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Lack of funds compromises care
for refugees in Ethiopia
December 22nd, 9:10am
(Prensa Latina)
The Refugee and Repatriate Service (RRS) of Ethiopia and
United Nations agencies warned today that the lack of
financing puts the response to more than 1.1 million
refugees in the country in danger.
A joint statement from the RRS, the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World
Food Program (WFP) specified that, without an
immediate injection of funds, essential life-
saving services, including food, water
and healthcare, will cease
within weeks.
The text specified that.... Ethiopia, the second largest
host country for these people in Africa, registered
an increase in arrivals due to the conflicts in
Sudan and South Sudan, as well as the
drought in Somalia.
However, he added, severe funding shortfalls --- have
already forced aid agencies to reduce emergency
aid supplies by 70 percent in 2025.
RRS Director General Teyiba Hassen said Addis Ababa
fulfilled its commitments to protect refugees, but this
great responsibility cannot be borne by the
government alone.
“Our resources are stretched to the limit, and the pressure
on host communities is becoming unbearable. At this
critical time, immediate international support to
share this burden.... and avoid humanitarian
catastrophe is a necessity”, he asserted.
For her part, the UNHCR representative in the country,
Aissatou M.Ndiaye, assured that the current
situation -- is unprecedented and
deeply alarming.
“We have reached a critical moment where the choice we
make now will determine whether Ethiopia's refugee
response collapses, or becomes a model of
resilience, inclusion and long-term
solutions”, he stressed.
The statement reported that ---- last October, WFP had to
reduce food rations for 780,000 refugees... to just 40%
of the standard duty, providing less than a thousand
calories per day. Currently ----- only 70,000 newly
arrived refugees... receive full rations.
“We are urgently asking for 90 million dollars to
maintain operations for the next six months”,
declared the representative of that UN
program and country director,
Zlatan Milisic.
The cuts caused a sharp increase in malnutrition, which
now exceeds 15 percent in refugee camps, mortality
rates among newborns and children under one
year of age increased to 4.7% in 2025, and
admissions for malnutrition doubled
compared to last year.
WFP analyzes project that reducing rations from 60% to
40% will quadruple the number of families consuming
poor diets, from one in 10 households to four in 10.
______________________________________________
Construction costs --
increase in S. Africa
December 22nd, 27:48pm
(Prensa Latina)
Construction materials prices in South Africa
registered a year-on-year increase of 3.7%
in November --- with significant monthly
inflationary pressures in electrical
and metallic components.
According to the national statistical authority, Stats SA,
the Construction Input Price Index (CIPI) experienced
a monthly increase of 1.6 percent in the period,
highlighting pronounced increases in
specific sectors.
The 3.7 percent annual change reflects sustained
cost pressures for the construction sector.
Among the items with the highest monthly increases,
the statistical entity lists.. the group of electrical
installations stands out, whose index shot
up 4.0 percent.
That behaviour was mainly driven by the rise in prices of 7.9
mm copper bar (6.0 percent) and 99.7 EC grade aluminum
products (4.3 percent cent), raw materials with a
combined weight of 70% in that area.
Similarly, the index for aluminum metal roofs rose 3.9%,
influenced almost entirely by the same increase in the
price of aluminum. These data confirm considerable
tension in the markets for basic non-ferrous metals
for the industry.
On the other hand, adds Stats SA, other
segments presented decreases that
moderated the general index.
Thus, the ceiling category fell 1.4 percent, due to drops in
the prices of ceiling plates (-1.9 percent) and steel for
light sections (-7.2 percent).
Likewise, the brick and block masonry group fell 2.5%
affected by a 5.5% drop in the price of clay bricks.
On the other hand, the index for mining and construction
machinery registered a year-on-year increase of 4.4%
with a minimal positive monthly variation of
0.1 percent.
In the field of engineering, inputs for electrical engineering
showed strong pressure, with a year-on-year increase of
8% and a monthly jump of 4.2% in November, the
highest of all monitored segments.
Civil engineering materials, for their part, maintained
monthly stability, although they have accumulated
an increase of 7% in the last twelve months ---
which indicates significant inflation in this
sector..... in the medium term.
Sector experts pointed out --- that the marked divergence
between the prices of electrical and metallic materials
...compared to the stability or fall in other items,
reflects the current global dynamics of raw
materials and specific supply chains.
__________________________________________________
South Africa foreign trade prices
with divergent trends
December 22nd, 5:56m
(Prensa Latina)
The unit value index of South African exports showed
year-on-year growth of 5.5 percent in October,
while imports fell 0.2 percent in the
same period.
In this regard, the national statistics agency, Stats SA,
revealed favourable price dynamics for the products
that the country sells abroad, contrasting with a
relative reduction... in the cost of the goods
purchased. In monthly terms, the export
index advanced 0.4% from September
to October, while the importer fell
0.9%, the entity detailed.
According to its most recent report, the metal
products, machinery and equipment sector
emerged .....as the main driver of the
increase in exports.
This item contributed 6.5% to the total year-on-year
result of 5.5%, registering an increase of 13.8%
in its unit value. It was also the biggest driver
of the monthly increase, up 1.3 percent.
On the import side, adds Stats SA, the negative evolution
was led by the fall in crude oil prices, whose decrease
of 13.4% in the last year subtracted 1.1% from the
general index.
Other transportable goods also had an impact, with a year-
on-year decrease of 1.6%. That same group was the main
factor in the monthly contraction of 0.9%, decreasing
by 1.3% between September and October.
According to local analysts, the divergence of the analyzed
indices suggests an improvement in the terms of trade for
the South African economy in the period analyzed, which
constitutes a positive factor for the trade balance.
The authorities expect that the trend in non-
traditional exports will remain a pillar of
the national economic recovery.
________________________________________
Elite police force, example of
Ethiopian security reforms
December 22nd, 4:53am
(Prensa Latina)
Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh affirmed today that
the creation of an elite force endowed with specialized and
strategic capabilities within the Ethiopian Federal Police is
powerful testimony of the reforms undertaken in security.
This was expressed by Tiruneh, on his social networks after
participating the day before in the graduation ceremony of
the Command Police (Elite Police Force), the first to
receive complete training from the Academy of
that command for internal order with its
institutional resources.
“Through comprehensive and sustained reforms, the Ethiopian
Federal Police has been transformed into a professional and
modern institution: a firm guardian of constitutional order,
highly competent in both operational experience and
advanced technology and firmly rooted in the trust
of the people it serves”, he asserted.
He assured that this elite force has unique capabilities to quickly
and decisively neutralize complex and constantly evolving
security threats.
He stressed the crucial responsibility to prevent and suppress
terrorist activities and serious crimes that endanger national
sovereignty, peace, and the security of our citizens.
He expressed confidence in his historic mission to guarantee the
peaceful, democratic and credible holding of the next national
elections scheduled for June 1, 2026, as well as the success
of international and continental events such as the 32nd
United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP32)
in 2027.
“To the graduates of this elite force: you are symbols of the unity and
sovereignty of the Ethiopian people. I entrust to you the solemn duty
to safeguard the nation and its constitutional order ---- against any
threat, with unwavering loyalty, discipline and professionalism”,
he concluded.
________________________________________________________
Angola values Russia-Africa
partnership --- positively
December 20th, 4:49pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Angola, Téte António, today
positively valued the Russia Africa alliance, speaking at the
Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa
Partnership in Cairo, Egypt.
The chancellor considered that the meeting is an important
institutional step towards consolidating comprehensive
cooperation between both parties, focused on the
implementation of the 2023-2026 Action Plan,
the expansion of trade, investments and
technical cooperation.
This partnership opens a new perspective for greater economic
integration and multidimensional development opportunities,
the minister noted ....according to the Angolan Foreign
Ministry, and he added that Angola is interested in
strengthening bilateral and regional relations.
In this sense, he expressed the country's openness
to new investments, economic projects and long-
term technical cooperation.
The Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership
brought together foreign ministers and other high-level African and
Russian representatives---- to assess progress and encourage full
implementation of the 2023-2026 Action Plan, which provides for
cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, the economy,
security, energy, education and technology.
During the meeting, participants addressed the need to promote
the growth of trade and investment, as well as address issues
of security, peace and stability.
They also discussed issues such as economic integration
and sovereignty; development of technical capabilities
and technology transfer; and the development of
infrastructure and education.
_________________________________
President of Angola... expresses
regret over death of patriot
December 20th, 8:20am
(Prensa Latina)
The president of Angola, Joao Lourenco... today expressed
condolences to the family of the nationalist Fernando da
Piedade Dias dos Santos, whose death occurred last
Thursday in Luanda.
The president indicated in the message that he received the
news with surprise and dismay, and highlighted the figure
of “Nandó”, as he was known, who stood out as a fighter
for independence and for his performance in national
political life.
“He always defended the best interests of the Angolan people
with zeal and competence”, Lourenço remarked and detailed
the important positions he held in the service of the Angolan
State, such as those of Minister of the Interior, prime
Minister, Vice President of the Republic, and
President of the National Assembly.
“His charisma, sense of justice and good manners earned him
the consideration of both his peers and his adversaries, with
whom he always maintained a cordial and respectful
relationship despite his different points of view”,
the head of state emphasized.
''It means that his loss leaves a void in Angolan public life, that
will be difficult to fill and ....we offer his family, subordinates
and colleagues, as well as his numerous friends, deepest
condolences and wish that you overcome this difficult
time - with courage.
The day before, the president decreed national mourning in the
country and in diplomatic and consular missions to pay tribute
to the nationalist Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos;
which will be valid from 00:00 on December 22, 2025.
This mourning will last 24 hours, during which the national flag
will fly at half-mast and all shows and public demonstrations,
will be suspended, though there will be no break from work.
The Minister of State and head of the President's Military House,
General Francisco Pereira Furtado, coordinator of the special
commission for funeral honours formed at the direction of
the president, said in a special appearance that a state
funeral will be held on Monday morning.
His mortal remains will be in the
Alto de las Cruces cemetery,
in Luanda.
___________________________________
Angola expressed solidarity
with Venezuela & Palestine
December 19th, 1:09pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Angolan League of Friendship, Solidarity and Peace
(Laasp) today hosted a solidarity act with Venezuela
and Palestine, faced with attacks - in which both
peoples are victims.
On the occasion of the 200 years of the Chuquisaca Decree,
signed by the Venezuelan hero Simón Bolívar, members of
the Angolan Committee of Solidarity with Bolivarian
Venezuela (Casoveb) and the Angolan Committee
of Solidarity with the People of Palestine
(Caspp), planted a tree for peace.
At the event, the ambassador of the South American nation in
Angola, Belén Orsini, said that even though it is an action
that seems small..... it contains deep meanings,
particularly in times of aggression by the
United States and Israel, and the
need to care for nature.
More than ever it symbolizes our call for peace for all peoples,
not only for Venezuela and Palestine, “but for all those who
suffer the attacks of imperialism, of the culture of death
that is contrary to this culture of life that we defend”,
he noted.
He commented that the Chuquisaca Decree, prepared by the
Liberator of America, reveals the general's great vision of
the future, that two centuries ago expressed the need
to reforest all the river basins of what was then
Gran Colombia .........with one million trees.
The idea is currently much more urgent, he added, and highlighted
that the participants' desire is for the tree to become a symbol
and grow with strong roots, robust trunk and many leaves
to protect that message of unity between peoples.
The ambassadors of Palestine, Jubrael George Bishara Shomali,
of Cuba, Oscar León, and of Venezuela, together with the
president of Laasp, Elisa Salvador, and the deputy
administrator of the municipality of Ingombotas,
Cláudio Revelas, was in charge of planting
the tree in the Laasp garden.
The occasion was propitious to condemn the actions of the United
States with its military siege and economic pressures against the
Bolivarian Republic, as well as the economic blockade against
Cuba, an unfair policy that has lasted more than six decades,
stressed the vice president of Laasp, Fernando Mota.
He also conveyed a message of solidarity from the Angolans with the
people of Palestine, who deserve to live in peace in the land of their
ancestors, finally free and with the world's recognition of that State.
On the day, those present, dedicated farewell words to the
Palestinian representative, who concludes his mission
after four years.
Shomali, for his part, profusely thanked the Angolan people for their
expressions of affection and commitment to the Palestinian cause,
not only from the people, but also ---- from the support of the
Government and institutions.
_______________________________
Mali expressed full solidarity with
the Government and people
of Venezuela
December 19th, 9:55am
(Prensa Latina)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
of the Republic of Mali, Abdoulaye Diop, today expressed
his country's full solidarity with the Government and
people of Venezuela in the face of aggression
from the United States.
This emerged from a dialogue held with his Venezuelan
counterpart, Yván Gil, who on his Telegram account
described the 'phone conversation as constructive.
During the talk Diop reaffirmed “his rejection
of all forms of external interference”.
Gil pointed out that during the dialogue they addressed the
political and social situation in both countries, as well as
the common challenges they face in the current
regional and international context.
Likewise -- they talked about the situation of the Confederation
of Sahel States and its evolution «highlighting the importance
of dialogue, cooperation and respect for the sovereignty of
States», he expressed.
Last August, Caracas and Bamako signed a memorandum of
understanding that strengthened the 18 existing bilateral
agreements, promoted economic development, and the
social and strategic ties between the two nations,
and consolidated South-South cooperation.
Then, President Nicolás Maduro and Diop agreed to hold the 2026
Joint Commission in the African country, which will allow for a
strengthening binational cooperation, with new agreements.
The visit of the Malian Foreign Minister to the Bolivarian
Republic reflected the historical ties between Mali and
Venezuela, promoted by the leader of the Bolivarian
Revolution, Hugo Chávez.
He also responded to the policies implemented by the Maduro
Government to diversify international alliances, in a context
of rejection of the coercive measures and financial
persecutions promoted by the West ---- against
his country.
_________________________________________________
Progress continues in Ethiopia-
Somalia bilateral relations
December 19th, 8:51am
(Prensa Latina)
The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, received the
President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, today,
who makes a working visit ....to strengthen their
bilateral relations.
Ahmed, on his social network account X, showed the images
of Mohamoud's welcome at Bole International Airport and
revealed... that they continued the talks of the last year
with the aim of consolidating progress in cooperation.
“Our exchange focused on driving shared priorities and
reaffirmed our mutual commitment to deeper
partnership, regional stability and
development” ---- the account
words stressed.
On the occasion, both leaders reaffirmed their mutual
commitment to deeper partnership, regional stability
and development.
On the other hand, Ahmed and Mohamoud met last January
after signing the Ankara Declaration that ended tensions
between both countries.
The meeting was the second face to face between both leaders
since their engagement in the meeting negotiated by the
Turkish president ------- Recep Tayyip Erdogan, held in
December 2024 that ended in the announcement
of the Ankara Declaration.
Mediated by Erdogan, the parties involved reached a peace agreement
after addressing tensions caused by the signing of a memorandum
of understanding by Ethiopia.. with the semi-autonomous region
of Somaliland, on December 1st, in 2024.
The latter grants Addis Ababa 20 kilometres of access
to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, for a period
of 50 years.
In exchange, it must formally recognize Somaliland, which
proclaimed its independence from Somalia in 1991,
without the United Nations recognizing that
region as a national state...... to date.
As a result of that meeting last January, both leaders agreed
to restore and improve their diplomatic relations.... through
flat diplomatic representation in their respective capitals.
They highlighted at that time, the need for their diplomatic
missions in multilateral and regional forums to cooperate
closely ....on issues of mutual interest.
_________________________________________________
Lavrov arrived in Cairo ------- for the
Russia-Africa ministerial meeting
by Yuri Kogalov (Cairo)
December 18th, 7:53pm
(Rossiyskaya Gazeta)
To share
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has arrived in Cairo
on a working visit. In the Egyptian capital - the Russian
Foreign Minister will participate in the ministerial
conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership
Forum, which will take place on
December 19-20.
This will be the first time such an event has been held on
the African continent. Until now, all conferences and
summits have been held in Russia.
The participants of the Cairo meeting are expected to
synchronize their positions on the most pressing
issues on the international and Russian-
African agendas.
According to Maria Zakharova, the official representative of
the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the focus will be on
the full implementation of the 2023-2026 Action Plan of
the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, which was
approved at the St. Petersburg summit.
This plan, covers various areas of Russian-African cooperation.
The ministers will discuss the progress made in implementing
this plan.
"Special attention will be paid ------- to developing relations in the trade,
economic, and investment spheres, as well as discussing promising
areas for further cooperation," the diplomat said. According to
Zakharova, the ministerial meeting in Egypt is "a major event
in Russian-African relations this year and a crucial stage in
preparing for the third Russia-Africa summit, scheduled
for 2026."
"The Forum's work is important ---- for promoting the entire range of
Russian-African ties, and it organically complements and enriches
Russia's relations with African countries, which are developing
dynamically and on a bilateral basis," Lavrov said in an article
for the African media - written in time for the Cairo meeting.
According to him, Africa is experiencing a kind of second awakening,
and Russia is happy about this. "If in the middle of the last century
the culmination was de-colonization, now Africans are fighting for
the sovereignty of all aspects of their lives. We fully support this
struggle," the minister's article states.
"Russian diplomacy ----- will contribute to the formation of the African
continent as an influential centre of a multipolar world. We consider
it an inalienable right of Africans to independently determine the
ways and models of their development, to choose international
partners," Lavrov stressed.
The Russian Foreign Minister has repeatedly noted that Russia's
cooperation with its African partners is "strategic in nature."
"This - is one of our key foreign policy priorities," the minister said.
It is not for nothing that the Foreign Minister has visited 20
countries of the Black continent over the past four years
(this is more than a third of their total number).
"The African continent is already and will continue to grow as one
of the pillars of the emerging multipolar world order and it will
play an increasingly important role --- in global politics,
the economy and finance," Lavrov said recently.
Russia aims to expand trade and economic cooperation with Africa
in areas such as peaceful nuclear energy, space, pharmaceuticals,
the digitalization of public and municipal administration, and the
banking sector. Work is being carried out with both individual
countries and regional organizations.
Compared to 2019, trade with Africa increased by more than one
and a half times, exceeding the \$27 billion mark last year.
"This ---- is far from the limit," Lavrov said.
It is expected that the discussions held in Cairo, will result in
new initiatives aimed at unlocking potential in various fields.
________________________________________
Myanmar and Algeria
reaffirm bilateral
cooperation
December 18th, 10:56am
(Prensa Latina)
Myanmar and Algeria agreed today to give greater projection
to their diplomatic relations by promoting cooperation in
trade, economy and tourism, during an official meeting
between the authorities from both countries.
The understanding was ratified during the credential presentation
ceremony of the Algerian ambassador, Azeddine Bechka, before
the interim president of Myanmar and the head of the State
Security and Peace Commission, Min Aung Hlaing.
In the dialogue, both parties agreed to promote a lasting bilateral
relationship based on friendship and mutual respect, as well as
to expand economic and commercial exchanges of
shared benefit.
Likewise, political progress in Myanmar and preparations for the
holding of free and fair multiparty general elections in the
Asian country were addressed.
The event was also attended by the Secretary General of the
Commission, Ye Win Oo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Than Swe, and Director General of the Protocol
Department, Than Htwe.
_______________________________
SADC will send mediation group
to ''stabilize'' Madagascar
December 18th, 10:55am
(Prensa Latina)
The Southern African Development Community
authorized the sending of a mediation panel
to support the restoration of constitutional
order & political stability in Madagascar.
The decision, announced today, was adopted during a virtual
Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government
of the regional bloc, held virtually the day before.
The mechanism, which includes a Panel of Elders and
a Mediation Reference Group, will be deployed
before March 2026.
Former Malawi President, Joyce Banda - will lead the initiative,
which will have technical support from the SADC Secretariat.
The group will have the mission of facilitating internal efforts
to restore ''democratic governance'' and peace in the
island country.
At the meeting, regional leaders received a report from Malawian
President Arthur Peter Mutharika, in charge of the Policy,
Defense and Security Body .......about a technical
evaluation mission carried out last October.
The summit welcomed the restoration of calm in Madagascar and
took note of the national consultation process launched by the
transitional government on 10 December.
In a statement in this regard, the summit urged the transitional
government, led by Colonel Michael Randrianirina, to initiate
an inclusive national dialogue led by the Malagasy
themselves. This process --- must lay the
foundations for holding elections and
facilitate the peaceful return of
political exiles.
The Panel of Elders was also tasked - with coordinating with
the SADC special envoy, the former Mozambican president
Joaquim Chissano, to gather background information
on previous interventions and pending issues, in
particular ----- constitutional reforms and
electoral processes.
Madagascar is due to submit a report on the preparation of the
dialogue and a draft National Roadmap by February 28, 2026,
with subsequent updates in May, August and November of
the same year.
