email: groupcorporatecomms@ecobank.com Tel: +228 22 21 03 03 Web: www.Ecobank.com About XTransfer: XTransfer, the world-leading and China’s No.1 B2B Cross-Border Trade Payment Platform, is dedicated to providing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with secure, compliant, fast, convenient and low-cost foreign trade payment and fund collection solutions, significantly reducing the cost of global expansion and enhancing global competitiveness. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Shanghai and has branches in Hong Kong SAR, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, the UAE, and Nigeria. XTransfer has obtained local payment licences in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. With more than 600,000 enterprise clients, XTransfer has become the industry No.1 in China. By cooperating with well-known multinational banks and financial institutions, XTransfer has built a unified global multi-currency clearing network and built a data-based, automated, internet-based and intelligent anti-money laundering risk control infrastructure centred on SMEs. XTransfer uses technology as a bridge to link large financial institutions and SMEs around the world, allowing SMEs to enjoy the same level of cross-border financial services as large multinational corporations. XTransfer completed its Series D financing in September 2021 and achieved unicorn status. The Company possesses a diverse composition of international investors, including D1 Capital Partners LP, Telstra Ventures, China Merchants Venture, eWTP Capital, Yunqi Capital, Gaorong Capital, 01VC, MindWorks and Lavender Hill Capital Partners. For more information, please visit: https://www.XTransfer.com/ About Ecobank: Ecobank Group is the leading private pan-African banking group with unrivalled African expertise. Present in 35 sub-Saharan African countries, as well as France, the UK, UAE and China, its unique pan-African platform provides a single gateway for payments, cash management, trade and investment. The Group employs over 14,000 people and offers Consumer, Commercial, Corporate and Investment Banking products, services and solutions across multiple channels, including digital, to over 32 million customers. For further information, please visit www.Ecobank.com

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New UK High Commissioner to Solomon Islands presents credentials

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Paul Turner was appointed British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and Nauru in July 2024.

    High Commissioner Paul Turner presenting his credentials to Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Jeremiah Manele.

    His Majesty’s new High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and non-resident High Commissioner to the Republic of Nauru, His Excellency Paul Robert Turner presented his credentials this week to the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Hon. Jeremiah Manele.

    Paul Turner was appointed British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and Nauru in July 2024. Paul’s experience covers the UK Government and international organisations, including the World Bank, African Development Bank and the European Union.

    With the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Paul oversaw economic and trade portfolios in East and Southern Africa as well as in China. More recently, he worked for the World Bank in Uganda. 

    Paul has also led development teams in a range of fragile states including Afghanistan and the Western Balkans. Earlier in his career, he was private secretary to Ministers in DFID and the Home Office. 

    Acknowledging the bilateral relations between the two countries, Prime Minister Manele said UK is one of the first countries to forge ties with Solomon Islands since 1978. He also provided an overview of his government’s priorities including education, health, climate change and trade.

    In response, High Commissioner Paul Turner said that his mission was to expand bilateral relations between the two countries and be a key partner of the Government of Solomon Islands in addressing the impact of climate change.

    The High Commissioner said he was keen to explore opportunities in a number of economic sectors, especially the local cocoa industry and affirmed that one of his personal goals is to produce tangible outcomes in the sector during his time in office.

    The High Commissioner is the UK Government’s representative in a Commonwealth nation. They are responsible for the direction and work of the High Commission and its Deputy High Commissions and/or Consulates, including political work, trade and investment, press and cultural relations, and visa and consular services.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s message on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation [scroll down for French version]

    Source: United Nations – English

    emale genital mutilation is a horrific act of gender-based violence.

    More than 230 million girls and women alive today are survivors of this abhorrent practice.  

    As one of the most brutal manifestations of gender inequality, female genital mutilation inflicts profound, lifelong physical and mental harm, carries life-threatening health risks, and violates the rights of women and girls to bodily autonomy, safety, and dignity.

    Eradicating this vicious human rights violation is urgent, and it is possible.

    As this year’s theme reminds us, we are making progress, but we must pick up the pace. We must strengthen global movements to break down harmful attitudes, beliefs and gender stereotypes. And we need to bolster strong partnerships between governments, grassroots organizations and survivors to supercharge efforts and eliminate this scourge by 2030.  

    The Pact for the Future, agreed at the United Nations last September, includes a commitment by Member States to eliminate female genital mutilation by tackling negative social norms and gender discrimination.  

    Let’s join forces to make female genital mutilation history and ensure a brighter, healthier, and more just future for all women and girls everywhere.

    *****

    Les mutilations génitales féminines sont d’atroces actes de violence de genre.

    Plus de 230 millions de filles et de femmes actuellement en vie ont réchappé à cette pratique abominable.

    Les mutilations génitales féminines sont l’une des manifestations les plus brutales de l’inégalité entre les genres : elles infligent des blessures physiques et psychologiques profondes et irréversibles, elles engendrent des risques mortels pour la santé et elles portent atteinte aux droits des femmes et des filles de disposer de leur corps et de vivre en toute sécurité et dans la dignité.

    Il est urgent, et de surcroît possible, de faire disparaître cette violation barbare des droits humains.

    Comme nous le rappelle le thème de cette année, nous avançons, quoiqu’il faille accélérer la cadence. Il nous faut renforcer les mouvements qui, à travers le monde, viennent à bout des comportements néfastes et déconstruisent les croyances pernicieuses ainsi que les stéréotypes préjudiciables liés au genre. Il nous faut en outre consolider les partenariats entre les pouvoirs publics, les organisations citoyennes et les survivantes pour amplifier les efforts et extirper ce fléau d’ici à 2030.

    Dans le Pacte pour l’avenir adopté sous les auspices de l’Organisation des Nations Unies en septembre dernier, les États Membres se sont notamment engagés à éliminer les mutilations génitales féminines en luttant contre les normes sociales négatives et la discrimination fondée sur le genre.

    Unissons nos forces pour reléguer les mutilations génitales féminines aux oubliettes de l’histoire et pour assurer à toutes les femmes et à toutes les filles, partout dans le monde, une meilleure santé ainsi qu’un avenir plus radieux et plus juste.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Societe Generale: Fourth quarter & 2024 full year results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RESULTS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024

    Press release                                                        
    Paris, 6 February 2025

    2024 RESULTS ABOVE ALL GROUP TARGETS
    GROUP NET INCOME OF EUR 4.2 BILLION, +69% vs. 2023

    Annual revenues of EUR 26.8 billion, up by +6.7% vs. 2023, above the ≥+5% target set for 2024, driven in particular by the strong rebound in net interest income in France and by an excellent performance in Global Banking and Investor Solutions with revenues above EUR 10 billion

    Cost-to-income ratio of 69.0%, below the target of <71% set for 2024, thanks to tight control of costs, which are stable vs. 2023

    Cost of risk at 26 basis points, at the lower end of the 2024 guidance range

    Profitability (ROTE) of 6.9%, above the target of >6% expected for 2024

    CET1 ratio of 13.3% at end-2024, around 310 basis points above regulatory requirement

    +75% INCREASE IN DISTRIBUTION TO SHAREHOLDERS VS. 2023

    Proposed distribution of EUR 1,740 million1, equivalent to EUR 2.18 per share1, composed of:

    • a cash dividend of EUR 1.09 per share to be proposed to the General Meeting
    • a share buyback programme of EUR 872 million, equivalent to EUR 1.09 per share1. ECB approval has been obtained to launch the programme, due to start on 10 February 2025
    • Increase of the payout ratio to 50% of net income2

    2025 FINANCIAL TARGETS, STRONG CAPITAL, EXECUTION DISCIPLINE

    Revenue growth of more than +3%3 vs. 2024

    Decrease in costs above -1%3 vs. 2024

    Improvement of the cost-to-income ratio, less than 66% in 2025

    Cost of risk between 25 and 30 basis points in 2025

    Increase of the ROTE, more than 8% in 2025

    CET1 ratio above 13% post Basel IV throughout the year 2025

    With a solid CET1 ratio ahead of the capital trajectory, we are proposing to improve the distribution policy with:

    • an overall distribution payout ratio of 50% of net income2
    • a balanced distribution between cash dividends and share buybacks

    Slawomir Krupa, the Group’s Chief Executive Officer, commented:
    “In 2024, our performance improves materially. All our targets are exceeded and ahead of plan. Strong capital build-up, strong and sustainable business growth, strong cost control and risk management, and a material progress in our integration projects led to the doubling of the earnings per share. Against this strong backdrop, we are improving both the 2024 distribution and our distribution policy. I would like to thank the entire Societe Generale team for their dedication and remarkable commitment, every single day, to serving our clients and our Bank.
    We will continue to focus in 2025 on the relentless execution of our strategy, improving our performance even further.”