In organizational matters ---- after the appointment of the South
African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, as President of the SADC,
the summit appointed the Zambian president, Hakainde
Hichilema, as theIncoming Interim President of the
regional organization.
The summit also led the SADC Secretariat to coordinate with
the African Union and international partners to mobilize
financial, technical and logistical resources ---- to
support reforms in Madagascar.
_________________________________
They invite Emirati
businessmen to
invest in Angola
December 18th, 7:33am
(Prensa Latina)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Angola, Téte António, today
invited businessmen from the United Arab Emirates to invest
in their country, during his speech at the Africa-UAE
Economic Forum, held in Dubai.
The chancellor took advantage of the space to present the economic
potential of the African nation and highlighted that internally they
are working on structural reforms aimed at diversifying the
economy, improving the business environment and
promoting private investment, both national
and foreign.
He presented agriculture, energy, mineral resources, manufacturing,
logistics, transportation, tourism and infrastructure as strategic
sectors for the country; with special emphasis on the Lobito
Corridor, a railway line that connects the port of Lobito
with the interior and markets of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, and Zambia.
António assured that investors in Angola will arrive in a place ------- with
political and macroeconomic stability, legal security, and mechanisms
that will facilitate the processes for a mutually advantageous alliance.
Under the motto “Investing in Africa and Dubai”, policy makers,
businessmen and financial institutions met in the UAE to
strengthen ties of economic cooperation.
The event --- is promoted by the Forum of Operators for Emergency
Economic Guarantees in Africa (Fogeca), a pan-African exchange
platform --- with influence and action --- dedicated to promoting
economic development and regional integration in Africa.
_____________________________________________
Revenue from tourist accommodation in
South Africa increased in October
December 17th, 12:22pm
(Prensa Latina)
Revenue from the tourist accommodation sector in South
Africa grew significantly in October 2025, driven by
hotels and other accommodation modalities,
according to the most recent report
from Statistics South Africa
(Stats SA).
According to the report, in nominal terms, the total turnover of
the sector registered an increase of 12.8 percent in October
2025 compared to the same month of the previous year.
The increase in accommodation income was 15.2 percent
year-on-year, result of a 10.3 percent increase in nights
spent and a 4.5 percent growth in average income
per night sold.
The analysis by type of establishment indicates that hotels were
the main driver of progress, with a growth of 15.3 percent that
contributed 8.7 percentage points to the general increase.
Stats SA added that the category called “other” accommodations
showed an even more dynamic performance, with an increase
of 17.2 percent and a contribution of 6.4 percentage points
to the annual result.
In the quarterly period, accommodation income grew 10.5 percent
in the three months closed in October 2025 compared to the
same period in 2024.
Both hotels and the modalities grouped in “others” registered
increases of 11.0 percent, with contributions of 6.1 and 4.2
percentage points, respectively, to accumulated growth.
The seasonally adjusted series showed a monthly recovery in
October, with an increase of 7.2 percent compared to
September 2025, after a drop of 6.1 percent
in the previous month.
Analysts estimate that this behaviour shows the volatility of
demand in the short term and the influence of seasonal
calendar factors on occupancy and the average rate.
______________________________________________
Income from the food sector
grows in South Africa
December 17th, 11:57am
(Prensa Latina)
The food and beverage sector in South Africa recorded an
8.4 percent year-on-year increase in real revenue in
October 2025, powered by restaurants and other
similar services, national statistical agency
Stats SA said today.
Official figures, calculated at constant 2019 prices, indicate
that the industry as a whole increased its revenue by
8.4 percent compared to October 2024.
Among the subsectors, restaurants and cafes stood out with
an increase of 10.1 percent, which contributed 4.7
percentage points to the global increase.
In the three-month period ended in October, accumulated
revenue increased 7.1 percent compared to the same
period in 2024.
In the text, the statistical entity added that takeaway
establishments and fast food chains registered a
growth of 10.0 percent, contributing 3.9
percentage points to the national total,
while restaurants and cafes, added
6.8 percent, with a contribution of
3.2 percentage points to the
quarterly result.
Seasonally adjusted indicators showed a positive variation
of 2.4 percent in October compared to September 2025,
after a monthly drop of 1.7 percent in September and
a rebound of 5.7 percent in August.
This behavior reflects monthly oscillations associated with
seasonal factors and the evolution of domestic demand.
Local analysts attribute part of the boost to the diversification
of supply and the adaptation of operators to changes in
consumer habits, with special emphasis on the fast
food segment and complementary services
included in the “other” category.
For their part, representatives of business associations and
economic authorities valued the results.. as a sign of
recovery and greater resilience of the sector after
periods of contraction, although --- they warned
about the importance of maintaining support
measures to consolidate employment -- and
guarantee affordable prices for consumers.
________________________________________________
Cargo transportation and passenger
travel increases in South Africa
December 17th, 11:09am
(Prensa Latina)
Freight transport in South Africa registered an increase
in the volume handled and a marked increase in
income in October 2025, according to data
revealed by the national statistical
entity, Stats SA.
The report indicates that the cargo moved grew 2.2 percent
in October 2025 compared to the same month of the
previous year, while the income associated with
this movement increased 5.7 percent in the
same period, reflecting an improvement
in the profitability of the sector.
In the quarterly analysis, maintains Stats SA, revenue from
freight transportation showed an advance of 4.1 percent
in the three months ended October 2025 compared to
the equivalent quarter of 2024.
Among the items that contributed the most to this growth, are
primary products from mining and quarries, with an increase
of 7.0 percent that contributed 2.4 percentage points to the
total; primary agricultural and forestry products, which
grew 21.0 percent and added 1.6 points; and the
parcel segment, with an increase of 31.9
percent and a contribution of
0.8 percentage points.
However, it is added in the report, when adjusting for seasonality,
the volume transported in the quarter ended in October showed
a contraction of 1.6 percent compared to the previous quarter.
This drop was mainly explained by the reduction in road transport,
which fell 2.4 percent and subtracted 2.1 percentage points from
the total, while rail transport registered a rebound of 3.7 percent
and contributed 0.5 percentage points, which suggests a
dynamic of ''modal substitution'' in ''certain corridors''.
In the area of people transportation, the number of trips increased
4.2 percent in October 2025 compared to October 2024, and
income from this concept rose 15.7 percent in the same
period, indicating a recovery in demand and an
improvement in the sector's turnover.
However, according to Stats SA, when considering the seasonally
adjusted series for the quarter ending in October, passenger
travel decreased 0.8% compared to the previous quarter.
The drop was concentrated in road trips, which fell 3.4 percent and
subtracted 2.5 percentage points, while rail travel increased 6.4
percent and added 1.7% to the ''general behaviour''.
_________________________________________________
Ethiopia and AU evaluated
cooperation ahead of
COP32 in 2027
December 17th, 9:47am
(Prensa Latina)
The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, spoke today, with
the president of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali
Youssouf, on strengthening bilateral cooperation in
preparation for COP32.
Addis Ababa was officially announced as the venue for the 32nd
United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP32) during the
closing plenary session of COP30 recently held in Belém,
Brazil. The summit is scheduled to take place in
November 2027.
Ahmed highlighted during the meeting the importance of
close collaboration to ensure that the conference is a
success --- that reflects African priorities.
On his account on the social network X, he expressed his
satisfaction with the commitment of the AU, under the
leadership of Youssouf ----- to act as a key partner to
support Ethiopia's efforts for a “truly African COP”.
Task forces from both sides described the discussions as part
of Ethiopia's broader initiative to position the continent at the
forefront of global climate action and advance solutions led
by Africa in international negotiations on the issue.
______________________________________________________
Ethiopia and India open a new chapter
with strategic partnership
December 17th, 9:18am
(Prensa Latina)
The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, stated today that
increasing ties at a strategic level with India marks an
important milestone and opens a new chapter of
cooperation and shared progress.
Ahmed, on his X social network account, thanked his Indian
counterpart, Narendra Modi --- for his first official visit to
Addis Ababa and his continued efforts to strengthen
bilateral relations.
Modi, for his part, on the same digital platform, wrote that his stay
gave new impetus to the ties between both nations with the
elevation of ties to a strategic partnership. “My gratitude
to the Government and people of Ethiopia. I also thank
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali for accompanying me
to the airport when I left Ethiopia”, the
publication concluded.
This morning, the Indian head of government participated in a joint
session of the local Parliament in which he reaffirmed historical
ties between both countries and committed to deepening
their strategic partnership in multiple sectors.
He described Addis Ababa as a nation that combines “ancient
wisdom and modern ambition”, emphasizing its central role
in African diplomacy.
“Thousands of Indian teachers came to Ethiopia, Ethiopian students
also traveled to India in search of knowledge and friendship”, he
said, noting the contributions of merchants, soldiers and
educators of that South Asian nation, in building
local, modern foundations.
Regarding economic and development cooperation, Modi cited
Indian investments of more than five billion dollars in sectors
such as textiles, manufacturing, agriculture and health,
creating over 75,000 jobs.
He noted - that the strategic partnership will be focused
on technology, innovation, mining, clean energy, food
security, health security and capacity building.
He highlighted India's digital infrastructure, enabling the efficient
delivery of welfare benefits and financial services, and pledged
to support the Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy, including the
development of a data centre in the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs.
In defense and security, Modi reaffirmed commitments under the
Defense Cooperation Agreement signed earlier this year, which
covers collaboration in cybersecurity, industry, joint research
and capacity building.
Before concluding, he underlined the shared vision for
the Global South --- equity and inclusive development.
“The future is calling, and India and Ethiopia are ready to respond.
We will walk together, as equals. We will build together, as
partners. And we will be successful together as friends”,
he promised.
__________________________________________________
Civil society warns about
reinforcement of rebels
in eastern DRC
December 16th, 12:43pm
(Prensa Latina)
Civil society in Lubero, North Kivu province in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC), warned today about the
reinforcement of personnel and ammunition of the
Congo River Alliance-March 23 Movement
(AFC/M23) in that territory.
The rebels announced this Tuesday the unilateral withdrawal of
their troops from Uvira city, in the province of South Kivu,
which had been under their control since December 10.
The measure, carried out at the request of the United States,
guarantor of the Peace Agreement between the DRC and
Rwanda, was presented as a gesture to support the
Doha peace process, Qatar; but the insurgents
appear to be strengthening their presence
in other areas.
Movements have been reported in the territory of Lubero since
the weekend, especially in the Kipese, Munyakondomi,
Masereka and Lubero-Sur axes, Radio Okapi reports.
The day before, vehicles with support troops were sighted crossing
the city of Kirumba heading north, towards the territory of Lubero,
and according to several observers this could indicate an
advance --- towards Lubero-centre, the capital of the
territory, and towards Lubero-South, as well as
in the direction of Butembo and Beni.
Also, in the neighbouring territory of Walikale, the presence
of AFC/M23 reinforcements was reported since last week
in Mpety, in the Banakindi area of the Kisimba group,
which could have as its objective, an offensive
against the city of Pinga.... which has been
the target of attacks for several months.
_______________________________________
Colombia seeks to strengthen ties
with the African financial sector
December 16th, 12:41pm
(Prensa Latina)
The official visit to Africa of the vice president of Colombia,
Francia Márquez, allowed dialogues to be established with
the financial sector of that continent, as highlighted here
today by a statement from the Vice Presidency.
During the fourth trip of the New Granada Government to
that region, the official met with directors of the African
Development Bank and the Development Bank of the
Economic Community of West African States, in
Togo; Fidelity Bank, in Ghana and the Central
Bank of West African States, in Senegal,
the note noted.
In these meetings, the source noted, Márquez was accompanied by
members of the delegation - such as the Vice Minister of Bilateral
Relations, Mauricio Jaramillo; the Vice Minister of Foreign Trade
- Tito Yepes; the Vice Minister of Culture, Saia Vergara and the
Chargé d'Affaires of the Colombian Embassy in Ghana,
Kellys Moreno.
Businesswomen and entrepreneurs from the South American
country also attended, who had the opportunity to learn
first-hand --- about the interest of African banks
in exploring, opening new portfolios and
establishing channels of financial
and technical cooperation, the
communication said.
“For Colombia --- strengthening the economic link with Africa
is a strategic priority, with emphasis on diversifying trading
partners and building South–South” alliances, the vice
president expressed, regarding her trip.
She insisted on the need for air routes that connect Latin
America with Africa, and for ports ---- to streamline and
mobilize the economy between the two continents.
“Our countries, without the financial support of development
banks, will hardly be able to achieve the infrastructure
required to facilitate mobility and trade relations.
We know - that we are developing countries,
that we have high external debts --- with
aggressive interest -- and it is a great
challenge, to advance in prioritizing
social investment & development”,
she stressed.
___________________________________
Ethiopia and India explore avenues for
cooperation and sign key agreements
December 16th, 12:38pm
(Prensa Latina)
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his Indian counterpart
Narendra Modi, held a bilateral session today, in which they
explored avenues for cooperation and signed several
key agreements.
Ahmed, on his social network account X, described the meeting
with Modi and his delegation as productive, while revealing
--- that the dialogue reflects the growing alliance and
shared priorities between both countries.
Both leaders presided over the exchange of key agreements,
these include - the Agreement on Mutual Administrative
Assistance in Customs Matters, and the Memorandum
of Understanding ......on the Establishment of a Data
Centre in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.
Likewise, the Memorandum of Understanding on United Nations'
Peacekeeping Cooperation. According to the African head
of government, this agreement --- reinforces their joint
commitment to international peace and security.
Finally, he acknowledged that India is a long-standing partner
of Ethiopia, and this day's meetings underscore the shared
will to expand collaboration across multiple sectors, for
the mutual benefit of both nations.
Modi arrived this Tuesday to make his first official visit to the
African nation, as part of a tour that began in Jordan, and
will end in Oman with the aim of improving partnerships
in Africa and the Middle East.
_____________________________________________
They urge South Africa
to deepen national
reconciliation
December 16th, 11:29am
(Prensa Latina)
The president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, today urged
his compatriots to reaffirm their commitment to national
unity, warning that poverty and violence undermine
social cohesion.
During the central event for Reconciliation Day at the Ncome
Museum in KwaZulu-Natal, the president stressed how the
country's democratic foundations were built, opting for
healing, over revenge.
«We return to Ncome not to reopen wounds, but - to reaffirm our
promise that South Africa will never again be divided by hatred
or exclusion», Ramaphosa declared before the authorities and
communities gathered at the historic site, scene of the battle
of 1838 ---- in a ceremony that took place under the motto
«Reaffirming Reconciliation for Future Generations».
On the occasion, the President recalled that, despite centuries
of oppression and traumatic events such as the Sharpeville
and Boipatong massacres, the nation chose the path of
reconciliation. In this regard --- he cited Nelson
Mandela --- emphasizing the need to live
respecting the freedom of others.
Ramaphosa warned, however, that this process remains
unfinished. «As long as the majority of the black
population lives in poverty, and inequality
persists, there will be -------- no
true reconciliation».
At that point, he pointed out that inclusive economic growth,
job creation and the fight against corruption, are the
fundamental pillars for national unity.
Likewise, Ramaphosa strongly condemned gender violence,
making a direct call to men: «True men do not abuse
women and children; they protect them». He urged
to channel the «warrior spirit» towards the
defense of the most vulnerable.
In a message, the president also warned about false
narratives - that try to portray South Africa as an
irremediably divided society.
On that topic, he denied these versions, citing examples
of coexistence: children of all races studying together,
young people sharing languages and traditions, and
successful land restitution processes.
«There are those - who ignore the daily displays of social
cohesion. They do not show young Afrikaners dancing
Amapiano or speaking IsiZulu fluently. The objective
------ is to sow fear», he stated.
The South African president concluded --- by calling to use
the current festive season to heal family and community
relationships, remembering that «healthy families are
the foundation of a healthy nation».
______________________________________________
Elephants, giraffes and other large
animals thrive where there is salt
December 16th, 11:07am
(Prensa Latina)
A map of sodium in Africa shows that where it is most available
is where large animals thrive, such as giraffes, rhinos or
elephants - as they need this natural element for
their metabolism and cellular physiology.
In nature, sodium is scarce, it barely represents 3% of the
Earth's crust - and the vast majority is not bioassimilable.
As it is almost absent in plants, herbivores and other
animals -- would die without the hint of this element.
“West Africa and parts of the planet, have high productivity,
meaning there is abundant forage available for herbivores”,
details Andrew Abraham... researcher at the Municipal
University of New York -- and first author of this salt
map, published in Nature Ecology and Evolution.
“However, there has long been a mystery as to why there
are no more mega-herbivores in these areas”, he adds.
Indeed, unlike what happens in the southern fringe of the Sahel,
in the savannahs of the east and south of the continent, with
a high density of large herbivores, despite having less plant
availability, there are other areas of sub-Saharan Africa
---- where there are no elephants, giraffes, or rhinos.
About thirty scientists, led by Abraham, have found meaning in it;
they created a map - with a resolution of about 10 kilometres by
10 kilometres, with sodium concentration data in the leaves of
dozens of plant species present in each grid.
To do this, they took 4,258 samples in 268 locations and with
the support of machine learning they scaled their results to
the entire subcontinent.
Then, they overlapped this map of African salt with a better-
known one, that of the distribution of herbivorous mammal
species weighing more than two kilograms.
To connect both maps, they analyzed the amount of sodium
present in 1,356 stool samples from specimens of 28
different species, and they realized that the areas
where plants with a higher concentration of
sodium dominate ......are where there is a
greater abundance of large herbivores.
“Based on our research, we believe that salt, probably in
conjunction with other factors such as overhunting
and soil infertility, play an important role in
population limitation”, says the expert.
In 2023, Abraham and his colleagues published work showing
how, the larger the animals, the greater the number of
behaviours searching for alternative sources of
sodium, like bathing in salt marshes, or
sucking on rocks rich in salts.
_________________________________
South Africa commemorates
Reconciliation Day
at historic site
December 16th, 4:34am
(Prensa Latina)
The president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, today leads
the central event for Reconciliation Day, which this year
will be held at the Ncome Museum, in the eastern
province of KwaZulu-Natal.
According to a presidential statement to this effect, under
the motto «Reaffirming Reconciliation for Future
Generations» the ceremony seeks to deepen
the commitment to unity, healing and
national construction, the
Department reported.
According to the text, in his speech - Ramaphosa will highlight
the importance of transforming spaces that once represented
conflict into platforms for honest dialogue, justice and a
shared national identity.
That place, according to the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture,
was the scene of the Battle of the Río de la Sangre (Ncome) in
1838, and the commemoration carries symbolism.
The confrontation, which occurred 187 years ago between
native Zulu forces and voortrekkers (settlers of Dutch
origin), generated conflicting narratives in the
country for more than a century.
Since 1995 -- the democratic government redefined
the date as a day of unity and collective reflection.
The celebration of this historical heritage constitutes,
according to the authorities, an invitation to confront
the nation's complex past, marked by colonialism
and racial division, while moving towards... an
inclusive future.
Representatives of communities, traditional leaders, veterans
of the fight against the apartheid regime and members of the
diplomatic corps... are expected to attend.
Reconciliation Day, a national holiday, also marks the
anniversary of the founding of the armed wing of the
African National Congress, Umkhonto we Sizwe, in
1961, and, simultaneously, it seeks to heal the
wounds of previous historical conflicts.
According to national political analysts, the event is part
of the government's efforts - to use historical heritage
as a catalyst for social cohesion & intercommunity
dialogue, strengthening the foundations of the
so-called rainbow nation.
__________________________
They highlight positive signs in
the South African economy
December 15th, 12:26pm
(Prensa Latina)
South Africa's economy shows preliminary signs of recovery,
supported by an improvement in its credit rating for the first
time in two decades and its GDP growth, the Presidency
noted, today.
In an assessment of the year's progress, presidential
spokesperson Vincent Magwenya highlighted that
the actions to unlock economic growth, grouped
in the so-called «Operation Vulindlela», begins
to give tangible results.
He recalled The Standard & Poor's agency raised the rating
of long-term external debt to ‘BB’ and internal debt to ‘BB+’.
«The first green shoots for an economic recovery are visible»,
Magwenya said --- alluding to the stabilization of the rand,
which has strengthened below 17 units per US dollar.
Likewise, he added, the economy grew
0.5% in the third quarter of 2025.
Also, he continued, unemployment showed a moderate
improvement, reducing by 1.3 percentage points to
the still very high 31.9 percent.
In this regard, the construction sector generated 130,000
of the 248,000 new jobs created in that period.
The spokesperson also cited as a positive element the fact
that the International Monetary Fund revised upward the
growth forecasts for the country to 1.3 percent in 2025.