    1. GROUP CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
    In EURm Q4 24 Q4 23 Change 2024 2023 Change
    Net banking income 6,621 5,957 +11.1% +12.5%* 26,788 25,104 +6.7% +5.7%*
    Operating expenses (4,595) (4,666) -1.5% -0.7%* (18,472) (18,524) -0.3% -1.6%*
    Gross operating income 2,026 1,291 +57.0% +61.3%* 8,316 6,580 +26.4% +26.6%*
    Net cost of risk (338) (361) -6.4% -4.9%* (1,530) (1,025) +49.3% +48.6%*
    Operating income 1,688 930 +81.6% +87.4%* 6,786 5,555 +22.2% +22.5%*
    Net income/expense from other assets (11) (21) +48.9% +45.2%* (77) (113) +31.4% +26.3%*
    Income tax (413) (302) +36.6% +40.5%* (1,601) (1,679) -4.7% -4.9%*
    Net income 1,273 612 x 2.1 x 2.1* 5,129 3,449 +48.7% +49.6%*
    O.w. non-controlling interests 233 183 +27.0% +33.6%* 929 957 -3.0% -9.3%*
    Group net income 1,041 429 x 2.4 x 2.5* 4,200 2,492 +68.6% +73.2%*
    ROE 5.8% 1.5%     6.1% 3.1% +0.0% +0.0%*
    ROTE 6.6% 1.7%     6.9% 4.2% +0.0% +0.0%*
    Cost to income 69.4% 78.3%     69.0% 73.8% +0.0% +0.0%*

    Asterisks* in the document refer to data at constant perimeter and exchange rates

    The Board of Directors of Societe Generale, which met on 5 February 2025 under the chairmanship of Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, examined the Societe Generale Group’s results for Q4 24 and endorsed the 2024 financial statements.

    Net banking income 

    Net banking income stood at EUR 6.6 billion, up by +11.1% vs. Q4 23.

    Revenues of French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance were up by +15.5% vs. Q4 23 and totalled EUR 2.3 billion in Q4 24. Net interest income increased in Q4 24 (+36% vs. Q4 23), in line with the latest estimates. Assets under management in Private Banking and Insurance increased by +7% each in Q4 24 vs. Q4 23. Lastly, BoursoBank showed strong growth momentum with more than 460,000 new clients in the quarter, allowing to reach a client base of 7.2 million clients at end-December 2024, above the target of 7 million clients set for end-2024. In addition, BoursoBank posted a positive contribution to Group net income in 2024 for the second year in a row.

    Global Banking and Investor Solutions registered a +12.4% increase in revenues relative to Q4 23. Revenues amounted to EUR 2.5 billion for the quarter, driven by strong momentum across all businesses. Global Markets grew by 9.8% in Q4 24 vs. Q4 23. Revenues from the Equities business were up by +10%, reaching a record level for a fourth quarter. They were driven by favourable market conditions, particularly after the result of the presidential elections in the United States. Fixed Income and Currencies were up by +9% owing to solid commercial activity in financing and intermediation across all asset classes. In Financing and Advisory, solid commercial momentum was recorded in structured finance and the performance of M&A and advisory continued to rebound. Likewise, Global Transaction & Payment Services posted a +26% increase in revenues vs. Q4 23, driven by a sustained commercial development across all businesses, particularly in correspondent banking.

    Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services’ revenues were up by +2.0% vs. Q4 23, mainly due to an increase in margins at Ayvens. International Retail Banking recorded a -3.6% fall in revenues vs. Q4 23 at EUR 1.0 billion, due to a scope effect related to the asset disposals finalised in Africa (Morocco, Chad, Congo, Madagascar). Revenues were up +3.4% at constant perimeter and exchange rates. Revenues from Mobility and Financial Services were up by +8.3% vs. Q4 23 mainly due to non-recuring items in Q4 23 and improved margins at Ayvens.

    The Corporate Centre recorded revenues of EUR -159 million in Q4 24.

    Over 2024, net banking income increased by +6.7% vs. 2023.

    Operating expenses 

    Operating expenses came out to EUR 4,595 million in Q4 24, down by -1.5% vs. Q4 23.
    They include a scope effect of around EUR 46 million related to the integration of Bernstein’s cash equity operations and a decrease in transformation costs of EUR 26 million. Excluding these items, operating expenses were down by nearly -2% in Q4 24 vs. Q4-23 owing to the effect of the cost saving measures implemented across all business lines.

    The cost-to-income ratio stood at 69.4% in Q4 24, significantly lower than in Q4 23 (78.3%).

    Over 2024, operating expenses remained relatively stable (-0.3% vs. 2023), thanks from rigorous cost management. The cost-to-income ratio stood at 69.0% (vs. 73.8% in 2023), a level below the target of 71% for 2024.

    Cost of risk

    The cost of risk fell to 23 basis points over the quarter (or EUR 338 million). This includes a EUR 386 million provision for non-performing loans (around 26 basis points) and a reversal of a provision on performing loans for EUR -48 million.

    At end-December, the Group’s provisions on performing loans amounted to EUR 3,119 million, stable relative to 30 September 2024. The EUR -453 million contraction relative to 31 December 2023 is mainly owing to the application of IFRS 5.

    The gross non-performing loan ratio stood at 2.81%4,5 at 31 December 2024, significantly down vs. end of September 2024 (2.95%). The net coverage ratio on the Group’s non-performing loans stood at 81%6 at 31 December 2024 (after taking into account guarantees and collateral).

    Net profits from other assets

    The Group recorded a net loss of EUR -11 million in Q4 24, mainly related to the accounting impacts of finalised asset sales, such as the disposals of our activities in Morocco and Madagascar.

    Group net income

    Group net income stood at EUR 1,041 million for the quarter, equating to a Return on Tangible Equity (ROTE) of 6.6%.

    Over the year, Group net income stood at EUR 4,200 million, equating to a Return on Tangible Equity (ROTE) of 6.9%.

    Shareholder distribution

    The Board of Directors approved the distribution policy for the 2024 fiscal year, aiming to distribute EUR 2.18 per share, equivalent to EUR 1,740 million, of which EUR 872 million in share buyback7. A cash dividend of EUR 1.09 per share will be proposed at the General Meeting of Shareholders on 20 May 2025. The dividend will be detached on 26 May 2025 and paid out on 28 May 2025.

    1. AN ESTABLISHED ESG STRATEGY FROM WHICH TO STEP FORWARD

    In 2024, Societe Generale accelerated the execution of its ESG roadmap, particularly with respect to the contribution to the environmental transition:

    • The Group now covers ~70% of companies’8 financed emissions, with 10 alignment targets for the carbon-intensive sectors. It has already reduced its oil and gas upstream exposure by more than 50% since the end of 20199
    • In Q2 24 and ahead of schedule, the Group reached its target of EUR 300 billion for sustainable finance planned for the period 2022-2025. A new target of EUR 500 billion, complementing the work carried out as part of the portfolio alignment, was announced for the period 2024-2030. This will help increase the orientation of financial flows towards decarbonization activities.