In a press conference, Magwenya linked these advances to
the Medium Term Development Plan (2024-2029) of the
Government of National Unity, which prioritizes
inclusive growth, the reduction of poverty....
and the construction of an effective State.
Energy stability ....was pointed out by the official as
a fundamental pillar of this incipient positive trend.
In fiscal matters, he recalled, the South African Revenue
Service exceeded collection estimates by 18 billion
rands (almost one billion US dollars).
Tourism also presents an upward trajectory, with a year-on-
year increase of 18 percent in the arrival of international
visitors, led by citizens of the US, the UK and Germany.
Meanwhile, the youth employment program has placed
200,000 young people in their first work experiences.
The presidential spokesperson acknowledged -- however,
pending challenges, such as the situation in some local
governments, accusations of corruption in the criminal
justice system ....and the high cost of living.
On this last point --- he stated that the executive is
«especially busy» with interventions to mitigate
the volatility of food prices and make public
transportation more affordable.
Magwenya concluded his speech by highlighting -- how, in
the opinion of the Government, the structural measures
applied since 2019 are beginning to bear fruit and that
the current objective is to accelerate this process
so that economic recovery «touches the lives of
all South Africans» ..during the rest of the
development plan period.
___________________________
South Africa ------- will commemorate
Reconciliation Day at historic site
December 15th, 11:49am
(Prensa Latina)
The president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, will lead
tomorrow the 16th the central event for Reconciliation
Day, this year they will be based at the Ncome
Museum, in the eastern province of
KwaZulu-Natal.
According to a presidential statement to this effect, under the
motto: «Reaffirming Reconciliation for Future Generations»
the ceremony seeks.. to deepen the commitment to unity,
healing & national construction, the Department reportes.
That place, according to the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture,
was the scene of the Battle of the Río de la Sangre (Ncome) in
1838, the commemoration carrying symbolism.
The confrontation, which occurred 187 years ago between native
Zulu forces and voortrekkers, generated divisive narratives in
the country... for more than a century.
Since 1995, the democratic government redefined the
date ------- as a day of unity and collective reflection.
According to the text, in his central speech, Ramaphosa will
highlight the importance of transforming spaces that once
represented conflict into platforms for honest dialogue,
justice and a shared national identity.
The celebration in this historical heritage constitutes,
according to the authorities, an invitation to face the
complex past ----------- while moving towards an
inclusive future.
Representatives of communities, traditional leaders, veterans
of the fight against apartheid and members of the diplomatic
corps are expected to attend.
Reconciliation Day, a national holiday, also marks the
anniversary of the founding of the armed wing of the
African National Congress, Umkhonto we Sizwe, in
1961, and - simultaneously - it seeks to heal the
wounds of previous historical conflicts.
According to national political analysts, the event is part of the
government's efforts to use historical heritage as a catalyst
for social cohesion and intercommunity dialogue, thereby
strengthening the foundations of the so-called
rainbow nation.
_______________________________________________
Cubans residing in Angola condemn
theft --- of a Venezuelan oil tanker
December 15th, 5:46am
(Prensa Latina)
The Association of the Cuban Community Resident in Angola
(Accra) today expressed its strong repudiation of the “act
of piracy and maritime terrorism” against a Venezuelan
oil tanker, perpetrated by US forces on December 10.
Through a statement, they indicated that this assault in
international waters of the Caribbean Sea.... near the
coast of Venezuela, constitutes a flagrant violation
of international law, including the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea and the
Convention.... for the Suppression of
Unlawful Acts against the Safety
of Maritime Navigation.
“Such actions not only threaten the sovereignty of Venezuela
and Cuba -- but also undermine the principles of peace and
cooperation that should govern international relations”,
the document stressed.
Accra also urged the international community, academic
institutions and multilateral organizations to speak out
against these illegal practices, and to defend respect
for sovereignty, peace and cooperation
between nations.
The theft, on December 10, of an oil tanker off the Venezuelan
coast, in a military operation that was publicly confirmed by
the US president ---- has generated rejection from the
international community.
The Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter described the
event --- as a new unilateral act of coercion against Venezuela
and warned that the action “constitutes a serious violation
of international law, including property rights”.
The condemnation also came from the Bolivarian Alliance for the
Peoples of Our America - People's Trade Treaty, that declared
the robbery of the ship with one million 900 thousand barrels
of oil as ------ “a direct attack against the sovereignty of the
Bolivarian Republic”.
The presidents of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, also expressed their
solidarity in the face of the aggression, through a call to
their Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolás Maduro, during
which they reaffirmed the strategic alliances woven
in recent years.
__________________________________________________
MPLA will ''bet on'' young leadership
in the upcoming elections
December 13th, 3:25pm
(Prensa Latina)
The president of the Popular Movement for the Liberation
of Angola (MPLA) party, Joao Lourenco, hinted today
that the political party will bet on young leadership
in the next general elections, scheduled for 2027.
In a political event that brought together thousands of
militants and sympathizers in the municipality of
Kilamba in Luanda, to commemorate the 69th
anniversary of the founding of the party
(December 10, 1956) --- the current
Angolan president meant, that
the person who takes over
must not be more tired
......than him.
He guaranteed that the formal selection process of the MPLA
candidate for the Presidency of the Republic has not yet
begun, and he assured that at the appropriate time, it
will be announced publicly along with the rules for
the presentation of candidatures.
He stressed that everything will be done, according to what the
Constitution provides, and that he will be the Party's candidate
and not his own or any other figure in particular --- affirming
- that the decision will be adopted by the statutory bodies,
the Political Bureau, the Central Committee & Congress.
The goal, he added, is to select a person who represents both
the MPLA and the nation well, and he expressed his desire,
that his successor serve the country better than he has.
“If that happens, I will feel proud”, he noted.
Lourenco dismissed those who assert that the
political formation is not democratic and he
maintained that real democracy exists
within the organization.
When referring to those within the party who express
their desire to lead, he said - that it is not about the
presentation of candidacies but - about “noise,
confusion and distraction” to “hinder the
Party ----- on the important issues, on
which we must focus”.
In his words, the Angolan president reaffirmed that
elections, held within constitutional deadlines,
constitute a normal exercise of democracy
and should not be considered a factor
of disunity.
He appreciated that political competition must be
developed, in a peaceful and civilized manner,
respecting democratic norms and called for
partisan or other disagreements, not to
divide the Angolan people --- as the
present and the future demand
cohesion, political maturity
and a sense of collective
responsibility.
He considered peace.. the most valuable asset in the
country and praised the attention given to national
reconciliation, through various initiatives ----- that
contribute to strengthening citizen coexistence.
He highlighted that the MPLA has repeatedly earned
the trust of voters with its actions to address the
needs of the population, and emphasized that
the people recognize - that the party truly
serves the people's interests.
___________________________________
They sign an agreement for a
liquefied gas terminal in a
South African port
December 13th, 12:04pm
(Prensa Latina)
The companies Transnet Nacional Portuaria and WASAA CEF
Soc Ltd signed a contract to build and operate a liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG) terminal in the Port of Durban,
South Africa.
The agreement involves an approximate
investment of 75 million US dollars.
The terminal contemplated in the agreement, lasting 25 years,
will have a storage volume of 50 thousand cubic metres,
and is scheduled to come into operation in 2027.
Regarding the understanding, government officials highlighted
that this represents a strategic step within the South African
Just Energy Transition program.
Tshokolo Nchocho, president of the board of directors of TNPA,
highlighted that the agreement is part of the development
mandate of the national port system and reflects the
strategic direction of the entity to modernize
infrastructure, attract investment and
support the country's changing
energy landscape.
«This terminal agreement, represents an alignment with national
priorities, market demand and global energy dynamics. The first
LPG terminal at the Port of Durban is a necessary response to
the direction the world is taking», Nchocho said.
For her part, the CEO of the Transnet Group, Michelle Phillips,
he stressed that the signing occurs at a crucial time for the
implementation of strategies that guarantee the transition
towards cleaner energies and the decarbonization of
key sectors.
The terminal, which will be called LOT 100, will diversify entry
points for LPG imports, currently concentrated in the ports
of Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay and Port Elizabeth.
It is expected to strengthen Durban's role as a major logistics
and energy hub.... for the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) region & as a transshipment point.
For his part, the mayor of eThekwini, Cyril Xaba, highlighted
that the initiative will support the city's Climate Action Plan
-- by reducing carbon emissions - and aligns with municipal
plans to generate new electrical capacity ----- including the
authorization to gain 400 megawatts of renewable energy.
The project is the result of a competitive process under Section
56 of the National Ports Act. The WASAA CEF joint venture,
which combines a black-owned entity led by women
with a state energy institution, was designated
as a preferred bidder.
The terminal will have the capacity to distribute up to 800
cubic metres per hour of heated LPG mixture, to supply
both industrial and residential markets.
____________________________________________
South African minister supervises
bilateral water project in Lesotho
December 13th, 11:17am
(Prensa Latina)
South Africa's Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy
Majodina, starting today, is carrying out an official
supervision visit ------ to Phase II of the Lesotho
Highlands Hydroelectric Project (LHWP), a
strategic work for regional water supply.
During her stay in the neighbouring country, which will
conclude tomorrow --- the minister is accompanied by
the Vice Minister David Mahobo and Vice Minister of
Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Seiso Mohai.
The agenda includes a working meeting with his Lesotho
counterpart in Natural Resources, Mohlomi Moleko.
In accordance with a statement issued for this purpose, the
joint delegation, which also includes representatives of the
Binational Highland Water Commission & the Development
Authority of said area (LHDA), will carry out inspections
at nerve centres of the construction.
These include the Polihali Dam site, the Katse Dam Drain
Tunnel system and the bridge over the Senqu River.
The planned bilateral consultation meetings aim to evaluate
the progress of the works and guarantee the continuity of
this emblematic initiative, considered a pillar of relations
between Pretoria and Maseru.
The LHWP not only strengthens bilateral cooperation, according
to the text, but it drives economic development and prosperity
in both nations through the transfer of water resources and
the generation of hydroelectric power.
Phase II of the water transfer component involves the
construction of a dam approximately 165 metres
high in Polihali --- plus a 38-kilometre gravity
tunnel that will link the Polihali and Katse
reservoirs. Upon completion, this stage
will increase by 490 million cubic
metres the annual volume of
water ....transferred from
Lesotho to S. Africa.
This additional contribution will bring the total transfer
to 1.26 billion cubic metres annually, intended to
strengthen the South African Vaal River
Integrated System (IVRS).
This system, the largest in the country, supplies the
Gauteng economic region and is comprised of 14
dams, the Ministry added.
The Polihali dam will become the fifteenth
infrastructure of this vital complex.
This year the ministers of the four states of the Orange-Senqu
River basin (- South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia and Botswana)
reaffirmed their commitment to protecting that watershed
as a strategic resource --- for regional water security,
climate resilience and sustainable development.
_____________________________________________
South Africa's government -
values decrease in poverty
December 13th, 10:47am
(Prensa Latina)
The South African government today highlighted the poverty
reduction recorded in the Statistics South Africa report,
which places the proportion of people below the
Poverty Reference Line at 37.9% in 2023.
According to an official statement in this regard, the results
can be seen as significant progress in the fight against
poverty and in promoting more inclusive development,
and, he stressed the need to maintain public policies
aimed at social protection, job creation & education.
According to the study by the national statistical entity, the
incidence of poverty - registered a drop of 19.6 percentage
points since 2006, a decline that the Executive attributes
to the impact of targeted interventions and sustained
social programs.
The report, prepared from the Income and Expenditure Survey
(IES) 2022/23, shows that the improvement has been more
pronounced among black African & so-called “coloured”
populations, which includes mestizos), which reflects,
according to local analysts, the effectiveness of
measures aimed at the historically most
vulnerable sectors.
However, the document warns of persistent challenges,
including gender inequalities and the recent increase
in poverty in groups that - until now - had a lower
incidence, like the white and Indian/
Asian sectors.
At the territorial level, the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal,
Eastern Cape, North West and Limpopo, continue to
record the highest poverty rates, and together
they comprised almost six percent of the
people in poverty in 2023.
Southeastern KwaZulu-Natal, in particular, comprised
roughly one in four of the poor people in the country.
In contrast, Western Cape and Gauteng -- maintain the lowest
indices, although Gauteng increased its relative participation
between 2015 and 2023 and now comprises about 20% of
the total poor, it added in the text.
On this subject, the Government insisted that the continuity
and strengthening of public policies ---- will be decisive in
consolidating the downward trend, and called for an
intensifying coordination -- between the State, the
private sector, and civil society, to enable more
access to economic opportunities.
Among the priorities identified ---- are the expansion of social
protection, the promotion of formal employment, investment
in education and training, and specific measures to improve
the economic conditions of women.
Despite that progress.. international experts highlight as a
negative factor that South Africa's Gini coefficient (which
quantifies income inequality in a country) stands at
approximately 0.63 (63 out of 100), one of the
highest figures in the world.
The Gini index is on a scale that goes from zero
(perfect equality) to one (maximum inequality).
______________________________________________
Eritrea's withdrawal... from a
regional entity --------- sets its
sights on the Horn of Africa
December 13th, 3:15am
(Prensa Latina)
The decision of the Government of Eritrea to withdraw from
the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
today, sets all eyes on the region that is working to
maintain peace, stability and dialogue.
The alarms went off the day before when the Eritrean Ministry
of Foreign Affairs sent a note verbale to the IGAD Secretariat,
alleging that since 2005 the African entity has failed to meet
the aspirations of the people - and played a detrimental role
by becoming an instrument against the Member States, in
particular, with Eritrea.
These unjustified acts led that nation to suspend its accession in
April 2007, activating it again in June 2023... in the hope that the
Organization would heed its call for reform and rectify
previous records, the text recalled.
“Unfortunately, IGAD has failed and continues to fail to comply
with its legal obligations, thereby undermining its own
relevance and legal mandate”, he added.
The note verbale concluded that IGAD offered no discernible
strategic benefit and did not contribute substantially to
regional stability.
For its part, the African entity responded that it had taken
note of Eritrea's decision and recalled the suspension of
its participation for almost two decades before formally
rejoining after the VX Ordinary Summit of Chiefs, state
and Government, held in June 2023.
“On that occasion, Eritrea was welcomed unanimously
and with satisfaction by all Member States, reflecting
a collective commitment ---- to inclusion, regional
solidarity and renewed cooperation”, the
statement underlined.
However, IGAD regretted that, since then, Asmara did not
participate in meetings, programs or activities convened.
Throughout this period, the Secretariat exercised
patience and goodwill --- while remaining open
and available for constructive intervention,
he said.
The Authority regretted Eritrea's decision taken without
the presentation of tangible proposals or participation
in concrete institutional or political reforms, at the
same time, it reiterated its openness to dialogue
via its established consultative mechanisms.
In this spirit, it stressed, the Secretariat will continue to pay
attention to the Government of Eritrea and encouraged it to
reconsider its position and fully rejoin the Organization in
good faith, in order to promote the shared objectives - of
peace, stability and development throughout the region.
It concluded by reaffirming its commitment to promoting
cooperation, dialogue and collective action for the
benefit of the people of the Horn of Africa.
Media in the region echoed the news and, according to
Ethiopia's The Reporter newspaper, eritrea's decision
to leave the bloc in 2007 included similar complaints.
At that time, the newspaper stated, isaias Afwerki's government
opposed IGAD member states' support for Ethiopia's military
intervention in Somalia --- to fight the extremist group
Al-Shabaab, arguing that the deployment violated
Somali sovereignty and that the African entity
did not defend its rights.
After that withdrawal, the Organization and the United Nations
accused Asmara of supporting armed opposition groups and
Al-Shabaab in Mogadishu.
These accusations resulted in sanctions imposed by the UN in
2009, which affected Eritrea's relations with IGAD members
and the international community at large.
However, the penalties were lifted nine years later, following
political changes in Ethiopia in 2018 and the resumption
of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
On November 15, 2018, then IGAD Executive Secretary Mahboub
Maalim, expressed his gratitude for the decision of the UN
Security Council .....to lift sanctions against the
African nation.
“The historical normalization of relations between Ethiopia
and Eritrea, that put an end to the situation of no war or
peace between the two brother countries, is going to
have a very positive ramification in the region, in
terms of cooperation and also towards peace,
security and stability”, declared Maalim.
______________________________________________
Solidarity with Cuba ---- from the
Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Trust
December 13th, 2:15am
(Prensa Latina)
The Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Trust (ZAST) expressed support
for Cuba and today urged the world ---- to denounce actions
against International Law and regional stability, and to
confront the act of piracy by the United States
against an oil tanker in the waters of the
Caribbean Sea.
The non-governmental organization ZAST -- expresses its firm
solidarity with the people and Government of Cuba, following
reports from the island's Foreign Ministry about Washington's
military operation on a Venezuelan ship ---- on December 10.
This action -- described as an act of piracy and a violation of
international maritime law, is part of the US' broad strategy
aimed at obstructing Venezuela's sovereign right to trade
in its natural resources and intensifying the economic
pressure imposed on Cuba.
Such measures have deepened the impact of the long-
standing blockade on the national energy system
and the daily lives of Cubans.
As a nation that has suffered the devastating effects of
unilateral coercive measures, Zimbabwe stands in
solidarity with Havana and Caracas, rejecting the
use of economic strangulation, extraterritorial
coercion or military intimidation - as tools in
international relations.
We reiterate – indicates the statement - that the sovereignty
of nations, large or small, must be respected and -- that the
commitment of the Caribbean and Latin America to peace
- expressed in the declaration of the region as a Zone of
Peace, must be defended.
The ZAST calls on - the International Community, multilateral
institutions and progressive movements around the world to
denounce all actions that undermine International Law,
threaten regional stability --- or violate the right of
nations to trade peacefully.
We further reaffirm our commitment to global cooperation
against sanctions that inflict collective suffering & erode
the foundations of legitimate multilateral interaction.
Zimbabwe's friendship with Cuba is historic, principled and
unwavering. At this time of greatest pressure, we stand
in solidarity with its people, in the fight for dignity,
development and sovereignty, the
declaration concludes.
___________________________________
Ethiopia participated in the IV Brics
Sherpas and Subsherpas Meeting
December 13th, 2:13am
(Prensa Latina)
Ethiopia participated in the IV Meeting of Sherpas and
Subsherpas of the Brics in Brazil, a balance of
activities in 2025 based on the report on the
transfer ....of the presidency of the South
American nation, was released today.
According to the local Foreign Ministry, the Ethiopian
representation praised Brasilia for its leadership
and the results of the year, which will drive a
collective vision towards an equitable
multilateral system.
Likewise, he highlighted the areas of cooperation
that deserve greater attention and action to
promote the interests of the countries
of the economic group.
The meeting held on December 11 and 12 covered
the six priority areas related to global Southern
cooperation, global health, climate change,
trade, investment and finance, and the
governance of artificial intelligence.
An event on links between the peoples of the Brics
also presented the outstanding activities and
results of the year of participation within
the framework of the Civil Society
and Business Councils.
India assumes the presidency of the
group in 2026, the source recalled.
___________________________________________
UN reiterates ...concern
for civilians in El Fasher
December 12th, 11:23am
(Prensa Latina)
The United Nations (UN) today reiterated its concern for
the people who remain in El Fasher, the capital of the
Sudanese state of North Darfur, and reiterated
the need to allow access to aid teams.
The multilateral organization regretted the violence to which
thousands of civilians are subjected in that city, taken by
paramilitary forces in October.
Our deep concern remains.. for the tens of thousands of people
believed to remain trapped in El Fasher. Our agencies believe
they will soon be able to access the besieged territory. The
essential elements for survival in that place ---------- were
completely destroyed, the UN said on its website.
«The little that is known so far -- about the current conditions
in El Fasher is truly terrible», said the director of
Emergency Preparedness and Response -- at
the World Food Programme, Ross Smith.
«We know that between 70,000 and 100,000 people
could remain trapped inside the city», he said.
In addition, the UN indicated that satellite images showed
blood stains related to massacres of civilians and
''ethnically motivated'' executions there.
Access for aid teams continues to be a priority, he added and
warned about communication cuts with those who remain
in El Fasher.
Testimonies from survivors describe the city as a crime scene
with massacres, burned bodies and abandoned markets.
We ask to be able to arrive unhindered to help those
in need, Smith said.
Likewise, he pointed out that the assistance teams intend to
carry out initial evaluations and reconnaissance and
recalled ---- that those who managed to flee that
territory risked their lives on roads littered
with mines and unexploded ordnance.
There are families who endured famine and mass atrocities for
months, and who now live in overcrowded conditions with
......very little support. There is not enough shelter for
people; many are housed in makeshift structures.
The outbreak of cholera and other diseases
is widespread, he explained.