    The Group has broadened the scope of actions to prepare for a sustainable future by supporting new players and new technologies:

    • The EUR 1 billion investment for the transition, announced during the Capital Markets Day, has entered its operationalization phase
    • A new partnership with the EIB to unlock up to EUR 8 billion in the wind industry supply chain in Europe was signed in Q4 24.

    At the same time, ESG risk management continues to be strengthened, enhancing forward-looking assessments of environmental risk materiality and further integrating environmental, social and governance risks into the risk framework.
    Lastly, the Group is moving forward with its ambitions as a responsible employer: at the end of 2024, the “Group Leaders Circle” (Top 250) had ~30% women executives10 and ~30% international members. As announced during the Capital Markets Day, the EUR 100 million envelope commitment to reduce the gender pay gap was launched in 2023.

    1. THE GROUP’S FINANCIAL STRUCTURE

    At 31 December 2024, the Group’s Common Equity Tier 1 ratio stood at 13.3%11, around 310 basis points above the regulatory requirement. Likewise, the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) was well ahead of regulatory requirements at 156% at end-December 2024 (145% on average for the quarter), and the Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) stood at 117% at end-December 2024.

    All liquidity and solvency ratios are well above the regulatory requirements.

      31/12/2024 31/12/2023 Requirements
    CET1(1) 13.3% 13.1% 10.24%
    Fully-loaded CET1 13.3% 13.1% 10.24%
    Tier 1 ratio (1) 16.1% 15.6% 12.17%
    Total Capital(1) 18.9% 18.2% 14.73%
    Leverage ratio(1) 4.34% 4.25% 3.60%
    TLAC (% RWA)(1) 29.7% 31.9% 22.31%
    TLAC (% leverage)(1) 8.0% 8.7% 6.75%
    MREL (% RWA)(1) 34.2% 33.7% 27.58%
    MREL (% leverage)(1) 9.2% 9.2% 6.23%
    End of period LCR 156% 160% >100%
    Period average LCR 145% 155% >100%
    NSFR 117% 119% >100%
    In EURbn 31/12/2024 31/12/2023
    Total consolidated balance sheet 1,574 1,554
    Shareholders’ equity (IFRS), Group share 70 66
    Risk-weighted assets 390 389
    O.w. credit risk 327 326
    Total funded balance sheet 952 970
    Customer loans 463 497
    Customer deposits 614 618

    At 31 December 2024, the parent company had issued EUR 43.2 billion in medium/long-term debt under its 2024 funding program. The subsidiaries had issued EUR 4.7 billion. In all, the Group has issued a total of EUR 47.9 billion.

    At 10 January 2025, the parent company 2025 funding program was executed at 47% for vanilla notes.

    The Group is rated by four rating agencies: (i) FitchRatings – long-term rating “A-”, stable outlook, senior preferred debt rating “A”, short-term rating “F1”; (ii) Moody’s – long-term rating (senior preferred debt) “A1”, negative outlook, short-term rating “P-1”; (iii) R&I – long-term rating (senior preferred debt) “A”, stable outlook; and (iv) S&P Global Ratings – long-term rating (senior preferred debt) “A”, stable outlook, short-term rating “A-1”.

    1. FRENCH RETAIL, PRIVATE BANKING AND INSURANCE
    In EURm Q4 24 Q4 23 Change 2024 2023 Change
    Net banking income 2,267 1,963 +15.5% 8,657 8,053 +7.5%
    Of which net interest income 1,091 801 +36.2% 3,868 3,199 +20.9%
    Of which fees 1,028 948 +8.5% 4,108 3,975 +3.3%
    Operating expenses (1,672) (1,683) -0.7% (6,634) (6,756) -1.8%
    Gross operating income 596 280 x 2.1 2,024 1,297 +56.0%
    Net cost of risk (115) (163) -29.6% (712) (505) +41.0%
    Operating income 481 118 x 4.1 1,312 792 +65.6%
    Net profits or losses from other assets (2) 5 n/s 6 9 -35.1%
    Group net income 360 90 x 4.0 991 596 +66.2%
    RONE 9.1% 2.3%   6.3% 3.9%  
    Cost to income 73.7% 85.7%   76.6% 83.9%  

    Commercial activity

    SG Network, Private Banking and Insurance 

    The SG Network’s average outstanding deposits amounted to EUR 232 billion in Q4 24, down by -1% on Q4 23, with strong shift of inflows into investment products and savings life insurance.

    The SG Network’s average loan outstandings contracted by -4% vs. Q4 23 to EUR 194 billion, but -2.5% excluding PGE (state guaranteed loans). Outstanding loans to corporate and professional clients grew vs. Q3 24 excluding state guaranteed PGE loans, and individual clients lending experienced an increased commercial momentum.

    The average loan to deposit ratio came to 83.6% in Q4 24, down by 2.6 percentage points relative to Q4 23.

    Private Banking activities saw their assets under management12 maintain a record level of EUR 154 billion in Q4 24, up by +7% vs. Q4 23. Net gathering stood at EUR 6.3 billion in 2024, the annual net asset gathering pace (net new money divided by AuM) being at +4% in 2024. Net banking income came to EUR 348 million over the quarter, a decrease of -2% vs. Q4 23. It stands at EUR 1,469 million for 2024, unchanged from 2023.

    Insurance, which covers activities in and outside France, posted a very strong commercial performance. Life insurance outstandings increased sharply by +7% vs. Q4 23 to reach a record EUR 146 billion at                end-December 2024. The share of unit-linked products remained high at 40%. Savings Life insurance gross inflows amounted to EUR 3.4 billion in Q4 24, and EUR 18.3 billion for 2024, up by +42% vs. 2023.

    Personal protection and P&C premia were up by +3% vs. Q4 23 (+5% at constant perimeter).

    BoursoBank 

    BoursoBank’s growth momentum continued with more than 460K new clients in the fourth quarter of 2024. BoursoBank reached almost 7.2 million clients in December 2024, above 2024 target.

    Thanks notably to its comprehensive banking offer and recognized among the “Digital Leaders”13, the Bank has a low attrition rate (~3% in 2024), still down vs. 2023.

    BoursoBank continued its profitable growth trajectory in 2024 with a cost per client down by -17.0% vs. 2023 with an expanding client base, more than 1.3 million net clients over 12 months (+22.4% vs. 2023).

    Loans outstanding improved by +5.4% relative to Q4 23, at EUR 16 billion in Q4 24.

    Average outstanding in savings including deposits and financial savings were +15.5% higher vs. Q4 23 at EUR 64 billion. Deposits outstanding totalled EUR 39 billion in Q4 24, posting another strong increase of +15.4% vs. Q4 23, driven by interest-bearing savings. Average life insurance outstandings, at EUR 13 billion in Q4 24, rose by +10.2% vs. Q4 23 (o/w 48% in unit-lined products, +3.8 percentage points vs. Q4 23). The activity continued to register strong gross inflows over the quarter (+50.4% vs. Q4 23, 65% unit-linked products).

    For the second year in a row, BoursoBank recorded a positive contribution to Group net income in 2024.

    At end of 2025, BoursoBank aims to exceed 8 million clients.

    Net banking income

    Over the quarter, revenues amounted to EUR 2,267 million (including PEL/CEL provision), up by +15% compared with Q4 23 and up by +1% compared with Q3 24. Net interest income grew by +36% vs. Q4 23 and +3% vs. Q3 24. Fee income rose by +9% relative to Q4 23.

    Over the year, revenues reached EUR 8,657 million, up by +8% compared with 2023 (including PEL/CEL provision). Net interest income was up by +21% vs. 2023. Fees increased by +3% relative to 2023.

    Operating expenses

    Over the quarter, operating expenses came to EUR 1,672 million, down -1% compared to Q4 23. The cost-to-income ratio reached 73.7% in Q4 24 and improved by 12 percentage points vs. Q4 23.