____________________________________
A Road Accident in Cameroon
causes murderous explosion
December 12th, 9:51am
(Prensa Latina)
Today, rescuers continue the search for victims of the
explosion of a tanker truck loaded with fuel, on a
highway in southwestern Cameroon, official
sources reported.
The disaster occurred when the vehicle caused a multiple
accident involving a still undetermined number of cars
in the city of Tiko.
The first count of fatalities from the collision --- is eight, but
everything indicates that it will increase as rescue efforts
progress, according to the initial report, which mentions
several injuries ...without providing figures.
The first investigations into the cause of the accident show
that the driver of the heavy vehicle lost control .....and hit
other cars traveling on the road.
____________________________________
Zimbabwe and Cuba --- highlight
high level of bilateral relations
December 12th, 1:35am
(Prensa Latina)
Zimbabwe and Cuba today evaluated the evolution
of bilateral relations .....and the reciprocal will
to strengthen them - as very positive.
The Ambassador of the Caribbean nation, Suselys Pérez
Mesa, and the Director of Europe and America of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade,
Bernadette Ntaba Kadyamuma, highlighted the
high level of ties and --- in particular --- the
exchange of important delegations
during 2025.
During a meeting at the headquarters of the Zimbabwe Foreign
Ministry, both parties agreed on expanding collaboration in
various spheres, with work trips to Cuba by a Special
Envoy of President Emerson D. Mnangagwa, two
Ministers and three Vice Ministers.
The official visit to this African country by the President of the
Council of State and the National Assembly, Esteban Lazo
Hernández, had special significance –they highlighted.
The Ambassador and the Director of Europe and America,
exchanged work priorities for 2026 in order to diversify
and strengthen --- their excellent bilateral relations.
Pérez Mesa reiterated his gratitude for Zimbabwe's historic
support for the fight against the blockade expressed
during 2025 in various stands in Harare, New
York and Havana.
Likewise, they discussed other topics
of regional and international interest.
Cuba and Burkina Faso ---
celebrate diplomatic ties
December 11th, 1:08pm
(Prensa Latina)
Cuba today congratulated the people of Burkina Faso on
the occasion of the 65th and 50th anniversaries of its
independence and the establishment of diplomatic
relations, respectively.
«Our people are united by strong and historical ties of
friendship and cooperation», assured the Cuban
Foreign Ministry on the social network X.
Cuba and Burkina Faso maintain excellent bilateral ties,
characterized by friendship and solidarity between
both countries.
Together they have collaborated in various spheres,
particularly in the fields of health, education and
sports, providing mutual support.
The Caribbean nation also appreciates the invariable
position of the sister country in favour of lifting the
economic, commercial and financial blockade
imposed by the United States.
_______________________________
UN estimates that some 10 million
people are displaced in Sudan
December 11th, 12:06pm
(Prensa Latina)
The United Nations estimates that some 10 million people,
half of them children, have been displaced in Sudan due
to the war, local media informed on Thursday.
Catherine Russell, Executive Director of the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF), who visited the African country,
noted that more than 30 million people in Sudan need
humanitarian assistance.
Russell emphasized - that millions of children are trapped in
besieged and hard-to-reach areas, especially in the Darfur
and Kordofan regions, where food, water, and medical
supplies are scarce.
The official also reported that families attempting to flee - face
dangerous routes, and those who reach safer areas are often
malnourished, sick, and distressed.
Since mid-April 2023 - Sudan has been embroiled in a war,
between the legitimate Army Chief, General Abdel Fattah
al-Burhan, & leader of the US-backed paramilitary Rapid
Support Forces, General ''Mohamed'' Hamdan Diablo.
________________________________________________________
South African manufacturing production
registers slight progress in October
December 11th, 11:am
(Prensa Latina)
South Africa's manufacturing production grew 0.2%
in October 2025, compared to the same month of
the previous year, with 8 out of ten industrial
divisions showing positive results.
As revealed today by the national statistical entity, Stats SA,
the largest contribution came from food and beverages
....with an increase of 1.9% that added 0.5% to the
total, followed by electrical machinery, which
advanced 6.5% adding 0.2 points.
In contrast, the division of wood, paper, publishing and printing
fell 6.9%, subtracting 0.7 points, while glass and non-metallic
minerals decreased 5.8% - a negative impact of 0.2 points.
In seasonally adjusted terms, manufacturing production
increased 1% in October compared to September, after
monthly variations of 0.3% in September and 0.4%
in August.
In the quarter ended in September, adjusted production
grew 0.4% compared to the previous period,
with 6 divisions in positive territory.
In the report, the items of petroleum products, chemicals,
rubber and plastics (2.1% --- contributing 0.4 points) as
furniture and “other” manufactured products (9.9%,
stood out, also with 0.4 points).
The wood and paper division was once again the main
negative factor, with a drop of 5.8% and an
impact of -0.6 points.
Regarding sales, results showed less favourable behaviour.
Seasonally adjusted manufacturing sales fell 0.8% in
October from September, after increases of 0.4%
in September and 0.7% in August.
However, in the quarter ending in September there
was an increase of 1%.... compared to the
previous quarter.
The greatest positive contributions to sales came from the
division of iron and steel, non-ferrous metals, metal
products and machinery, which advanced 5.3%
and added ....1% to the total.
The furniture and “other” manufactured category was
also highlighted, with a growth of 8.2 % and a
contribution of 0.3 points.
The official report highlights that, despite the slight
improvement in production, the monthly drop in
sales --- shows the need to strengthen the
competitiveness and diversification
of South African industry.
The economic authorities consider that stability in
sectors such as chemicals, plastics and metals
can serve as a basis to consolidate sustained
growth in the coming months.
___________________________________________
Employment in South Africa .....
shows slight quarterly rebound
December 11th, 10:07am
(Prensa Latina)
The South African labour market registered an increase of
29,000 positions in the third quarter of 2025 - equivalent
to an increase of 0.3% compared to the previous period.
According to an official statement in this regard issued by
the national statistical entity, Stats SA, the total number
of employed people amounted to 10,549,000 compared
to the 10,520,000 reported in June.
This growth was supported by the community services
sectors (39,000 jobs, 1.4%), commerce (6,000, 0.3%)
and mining (5,000, 1.1%), while electricity and
transportation remained unchanged.
In contrast, setbacks were reported in business services
(- 12,000, - 0.5%), manufacturing (- 5,000, - 0.4%) and
construction (- 4,000, - 0.7%).
In the year-on-year comparison, according to the report,
total employment decreased by 79,000 positions,
which represents a drop of 0.7% compared to
September 2024.
On the other hand, full-time employment decreased by
21,000 positions (- 0.2%) in the quarter, going from
9,426,000 in June --- to 9,405,000
....in September.
The reduction was concentrated in business services (-18,000,
- 0.8%), manufacturing (- 4,000, - 0.3%), community services
(- 3,000, - 0.1%) and trade (- 3,000, - 0.1%).
On the other hand, mining added 5,000 jobs (1.1%) and
construction 1,000 (0.2%). In annual terms, full-time
employment fell by 72,000 positions (- 0.8%).
Part-time work showed a different behaviour, with an
increase of 50,000 positions (4.6%) in the quarter,
going from 1,094,000 in June to 1,144,000
in September.
The advance was due to community services (42,000,
9.5%), commerce (8,000, 3.3%) and business
services (6,000, 2.5%).
However, adds Stats SA, construction lost 5,000 jobs (- 7.2%)
and manufacturing lost 1,000 (- 1.2%). In the annual
comparison, partial employment was reduced by
7,000 positions (- 0.6%).
In terms of incomes, gross remuneration amounted to about
53 billion USD in September, which represents an increase
of 1.1% compared to June.
The increase was explained by higher payments in business
and community services, mining, manufacturing, electricity
and construction, while transportation and commerce
reported decreases. In the annual comparison,
salaries grew by 155 billion USD, equivalent
to 3.2%.
Core wages rose by $113 billion (0.9%) in the
quarter and $154 billion (3.5%) for the year.
In addition, bonuses rose by 45 billion USD (10.9%) compared to
June and 16 billion USD (3.7%) compared to September 2024.
In contrast, overtime payments fell by US$24 billion (- 11.1%)
in the quarter and US$14 billion (- 6.9%) in the year.
Finally, the Stats SA report reveals.. that the average
monthly income was the equivalent of 1,560 USD
in August, with an increase of 0.3%, compared
to May and 4.3% in the year-on-year
comparison.
_________________________________________________
Chancellor defends Europe
and supports solution in
Western Sahara
December 10th, 12:10pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, José Manuel Albares,
today defended the sovereignty of Europe against criticism
from the United States, at the same time, he considered
a solution on Western Sahara.
Appearing at his own request before the Congress of Deputies,
Albares stressed that Europe «has to take a leap -- in its
sovereignty. We Europeans are the ones who have
to defend the integrity” of the continent.
Without explicitly mentioning US President Donald Trump in his
repeated criticism of Europe, the head of Spanish diplomacy
stressed the need to consolidate European sovereignty,
at the same time, he regretted the silence of the
right of the Popular Party (PP) and Vox on this
issue and about Gaza & Ukraine, issues
addressed by Albares, expressing
Spain's support for Palestine..
and the Ukrainian people.
On the other hand, he maintained that the Western Sahara
conflict cannot continue another half century unresolved
and sought Spain's absolute support for the UN and a
recent Security Council resolution.
«In the Sahara, a pending issue that has lasted 50 years,
we cannot allow another half century like it», said
Albares, underlining his support “without
hesitation - for the United Nations».
A position that is not endorsed by the Polisario Front,
which considers the right of the Sahrawis to their
independence and sovereignty of their territory
in Western Sahara ------- non-negotiable
_______________________________________
Cuba and Malawi celebrate
diplomatic ties
December 10th, 10:03am
(Prensa Latina)
Today Cuba, together with the people and government
of the Republic of Malawi, celebrates the 28th
anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between
both nations.
«Our country reiterates its willingness to continue working
to strengthen ties of friendship between both countries
and establish bilateral collaboration», the island's
Foreign Ministry expressed on social network X.
Both countries established diplomatic relations
on December 10, 1997 and their ties show
positive results.
In the Antillean nation, scholarship holders from that country
in southeastern Africa have graduated from medical school,
which has always supported Cuban resolutions in the
United Nations --- against the US blockade.
________________________________________
Rebels in the DRC - took the
city of Uvira, near Burundi
December 10th, 9:13am
(Prensa Latina)
The rebels of the Congo River Alliance-March 23 Movement
(AFC/M23) took the city of Uvira today, in the province of
South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to Radio Okapi, the city, which after the fall of
Bukavu into the hands of the AFC/M23 last February
was designated as the provisional capital of the
province, it did not resist the insurgents,
supported by the Rwandan army.
Several witnesses confirmed to the media the visible
presence of rebel groups on the main roads of the
city, while others...... were heading towards
Kavinvira, on the border with Burundi.
This Wednesday, the city woke up under the control of the
DRC Armed Forces, but around noon the rebels entered
without encountering resistance. Well, according to
local sources, the Congolese army had already
withdrawn the day before, in the direction of
Swima, Makobola and Baraka, in the
territory of Fizi.
Some shots were reported in areas where fighters from local
militias called Wazalendo were still visible; while Burundi's
Foreign Minister Edouard Bizimana confirmed at 1:00 p.m,
local time, that the border between both countries
remained open.
The most recent report of the United Nations Group of Experts
on the DRC ensures that the AFC/M23, supported by Rwanda,
has the objective of achieving autonomy in the areas it
controls in eastern Congo - which is reflected in its
entrenchment strategy and the establishment of
a parallel government - in occupied territories.
“Since April 2025, AFC/M23 has intensified its efforts to
consolidate its military control through increased
recruitment, improved military training, and the
coordinated redeployments of troops and
operations - in North and South Kivu”,
the report stated.
In July this year, the movement's permanent secretary
and chief negotiator in Doha, Benjamin Mbonimpa,
declared that they were proposing federalism
as a form of governance.
____________________________________________
Unicef warns -- of worst cholera
outbreak in 25 years in the DRC
December 10th, 7:19am
(Prensa Latina)
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned
of the persistence now of an unprecedented cholera
outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
considered the worst in 25 years.
Since January 2025, more than 64 thousand people were
affected by this disease ---- with almost 1,900 deaths
recorded, where children represent a significant
proportion of the sick and deceased, with
14 thousand and 340, respectively.
According to Unicef, one in four Congolese children has been
hit by cholera, and they pointed out as an example of the
seriousness of the crisis -- that 15 minors died in a
single community home in Kinshasa.
The lack of drinking water and sanitary infrastructure continues
to be the main cause of the epidemic, noted the agency's report,
which mentions other factors that make the panorama more
complex, such as conflicts, displacement, heavy rains
and unplanned urbanization.
They also accused.. a lack of information and delays in access
to medical care, which causes an increase in mortality rates.
Unicef meant that, despite the Multisectoral Plan for the
Elimination of Cholera and the Cholera-Free Congo
River initiative, resources to stop the epidemic
are insufficient.
They added that the UN agency supports emergency
interventions, improvements in public hygiene and
specific actions in sources of infection, but by
2026 its financing is insufficient, hence the
call to the Government and international
partners to urgently increase their
support ..to avoid a further loss
of life.
_____________________________________________
Collapse of two buildings
in Morocco leaves about
20 dead
December 10th, 6:03am
(Prensa Latina)
The collapse today of two adjacent buildings in the Moroccan
city of Fez left 20 dead, although this number may rise while
rescue efforts continue.
The authorities indicated that over 15 serious
injuries have also been reported..... so far.
The buildings, with four floors each, were located in the
Al Mustaqbal neighbourhood, and eight families lived
there, the sources added.
Rescue teams are already working in the area to remove
the victims from the rubble and transport the injured.
According to the Moroccan state news agency, MAP, residents
in several nearby houses were also evacuated due to the risk
of collapse, and at the moment the causes of the tragedy are
unknown, as Fez is a city with a moderate level of seismic
activity, according to specialists.
_____________________________________________
Conflicts and food security,
centre for African entity
on 2025
by Nara Romero Rams
Chief correspondent in Ethiopia
December 10th, 12:17am
(Prensa Latina)
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
had intense work in 2025 in favour of resolving internal
conflicts through dialogue, food security and stability
in the Horn of Africa.
The situation in South Sudan captured part of the attention
of an African entity, being the centre of several meetings
with the parties involved, regional actors and
international partners who reaffirmed the
Revitalized Agreement on Conflict
Resolution (R-Arcss) of 2018 as
a cornerstone of the peace
process in that country.
Last March, the final declaration of the forty-third Extraordinary
Summit of Heads of State and Government of the IGAD, held
virtually to address the evolving situation in Juba, it was
stressed that dialogue and debate -- remain the only
means to resolve differences.
The entity expressed deep concern about the deterioration
of security conditions in that nation, characterized by the
resurgence of violence, the increase in violent incidents,
and violations of ceasefire commitments.
Likewise, alarms went off due to growing tensions in the
South Sudanese capital and elsewhere at the time,
after the Nasir incident and the arrest of senior
military officials ---- and the South Sudan
People's Liberation Movement party.
It condemned the death of the commander of the South
Sudan People's Defense Forces in Nasir, General
Majur Duk, and others, including a UN team
during the evacuation.
The statement urged the parties to immediately de-escalate
tensions, adhere to the permanent ceasefire, as well as
prioritize and accelerate the application of transition
security provisions by providing the necessary
resources in a timely manner.
As an agreement, the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism
for Ceasefire and Transitional Security Provisions --- would
carry out an investigation into the clashes in that town
and the attack on the helicopter from the UN ---- to
determine the facts and ensure responsibility
for any violations.
Finally, he welcomed the grassroots peace talks and
encouraged religious and traditional leaders, and
civil society -- to support reconciliation actions,
advocate for the inclusion & empowerment of
women, youth and other under-represented
groups in society.
The extraordinary summit was attended by senior
representatives from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia,
Kenya, Uganda, the African Union, observer
mechanisms and special envoys of the
regional entity, from the African
continental organization and
the UN, to South Sudan.
To follow up on what was agreed, the executive secretary
of IGAD, Workneh Gebeyehu, made a working visit to
South Sudan days later, during which he held
meetings with local authorities about the
peace agreement.
Gebeyehu chaired a meeting with the presidents of the
Joint Commission for Monitoring and Reconstituted
Evaluation, Maj Gen Charles, and from the Cease-
fire Verification and Monitoring Mechanism and
Transitional Security Agreements, Major
General Hailu Gonfa, to discuss the
report ...on the implementation of
the ceasefire agreement in Juba.
CRISIS IN SUDAN, ANOTHER PENDING TASK
Since the outbreak in April 2023 - of clashes in Sudan over
power issues between Army Chief Abdel Fatah al-Burhan,
and the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces,
Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the situation focused several
meetings at the regional and continental level.
Thus, on February 14, the High-Level Humanitarian Conference
for the people of Khartoum took place, organized by Ethiopia,
the African Union, the United Arab Emirates and IGAD.
The objective of the meeting was to mobilize international
support and humanitarian assistance for that country ----
that faces the main displacement crisis on the planet,
according to experts, with over 14 million people
out of their homes, while the death toll rises
to more than 24,000.
The event held at the Africa Hall was attended by UN Secretary
General António Guterres and outgoing President of the
African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat,
the president of Kenya, William Ruto, the prime
minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, and
Gebeyehu, plus other delegations.
Subsequently, on March 18, the IGAD Special Envoy Forum met
in Ethiopia with the aim of establishing a unified and concrete
approach to the resolution of the conflict in Sudan.
Gebeyehu, at that time, reaffirmed the regional entity's
commitment to a peace process led and assumed
by the Sudanese.
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, REGIONAL IMPERATIVE
From January 9 to 11, Uganda hosted the Extraordinary Summit
of Heads of State and Government of the African Union on the
Comprehensive Program for the Development of Agriculture
in Africa (CAADP), focused on shaping the post-Malabo
continent's agri-food systems agenda for 2026-2035.
The executive secretary of IGAD led a high-level delegation
that reiterated its commitment to regional food security,
sustainable agriculture and building resilience.
With an eye toward that purpose, Gebeyehu participated
in discussions focused on critical challenges and
opportunities in the Horn of Africa region,
including improving agricultural
productivity, cooperation on
food systems & addressing
climate change impacts.
A key focus for the delegation was to align
the organization's regional priorities with
the broader Caadp agenda.
With its participation in the conclave, IGAD strengthened
its alliances with AU member states and development
partners, in addition to taking advantage of the
results of the summit...... to advance
their agenda.
Since its creation in 2003, the Caadp has been a cornerstone
of Africa's agricultural transformation by promoting efforts
to achieve a 6% annual growth rate in the sector, in
addition to encouraging AU Member States to
allocate at least 10% of their budgets
to agriculture.
Based on the 2014 Malabo Declaration, the program's agenda
is focused on eradicating hunger, reducing malnutrition and
building resilient agricultural systems.
Looking inward..... at the end of July, the ministers and heads of
delegation responsible for Agriculture and Food Security, of the
IGAD Member States (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South
Sudan and Uganda) met in Ethiopia... within the framework of
the Balance of the United Nations Summit on Food Systems.
In this space, IGAD highlighted the need --- to explore
transformative, inclusive and sustainable solutions
to guarantee food security in the Horn of Africa.
Gebeyehu recalled that the region is rich in
agricultural potential, genetic resources
and the ingenuity of its people.
He specified that promoting strategic alignment and
collective action - as well as developing a common
set of priorities to guide policy reform, investment
and collaboration - are among the priorities.
He considered that the adoption of the joint statement
reaffirmed the shared vision and political will to take
bold and coordinated action, including investment
priorities, to establish institutional monitoring
mechanisms and forge alliances between
multiple stakeholders.
This would ensure “that our commitments translate into
real impact for the millions of people whose lives and
livelihoods depend on the food systems we shape”,
he said.
The enormous and largely untapped potential of the Horn
of Africa region for agricultural transformation and
innovation in food systems was recognized,
particularly in terms of seed safety,
agrobiodiversity and climate-
smart agriculture.
Likewise, in the sustainable management of land and water,
digital technologies, early warning systems and inclusive
and responsible investment.
He raised the need to transform agricultural systems and food
value chains by enabling precision agriculture, improving
predictive analytics, optimizing resource use --- and
strengthening data-driven policies and planning.
Between internal conflicts, combating the effects of climate
change and achieving the long-awaited food security, the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development closes
another year betting on economic growth, political
and social, of the over 140 million inhabitants
of the Horn of Africa.
______________________________________________
South Africa - raises more than
$600 million for infrastructure
December 9th, 12:01pm
(Prensa Latina)
South Africa's National Treasury announced today that its
first Infrastructure and Development Bond raised around
$620 million to finance strategic works.
According to an official statement to this effect, the operation
aroused broad interest in the markets, receiving offers
exceeding 1.37 billion dollars, which represented
a subscription rate of 2.2 times.
According to the entity, resources will be directed exclusively
to the Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) program, a
mechanism that supports priority projects through
rigorous selection criteria.
The total amount was distributed over two maturity periods:
about $368 million in the RI2036 bond, with an interest rate
of 8.575 percent, and about $252 million in RI2041, with a
return of 9.13 percent.
The allocation was made in accordance with current market
conditions, with the objective of optimizing the State's
borrowing cost.
According to the statement, the issue is part of a set of reforms
outlined in the 2024 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement,
aimed at stimulating investment in infrastructure as an
engine of economic growth and improvement in
the provision of public services.
The Treasury highlighted that the strategy seeks to consolidate
long-term financing instruments capable of attracting private
capital towards projects of national interest.
During 2025, the government reconfigured the BFI to
open 4 annual bidding windows, instead of just one.
This change allows national ministries, provinces, municipalities
& state companies to request partial support for their projects,
in order to attract complementary financing from the private
sector. According to the authorities, the measure expands
the scale and quality of the public works portfolio and
strengthens business participation in its execution.
______________________________________
Nigerian minors held
captive by criminals
are ''rescued''
December 9th, 11:13am
(Prensa Latina)
A third of the 303 students of a Catholic school in the state
of Niger, northern Nigeria, kidnapped in November along
with several teachers -------- are safe today, their
relatives reported.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu praised the action of security
forces in rescuing the captives of armed men, whom he
identified as «bandits» - although he refrained from
providing details of the operation that achieved
the release of the kidnapped people.
While their captivity lasted, small groups of minors took
advantage of the carelessness of their captors, to
escape and ....after traveling several kilometres
of thick jungle, returned to their loved ones.
This is the first major operation by the Nigerian armed forces
just over a week after the resignation of Defense Minister
General Mohammed Badaru Abubakar - for unspecified
reasons, although it is obvious, that the increase in
insecurity in the north of the country, is behind
the decision of the Military Chief.
Unlike similar actions by Islamist groups based in the north-
eastern state of Borno... the kidnapping of minors from the
school in the town of Papiri, the largest in a long sequence
of similar events in this West African country, its purpose
was to demand a cash ransom for one of the gangs that
have proliferated for years in northern Nigeria.
In the case of the Islamists --- they seek to overthrow
the central government ---- and establish a caliphate
governed by sharia ---- Muslim jurisprudence.
________________________________________
Flights between Johannesburg and
Perth - will boost tourism and trade
December 9th, 11:06am
(Prensa Latina)
The launch of a new direct Qantas Airways flight between
Johannesburg and Perth -- was received with optimism
today by South Africa's authorities, who highlighted
its impact on tourism and commercial exchange.
In this regard, the Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille,
stressed that this air connection represents more
than an expansion of the route network --- by
constituting a bridge between two nations
with historical ties ........and growing
opportunities for cooperation.
According to him, the initiative opens the door to a greater
flow of visitors, business and interpersonal relationships
between South Africa and Australia.
This criterion was shared by those attending the presentation
of the new route, also chaired by the Australian Minister of
Commerce and Tourism, Don Farrell, High Commissioner
Tegan Brink, as well as executives from Qantas, South
African Tourism, the Gauteng Tourism Authority and
the South African Tourism Business Council.
De Lille pointed out that the expansion of air connectivity
constitutes an essential pillar of the 2025-2029 Tourism
Growth Plan, focused on facilitating access through
new routes, more agile visa systems and the
elimination of travel barriers.
Recent sector data.. reflects a sustained recovery: international
seating capacity reaches 8.5 million, an increase of 9.1 percent
compared to 2024. Of these, 4.6 million correspond to long-
range routes and 3.9 million to regional routes, with
double-digit growth recorded since June 2025.
In this context, the Australian market ------ shows a positive
performance: arrivals in 2025 grew nearly 30% compared
to the previous year and exceed pre-pandemic levels by
10%, showing sustained expansion.
De Lille also highlighted that the new link will play a relevant
role..... in South Africa's preparation to host major sporting
competitions, such as Cricket World Cup 2027, creating
stronger cultural and sporting ties... with Australia.
__________________________________________
UN report ---- accuses: presence of seven
thousand Rwandan soldiers in the DRC
December 9th, 8:05am
(Prensa Latina)
A new report from the Group of Experts, created by the UN
Security Council, it indicated the presence in the territory
of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) of some
7,000 Rwandan soldiers, they reported today.
According to this source, the Rwandan Defense Forces were
conservatively considered to maintain at least 2 brigades
& 2 special forces battalions in the Congolese provinces
of North Kivu and South Kivu, in support of the rebellion
of the Rio-Congo Alliance March 23 Movement -----
(AFC/M23).
The report, referenced by Actualité.CD, added that these men
and media are positioned on the front line and participate
directly in the combat, in particular leading operations
against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of
Rwanda in the territories of Nyiragongo
and Rutshuru.
They added that they are units created specifically for cross-
border operations in the DRC, which include elements of the
special forces and a significant number of reservists.
The report meant that an FDR brigade operated within the
AFC/M23 “First Defense Zone”, which encompassed
Goma, Nyiragongo, Binza, Bwito, Rutshuru, as
well as Kanyabayonga, Kirumba and Kipese.
Another brigade operated in the “Second Defense Zone”,
corresponding to Masisi, Walikale, Bibwe, Kalembe,
along the Pinga front line ....and in areas of South
Kivu such as Walungu, Mwenga and Minembwe.
The source indicated that Rwandan troops established a base
on the island of Idjwi, often used for troop deployments and
rotations across Lake Kivu, and that the support of these
units was crucial to the success of the operations,
particularly for the capture of new areas such
as Bibwe.
He also specified that they operated in separate formations,
despite joint maneuvers with the AFC/M23, and exhibited
distinctive movement patterns and accents, which
made them easily identifiable on the ground.
“The Group continued to document the FDR's use of
advanced military technologies and equipment,
including jamming and phishing systems”,
the report noted.
__________________________________________
New clashes in the DRC
leave at least 74 dead
December 9th, 7:34am
(Prensa Latina)
The escalation of clashes in the last week in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, in the province of South Kivu, today
it leaves at least 74 dead and 83 injured, mainly civilians,
according to a United Nations report.
The UN humanitarian coordinator in the DRC, Bruno Lemarquis,
denounced an alarming rise in violence due to confrontations
between the rebels of the Congo River Alliance-March 23
Movement (AFC/M23) and the Congolese Armed
Forces and their allies.
In particular, he referred to the attacks carried out between
December 2 and 7 with heavy weapons and bombings in
populated areas, mainly in the territories of Uvira,
Walungu, Mwenga, Shabunda, Kabare, Fizi and
Kalehe; while the continuity of the fighting -
prevents the evacuation of the wounded.
He indicated that in recent days attacks on civilian
infrastructure, including schools, have also been
reported, which constitutes a serious violation
of international humanitarian law.
“I am deeply shocked by the devastating impact of this
fighting on the civilian population. It is imperative to
prevent more victims from adding to the already
tragic death toll”, Lemarquis' statement said.
He added that the use of explosive weapons in populated
areas and attacks on civilian infrastructure are causing
unacceptable loss of life and must stop immediately.
“Civilians and civilian infrastructure are not
targets”, he declared.
According to the humanitarian coordinator, this wave of
violence caused new displacements of people, with an
initial estimate of more than 200,000 moving within
the same province since December 2nd, while
thousands more... crossed the border into
neighbouring countries, like Burundi
and Rwanda.
Living conditions for these people are precarious, with
overcrowded shelters, increased risk of gender-based
violence, spread of disease and limited access to
medical care; hence -- these displacements
aggravate the situation ------ in a province
that hosts 1.2 million internal refugees.
“On behalf of the humanitarian community, I urge all
parties to the conflict to respect their obligations
----- under international humanitarian law”,
Lemarquis emphasized.
He added that the protection of civilians --- must be
guaranteed, their distinction respected in military
operations and the safe, rapid and unimpeded
access of humanitarian actors to provide
vital assistance -------- must be ensured,
including medical care for the injured.
The increase in war actions occurs after the ratification of
the Peace Agreement signed in Washington, US, by the
presidents of the DRC and Rwanda, on December 4.
The humanitarian coordinator, highlighted the importance of
the instrument to achieve peace, “but for this hope to come
true, the violence must stop immediately and the
commitments made must be translated into
concrete actions on the ground”,
he stressed.
___________________________________________
South Africa presents
national study on
HIV stigma
December 9th, 7:19am
(Prensa Latina)
South Africa today presents a report that examines the
persistent challenges and opportunities for positive
change - in the face of stigma and discrimination
towards people living with HIV.
The document - HIV Stigma Index 2.0 - collects the
experiences of over 5,000 participants in the nine
provinces of the country, with special attention
to 18 urban and rural districts.
According to an official statement to this effect, their
findings seek to guide public policies and programs
aimed at improving the quality of life of those
facing the disease.
The presentation will take place at the National
Research Foundation, under the leadership of
the National Association of People Living
with HIV and AIDS (NAPWA), in
collaboration with the Human
Sciences Research Council
(HSRC), the National AIDS
Council (SANAC) --- and
international partners.
Ministry of Health Senior representatives, civil
organizations and affected communities, are
expected to attend ----- with the purpose of
discussing the study's recommendations.
The report highlights the importance of community
initiatives and a multi-sectoral approach to
tackling discrimination.
According to its authors, the active participation of
communities is essential to dismantle prejudices
and guarantee equitable access to health
services and social support.
Recently, during the commemoration of World AIDS Day,
Vice President Paul Mashatile highlighted the
introduction of lenacapavir, a long-acting
preventive treatment that offers six
months of protection - with just
two injections a year.
The South African Medical Devices Regulatory Authority
(SAHPRA) approved its registration in October this year,
making the country the first in Africa and the third in
the world -- to authorize it.
Mashatile said this innovation will protect adolescents and
key populations facing stigma and vulnerability, such as
women and girls, people who use drugs, sex workers
and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
At the same time, he urged the nation to bravely confront
stigma, fund research, and ensure that these treatments
reach everyone.
Specialists consider that the launch of the Stigma Index 2.0
represents a decisive step in building a more solid national
response, which combines science, political commitment
and social participation to move towards a South Africa
free of discrimination and with greater health justice.
_____________________________________________
They highlight the contribution
of Cuban combatants to the
independence of Angola
December 8th, 11:48am
(Prensa Latina)
The contribution of Cuban combatants to the independence
of Angola ----- was highlighted today at the event held in
Luanda, in commemoration of the 69 years of the
Armed Forces Revolutionaries (FAR) of the
Caribbean nation.
In the presence of the Cuban ambassador, Oscar León,
Lieutenant General Manuel Payva, representing the
Chief of Staff of the Angolan Armed Forces....
deeply thanked the island ----- and stressed
that the bilateral relationship transcends
cooperation and is based on friendship.
He added that this brotherhood and solidarity were forged in
the heat of struggle and shared sacrifices, and reiterated,
half a century after the arrival of Cuban internationalists
to Angolan lands, eternal gratitude.... to those who
resisted side by side with the people --- to fight
forces that tried to frustrate independence.
“Cubans were by our side, in the most difficult moments, not
only soldiers, but teachers, doctors, builders….. it is an epic
like no other that will remain alive in our collective memory
and will be an inspiration for new generations”, he said.
Payva expressed common interest in strengthening the bilateral
relationship and expressed solidarity with the people of the
Caribbean nation - in the face of the damage caused by
Hurricane Melissa.
The military attaché of the Cuban Embassy in Angola, Colonel
Enrique Kindelán, recalled the history of the emergence of
the FAR, in 1956, in the heat of the fight against the
tyranny of Fulgencio Batista (1952-1958).
He pointed out that since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution,
on January 1, 1959, the FAR has always been with the people
facing the aggressions of the US and difficult times, like the
current emergency situation caused by the recent passage
of a tropical cyclone.
He affirmed that Cuba will continue to be a bastion of solidarity,
as demonstrated here in Angola, and recalled milestones of
the Cuban military presence for, along with the Angolans,
defend the independence and territorial integrity of
the country.
He also dedicated words to the founder of the FAR and historical
leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, who next year
commemorates the centenary of his birth, and he invited
us to celebrate the date together, but above all ------ to
keep his ideas alive.
The general secretary of the Federation of Former Combatants
and Veterans of the Homeland, Brigadier Vicente Junior, also
participated in the event, expressing total solidarity with
Cuba and its sister army, with which they shared the
defense of the national territory.
Representing the Forum of Ex-Combatants.... of the Battle of Cuito
Cuanavale, Manuel Fernández Patiasca recalled his participation
in the battle of Kifangondo, in 1975, and where the participation
of the Cubans was decisive ----- in rejecting the invading forces
and declaring independence.
At the ceremony, where Lieutenant General Remígio do Espirito Santo,
second commander of the Angolan Army, was also present; members
of the diplomatic corps; military attachés and members of solidarity
organizations with Cuba, the Embassy presented recognition --- to
the Kifangondo Battle Memorial.
___________________________________________
UN condemned death
of civilians in Sudan
December 8th, 10:47am
(Prensa Latina)
The UN today condemned recent drone attacks by the so-called
Rapid Support Forces in the Sudanese state of South Kordofan,
which caused the death of dozens of children.
Through its official website, the United Nations also denounced
the attacks against emergency teams trying to help the injured.
In a statement released by spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric,
the secretary general of the multilateral organization,
António Guterres, expressed his dismay at the
actions against a hospital and a children's
centre, as against the members of the
humanitarian assistance brigades.
For his part, the director general of the World Health Organization,
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, denounced that the Kalogi Rural
Hospital was attacked on at least three occasions, with a
death toll of 114, including 63 minors.
We make urgent calls for blood donations and other types of medical
support. Alarmingly, paramedics and response personnel were
attacked while trying to transport the injured from daycare
to hospital, he added.
The UN warned -- that the situation in Sudan is
catastrophic, and expressed concern.. about
millions of people - trapped in the fighting
between the Sudanese Armed Forces
and the paramilitary group.
The terrible human rights violations and abuses reported in El Fasher
in recent months ------ must not be repeated in the Kordofan region.
We urge: the immediate cessation of fighting and of stopping
the flow of weapons, Dujarric said.
The Secretary-General renews his call on the parties to agree to an
end to hostilities - and resume talks to achieve a lasting ceasefire
and a comprehensive political process, inclusive and controlled
by the Sudanese. The United Nations stands ready to support
genuine measures to chart a path to peace, he said.
_______________________________________________
Women of the world marched
through Western Sahara
December 8th, 8:50am
(Prensa Latina)
Dakhla is a city in Western Sahara occupied by Morocco, which
has its correlation in a Refugee Camp of the same name, the
furthest from Rabuni... where the central administration of
the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic operates in exile.
The streets of the Dakhla Camp received the IV March of the
International Women's Platform for Western Sahara, PIMSO,
with the participation of delegations from Africa, Europe
and Latin America, an inspiring feat of solidarity ------
for a just cause.
For the first time, a delegation of women from the territories
occupied by Morocco participated in this demonstration.
This solidarity action has been carried out since 2022
and, on this occasion, was framed in the 50 years of
resistance of the Sahrawi people ----------- for their
self-determination.
The program of activities began on Monday, December 1 and
included visits to educational, cultural, health centres, and
political organizations, of human rights --- and of women
located in the different camps of the refuge.
The agenda ended on Saturday, December 6, with a farewell
ceremony...... led by Brahim Gali, president of the SADR.
“You return to your countries full of will, determination, firmness
of support and accompaniment to these people in their long
struggle” said the president ...before the many different
delegations present.
And he added: “We have opened our houses, our families' houses.
But before we open our houses to you, we have opened our
hearts to you. That is the essence and we have always
considered you part of the family. We have never felt
that you are foreigners within the Sahrawi people”.
For her part, Suelma Beiruk, Minister of Social Affairs and Promotion
of Women of the SADR, stated that the objective of the PIMSO is to
accompany the struggle of the Sahrawi people, especially to
women, breaking the blockade that exists, bringing the
voice of Sahrawi women... to international bodies.
During the activities of the march, there were also interventions
by the governor of Auserd, Jira Bulahi; Ana Aranda, councilor
of Pedrera; Mariam Bendiba, president of the National Union
of Algerian Women of southern Algeria, and Nebija
Mohamed Ahmed, member of the Collective of
Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders in Western
Sahara, CODESA.
Salha Boutanguiza, a journalist in the Occupied Territories,
also shared her opinions; Marilin Dos Santos, Head of
Feminisms at Podemos (Spain); and Teotiste
Pérez Sanz, for PIMSO.
From Argentina, the Venezuelan journalist and poet Dayana
López, arrived at the Camps, who shared her poetry in
tribute to the 50 years of resistance of the Sahrawi
people, compiled in his most recent book «My
hammock in your tent».
Before leaving for the actions of supportive women, Dayana
López made by hand, weaving the pages, copies of the
collection of poems that she carried in her backpack
to distribute, as the most authentic expression of
solidarity support for the Sahrawi cause.
________________________________________________
Angola Technology Forum will
debate artificial intelligence
December 8th, 8:36am
(Prensa Latina)
The sixth edition of the International Forum on Information and
Communication Technologies (ICT) of Angola, Angotic 2026,
will debate from June 11 to 13 in Luanda --- the impact
of digitalization and artificial intelligence.
The Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies
and Social Communication, Mário Oliveira, during the launch
of the event this Monday, highlighted the results achieved
in previous years -- and signified their importance for the
consolidation of the country within this field, in Africa.
In this sense, he mentioned that the aspiration is for Angotic to
become a reference space for the continent and the world, as
a meeting point - for decision-makers, businessmen, experts,
etc, entrepreneurs and representatives of the world of ICTs.
The sixth edition of the forum, which will be held under the motto
“On the path to digital transformation”, will have the challenge
of surpassing the previous call, when 117 national & foreign
companies met, together with more than 180 startups.
For next June, the organizers also expect the presence of high-level
entities, sector leaders and international experts, and they invited
institutions and companies to come together with creative ideas
related to the central theme.
Angotic 2026 becomes a stage every year for the presentation of new
products, the recruitment of talents and innovative projects, the
establishment of businesses and learning, from the workshops
and conferences that are held.
In 2025, more than 20 thousand visitors came to the event's
facilities, while about three thousand children participated
in educational activities.
_________________________________________
In South Africa, gender violence is
described as a national disaster
December 8th, 8:17am
(Prensa Latina)
The president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, warned today
that violence against women and girls constitutes a national
disaster ---- that requires exceptional measures.
In the midst of the annual 16 Days of Activism campaign, the
South African president used his weekly newsletter to high-
light the magnitude of the crisis and remind that currently
all State bodies must perform accounts on the subject
to the National Centre for Disaster Management.
The decision, he said, seeks to accelerate resources, and
strengthen the institutional response to a scourge that
affects more than a third of women over 18 years of
age, according to the 2022 National Gender
Violence Study.
Ramaphosa pointed out how the impact of gender-based violence
is “more corrosive” than the devastation caused by the COVID-19
pandemic, since it destroys families, generates economic costs,
causes fear & insecurity & reproduces intergenerational trauma.
In that sense, he insisted that the classification as a national disaster
grants greater capacity to the ministries of Police, Justice, Health,
Basic Education and Social Development -- to expand shelters,
and support services and safe spaces.
During recent appearances before Parliament, the South African Police
and the Ministry of Justice reported on progress in case management
and strengthening the judicial system, he recalled... in the text.
Measures include the expansion of victim-friendly facilities, the
creation of specialized desks in police stations, the opening
of a GBVF Information Centre at the SAPS Academy in
Pretoria, a faster processing of evidence and the
implementation of a 24-hour service for
protective orders.
However, the head of state recognized that the implementation of
the National Strategic Plan against gender violence has been
unequal, and he trusted that the new classification will
speed up the financing of services for survivors and
improve access to justice.
Ramaphosa stressed: that men must
take centre stage ------ in prevention.
“If we do not directly involve men, the statistics will not change”,
he stated, while calling for sustained dialogues with men and
young people to confront the roots of violence, such as
toxic masculinity, harmful cultural norms and
social pressures.
Finally, the president emphasized that the fight against
gender violence -- requires an effort from all of society.
“A national disaster demands national responsibility”, he
summarized, urging communities, civil organizations,
religious leaders, unions and citizens to denounce
abuses and ........dismantle those attitudes that
perpetuate them.
_________________________________________
Nicaragua greeted Tanzania.... for the
64th anniversary of its independence
December 8th, 6:38am
(Prensa Latina)
Nicaragua extended a fraternal greeting to the people and
Government of the United Republic of Tanzania -- on the
occasion of the 64th anniversary of the independence
of that African nation, local media highlighted today.