    Over the year, operating expenses totalled EUR 6,634 million, decreasing by -2% vs. 2023.                                         The cost-to-income ratio stood at 76.6% and improved by 7.3 percentage points compared with 2023.

    Cost of risk

    Over the quarter, the cost of risk amounted to EUR 115 million, or 20 basis points, down compared with Q3 24 (30 basis points).

    Over the year, the cost of risk totalled EUR 712 million, or 30 basis points.

    Group net income

    Over the quarter, Group net income totalled EUR 360 million. RONE stood at 9.1% in Q4 24.

    Over the year, Group net income totalled EUR 991 million. RONE stood at 6.3% for the year.

    1. GLOBAL BANKING AND INVESTOR SOLUTIONS
    In EURm Q4 24 Q4 23 Change 2024 2023 Change
    Net banking income 2,457 2,185 +12.4% +11.6%* 10,122 9,642 +5.0% +4.8%*
    Operating expenses (1,644) (1,601) +2.7% +2.0%* (6,542) (6,788) -3.6% -3.7%*
    Gross operating income 812 584 +39.0% +37.9%* 3,580 2,854 +25.4% +25.0%*
    Net cost of risk (97) (38) x 2.5 x 2.5* (126) (30) x 4.2 x 4.3*
    Operating income 715 546 +31.0% +30.1%* 3,455 2,824 +22.3% +21.9%*
    Group net income 627 467 +34.4% +33.0%* 2,788 2,280 +22.2% +21.7%*
    RONE 16.6% 12.2% +0.0% +0.0%* 18.4% 14.8% +0.0% +0.0%*
    Cost to income 66.9% 73.3% +0.0% +0.0%* 64.6% 70.4% +0.0% +0.0%*

    Net banking income

    Global Banking & Investor Solutions delivered an excellent fourth quarter, with revenues up by +12.4% compared with Q4 23, at EUR 2,457 million.

    Over 2024, revenues reached a record14 level of EUR 10,122 million, up by +5.0% vs. FY23, owing to excellent momentum across all business lines.

    Global Markets and Investor Services recorded a sharp rise in revenues over the quarter vs Q4 23 of +9.8% to EUR 1,493 million. Over 2024, they totalled EUR 6,557 million, up by +4.5% vs. FY 2023. This growth is the result of solid performance across all activities.

    Global Markets posted both a record fourth quarter and a record1 year with revenues, respectively, of EUR 1,332 million, up +9.5% vs. Q4 23, and EUR 5,884 million, up +5.6% vs. 2023, in a market environment that remains conducive.

    The Equities business delivered an excellent performance, with both a record year and fourth quarter. In Q4 24, revenues amounted to EUR 831 million, a steady increase of +10.0% vs. Q4 23, benefiting from a strong commercial dynamic post US elections especially in flow, listed products and financing activities. Over 2024, revenues increased sharply by +12.2% versus 2023 to EUR 3,569 million.

    Fixed Income and Currencies grew by +8.8% to EUR 501 million in Q4 24, thanks to a solid performance across all products, with an increased client engagement across Corporates and Financial Institutions following the impact of the US elections on rates and currencies. In addition, European rates and currencies franchise outperformed, together with solid secured financing opportunities in the Americas. Over 2024, revenues decreased slightly by -3.2% to EUR 2,315 million.

    Securities Services’ revenues were sharply up by +12.4% versus Q4 23 at EUR 162 million but increased by +4.8% excluding the impact of equity participations. The business continued to reap the benefit of a positive fee generation trend and robust momentum in fund distribution, especially in France and Italy. Over 2024, revenues were down by -4.0%, but up by +2.8% excluding equity participations. Assets under Custody and Assets under Administration amounted to EUR 4,921 billion and EUR 623 billion, respectively.

    The Financing and Advisory business posted revenues of EUR 964 million, up by +16.7% vs. Q4 23. Over 2024, revenues totalled EUR 3,566 million, up by +5.8% vs. 2023.

    The Global Banking & Advisory business grew steadily by +13.7% compared with Q4 23 with a double digit increase in fees vs. Q4 23 driven by strong origination and distribution volumes in Fund Financing and Structured Finance. The rebound in M&A and Advisory continued in the fourth quarter with a strong increase in revenues. This is the second best quarter ever in terms of revenues, close to record Q4 22. Over 2024, revenues grew by +3.2% vs. 2023.

    The Global Transaction & Payment Services business once again delivered an excellent performance compared with Q4 23. The sharp increase in revenues of +26.1% was driven by solid commercial momentum in all activities, as well as a high level of fee generation, led by a strong performance in correspondent banking. Over 2024, revenues saw a steady increase of +13.9%. This represents a record year and fourth quarter.

    Operating expenses

    Operating expenses came out to EUR 1,644 million for the quarter, including around EUR 32 million in transformation costs. They are up by +2.7% relative to Q4 23. The cost-to-income ratio came to 66.9% in Q4 24.

    Over 2024, operating expenses decreased by -3.6% compared with 2023 and the cost-to-income ratio came to 64.6%.

    Cost of risk

    Over the quarter, the cost of risk was EUR 97 million, or 24 basis points vs. 9 basis points in Q4 23.

    Over 2024, the cost of risk was EUR 126 million, or 8 basis points.

    Group net income

    Group net income recorded strong growth, up by +34.4% vs. Q4 23 to EUR 627 million. Over 2024, Group net income rose sharply by +22.2% to EUR 2,788 million.

    Global Banking and Investor Solutions reported significant RONE of 16.6% over the quarter and 18.4% over 2024.

    1. MOBILITY, INTERNATIONAL RETAIL BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
    In EURm Q4 24 Q4 23 Change 2024 2023 Change
    Net banking income 2,056 2,016 +2.0% +6.7%* 8,458 8,507 -0.6% -3.8%*
    Operating expenses (1,240) (1,281) -3.2% +0.8%* (5,072) (4,760) +6.6% +1.7%*
    Gross operating income 816 734 +11.1% +17.0%* 3,386 3,747 -9.6% -10.9%*
    Net cost of risk (133) (137) -2.5% +2.2%* (705) (486) +45.1% +43.5%*
    Operating income 682 598 +14.2% +20.4%* 2,681 3,261 -17.8% -19.1%*
    Net income/expense from other assets (2) (12) +86.1% +84.3%* 96 (11) n/s n/s
    Non-controlling interests 203 152 +33.1% +39.6%* 826 826 -0.1% -7.1%*
    Group net income 314 284 +10.5% +16.1%* 1,270 1,609 -21.1% -20.0%*
    RONE 12.0% 11.0%     12.2% 16.6%    
    Cost to income 60.3% 63.6%     60.0% 56.0%    

    (2)()

    Commercial activity

    International Retail Banking

    International Retail Banking15 activity remained strong in Q4 24 with outstanding loans at EUR 59 billion, up by +3.4%* vs. Q4 23 and deposits at EUR 74 billion, up by +3.9%* vs. Q4 23.

    Europe continues to post good commercial performance for both entities in individual and corporate client segments. With EUR 43 billion in Q4 24, outstanding loans increased by 4.9%* vs. Q4 23, across segments in Romania and more particularly in home loans in the Czech Republic. Outstanding deposits totalled EUR 55 billion in Q4 24, up by +3.8%* vs. Q4 23, mostly driven by Romania.

    In the Africa, Mediterranean Basin and Overseas France network, outstanding loans were stable* vs. Q4 23, with EUR 16 billion in Q4 24, on the back of the good performance in retail. Outstanding deposits of EUR 20 billion in Q4 24 increased by 4.0%* vs. Q4 23, mainly driven by sight deposits in retail.

    Mobility and Financial Services

    Overall, Mobility and Financial Services maintained a good commercial performance.

    Ayvens’ earning assets totalled EUR 53.6 billion at end-December 2024, a +2.9% increase vs. end-December 2023.

    Consumer Finance posted outstandings of EUR 23 billion in Q4 24, still down by -4.0% vs. Q4 23.