In the official message, the co-presidents Daniel Ortega and
Rosario Murillo expressed their “warmest congratulations”
to the president of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassana, his
administration and the brother people of that country,
when the historic date is commemorated this
December 9.
The statement recalled with respect and admiration the deeds
of the Mwalimu leader Julius Nyerere and the heroic
Tanzanian people, whose fight for freedom and
sovereignty marked a milestone in the
emancipation process of the
African continent.
“That December 9 (1961) illuminated the path of many peoples
of the global South who, like ours, have always defended the
inalienable right to live free of colonialism, interference
and foreign domination”, the text states.
Nicaragua also reiterated its commitment to continue
strengthening the ties of brotherhood, solidarity and
cooperation that historically unite both countries.
“From our Nicaragua, Always Blessed and Always Free,
receive our fraternal and revolutionary embrace, as
well as the solidarity affection... of all Nicaraguan
families”, the text concluded.
___________________________________________
Okapi populations in the DRC
shrank by 50% in 24 years
December 6th, 11:14am
(Prensa Latina)
Reports today estimate that the populations of okapi (Okapia
johnstoni), a species endemic to the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (DRC), decreased by about 50%... in 24 years.
According to reports submitted to the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora, known as CITES, the number of
individuals was estimated between 35,000 and
50,000 in the 1990s, but experts consider that
until 2013 it fell by more than half.
According to the report, released by Actualité.CD, in the Okapis
Wildlife Reserve, one of the main strongholds of the species,
the decline is particularly marked. Until 2018 at least 60%
of the population of this reserve has been.... lost.
The mammal's habitat --- is under pressure, considering that
in the eastern DRC, forest loss has reached approximately
30% - in the last two decades.
Another factor of concern is illegal trade, with reports that,
since 2019, products from 10 okapis..... have crossed the
border into Uganda --- every month.
Since December 1st, this endemic species has been at the
highest level of international protection granted by CITES,
which prohibits all commercial exchange of the species,
its parts or its derivatives.
Statistics on the state of its habitat and the number of
individuals, were a part of the request to include the
mammal in Appendix I, that grants it that degree
of safeguard ......and complements the full
protection it enjoys in DRC legislation.
The Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) and
the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) warn of the need
to protect okapi ------ from the decline of the range of the
species, the reduction of its population, the poaching,
the habitat loss ......and illegal trade.
Currently the main groups survive in the Okapi Wildlife
Reserve, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO,
and the Lomami National Park; it is also present in
Maiko National Park, other protected areas, and
several community forests.
________________________________________________________
Ethiopia seeks to expand....
Chinese language teaching
December 6th, 7:49am
(Prensa Latina)
Ethiopia and China discussed the expansion of the Asian
nation's language teaching in local schools, the Ministry
of Education reported today.
The head of the Ethiopian sector, Behanu Nega, spoke the day
before with the general director of the Center for Education
and Linguistic Cooperation of the Beijing Ministry of
Education, Yu Yunfeng.
Their meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in the
education sector between the two member states of Brics.
Yunfeng highlighted the long-standing ties between
the two nations and described Addia Ababa as
«China's strategic partner».
He specified that the Asian giant seeks to expand the
teaching of Chinese beyond the limited programs
currently offered at select universities.
“This would not only allow citizens to learn multiple
languages, but would also significantly contribute
to strengthening cooperation between peoples”,
he stated.
Nega, for his part, expressed the Ministry's interest in
expanding the scope of Chinese language teaching.
He noted that while programs have already begun
at some universities -- they need to be extended
to other institutions, including five new federal
high schools opening this academic year.
He also requested China's support
to provide qualified teachers.
Both sides agreed on the importance of developing a
curricular framework for teaching the Chinese
language in secondary schools.
Likewise, they committed to holding preliminary
conversations on curriculum development, the
provision of textbooks and the assignment of
teachers - to drive broader implementation.
Finally, they will establish a joint committee with the
objective of preparing a detailed agreement for the
implementation of the initiatives analyzed,
according to the source.
______________________________________
Economic issues marked the
weekly agenda - in Ethiopia
December 6th, 12:03am
(Prensa Latina)
A summit that highlighted the role of the capital market
and the visit of a delegation from the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) to evaluate the ongoing
economic reforms, marked today's week,
now ending, in Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Finance Minister Ahmed Shide, during a meeting
held last Tuesday, stated that the stock market will play
a fundamental role in strengthening integration into the
global financial system and improving the confidence
of investors.
Shide then stated that a well-regulated and transparent
financial platform is essential to align Addis Ababa
with international standards and expand its
access to global investment.
“Government securities, corporate bonds, stocks,
infrastructure instruments, international
capital gains and structured access to
productive sectors of our economy
---------- provides foreign investors
with clarity, consistency and
confidence,” he said.
In this regard, he stressed the importance of strong coordination
between institutions that play different roles in building a
credible, resilient, transparent financial ecosystem.
He pointed out that the government's responsibility is to establish
a fiscal and financial architecture that guides capital towards its
highest value .....and empowers citizens to participate in the
economic growth of the nation.
“In doing so, we are not simply financing infrastructure, businesses
or public services, we are financing the future of Ethiopia: a stable,
dynamic, inclusive and sustainable future”, he asserted.
The Ethiopian Finance Minister reported that infrastructure
development remains a critical priority - wherein capital
markets can be transformative.
“Capital markets allow us to convert infrastructure into an
investable asset class, through green bonds, municipal
bonds, income bonds, and infrastructure investment
funds, mobilizing both domestic and foreign capital
for long-term development”, he concluded.
For his part, the governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia,
Eyob Tekalign, defined access to capital - as a “powerful
engine” of economic growth and the expansion of the
private sector.
Tekalign stated that, with the launch and operationalization
of the capital market, the country now has a new platform
to mobilize and allocate those values efficiently.. to the
productive sectors.
That decision, he added, represents a strategic transition
away from dependence on bank-based financing toward
a more diversified landscape designed to attract long-
term investments, stimulate the development of the
private sector and support the country's economic
modernization efforts.
On the other hand, the deputy managing director of the IMF,
Nigel Clarke, who made his first official visit to the country
on December 3 and 4, spoke to Shide, Tekalign, and the
Minister of Planning and Development - Fitsum Assefa,
on economic reforms, the support of the IMF...... and
the prospects for continued collaboration.
During the discussions, Shide outlined recent progress on
local economic transformation initiatives and reiterated
the government's commitment - to consolidating their
achievements and maintaining momentum. He also
highlighted Addis Ababa's interest in maintaining
solid collaboration with the IMF.
Clarke, for his part, praised.. what he described as
«remarkable progress», under the country's Local
Economic Reform Programme, noting that several
difficult modifications - now have visible results.
It recognized the high level of preparation, coordination and
determination necessary to simultaneously advance fiscal,
monetary and structural transformations, and encouraged
the African nation ..........to maintain its current trajectory.
The official visit came amid discussions about the country's
fourth review ------- of the country's four-year $3.4 billion
Extended Credit Facility.
______________________________________
Niger accuses French nuclear
giant Orano of mass crimes
December 5th, 6:41pm
(PressTV)
French nuclear giant Orano has been accused of
"mass crimes" after the discovery of hundreds
of barrels containing hazardous radioactive
core materials in Niger.
On Thursday --- the Niger government announced that
the French state-owned Orano nuclear fuel company
had dumped “radioactive pollution” near a former
uranium site in northern Niger .....where it had
previously operated.
Niger's Mining Ministry reported --- that inspectors found
approximately 400 barrels with dangerously high levels
of radioactive substances which could cause chronic
respiratory disorders ---- at Madaouela.
The Nigerien government stated, that the disposal of
these barrels demonstrates... "predatory behaviour."
Niger’s Justice Minister, Alio Daouda, confirmed this week
that radiation levels in the area are significantly elevated
-- around 7 to 10 microsieverts per hour, compared to
the normal level of 0.5 microsieverts.
Daouda announced that Orano will face legal proceedings
for “mass crimes,” including environmental harm, public
health violations and breaches of national sovereignty.
“This illegal dump highlights Orano’s persistent disregard
for Niger and its people since uranium mining began,”
Daouda said, pledging that “Niger will not back
down in defending its sovereignty.”
To date, Orano has faced numerous environmental pollution
claims in Niger, with civil society groups in Arlit accusing
the company of ''irregularities in site rehabilitation'' in
recent years.
Despite increasing pressure, since the military coup in July
2023, Orano has maintained its defiance, claiming it holds
no operating license for Madaouela ......and has never
worked there.
This accusation against Orano arises amid a broader dispute
regarding its uranium operations in Niger. The military-led
government revoked Orano’s license for the Imouraren
deposit in June 2024.
Orano began its commercial uranium mining operations in Niger
at the Arlit deposit in 1971, extracting ore with concentrations
of 0.30–0.35 percent to depths of 60 metres.
_______________________________________________
Ethiopia will support Cameroon - in
telecommunications development
December 5th, 10:10am
(Prensa Latina)
A Framework Services Agreement will allow Ethiopia to support
Cameroon in its digital transformation efforts, an important
step to internationally expand the experience of
telecommunications company Ethio
Telecom, Fana Media Corporation
reported today.
The agreement signed in Yaoundé the day before - between the
Ethiopian state company and Telecommunications Cameroon
(Camtel) formalized the cooperation initiated after the
comparative evaluation visit of Cameroonian
executives to Addis Ababa in April
from 2025.
During the latter, camtel representation confirmed how its local
counterpart — Africa's pioneering provider of integrated
telecommunications and digital solutions ---- with
86.1 million subscribers ..and over 57.59 million
telebirr users, was fundamental to implement
the national strategy «Digital Ethiopia».
The Cameroonian company -- which operates the national fibre
optic backbone network of over 15,000 kilometres and offers
fixed and mobile services, internet and data centres in the
10 regions, works to build a modern digital economy
through network modernization, the expansion of
financial access ......and the digitalization of
public services.
The new agreement positions Ethio Telecom as a strategic
partner to advance this agenda through specialized
consulting and cross-immersion programs.
Likewise, it will support the development and launch of Blue
Money ----- Camtel's electronic payments platform, aimed at
improving financial inclusion in Cameroon.
It also provides for technical cooperation to digitize the provision
of public services, including the establishment of a sovereign
Government Cloud.
According to the source, Ethio Telecom -- will continue to drive
network modernization efforts towards 4G, 5G, and advanced
connectivity technologies, at the same time --- it will support
the Cameroonian company in organizational transformation
through the modernization of information systems, work
automation and customer-centric operations.
Likewise, it will allow you to advance in your “Next Horizon
Strategy: Digital and beyond 2028”, by launching regional
expansion initiatives ....and strengthening Ethiopia's
leadership role in Africa's digital transformation.
__________________________________________________
Three protesters against British
involvement in gold mining
were shot in Kenya
by Alexander Gatsak (Nairobi)
December 4th, 5:54pm
(Rossiyskaya Gazeta)
To share
In Kenya, three people were shot dead by security forces
during a demonstration against the presence of the
British gold mining company Shanta Gold Limited
in Kakamega County in the west of the East
African Republic. At least ten citizens
were injured, including journalists
and police officers.
According to reports, the population was outraged by the
National Environmental Protection Agency's decision to
hold a forum in coordination with the agency, which
focused on the initiative to relocate 800 families
due to the discovery of gold deposits in the
region, estimated to be worth at least
five billion dollars.
Local residents, led by an elder, refused to leave their ancestral
homes for the benefit of a foreign company. "We were not told
where to go after the relocation. This process should be
open and transparent," said the community leader.
Law enforcement agencies have stated that the deceased
were bandits hired by local politicians to incite unrest.
According to the report, more than 500 young
people with primitive weapons attacked
the police officers.
"We will use all the necessary means at our disposal
to bring the bandits to justice. It is wrong, to attack
police officers and journalists," a statement reads.
_____________________________________________________
DRC and Rwanda sign peace
in the US ------- with Trump
December 4th, 4:44pm
(Prensa Latina)
Although hostilities continue on the ground, at least today
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda
signed in this capital the pipe of a peace negotiated by
the president of the United States, Donald Trump.
«I think it will be a great miracle», Trump told the press after the
signing of the pact, in which the presidents of the DRC, Felix
Tshisekedi, and of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, participated.
Addressing both dignitaries, at the US Peace Institute - that just
bears his name, Trump noted: «They spent a lot of time killing
each other - and now they are going to spend a lot of time
hugging, holding hands and taking economic advantage
of the United States, like other countries do».
However, the signatories adopted a less optimistic stance,
considering that fighting is still reported in eastern DRC.
The first armed conflict between the two countries
dates back to 1996.
«There will be ups and downs along the way, there is no doubt
about it», Kagame said, while Tshisekedi called this step
the «beginning of a new path, a demanding path».
Trump noted that the agreement will pave the way, for the United
States to access critical minerals in both African nations. «We're
going to take out some of the rare minerals», Trump said. «And
we are all going to earn ---------- a lot of money», he pointed out.
The name of the Republican president was added to the façade of
the United States Peace Institute, based in Washington DC, prior
to the signing of this pact. Trump has repeatedly highlighted his
efforts to resolve international conflicts so far in his 2nd term,
something he thought would support the Nobel Prize in 2025.
The occupant of the Oval Office assures, that he has contributed
to negotiating peace agreements between Israel and Hamas
- fragile for many observers -, Armenia and Azerbaijan,
Thailand and Cambodia, and this one from Rwanda
and the DRC.
The Barometer of Peace Agreements in Africa, which monitors the
effective implementation of this type of treaty, warned that five
months after the signing of the Washington instrument,
progress is fragile and uneven.
In its November report, it warned that there is stagnation in
implementation, with 19 of the 30 tasks identified in the
Agreement, only in their initial phase.
The Peace Institute was targeted by the defunct Department
of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in efforts by Trump and his
former ally Elon Musk to reduce the federal government;
however, a judge ruled in May, that the Department's
takeover ....was illegal.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement that
the United States Peace Institute, “was, previously, an inflated
and useless entity that squandered $50 million a year without
achieving peace”.
_____________________________________________
DRC expects seriousness from Rwanda
in compliance with peace agreement
December 4th, 3:31pm
(Prensa Latina)
The president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),
Felix Tshisekedi, maintained that they expect from Rwanda
the same seriousness and commitment in complying with
the peace agreement signed today in Washington.. US.
Addressing those present at the ratification ceremony,
along with his Rwandan counterparts, Paul Kagame,
and US counterpart, Donald Trump; Tshisekedi
stressed that his country will honour
what was agreed.
“The DRC confirms its commitment and complete sincerity - to
do everything in its power to fulfill its obligations under this
agreement. We do it seriously, with rigour and with the
desire to achieve peace, the security of the
population, and the unity and integrity
of our territory”, he said.
He added that the same seriousness is expected of Kigali in
respecting the letter and spirit of the document signed in
Washington, which implies cooperation based on
mutual respect, the common fight against
armed groups --- and the end of the
maintenance of all negative
forces, he noted.
It also requires the opening of fair economic
relations --- for the benefit of both peoples.
Tshisekedi considered that the Washington process --- is not just a
text, but a coherent architecture that includes the Declaration of
Principles, the peace agreement, and the Regional Economic
Integration Framework, to offer a new perspective, end
the cycle of violence, and forced displacement ..and
enter an era of good neighbourliness, cooperation
and shared prosperity.
“For my part, I hope that this day marks the beginning of a new
path, a demanding path, certainly difficult, but a path where
peace is achieved”, he expressed.
The Congolese president reaffirmed that the DRC will do everything
on its part “with dignity, with conscience and perseverance --- and
with the support of its colleagues”, so that this process succeeds.
“We will be vigilant, but not pessimistic”, said the president and
added that the Congolese are optimistic that this agreement
will achieve peace and prosperity, and be an example of
the irreversible commitment to sustainable stability
in the region.
Tshisekedi used his words to thank President Trump for the role
played in this rapprochement between Kinshasa and Kigali,
and he also expressed gratitude --- to the African and
international leaders.. who contributed to this
defining moment.
In particular, he mentioned the heads of state of Qatar, Angola
and Kenya, who led the peace processes in Doha, Luanda
and Nairobi, respectively.
___________________________
They highlight the importance of the
agreement between the DRC and
Rwanda ---------- for the region
December 4th, 2:54pm
(Prensa Latina)
The president of Angola and incumbent of the African Union,
Joao Lourenco, today highlighted the importance of the
peace agreement between the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, for the Great
Lakes Region.
Lourenço, who was present at the ratification of that instrument
by the respective Congolese and Rwandan heads of state, Felix
Tshisekedi, and Paul Kagame, this Thursday in Washington, he
stressed that the confrontations end, will favour development.
“It is a conflict that has lasted more than three decades - a conflict
between brothers, between neighbouring countries and brothers”,
Lourenco remarked, and referred to the terrible consequences
that the war had on the populations of both countries and
their national economies.
“This is one of the richest regions in the world, rich in water
resources, arable land, forests, mineral resources that are
in the subsoil, but above all - rich for its people, with a
very great potential to develop the region, and that
can catapult the development of other regions of
the continent”, he added.
It meant that the world is going through an energy and food crisis
in which Africa, and in particular this Great Lakes region, has
the potential to contribute to its solution, not only for the
continent, but for the world.
However, none of this will be possible... if the conflict continues,
emphasized the Angolan president who expressed satisfaction
with the signing of the agreement, a fact that could put an
end to this situation.
He commented that Angola, as a mediator, like Kenya and
other countries, tried to do its part to end differences
and bring peace, but it was not possible at the time.
He thanked US President Donald Trump for having continued
the work that African nations had done and for having
achieved these results, with which “all of us are
going to win”, he highlighted.
The president urged Rwanda and the DRC - to do their part for the
successful implementation of this agreement, which is the most
difficult thing, he insisted, well, it implies the implementation in
a timely manner ------ of all that was agreed upon and signed.
_________________________________________
South Africa with a drop in electricity
generation and slight GDP growth
December 4th, 12:27pm
(Prensa Latina)
Electricity production and consumption in South Africa
decreased in October 2025, although the Government
highlighted the 0.5 percent growth of the Gross
Domestic Product in the third quarter.
According to data from Statistics South Africa, electricity
generation decreased 5.2 percent compared to the same
month of the previous year.
In seasonally adjusted terms, production fell 0.4 percent
compared to September, after falls of 1.3 and
1.1 percent in the previous two months.
The report specified that in the three-month period ending
in October, generation fell 2.5 percent compared to the
previous quarter, reflecting a contraction trend in
energy supply.
Meanwhile, electricity distribution, which measures consumption,
also showed declines. In October it fell 7.2 percent year-on-year,
while in the adjusted monthly comparison it fell 0.4 percent. In
the quarter ended in October, distribution fell 3.4 percent
compared to the previous one.
Despite this scenario --- the Executive celebrated the country's
economic performance. The Government Communication and
Information System (GCIS) noted that the 0.5% growth
in GDP constitutes the 3rd consecutive quarter of
expansion after the 0.9 percent registered in
the second quarter.
According to the entity, the results reflect the resilience of the
national economy and the impact of structural reforms aimed
at promoting inclusive and sustained development.
Among the best-performing sectors were commerce,
accommodation, and catering services, up one
percent.... driven by increased activity in
retail and wholesale sales, tourism
and food.
On the other hand, mining grew 2.3 percent, favoured by the
production of metals from the platinum group, manganese
and coal.
Increases were also reported in finance, real estate and
business services (0.3 percent), government services
(0.7 percent) and manufacturing (0.3 percent).
Likewise, agriculture, forestry and fishing advanced 1.1 percent,
with better results in crops, horticulture and animal products.
The GCIS acknowledged that challenges remain, but assured that
the economy is on a path of gradual recovery. “The Government
will continue to apply measures to support growth, investment
and job creation”, he indicated in a statement.
___________________________________________
President of Ethiopia says goodbye to the
ambassadors of Kenya and New Zealand
December 4th, 9:44am
(Prensa Latina)
The president of Ethiopia, Taye Atske Selassie, today bid
farewell to the outgoing ambassadors of Kenya, George
Morara Orina, and of New Zealand, Michael Upton,
whom he thanked for their efforts to strengthen
bilateral relations during their mandates.
Selassie highlighted his contributions to expanding
cooperation in development, trade, investment,
capacity building & people-to-people linkages,
as well as improving participation at both
the bilateral and multilateral levels.
He particularly praised the burgeoning multi-sector
partnership between Ethiopia and Kenya, noting
its strong upward trajectory in recent years.
The outgoing ambassadors, reflecting on their stay in
Addis Ababa, stated that their countries undertook
extensive efforts to elevate bilateral relations
to new heights.
They emphasized that cooperation gained momentum
in various areas and that their joint efforts produced
significant and tangible results.
Urina noted that Ethiopia and Kenya have long enjoyed
strong ties dating back to the era of founding father
Jomo Kenyatta.
He highlighted the growing collaboration between the
two nations in trade, infrastructure development,
people-to-people and security exchanges,
describing it as a model partnership
for the East African region.
For his part, Upton highlighted New Zealand's focus on
strengthening ties with Ethiopia in the areas of trade,
technology and capacity development ......during
his mandate.
____________________________________________
Ethiopia and IMF evaluated economic
reforms and collaboration
December 4th, 8:58am
(Prensa Latina)
Representatives of the Government of Ethiopia,
and the International Monetary Fund (IMF),
spoke today about the economic reforms
underway in the country & the support
of the international organization,
as well as perspectives... for
continuous collaboration.
The deputy managing director of the IMF, Nigel Clarke,
who arrived in this capital the day before, at the head
of a delegation for his first official visit, the Ethiopian
finance ministers, Ahmed Shide, from Planning and
Development, Fitsum Assefa, and the governor of
the National Bank, Eyob Tekalign, participated
in the meeting.
During discussions.... Shide outlined recent progress on local
economic reform initiatives and reiterated the government's
commitment to building on these achievements and
maintaining momentum.
He also highlighted Addis Ababa's interest in
maintaining solid collaboration with the IMF.
For his part, Clarke praised what he described as «remarkable
progress» .....under the country's Local Economic Reform
Programme, noting that several difficult modifications
already have visible results.
It recognized the high level of preparation, coordination and
determination necessary to simultaneously advance fiscal,
monetary and structural transformations, and encouraged
the African nation - to maintain its current trajectory.
The IMF deputy director is expected to continue meeting with
senior officials and visit important development projects
during his stay, the Ethiopian Finance Ministry said.
The official visit comes amid discussions over the country's fourth
review of the country's $3.4 billion Extended Credit Facility (ECF)
defined for four years.
The first ECF assessment, was completed in October 2024
and unlocked $340.7 million, while the second took place
in January 2025 releasing $248 million.
Last July, $262.3 million was released after the IMF's third
assessment highlighted improvements in inflation, export
performance and international reserves in Ethiopia.
However, Birr Metrics, Addis Ababa's main digital media
specialized in comprehensive coverage of business
and economic affairs --- published warnings from
specialists --- about the increase in the cost of
living since the introduction of the program
supported by the IMF.
Despite its short-term benefits, the strategy puts pressure
on households in all urban and rural areas, the report said.
Local businesses reported rising import costs, supply chain
constraints, limited access to affordable credit, changes
in the tax system --- and the general tax burden, the
latter constantly changing... due to the reform,
added the specialized digital site.
______________________________________________
Ethiopia highlights the role -- of
African development statistics
December 4th, 5:57am
(Prensa Latina)
Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Truneh, underlined
the central role of statistics in shaping Africa's development
during an event that continues here today.
Tiruneh, speaking at the IXX Ordinary Meeting of the Committee
of Directors General of the National Statistical Offices of Africa
that meets at the headquarters of the African Union --- from
December 3 to 5, he described statistics as the compass
that guides continental growth aspirations and makes
them a reality.
He emphasized that evidence-based data must underpin
policy formulation and development programs.
Highlighting the reforms implemented in the country, he noted
that data analysis and collection --- are at the centre of the
10-Year Development Plan and economic modernization.
“We are modernizing the Ethiopian Statistics Service because
every policy we develop, every development program we
launch, every decision we make, must be on the solid
foundation of credible and timely data”, he added.
He called on African nations to strengthen the institutional
independence of their national offices responsible for the
sector, ensure sustainable financing and establish a
harmonized continental data ecosystem.
The meeting brings together the heads of national statistical
offices and international partners, focused on harmonizing
practices ------- and improving data-driven policymaking
across Africa.
_______________________________________________
Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam,
a dream materialized ------ in 2025
by Nara Romero Rams
Chief correspondent in Ethiopia
December 4th, 12:12 am
(Prensa Latina)
The Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) was fully
realized in 2025, Africa's largest hydroelectric project
funded almost entirely by citizens inside and outside
the country.
On April 2, 2011, the first stone of the dam was laid, which will
generate more than five thousand megawatts of electricity.
Beyond guaranteeing access to this service, the GERD
is the central vision ---------- of industrialization and
regional connectivity.
For the African nation, this is a transformative step --- considering
that almost half of its rural population lacks access to electricity.
It also realizes Ethiopia's aspiration to harness its natural resources
in a sustainable and equitable manner, marking a change, not only
in infrastructure development, but also in the regional geopolitical
dynamics that, for many years, were governed by colonial-era
water treaties.
But not everything was rosy during the construction of the
ambitious project due to international pressure during the
damming phases --- and disagreements with Egypt and
Sudan, who alleged concerns about water resources.
In this regard, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reiterated on multiple
occasions ------ that the dam is not a threat, but rather a shared
opportunity to describe it as a symbol of regional cooperation
and mutual benefit, with energy and development expected
to increase not only for Ethiopia, but for the entire region.
Proof of this vision is the export of electricity to Sudan, Kenya,
Djibouti & other neighbouring countries, promoting economic
interdependence in the Horn of Africa. The Ethiopian dam
strengthens cross-border energy connectivity, as well
as improving water management, and increasing
food security.
Ahmed stressed that the GERD has a design to regulate the
seasonal flow of rivers, mitigate destructive flooding and
ensure a more predictable supply of the precious liquid.
REGIONAL UNITY ....WITH WATER AND ELECTRICITY
To reinforce the criterion of not harming anyone, together with
S. Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi, Ethiopia
put the Nile River Basin Cooperation Framework
Agreement into force, last October.
This legal document for coastal countries constitutes testimony
to the commitment to use the tributary for the benefit of all
in an equitable manner.
Likewise, it corrects existing inequalities in its use and
recognizes the legal rights of all nations involved,
with sustainable law as its centre.
For his part, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Nebiat Getachew, stated that the energy generated by the
GERD will be for the countries of the region, which will
promote integration.
Getachew also specified - that the dam has a pan-African
dimension, referring to the African Union's Agenda 2063
based on the unification of Africans for joint prosperity
and development.
He stressed that Addis Ababa constantly advocates for a
win-win solution, assuring downstream countries that
the dam is not designed to reduce its flow.
“We have repeatedly assured our neighbours that this dam
was not built to cause damage or to reduce the flow of
water to the lower riparian countries, but it is a dam
that will solve the current energy shortage in
Ethiopia with a win-win approach”,
he stressed.
This approach, he asserted, will continue until the lower coastal
nations regain their sanity, fully understand this position and
can collaborate on new projects that will benefit everyone
involved in the Nile River basin.
The local Foreign Ministry spokesperson --------- recalled the
unprecedented diplomatic pressures - against the country,
noting how these growing challenges were unreasonable.
The GERD is not intended to harm any nation, but rather,
to serve as a beacon --------- of regional prosperity,
he stressed.
Once again, he said the hydroelectric project aims to address
urgent national energy needs, where approximately 65% of
the population .....lacks access to that service.
“And in this context, any initiative to address this critical problem
of renewable energy or electricity supply, our citizens should in
no case be interpreted as an attempt to harm or block others'
access to water”, he added. Ethiopia carried out several
negotiations and talks, despite diplomatic obstacles,
including opposition -- mainly from downstream
countries, he recalled. But Ethiopia remains
steadfast in its intention to resolve these
problems through negotiation and
dialogue, he concluded.
THE LOOK OF AFRICA
The Chairman of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali
Youssouf, praised the inauguration of GERD on September 9
as a generational milestone that will echo..... throughout
African history.
In the presence of African and Caribbean leaders and dignitaries,
Youssouf described the moment as an “historic day”, not only
for Ethiopia but also for the continent. He stressed that the
project's inception, decades-long construction and
completion -------- reflect unwavering dedication,
national sacrifice and visionary leadership.
Highlighting the transformative impact of the dam, he noted
that its more than five thousand megawatts of renewable
energy will illuminate homes, boost industries and
extend economic opportunities within Addis
Ababa and in all neighbouring states.
He specified that the GERD embodies the vision of the Program
for the Development of Infrastructure in Africa, the Agenda
2063 framework launched in 2012 ---- that guides the
continent's large-scale cross-border infrastructure
ambitions in energy, transportation, cross-border
water resources, among others.
Reiterating Ethiopia's assurances that it does not intend to cause
harm with the dam, he emphasized diplomacy as the way forward.
“I urge the three countries (Ethiopia, Egypt and South Sudan) to
resume talks on the basis of the 2015 Khartoum Agreement of
Principles”. The African Union is ready to facilitate dialogue,
he asserted.
He mentioned the joint management of the Senegal River by Dakar,
Mali and Mauritania as a model of successful trilateral cooperation.
For his part, the executive director of the East African
Law Society, David Sigano, declared that Ethiopia, is
fundamental to the transformation of the continent.
With the completion of the GERD, it gives African countries
additional motivation that demonstrates a spirit of
possibility by showing national unity and
self-reliance, he said.
“I am very proud of Ethiopia for building the Great Renaissance
Dam. We are proud of the fact that Ethiopia developed that
dam using its own resources”", he added.
In that sense, Sigano recalled that many projects on the continent
are developed or carried out ------- through loans and international
cooperation, hence, a self-financed initiative of such magnitude
as GERD shows that it is possible to do the same in Africa.
“Therefore, the fact that Ethiopia has been able to complete this
is something that gives us motivation that it is possible. That is
part of the transformation that the continent is seeking, even
in terms of clean energy”, he stressed.
He noted that Africa has made efforts to industrialize, and
energy is the greatest catalyst for that industrialization.
With the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, it is expected to
facilitate regional energy integration through exports and
promote stability, cooperation and shared prosperity,
he noted.
In his opinion, the hydroelectric plant is widely celebrated
as a potential “game changer” for the continent's energy
and development landscape.
________________________________________________
Polisario Front warns about
impositions by Morocco
December 3rd, 5:23am
(Prensa Latina)
The Polisario Front warned today that Morocco, the
occupying power of Western Sahara, wants to
impose its agenda on Spain, contrary to
United Nations resolutions.
On the eve of the High Level Meeting of Spain and Morocco
this Thursday in Madrid, the representative of the Polisario
Front here, Abdulah Arabi, warned at a press conference
about the threat posed by the Rabat regime.
Arabi assured that along with his open desire to consolidate
his occupation in Western Sahara, Morocco's next purpose
will be the Canary Islands, if Spain is not able to stop it.
The Polisario delegate in Spain argued that the Sahrawis have
«sufficient experience to be able to reasonably warn Spain
that, if it does not put a stop to Morocco's expansionist
pretensions, “the next objective will be the
Canary Islands».
Spain, which withdrew from Western Sahara more than 50 years
ago and later allowed the Moroccan occupation, according to
Arabi, the Madrid» Tripartite Agreements signed on
November 14, 1975 still grant it the management
of the airspace of the desert enclave.
«Morocco continues to set the times and course of relations,
which should be considered to what extent they are
strategic for Spain», the Polisario delegate
remarked, when referring to the change
in Madrid's policy based on a decision
by the President of the Government,
Pedro Sánchez, four years ago.
Arabi recalled, in another vein, that last year ----- «the EU Court
recognized the separate and distinct status of the territory of
Western Sahara with respect to Morocco and the absence of
Moroccan sovereignty over the territory, taking into account
that the person who holds the right to self-determination
over the territory ....is the Sahrawi people».
______________________________________________
Ethiopian stock market ----- a
window to global integration
December 2nd, 10:59am
(Prensa Latina)
Ethiopia's capital market will play a fundamental role
in strengthening integration into the global financial
system and improving investor confidence, finance
Minister Ahmed Shide said today.
When opening a summit on the subject, Shide stated
that - a well-regulated and transparent financial
platform is essential --- to align Addis Ababa
with international standards, and expand
its access to global investment.
“This offers foreign investors clarity, consistency and confidence
through government securities, corporate bonds, stocks,
infrastructure instruments, international capital gains
and structured access to productive sectors of our
economy”, he said.
In this sense, he stressed the importance of strong coordination
between institutions that play different roles.... in building a
credible, resilient and transparent financial ecosystem.
He pointed out that the government's responsibility, is to establish
a fiscal and financial architecture that guides capital towards its
highest value and empowers citizens to participate in the
economic growth of the nation.
“In doing so, we are not simply financing infrastructure, businesses
or public services, we are financing the future of Ethiopia:
a stable, dynamic, inclusive and sustainable future”,
he asserted.
The Ethiopian minister reported that infrastructure
development remains a critical priority, where
capital markets can be transformative.
“Capital markets allow us to convert infrastructure into an
investable asset class, through green bonds, municipal
bonds, income bonds ..and infrastructure investment
funds, mobilizing both domestic and foreign capital
for long-term development”, he concluded.
For his part, the governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, Eyob
Tekalign, defined access to capital as a “powerful engine” of
economic growth and the expansion of the private sector.
“When companies, large and small, secure long-term, affordable
financing, they innovate, scale... and create the jobs that drive
national prosperity”, he said.
Tekalign stated that, with the launch and operationalization
of the capital market, the country now has a new platform
to mobilize and allocate those values efficiently to the
productive sectors.
That decision, he added, represents a strategic transition away
from dependence on bank-based financing toward a more
diversified landscape designed to attract long-term
investments, stimulate the development of the
private sector and support the country's
economic modernization efforts.
__________________________________________
Insecurity in northern Nigeria
triggers resignation of
defence minister
December 2nd, 10:34am
(Prensa Latina)
The wave of kidnappings of minors appears as the probable
trigger for the resignation of the Nigerian Defense Minister,
Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, accepted last night and
let go today.
Unlike other occasions, this time the perpetrators of the mass
abductions of minors are not the Islamist groups based in
the northeast of the country, but bands of armed men
described in the official reports, as bandits.
General Mohammed Badaru Abubakar presented his resignation
to President Bola Tinubu, announcing in a brief statement, that
refrains from providing details of the military chief's decision.
However, just last week the Nigerian president declared a state
of national security emergency, in what had all the signs of the
demand for more results in the fight against the gangs of
armed men that devastate the north of the country.
The day before, the military command announced
the unharmed rescue of seven minors who were
kidnapped days before a Christian service.
Groups of armed men without any political affiliation have
proliferated in the last two years in the north of this vast
country, the leading oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa.
_____________________________________________
International Trade Union
Confederation praises
reforms in Ethiopia
December 2nd, 10:30am
(Prensa Latina)
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) today
praised the political, economic and social reforms in
Ethiopia, as well as the commitment to workers'
rights, during its 37th General Assembly, held
for the first time on African soil.
The general secretary of the ITUC, Luc Triangle, stated
that the convening of the conclave in this capital had
a «symbolic and political significance», highlighting
the country's decade of economic expansion,
poverty reduction and improvements in
health and education.
Triangle considered that the recent wage increase for local
public sector workers had ----- «sent a powerful signal»
internationally, about the government's confidence
in social dialogue .....and its commitment to
social justice.
He recognized the reforms implemented in terms of labour
rights and the strengthening of their cooperation. «For
the global trade union movement, it is encouraging
to witness this», he said.
In his view, the African nation's progress provides hope
that private sector workers will also benefit from
better wages and protection.
He reaffirmed the ITUC's commitment to supporting Ethiopia in
promoting human rights, democratic values and decent work.
For his part, the vice president of the ruling Prosperity Party,
Adem Farah, reiterated Ethiopia's readiness for labour
rights, social dialogue and democratic reforms.
Farah recalled that the political and economic transformation
agenda begun in 2018 is based on inclusive governance,
the expansion of civic freedoms, strengthening labour
institutions and greater investment in young people
and women.
He underlined..... the role of the Tripartite Advisory Council,
established with the Ethiopian Trade Union Confederation,
& regional governments in promoting stable relationships
between employers and employees ------ and stronger
labour standards.
He emphasized that unions are essential partners
in Ethiopia's reform process, not obstacles.
«Workers' organizations are fundamental contributors
to building a just society, a dynamic economy and
a peaceful nation», he said. In that sense -- he
urged strengthening tripartite collaboration
based on trust, transparency and
shared responsibility.
The general assembly brings together union leaders
from around the world and will deliberate on
inequality, global insecurity, climate
challenges and the future of
decent work ---- in an era
of technological and
economic change.
__________________________
The okapi, from the DRC,
is at the highest level of
international protection
December 2nd, 10:05am
(Prensa Latina)
The okapi (Okapia johnstoni), endemic to the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, is today --- at the highest level of
international protection that prohibits all international
commercial exchange of the species, its parts or
its derivatives.
The day before, the members of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora, better known as CITES, decided
to include it in the so-called Appendix I --- which
regulates these activities, which complements
the full protection it enjoys in DRC legislation.
The Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN)
and the Society for Wildlife Conservation (WCS)
welcomed this action, Actualité said.
They considered the issue as an important step to
address the species' declining range, shrinking
populations, and growing threats --------- from
poaching, habitat loss and illegal trade !
Okapi is classified as Endangered on the Red List of the
International Union for Conservation of Nature, and it
faces poaching and habitat degradation in the
northeastern DRC.
Currently the main populations survive in the Okapi Wildlife
Reserve, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and
the Lomami National Park; it is also present in Maiko
National Park, other protected areas, and
several community forests.
____________________________________________
Ethiopia and the Czech Republic
are evaluating strengthening
trade ties
December 2nd, 10:05am
(Prensa Latina)
Ethiopia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hadera Abera
today ---- received a business delegation from the Czech
Republic, to strengthen economic and commercial
ties between both countries.
Abera, when speaking with the delegation led by the Czech
ambassador here, Miroslav Kosek, highlighted the long
history of diplomatic relations between Addis Ababa
and Prague and the continuous advancement of
cooperation in various fields.
He recalled the exhibition last August, of the fossil remains
of Lucy and Selam -- two of the most famous hominids of
the African nation exhibited in the National Museum of
the European nation, describing it as a reflection of
the strong ties between both countries.
He added that the visit of the business delegation further
demonstrates the growing bilateral commitment and
collaboration, in addition to occurring at an
important time... in which Ethiopia is
advancing its macroeconomic
reform agenda.
He highlighted the large domestic market, one of
the largest in Africa, and its access to broader
commercial spaces .......and regional
economic communities.
The African diplomat also mentioned, the continuing
local focus on clean energy development, referring
to the recent inauguration of the Great Ethiopian
Renaissance Dam..... as part of the national
renewable sources strategy.
He stated that all these conditions make Ethiopia a
favourable destination for foreign companies
seeking new investment opportunities.
Likewise ---- he described the national efforts to develop
environmentally conscious smart cities, including the
initiatives to transition from fossil fuel-based, to
clean energy transportation systems.
He assured the delegation that the Government of Ethiopia
is ready to provide the necessary support to ensure a
smooth and productive collaboration.
For his part, Kosek indicated that the business delegation
will meet with various Ethiopian institutions and
companies during their stay.
He thanked the local government for its support, and
reaffirmed his country's commitment to continue
strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Czech businessmen expressed interest in contributing to the
development of Ethiopian infrastructure, particularly in the
transport sector, and praised clean energy initiatives.
Both sides agreed to continue working
together... in areas of mutual interest.
_________________________________________________
Dominican archaeologist affirms
that Cleopatra's tomb could be
found in 2026
December 2nd, 8:43am
(Prensa Latina)
Dominican archaeologist Kathleen Martínez revealed today
that at the beginning of 2026, the largest archaeological
discovery of the century, the tomb of Cleopatra, could
occur, an investigation she has been working on..
for two decades.
In an interview with El Nuevo Diario, Martínez stated that
she will continue his exploration both by sea and on
land, relying on specialized equipment.
She explained that new experts have joined her project,
including the renowned oceanographer Robert Ballard,
famous for finding the Titanic.
The archaeologist recalled --- that she did not imagine
discovering a tunnel under the modern Alexandria-
Marsamatru highway, which extends towards
Libya and connects directly with the
Mediterranean Sea.
This discovery forced the project to be divided
into two phases: sea and land, she explained.
She also managed to gain support from the Egyptian Army
---- presenting the project to senior military commanders,
who approved assistance in conducting underground
searches. She considers this validation, one of her
most important achievements.
The uncovered tunnel is exceptional. It was not detected
by radar because it is 25 metres deep, in a saline area,
she said.
The connection to the Taposiris Magna temple confirms
significant human activity - and suggests that a part of
the temple remains underwater, she told newspapers.
The archaeologist stated that, thanks to pieces discovered
by her team, she has participated in international
exhibitions, including the Cairo Museum, the
National Geographic and the Library of
Alexandria, where 350 Dominican
pieces were exhibited.