    With EUR 15 billion in Q4 24, Equipment Finance outstandings slightly decreased by -1.4% vs. Q4 23.

    Net banking income

    Over the quarter, Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services’ revenues rose by +2.0% vs. Q4 23 to EUR 2,056 million in Q4 24.

    Over the year, revenues were stable compared with 2023 at EUR 8,458 million.

    International Retail Banking revenues reached EUR 1,029 million, up by +3.4%* vs. Q4 23. Over 2024, revenues amounted to EUR 4,161 million, up by 3.8%* vs. 2023.

    Revenues in Europe, which amounted to EUR 539 million in Q4 24, rose by +6.4%* vs. Q4 23, driven by the +3.5%* increase in net interest income for both KB in Czech Republic and BRD in Romania. Fee income increased strongly over the quarter in the Czech Republic, up by +29.5%* vs. Q4 23. Over 2024, revenues improved by +2.8%* vs. 2023 at EUR 2,028 million.

    The Africa, Mediterranean Basin and French Overseas network maintained a sustained level of revenues in Q4 24 of EUR 490 million, stable* vs. Q4 23, mainly driven by fee growth. Over 2024, revenues improved by +4.8%* vs. 2023 at EUR 2,133 million.

    Overall, revenues from Mobility and Financial Services were up by 8.3% vs. Q4 23 at EUR 1,026 million. They remained stable vs. 2023, at EUR 4,298 million in 2024.

    At Ayvens, net banking income stood at EUR 707 million in Q4 24, a sharp increase of +16,3% vs. Q4 23 as reported, and of +2.0% adjusted for non-recurring items16. The amount of margins stood at 541 basis points, generating revenues up +12%1 vs. T4-23. The used car sales markets are gradually normalising, as expected, with an average Used Car Sale (UCS) result per unit of EUR 1,2671 per unit this quarter, vs. EUR 1,4201 in Q3 24 and EUR 1,7061 in Q4 23. In 2024, Ayvens posted an increase in revenues of +1.2% vs. 2023 (at EUR 3,015 million), with an increase in underlying margins.

    The Consumer Finance entities posted revenues of EUR 216 million in Q4 24, still down by -4.2% vs. Q4 23. These are stabilizing from Q3 24, with an improvement in the margin for new production. Revenues from the Equipment Finance business was down this quarter by -9.3% vs. Q4 23, with EUR 103 million in Q4 24. In 2024, overall revenues for both businesses decreased by -4.0% vs. 2023.

    Operating expenses

    Over the quarter, operating expenses remained contained at EUR 1,240 million (-3.2% vs. Q4 23, stable* at constant perimeter and exchange rates). The cost-to-income ratio stood at 60.3% in Q4 24 vs. 63.6% in Q4 23.

    Over the year, operating expenses came to EUR 5,072 million, up by +6.6% vs. 2023. They include transformation costs of around EUR 200 million.

    International Retail Banking recorded an increase in costs of +4.8%* vs. Q4 23 (down by -2.1% at current perimeter and exchange rates, to EUR 577 million in Q4 24), still including the new bank tax in Romania, implemented since January 2024.

    Mobility and Financial Services costs reached EUR 663 million in Q4 24, down by -4.2% vs. Q4 23.

    Cost of risk

    Over the quarter, the cost of risk amounted to EUR 133 million or 32 basis points, which was considerably lower than in Q3 24 (48 basis points).

    Over the year, the cost of risk normalised to a level of 42 basis points, compared with 32 basis points in 2023.

    Group net income

    Over the quarter, Group net income came out to EUR 314 million, up by +10.5% vs. Q4 23. RONE stood at 12.0% in Q4 24. RONE was 16.3% in International Retail Banking, and 9.1% in Mobility and Financial Services in Q4 24.

    Over 2024, Group net income came out to EUR 1,270 million, down by -21.1% vs. 2023. RONE stood at 12.2% in 2024. RONE was 16.4% in International Retail Banking, and 9.4% in Mobility and Financial Services in 2024.

    1. CORPORATE CENTRE
    In EURm Q4 24 Q4 23 Change 2024 2023 Change
    Net banking income (159) (207) +23.4% +24.4%* (450) (1,098) +59.0% +59.6%*
    Operating expenses (39) (101) -61.8% -61.8%* (224) (220) +1.6% +1.4%*
    Gross operating income (197) (308) +36.0% +36.5%* (674) (1,318) +48.9% +49.5%*
    Net cost of risk 7 (23) n/s n/s 12 (4) n/s n/s
    Net income/expense from other assets (7) (15) +51.3% +51.3%* (179) (111) -61.3% -61.4%*
    Income tax (37) (45) -17.9% -16.6%* 81 (130) n/s n/s
    Group net income (261) (412) +36.7% +37.0%* (848) (1,994) +57.5% +57.8%*

    The Corporate Centre includes:

    • the property management of the Group’s head office,
    • the Group’s equity portfolio,
    • the Treasury function for the Group,
    • certain costs related to cross-functional projects, as well as several costs incurred by the Group that are not re-invoiced to the businesses.

    Net banking income

    Over the quarter, the Corporate Centre’s net banking income totalled EUR -159 million, vs. EUR  – 207 million in Q4 23.

    Over the year, the Corporate Centre’s net banking income totalled EUR -450 million, vs. EUR – 1,098 million in 2023. It includes the booking in Q3 24 of exceptional proceeds received of approximately EUR 0.3 billion17.

    Operating expenses

    Over the quarter, operating expenses totalled EUR -39 million, vs. EUR -101 million in Q4 23.

    Over the year, operating expenses totalled EUR -224 million, vs. EUR -220 million in 2023.

    Net losses from other assets

    Pursuant notably to the application of IFRS 5, the Group booked in Q4 24 various impacts from ongoing disposals of assets.

    Group net income

    Over the quarter, the Corporate Centre’s Group net income totalled EUR -261 million, vs. EUR -412 million in Q4 23.

    Over the year, the Corporate Centre’s Group net income totalled EUR -848 million, vs. EUR -1,994 million in 2023.

    To be noted that starting from 2025, normative return to businesses will be based on a 13% capital allocation.

          8.   2024 AND 2025 FINANCIAL CALENDAR

    2025 Financial communication calendar
    April 30, 2025 First quarter 2025 results
    May 20, 2025 2024 Combined General Meeting
    May 26, 2025 Dividend detachment
    May 28, 2025 Dividend payment
    July 31, 2025 Second quarter and first half 2025 results
    October 30, 2025          Third quarter and nine months 2025 results
    The Alternative Performance Measures, notably the notions of net banking income for the pillars, operating expenses, cost of risk in basis points, ROE, ROTE, RONE, net assets and tangible net assets are presented in the methodology notes, as are the principles for the presentation of prudential ratios.

    This document contains forward-looking statements relating to the targets and strategies of the Societe Generale Group.

    These forward-looking statements are based on a series of assumptions, both general and specific, in particular the application of accounting principles and methods in accordance with IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) as adopted in the European Union, as well as the application of existing prudential regulations.

    These forward-looking statements have also been developed from scenarios based on a number of economic assumptions in the context of a given competitive and regulatory environment. The Group may be unable to:

    – anticipate all the risks, uncertainties or other factors likely to affect its business and to appraise their potential consequences;

    – evaluate the extent to which the occurrence of a risk or a combination of risks could cause actual results to differ materially from those provided in this document and the related presentation.

    Therefore, although Societe Generale believes that these statements are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including matters not yet known to it or its management or not currently considered material, and there can be no assurance that anticipated events will occur or that the objectives set out will actually be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, overall trends in general economic activity and in Societe Generale’s markets in particular, regulatory and prudential changes, and the success of Societe Generale’s strategic, operating and financial initiatives.

    More detailed information on the potential risks that could affect Societe Generale’s financial results can be found in the section “Risk Factors” in our Universal Registration Document filed with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (which is available on https://investors.societegenerale.com/en).

    Investors are advised to take into account factors of uncertainty and risk likely to impact the operations of the Group when considering the information contained in such forward-looking statements. Other than as required by applicable law, Societe Generale does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements. Unless otherwise specified, the sources for the business rankings and market positions are internal.

          9.   APPENDIX 1: FINANCIAL DATA

    GROUP NET INCOME BY CORE BUSINESS

    In EURm Q4 24 Q4 23 Variation 2024 2023 Variation
    French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance 360 90 x 4.0 991 596 +66.2%
    Global Banking and Investor Solutions 627 467 +34.4% 2,788 2,280 +22.2%
    Mobility, International Retail Banking & Financial Services 314 284 +10.5% 1,270 1,609 -21.1%
    Core Businesses 1,301 841 +54.7% 5,048 4,486 +12.5%
    Corporate Centre (261) (412) +36.7% (848) (1,994) +57.5%
    Group 1,041 429 x 2.4 4,200 2,492 +68.6%

    MAIN EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS

    In EURm Q4 24 Q4 23 12M24 12M23
    Net Banking Income – Total exceptional items 0 41 287 (199)
    One-off legacy items – Corporate Centre 0 41 0 (199)
    Exceptional proceeds received – Corporate Centre 0 0 287 0
             
    Operating expenses – Total one-off items and transformation charges (76) (102) (613) (765)
    Transformation charges (76) (102) (613) (730)
    Of which French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance 7 18 (132) (312)
    Of which Global Banking & Investor Solutions (32) (64) (236) (167)
    Of which Mobility, International Retail Banking & Financial Services (51) (56) (199) (251)
    Of which Corporate Centre 0 0 (47) 0
    One-off items 0 0 0 (35)
    Of which French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance 0 0 0 60
    Of which Global Banking & Investor Solutions 0 0 0 (95)
             
    Other one-off items – Total (7) (115) (74) (820)
    Net profits or losses from other assets (7) (15) (74) (112)
    Of which Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services 0 0 86 0
    Of which Corporate Centre (7) (15) (160) (112)
    Goodwill impairment – Corporate Centre 0 0 0 (338)
    Provision of Deferred Tax Assets – Corporate Centre 0 (100) 0 (370)

    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

    In EUR m   31/12/2024 31/12/2023
    Cash, due from central banks   201,680 223,048
    Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss   526,048 495,882
    Hedging derivatives   9,233 10,585
    Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income   96,024 90,894
    Securities at amortised cost   32,655 28,147
    Due from banks at amortised cost   84,051 77,879
    Customer loans at amortised cost   454,622 485,449
    Revaluation differences on portfolios hedged against interest rate risk   (292) (433)
    Insurance and reinsurance contracts assets   615 459
    Tax assets   4,687 4,717
    Other assets   70,903 69,765
    Non-current assets held for sale   26,426 1,763
    Investments accounted for using the equity method   398 227
    Tangible and intangible fixed assets   61,409 60,714
    Goodwill   5,086 4,949
    Total   1,573,545 1,554,045
    In EUR m   31/12/2024 31/12/2023
    Due to central banks   11,364 9,718
    Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss   396,614 375,584
    Hedging derivatives   15,750 18,708
    Debt securities issued   162,200 160,506
    Due to banks   99,744 117,847
    Customer deposits   531,675 541,677
    Revaluation differences on portfolios hedged

    against interest rate risk

    		   (5,277) (5,857)
    Tax liabilities   2,237 2,402
    Other liabilities   90,786 93,658
    Non-current liabilities held for sale   17,079 1,703
    Insurance and reinsurance contracts liabilities   150,691 141,723
    Provisions   4,085 4,235
    Subordinated debts   17,009 15,894
    Total liabilities   1,493,957 1,477,798
    Shareholder’s equity   – –
    Shareholders’ equity, Group share   – –
    Issued common stocks and capital reserves   21,281 21,186
    Other equity instruments   9,873 8,924
    Retained earnings   33,863 32,891
    Net income   4,200 2,493
    Sub-total   69,217 65,494
    Unrealised or deferred capital gains and losses   1,039 481
    Sub-total equity, Group share   70,256 65,975
    Non-controlling interests   9,332 10,272
    Total equity   79,588 76,247
    Total   1,573,545 1,554,045

          10.    APPENDIX 2: METHODOLOGY

    1 –The financial information presented for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 was examined by the Board of Directors on February 5th, 2025 and has been prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted in the European Union and applicable at that date. The audit procedures carried out by the Statutory Auditors on the consolidated financial statements are in progress.

    2 – Net banking income

    The pillars’ net banking income is defined on page 42 of Societe Generale’s 2024 Universal Registration Document. The terms “Revenues” or “Net Banking Income” are used interchangeably. They provide a normalised measure of each pillar’s net banking income taking into account the normative capital mobilised for its activity.

    3 – Operating expenses

    Operating expenses correspond to the “Operating Expenses” as presented in note 5 to the Group’s consolidated financial statements as at December 31st, 2023. The term “costs” is also used to refer to Operating Expenses. The Cost/Income Ratio is defined on page 42 of Societe Generale’s 2024 Universal Registration Document.

    4 – Cost of risk in basis points, coverage ratio for non-performing loan outstandings

    The cost of risk is defined on pages 43 and 770 of Societe Generale’s 2024 Universal Registration Document. This indicator makes it possible to assess the level of risk of each of the pillars as a percentage of balance sheet loan commitments, including operating leases.

    In EURm   Q4 24 Q4 23 2024 2023
    French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance Net Cost Of Risk 115 163 712 505
    Gross loan Outstandings 233,298 240,533 235,539 246,701
    Cost of Risk in bp 20 27 30 20
    Global Banking and Investor Solutions Net Cost Of Risk 97 38 126 30
    Gross loan Outstandings 160,551 168,799 162,749 169,823
    Cost of Risk in bp 24 9 8 2
    Mobility, International Retail Banking & Financial Services Net Cost Of Risk 133 137 705 486
    Gross loan Outstandings 167,911 164,965 167,738 150,161
    Cost of Risk in bp 32 33 42 32
    Corporate Centre Net Cost Of Risk (7) 23 (12) 4
    Gross loan Outstandings 25,730 23,075 24,700 20,291
    Cost of Risk in bp (11) 40 (5) 2
    Societe Generale Group Net Cost Of Risk 338 361 1,530 1,025
    Gross loan Outstandings 587,490 597,371 590,725 586,977
    Cost of Risk in bp 23 24 26 17

    The gross coverage ratio for non-performing loan outstandings is calculated as the ratio of provisions recognised in respect of the credit risk to gross outstandings identified as in default within the meaning of the regulations, without taking account of any guarantees provided. This coverage ratio measures the maximum residual risk associated with outstandings in default (“non-performing loans”).

    5 – ROE, ROTE, RONE

    The notions of ROE (Return on Equity) and ROTE (Return on Tangible Equity), as well as their calculation methodology, are specified on pages 43 and 44 of Societe Generale’s 2024 Universal Registration Document. This measure makes it possible to assess Societe Generale’s return on equity and return on tangible equity.
    RONE (Return on Normative Equity) determines the return on average normative equity allocated to the Group’s businesses, according to the principles presented on page 44 of Societe Generale’s 2024 Universal Registration Document.
    Group net income used for the ratio numerator is the accounting Group net income adjusted for “Interest paid and payable to holders if deeply subordinated notes and undated subordinated notes, issue premium amortisation”. For ROTE, income is also restated for goodwill impairment.
    Details of the corrections made to the accounting equity in order to calculate ROE and ROTE for the period are given in the table below:

    ROTE calculation: calculation methodology

    End of period (in EURm) Q4 24 Q4 23 2024 2023
    Shareholders’ equity Group share 70,256 65,975 70,256 65,975
    Deeply subordinated and undated subordinated notes (10,526) (9,095) (10,526) (9,095)
    Interest payable to holders of deeply & undated subordinated notes, issue premium amortisation(1) (25) (21) (25) (21)
    OCI excluding conversion reserves 757 636 757 636
    Distribution provision(2) (1,740) (995) (1,740) (995)
    Distribution N-1 to be paid – – – –
    Equity end-of-period for ROE 58,722 56,500 58,722 56,500
    Average equity for ROE 58,204 56,607 57,223 56,396
    Average Goodwill(3) (4,192) (4,068) (4,108) (4,011)
    Average Intangible Assets (2,883) (3,188) (2,921) (3,143)
    Average equity for ROTE 51,129 49,351 50,194 49,242
             
    Group net Income 1,041 430 4,200 2,493
    Interest paid and payable to holders of deeply subordinated notes and undated subordinated notes, issue premium amortisation (199) (215) (720) (759)
    Cancellation of goodwill impairment – – – 338
    Adjusted Group net Income 842 215 3,480 2,073
    ROTE 6.6% 1.7% 6.9% 4.2%

    181920

    RONE calculation: Average capital allocated to Core Businesses (in EURm)

    In EURm Q4 24 Q4 23 Change 2024 2023 Change
    French Retail , Private Banking and Insurance 15,731 15,445 +1.9% 15,634 15,454 +1.2%
    Global Banking and Investor Solutions 15,129 15,247 -0.8% 15,147 15,426 -1.8%
    Mobility, International Retail Banking & Financial Services 10,460 10,313 +1.4% 10,433 9,707 +7.5%
    Core Businesses 41,320 41,006 +0.8% 41,214 40,587 +1.5%
    Corporate Center 16,884 15,601 +8.2% 16,009 15,809 +1.3%
    Group 58,204 56,607 +2.8% 57,223 56,396 +1.5%

    6 – Net assets and tangible net assets

    Net assets and tangible net assets are defined in the methodology, page 45 of the Group’s 2024 Universal Registration Document. The items used to calculate them are presented below:
    2122

    End of period (in EURm) 2024 2023 2022
    Shareholders’ equity Group share 70,256 65,975 66,970
    Deeply subordinated and undated subordinated notes (10,526) (9,095) (10,017)
    Interest of deeply & undated subordinated notes, issue premium amortisation(1) (25) (21) (24)
    Book value of own shares in trading portfolio 8 36 67
    Net Asset Value 59,713 56,895 56,996
    Goodwill(2) (4,207) (4,008) (3,652)
    Intangible Assets (2,871) (2,954) (2,875)
    Net Tangible Asset Value 52,635 49,933 50,469
           
    Number of shares used to calculate NAPS(3) 796,498 796,244 801,147
    Net Asset Value per Share 75.0 71.5 71.1
    Net Tangible Asset Value per Share 66.1 62.7 63.0

    7 – Calculation of Earnings Per Share (EPS)

    The EPS published by Societe Generale is calculated according to the rules defined by the IAS 33 standard (see page 44 of Societe Generale’s 2024 Universal Registration Document). The corrections made to Group net income in order to calculate EPS correspond to the restatements carried out for the calculation of ROE and ROTE.
    The calculation of Earnings Per Share is described in the following table:

    Average number of shares (thousands) 2024 2023 2022
    Existing shares 801,915 818,008 845,478
    Deductions      
    Shares allocated to cover stock option plans and free shares awarded to staff 4,402 6,802 6,252
    Other own shares and treasury shares 2,344 11,891 16,788
    Number of shares used to calculate EPS(4) 795,169 799,315 822,437
    Group net Income (in EUR m) 4,200 2,493 1,825
    Interest on deeply subordinated notes and undated subordinated notes (in EUR m) (720) (759) (596)
    Adjusted Group net income (in EUR m) 3,480 1,735 1,230
    EPS (in EUR) 4.38 2.17 1.50

    2324
    8 – The Societe Generale Group’s Common Equity Tier 1 capital is calculated in accordance with applicable CRR2/CRD5 rules. The fully loaded solvency ratios are presented pro forma for current earnings, net of dividends, for the current financial year, unless specified otherwise. When there is reference to phased-in ratios, these do not include the earnings for the current financial year, unless specified otherwise. The leverage ratio is also calculated according to applicable CRR2/CRD5 rules including the phased-in following the same rationale as solvency ratios.

    9 – Funded balance sheet, loan to deposit ratio

    The funded balance sheet is based on the Group financial statements. It is obtained in two steps:

    • A first step aiming at reclassifying the items of the financial statements into aggregates allowing for a more economic reading of the balance sheet. Main reclassifications:

    Insurance: grouping of the accounting items related to insurance within a single aggregate in both assets and liabilities.
    Customer loans: include outstanding loans with customers (net of provisions and write-downs, including net lease financing outstanding and transactions at fair value through profit and loss); excludes financial assets reclassified under loans and receivables in accordance with the conditions stipulated by IFRS 9 (these positions have been reclassified in their original lines).
    Wholesale funding: Includes interbank liabilities and debt securities issued. Financing transactions have been allocated to medium/long-term resources and short-term resources based on the maturity of outstanding, more or less than one year.
    Reclassification under customer deposits of the share of issues placed by French Retail Banking networks (recorded in medium/long-term financing), and certain transactions carried out with counterparties equivalent to customer deposits (previously included in short term financing).
    Deduction from customer deposits and reintegration into short-term financing of certain transactions equivalent to market resources.

    • A second step aiming at excluding the contribution of insurance subsidiaries, and netting derivatives, repurchase agreements, securities borrowing/lending, accruals and “due to central banks”.

    The Group loan/deposit ratio is determined as the division of the customer loans by customer deposits as presented in the funded balance sheet.

    NB (1) The sum of values contained in the tables and analyses may differ slightly from the total reported due to rounding rules.
    (2) All the information on the results for the period (notably: press release, downloadable data, presentation slides and supplement) is available on Societe Generale’s website:
    www.societegenerale.com in the “Investor” section.

    Societe Generale

    Societe Generale is a top tier European Bank with more than 126,000 employees serving about 25 million clients in 65 countries across the world. We have been supporting the development of our economies for 160 years, providing our corporate, institutional, and individual clients with a wide array of value-added advisory and financial solutions. Our long-lasting and trusted relationships with the clients, our cutting-edge expertise, our unique innovation, our ESG capabilities and leading franchises are part of our DNA and serve our most essential objective – to deliver sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders.

    The Group runs three complementary sets of businesses, embedding ESG offerings for all its clients:

    • French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance, with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank.
    • Global Banking and Investor Solutions, a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG.
    • Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services, comprising well-established universal banks (in Czech Republic, Romania and several African countries), Ayvens (the new ALD I LeasePlan brand), a global player in sustainable mobility, as well as specialized financing activities.

    Committed to building together with its clients a better and sustainable future, Societe Generale aims to be a leading partner in the environmental transition and sustainability overall. The Group is included in the principal socially responsible investment indices: DJSI (Europe), FTSE4Good (Global and Europe), Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion Index, Euronext Vigeo (Europe and Eurozone), STOXX Global ESG Leaders indexes, and the MSCI Low Carbon Leaders Index (World and Europe).

    For more information, you can follow us on Twitter/X @societegenerale or visit our website societegenerale.com.

    1 Based on the number of shares in circulation at 31 December 2024 excluding own shares, subject to usual approvals from the General Meeting
    2 Reported Group net income, after deduction of interest on deeply subordinated notes and undated subordinated notes, restated from non-cash items that have no impact on CET1 ratio
    3 Excluding assets sold
    4 Ratio calculated according to EBA methodology published on 16 July 2019
    5 Ratio excluding loans outstanding of companies currently being disposed of in compliance with IFRS 5 (in particular Société Générale Equipment Finance, SG Marocaine de Banques and La Marocaine Vie)
    6 Ratio of S3 provisions, guarantees and collaterals over gross outstanding non-performing loans
    7 The share buyback programme and the subsequent capital reduction, aim also, and in priority, at fully offsetting the dilutive impact of the future capital increase as part of the next Group Employee Share Ownership Plan, the principle of which was adopted by the Board of Directors on February 5, 2025
    8 Scopes 1 & 2 of corporate clients’ financed emissions
    9Target: -80% upstream exposure reduction by 2030 vs. 2019, with an intermediary step in 2025 at -50% vs. 2019
    10 The target is to have at least 35% of women executives by 2026
    11Including IFRS 9 phasing
    12France and International (including Switzerland and the United Kingdom)
    13 Banking App #1 in France and #2 worldwide based on Sia Partners International Mobile Banking Benchmark in October 2024
    14 At comparable business model in the post Global Financial Crisis (GFC) regulatory regime

    15 Including entities reported under IFRS 5, excluding entities sold in Morocco and Madagascar in December 2024
    16 Excluding non-recurring items on either margins or UCS (mainly linked to fleet revaluation at EUR 107m in Q4 23 vs. EUR 0m in Q4 24, prospective depreciation at EUR -191m in Q4 23 vs. EUR -87m in Q4 24, hyperinflation in Turkey at EUR -27m in Q4 23 vs. EUR -40m in Q4 24 and MtM of derivatives at EUR -137m in Q4 23 vs. EUR -2m in Q4 24)

    17 As stated in Q2 24 results press release
    18 Interest net of tax
    19 Based on the 2024 proposed distribution, subject to usual approvals of the General Meeting
    20 Excluding goodwill arising from non-controlling interests
    21 Interest net of tax
    22 Excluding goodwill arising from non-controlling interests
    23 The number of shares considered is the number of ordinary shares outstanding at the end of the period, excluding treasury shares and buybacks, but including the trading shares held by the Group (expressed in thousand of shares)
    24 The number of shares considered is the average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period, excluding treasury shares and buybacks, but including the trading shares held by the Group

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNFPA Appoints Shudu Musida as Global Champion for Women and Girls

    Source: United Nations Population Fund

    New York – UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, is proud to announce Shudufhadzo (known as Shudu) Musida as our Global Champion for Women and Girls. 

    Her first act in this role is to help observe the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation by launching a UNFPA campaign entitled Patterns of Hope – inside the movement to end female genital mutilation, which focuses on ending the harmful practice endured by more than 200 million women and girls worldwide. 

    Ms. Musida previously served as UNFPA’s first-ever Regional Champion for East and Southern Africa, where she advocated for women and girls’ sexual and reproductive health. Crowned as Miss South Africa in 2020, she has since leveraged her platform to mobilize awareness and action on gender equity and mental health, notably via her Mindful Mondays programme, which reached over 1 million weekly viewers. Her unwavering commitment and impact have been invaluable for UNFPA.

    “I am incredibly honoured to continue advancing UNFPA’s mandate, especially as it faces concerted opposition around the world,” said Ms. Musida. “I’m committed to raising awareness and advocating for the rights of women and girls everywhere.”

    Hailing from a village in Limpopo Province, South Africa, Ms. Musida’s upbringing instilled a deep understanding of the injustices faced by women and girls worldwide. She is currently bringing these experiences to the Ivy League through her enrolment in Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where she is pursuing a master’s degree. And as UNFPA’s Global Champion, she will continue advocating for an intersectional approach to well-being, addressing mental health, improving sexual and reproductive health, and ending gender-based violence. 

    “We are thrilled to welcome Shudu to the UNFPA global team,” said Ian McFarlane, Director of UNFPA’s Division for External Relations. “Her energy, passion and commitment are inspiring. Working through partnerships we can achieve so much more than we would by working alone.”

    Her two-year appointment will contribute to UNFPA’s mission to achieve sexual and reproductive health and rights for all by 2030. 

    • To visit UNFPA’s “Patterns of Hope – inside the movement to end female genital mutilation” campaign, click here 
    • For more information or interview requests, please contact: Eddie Wright: ewright@unfpa.org; Tel:  +1 917 831 2074

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza condemned in Mideast

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Displaced people are seen on their way home to the north of the Gaza Strip, near al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza Strip, on Jan. 28, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Middle East governments and regional leaders on Wednesday roundly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Washington could assume control of Gaza and relocate Palestinians, calling the proposal a breach of international law and a threat to longstanding efforts toward a two-state solution.

    Trump floated the idea during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, stating that the U.S. would “take over the Gaza Strip” and redevelop it, though he offered no specifics on resettling Palestinians.

    “We’re going to develop it, create thousands of jobs, and it’ll be something the entire Middle East can be proud of,” he said.

    In a statement, the Arab League (AL) rejected Trump’s proposal, saying it violates international law and threatens regional stability. The AL reaffirmed that the Palestinian issue remains subject to Arab consensus, emphasizing that one of its key principles is ensuring the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to establish an independent state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

    Trump’s proposal “does not contribute to achieving the two-state solution, which represents the only way to bring peace and security between Palestinians and Israelis, and in the entire region,” the pan-Arab body said.

    Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called the Gaza proposal “unacceptable” and fundamentally flawed. “Even considering such a plan is wrong,” Fidan told the semi-official Anadolu Agency in an interview. “We oppose all initiatives that seek to exclude the people of Gaza from the equation in the region. The idea of displacement is neither acceptable for the region nor for us.”

    Fidan also emphasized Turkey’s firm stance on Palestinian rights, rejecting any efforts to remove Hamas from Gaza’s reconstruction and governance.

    The Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a statement Wednesday, reaffirming that Saudi Arabia’s position on the establishment of a Palestinian state is non-negotiable. “The country will continue its relentless efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without that,” the statement read.

    “Achieving lasting and just peace is impossible without the Palestinian people obtaining their legitimate rights in accordance with international resolutions, as has been previously clarified to both the former and current U.S. administrations,” it added.

    In a meeting in Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and visiting Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa urged the continuation of efforts to recover Gaza without forcing Palestinians to leave the enclave, especially as they remain determined to stay. Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s support for Palestinian rights, stressing the need for a fair, permanent political solution based on the two-state framework to end cycles of violence.

    Jordan’s King Abdullah II, in a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman, also rejected any attempts to annex land or displace Palestinians. “We reaffirm the necessity of achieving a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, which will lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders,” the statement from Jordan’s Royal Hashemite Court said. The king also reiterated Jordan’s support for the Palestinian people in securing their legitimate rights.

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced Wednesday its strong rejection of the idea of forcibly relocating Palestinians. The UAE Foreign Ministry said in a statement that any efforts to displace Palestinians are unacceptable and violate their fundamental rights. The UAE reiterated its support for a two-state solution, emphasizing that the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state is essential for achieving long-term peace and stability in the region.

    Meanwhile, Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary general of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said the organization “categorically rejects all calls to displace our people from their homeland.” He stated that the two-state solution, based on international law, remains the only viable path to peace and stability. “We were born here, we have lived here, and we will remain here.”

    Strongly condemning and rejecting Trump’s remarks, Hamas said in a press statement that such rhetoric would escalate tensions in the region and aims to forcibly remove the Palestinian people from their land while justifying U.S. and Israeli control over Gaza. Hamas vowed that neither it nor the Palestinian people would allow any foreign power to impose guardianship over Gaza.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China opposes forced displacement of people in Gaza

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    China has all along believed that “the Palestinians governing Palestine” is the fundamental principle of post-conflict governance of Gaza, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday.

    The spokesperson made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech in which he said the U.S. will “take over” and “own” the Gaza Strip after resettling Palestinians living there to neighboring countries, like Jordan and Egypt.

    Lin noted that China has all along believed that “the Palestinians governing Palestine” is the fundamental principle of post-conflict governance of Gaza.

    “We oppose the forced displacement of the people in Gaza, and hope that relevant parties will take the opportunity of the ceasefire and post-conflict governance in Gaza to bring the Palestinian question back to the right track of a political settlement based on the two-State solution, so as to realize lasting peace in the Middle East,” Lin said.

    MIL OSI China News –