She is currently working on creating a permanent exhibition
at the Greco-Roman Museum and regretted - that the
Dominican Republic ......does not have a solid
archaeological tradition.
She announced that she will collaborate on a project to
search for the tomb of Chief Enriquillo. This initiative
will be joined by specialists who worked with her
in Egypt to carry out excavations and offer the
first formal training -------- in conservation,
restoration and bone anthropology,
she said.
She assured that the site where the search will be carried out
is currently abandoned, and that the objective is to convert
it into a true archaeological space.
She announced that this Wednesday, December 3rd,
the documentary “Cleopatra's Last Secret” - made
with authorization from the National Geographic,
will be presented in the Dominican Republic.
The audiovisual screening in the DR will be at the National
Theatre, with support from the Dominican Institute
of Telecommunications. The documentary
includes the first images of structures
under the lake, never seen in 2,000
years, she explained.
_____________________________________
The Niger authorities - want to sell uranium
without intermediaries. France is furious
by Oleg Artyukov
December 1st, 2:25pm
(Pravda.ru)
Niger is taking decisive steps to bring its uranium
production to the international market without
the involvement of the previous operator,
the French company ''Orano''.
According to the company, the authorities in the
African country began sending uranium
concentrate from the Arlit mine...
without warning.
According to the official statement -- of the head of the
military administration of Niger, Abdurahmaneh Tiani,
the country plans to offer its uranium "regardless of
anyone, independently choosing buyers and
focusing on market conditions."
Tiani's statement demonstrates the African country's
government's desire ----- to establish itself as an
independent exporter of strategic resources.
This will involve overcoming the previous
dominance ...of foreign companies.
According to media reports, about 1,000 tons of uranium
concentrate have already been transported under
escort to the port of Lomé ---- the capital of
neighbouring Togo, which allows Niger
to bypass the previous logistical
chains controlled by the
French side.
This step is seen as an attempt by the country to
consolidate its new export independence and
attract alternative partners to cooperation.
This is a serious blow to Orano, which has
historically controlled the uranium
deposits in Niger.
Its joint venture, SOMAIR, was nationalized in June
2025, after the Nigerien authorities accused the
company of extracting a disproportionate
share of uranium (estimated at 86%
of production, compared to its
63% share).
Orano has stated that SOMAIR's economic situation
is nearing bankruptcy, following the suspension of
supplies and nationalization.
From a legal point of view, the situation is complicated:
previously, the uranium reserves, which amount to
about 1,300 tons of concentrate worth about
250 million euros ------ were ''recognized'' as
SOMAIR's property, and an international
court ------- ''prohibited'' Niger from
independently managing
these reserves.
Nevertheless... the actual export of
the concentrate has already begun.
At the same time, Niger is actively seeking new partners
for uranium production and export. The country aims to
diversify its exports - & establish uranium as a crucial
element of its foreign economic strategy.
These events reflect a broader trend of a redistribution of
influence in the global uranium market, as supplier
countries seek to strengthen their sovereignty
over strategic resources and reduce their
dependence on Western companies.
Until recently, they felt quite at ease and interpreted the
previously concluded agreements quite arbitrarily. The
benefits of these agreements for the countries where
mineral resources are extracted ..are also a matter
of debate.
The loss of control over production in Niger is a major
blow to Orano. And - more broadly - to the European
nuclear sector, which has long relied on uranium
from this country.
Niger shows that it intends to become an independent
player in the uranium market, with its own logistics,
customers, and export strategy.
The success of these plans depends on whether the
country can attract new partners, establish secure
transportation channels..... and bring uranium to
international markets, despite legal disputes
and pressure from France and its allies.
_______________________________________
Joint military operation rescues
seven children --------- in Nigeria
December 1st, 10:06am
(Prensa Latina)
The Nigerian army - saved from captivity seven minors
kidnapped days ago by unknown persons classified
as bandits in the official report circulated today.
The operation that brought together the Air Force and the
Police occurred in the northern state of Kano, the
communication says, according to which the
kidnappers fled in an unknown direction.
Seven other minors remain in the hands of the perpetrators.
Gangs of armed men without political affiliation have
proliferated in recent years in areas of northern
Nigeria and their modus operandi is based on
surprise attacks on villages to appropriate
the residents crops & also kidnap people
--- including government officials, for
whose release --- they demand a
cash ransom.
______________________________________________
Decorations in the Cuban Brigade
in Zimbabwe on Medicine Day
December 1st, 6:25am
(Prensa Latina)
Members of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Zimbabwe, with
several internationalist missions, were honoured with
high recognition at the Embassy of the Caribbean
nation in this capital, on the occasion of
Latin American Medicine Day.
At the presentation of these distinctions -- for the first time
abroad, a doctor received from the Ambassador, Suselys
Pérez Mesa, the 50 years Seal of the National Union of
Health Workers, for its uninterrupted trajectory -----
for five decades.
The Manuel Piti Fajardo Rivero Distinction, was awarded to
six specialists for 20 and 25 years work, while three other
professionals from the XIV Medical Brigade in Zimbabwe
linked to research and science..... deserved the Juan
Tomas Roig Medal --- awarded by the Head of the
medical contingent, Dr. María Eugenia García.
Receiving this recognition is a commitment to continue working
with firmness and dedication, it is a symbol of dedication to the
profession and the health of the Cuban people and many other
peoples, Dr. Rosa María Fernández, distinguished with the 50
Years Seal, stated when speaking on behalf of the honorees.
I can assure you, without fear of being wrong, that this is a renewal
of our commitment to the Homeland --- a reaffirmation of principles
and the certainty that we will never let you down, Fernández said
before the attendees, among them the Chief, the Ambassadors
of Russia, Angola..... and the UN Development Program.
The recognitions given symbolize the effort of many years, but at
the same time, also, the affection of so many who have been
saved in different countries --- and their compatriots who
admire them with a healthy pride, the Ambassador
stated --- in the emotional meeting.
Pérez Mesa recalled the words of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro
in the constitution of the Henry Reeve Contingent in 2005, by
ensuring that “graduating as a doctor is opening the doors
of a long path.. that leads to the noblest activity that a
human being can do... for others”.
In 2026 - said the Head of Mission - it will be 40 years since
the beginning of Cuba's collaboration with Zimbabwe
...with thousands of consultations, surgical
interventions, legal medicine.. and
electromedicine services - to
the astonishment of many,
for their recognized
high impact.
Let us celebrate the just recognition and renew the commitment
to the Homeland and the Revolution, to which we owe
ourselves and, as an untouchable mother, we will
honour and care, concluded the Ambassador.
Patriotic music and a Zimbabwean saxophone artist's
performance, enlivened the evening which featured
members of the island's diplomatic mission to the
African country.
Subsequently, attendees visited the monument to Fidel Castro
on the street that bears his name, to pay tribute to him within
the framework ......of the ninth anniversary of the physical
disappearance of the Leader of the Cuban Revolution.
______________________________________
Egyptian Salwa Bakr ------- the first
winner of the Brics literary award
December 1st, 6:20am
(Prensa Latina)
The first literary prize of the Brics group went to the Egyptian
writer, Salwa Bakr, as declared today by the press service
of the newly established prize.
«In the Russian city of Khabarovsk the name of the first winner
of the Brics literary prize was revealed. As a result of the vote
of the international jury, the Egyptian Bakr» won the award,
indicated the statement released this Monday.
The note highlights that Bakr is one of the most prominent
personalities of modern Arabic prose. He has written
seven books of accounts, seven novels & one play
translated into several European languages.
The winner's announcement ceremony was held at the
Khabarovsk City Palace of Culture in the context of
the Brics art festival.
Among the guests were diplomats, writers, editors, public
figures from the BRICS countries and partner states, as
well as the Administration of the Khabarovsk region.
The Brics literary award was founded in November 2024
on the group's «Traditional Values» forum.
The mission of the award is to support modern authors whose
works reflect the cultural and spiritual values of the people
of the Brics group, as well as promoting the development
of translations and the publication of literature in the
languages of the countries of the group, as well as
the nations of the global majority.
_________________________________________
The first conference on digital
agriculture of the AU meets
December 1st, 5:45am
(Prensa Latina)
The Inaugural Conference of the African Union (AU) on Digital
Agriculture today brings together policy makers, institutions
and researchers, donors and investors to explore the
cutting-edge technologies that transform the
sector on the continent.
Under the motto «Configuring Agricultural Policy for the Future
of Africa: Innovation, Climate Smart Practices and Digital
Transformation for Sustainable Development» the
meeting will take place until December 3 at the
headquarters of the continental organization.
Organized through the Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development, this first edition - addresses
various transversal thematic areas - such as
Digital Extension Services, Innovations in
Agrotechnology, market Access and
Value Chains, Climate Smart
Agriculture, Policy and
Regulation, and Data
Management....
and Privacy.
Its objectives include accelerating the adoption and use
of digital technologies in Africa's agricultural sector ---
to improve productivity, sustainability and resilience.
Likewise, to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and learning
between interested parties about the latest trends, showcase
successful digital agriculture initiatives, identify
recommendations ---- and empower small
producers and rural communities, by
providing them... with access to
information, markets and
digital tools.
The conference is expected to generate practical information
and suggestions for policy makers, development
professionals, and other stakeholders.
Promoting collaboration and alliances to promote digital
innovation in agriculture and promote innovation and
investment in the sector - are other aspirations of
the event.
__________________________________________
They call on African countries:
invest in youngsters education
November 29th, 1:46pm
(Prensa Latina)
Angola's current head of the African Union (AU), Joao
Lourenco, today called on the countries of Africa to
invest, “firmly and strategically”, in the education
of new generations.
“Only in this way can we prepare our children for the
challenges of a rapidly evolving world, marked by
profound technological transformations”, the
president said, in a message regarding the
35 years since the adoption of the African
Charter on the Rights and Welfare of
the Child.
“We have a moral and political duty, to guarantee quality education
that strengthens digital and scientific literacy, encourages critical
thinking, values creativity and promotes continuous learning”,
he added.
Lourenço pointed out that it is imperative to develop skills to
access decent jobs and contribute, as protagonists, to the
sustainable development of the continent, which has the
youngest population globally, & which constitutes great
potential for progress.
He noted that, since the adoption of the Charter 35 years ago,
51 countries of the 55 members of the AU have confirmed
their accession, at the same time, the continent has
registered significant progress in incorporating it
into national laws, policies and practices.
He added --- that this allowed expanding access to education,
strengthening the inclusion of marginalized boys and girls
and increasing investments in health, social protection
and crisis response; In addition, a growing number of
States present periodic reports on the subject.
“However, profound challenges remain associated with harmful
practices that continue to seriously affect children on our
continent. Child marriage, female genital mutilation and
other violations continue and compromise life, health
and dignity”, the president stressed.
It meant that this requires structured and coordinated
responses, based on cooperation between States,
communities and regional institutions.
He also showed concern about the situation of children involved
or affected by armed conflicts, since in several regions millions
of children remain deprived of their fundamental rights, and
their recruitment is one of the most serious violations of
human rights.
He considered it essential that Member States, together with the
Special Rapporteur on Children Affected by Armed Conflict, the
African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the
Child, and the African Platform on Children Affected by
Conflict, commit to the effective implementation of
the Charter.
“Only in this way can we convert political commitments into
solid and sustainable investments, capable of generating
real changes in the lives of our children, fully fulfilling
the promises made 35 years ago and reaffirming,
clearly and unequivocally, child protection will
continue to be ---------- the priority of African
governance”, he maintained.
_______________________________________
Ethiopia ----- advocated for strong
constitutional systems in Africa
November 29th, 10:10am
(Prensa Latina)
The president of Ethiopia, Taye Atske Selassie, stressed
today the importance of African nations building and
implementing strong constitutional systems that
uphold the rule of law.
Selassie, speaking at the IV International Symposium of the
Conference of African Constitutional Jurisdictions (CCJA)
scheduled for November 28 to 30 at the headquarters
of the African Union, he also advocated for a
sector that guarantees accountability
and protects the rights of its citizens.
He emphasized that constitutionalism must go beyond the
mere promulgation of laws. He affirmed that strong
constitutional frameworks are essential to
establish responsible governance and
safeguard fundamental rights.
He emphasized that the legitimacy of any government
comes directly from the consent of the people, noting
that constitutions play a decisive role in defining the
distribution of power and guiding the correct
exercise of state authority.
«Legitimacy, which requires the will and desire of the people,
is the fundamental requirement for the creation of a State
and the basis for its construction», he said.
He strongly condemned the growing trend towards
unconstitutional changes of government across
the continent, stressing that such actions
threaten... both the principles of
governance and the founding
act of the African Union.
He urged African states to maintain a clear vision of a united
and peaceful continent, stating that constitutions must be
the lifeblood of elaboration and decision-making, as well
as the pillar of unity between diverse societies.
Representing the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Ali
Youssouf, he highlighted the indispensable role of independent
courts in consolidating stability and public trust.
Youssouf said constitutions are key central to this effort because
they serve as living agreements that embody equity, justice and
mutual respect between citizens and institutions.
For his part, the president of the CCJA, Luke Malaba, expressed
optimism about Africa's trajectory and urged confidence in
the continent's capacity for transformation.
«Africa is achieving positive changes. We must have faith in
ourselves», he asserted, describing the symposium as an
opportunity to examine whether governments really
serve the interests of their citizens.
Malaba explained that the meeting is aligned with the African
Union's Agenda 2063, which promotes peace, unity and
prosperity, and represents a crucial moment for
collaboration between constitutional bodies
through open dialogue and the exchange
of knowledge.
____________________________________________
Cuban president receives minister
of the Republic of the Congo
November 29th, 9:57am
(Prensa Latina)
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel received Minister Dennis
Chistel Sassou today, who heads a delegation from the
People's Republic of the Congo.
Sassou, who directs the area of International Cooperation and
Public-Private Promotion, made reference to the pleasant
memories shared between the historical leader of the
Cuban Revolution and President Nguesso, as well
as the spirit of resistance of the Cuban people
during these years.
The island's president recognized the resilience of his people in
the face of the blockade imposed on them by the United States
government. «During the visit --- we exalted the historical and
endearing ties between our brother peoples and I thanked
the Congolese solidarity», he added, on the social
network X.
For his part, the guest expressed Nguesso's desire that «the
Congolese and Cuban people always remain together and
supporting each other», said the official Presidency
account on the social network X itself.
This fraternal meeting strengthens bilateral and
commercial relations between both nations.
_____________________________________________
Communication awards in Ethiopia
recognize their contribution to
the region
November 29th, 9:38am
(Prensa Latina)
The celebration of the third edition of the IGAD Media Awards
in Ethiopia is a recognition of the country's firm commitment
to peace and security, an official source stated today.
For two days this capital hosts the presentation of the awards
from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
under the motto “Narratives for climate action: for a safe
region, resilient and stable”.
The head of the African entity's Mission here, Abebaw Bihonegn,
he expressed at the opening ceremony that the selection of
Addis Ababa as the venue for the 2025 edition highlights
its contributions to green and regional development.
Bihonegn stressed that the stories could help shape the
future of the Horn of Africa.... in unprecedented ways.
As an historic meeting that brings together media
professionals from the IGAD Member States, it
constitutes an exceptional celebration of
the media and journalistic excellence
that inspires collective action for
climate and resilience in the
region, he added.
For his part, the head of State for Environment, Climate Change,
Population and Development of the Ministry of Planning and
Development of Ethiopia, Seyoum Mekonnen, thanked
IGAD for bringing such an iconic media event at a
time when the country is taking proactive
leadership on climate action.
In this regard, Mekonnen mentioned the national Green Legacy
reforestation program... the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
and important investments in the solar, wind and geothermal
energy sectors.
He noted that the media could play a crucial role in driving
collective climate action -- by fostering a strong public
awareness ----- and organizing active communication,
strategic and coherent on hot topics on the agenda.
They could also shape and promote Africa and the region's
continued commitment to nature-based solutions, with
the active contribution of countries such as Ethiopia,
the latter considered a regional centre of green,
clean and renewable energy with net zero
emissions, he concluded.
Established as part of IGAD's commitment --- to promoting
ethical, responsible, impactful media, the awards honour
the journalists, media professionals and storytellers,
who contribute to regional peace, development
and integration.
Each year, they highlight a pressing issue, aligned with
the strategic priorities of the African entity, ranging
from peace and security to climate resilience,
a press release stated.
______________________________________________
DRC and Serbia
for diversifying
bilateral cooperation
November 28th, 11:30am
(Prensa Latina)
The president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),
Félix Tshisekedi, met today with his Serbian counterpart,
Aleksandar Vucic, with whom he addressed
opportunities for the diversification
of bilateral cooperation.
As part of the Congolese's state visit to Belgrade, both leaders
talked about collaboration, especially in the field of education,
by granting scholarships to students from the DRC, the
Presidency said this Friday.
They also talked about technology transfer, training and
modernization of agricultural practices; support for the
training of the Congolese National Police; & projects
for the development of sports infrastructure,
among others.
Tshisekedi makes a three-day state visit, at the invitation of his
Serbian counterpart, in what constitutes an extension of the
meeting held between the two presidents during the 79th
session of the United Nations General Assembly, in
New York, in September 2024.
Then both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening
relations of friendship and cooperation, which takes shape
on this occasion, with the signing of several protocols.
The Congolese president will also meet
with officials of the Serbian parliament.
_________________________________________
Ethiopia ------- chairs ECA
social policy committee
November 28th, 11:28am
(Prensa Latina)
Ethiopia today, assumed the presidency of the Office of the
Social Policy Committee, Poverty and Gender of the United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) .......for the
period 2025-2027, reported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Committee is a key structure within the ECA, whose
mandate is to guide efforts to promote equitable and
inclusive human and social development across
the continent.
Its work focuses on gender equality, employment,
population and youth development, social
protection and urbanization.
It also examines major regional trends and issues in human
development and tracks the results of major conferences.
Ethiopia will lead the work of the Committee together with
Equatorial Guinea, Senegal, Eswatini and Mauritania. It
should be remembered that Addis Ababa served as
second vice president, in 1996.
According to the source, this election demonstrates the country's
historic commitment to multilateralism and underlines the role of
the United Nations in promoting cooperation between States,
even in terms of social development.
___________________________________________
They locate --- the origins of the
domestic cat.. in North Africa
November 28th, 8:09am
(Prensa Latina)
A new study published in the journal Science locates the origin
of domestic cats in North Africa, thousands of years later than
researchers believed ---- revolutionizing what is known about
the subject.
This work led by researcher Marco De Martino, from the University
of Rome Tor Vergata ------ analyzed the genome of 87 ancient and
modern cats and his findings rewrite the history of these felines.
It was long believed that cats originated in Mesopotamia
10,000 years ago, but this latest genetic study indicates
that the cradle is in North African lands ...only two
millennia ago.
The new research, which sequenced the nuclear DNA of the bones
of those ancient felines, revealed.. that all current domestic cats
are descended from the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica),
specifically --- from populations in the continental north.
__________________________________________
United Arab Emirates strengthens
ties with Cuba and the Caribbean
November 28th, 8:04am
(Prensa Latina)
The ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Cuba, Hazza
Alkaabi, highlighted the solid relations the UAE maintains
today with Cuba and the Caribbean, during an event
celebrated - for his country's National Day.
In his speech, the diplomat stressed that ---- in more than five
decades, the United Arab Emirates has built a development
model based on economic diversification, investment in
artificial intelligence, clean energy and inclusive
education, where 70% of university students
are women.
He highlighted the participation of more than 290 million people
in the National Day celebrations, reflecting a diverse and open
society, made up of residents of more than 200 nationalities,
in an environment of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Alkaabi highlighted his country's incorporation into the BRICS as an
expression of its commitment to multilateralism and South-South
cooperation, and he thanked Cuba and other Caribbean nations
...for their support of the Emirati candidacies in international
forums, which has allowed Abu Dhabi to obtain leadership
positions in multilateral organizations.
He reported that, this year, the first meeting of the Joint Economic
Commission was held between the United Arab Emirates & Cuba,
a mechanism that opens new avenues of collaboration in trade,
biotechnology, renewable energy & education, & announced
that Cuban academic institutions have visited his country,
to expand bilateral cooperation.
Likewise, he highlighted the Renewable Energy Fund for the
Caribbean, an initiative aimed at supporting island nations
in their transition towards clean sources and in
strengthening their resilience to climate
disasters, and he recalled his
delegation's participation -
in the recent COP30 held
in Belém, Brazil.
Finally, he reiterated the interest of the United Arab Emirates
in deepening ties with Cuba, based on mutual respect,
sovereignty and complementarity.
The Cuban Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anayansi Rodríguez,
high authorities of the island's government & representatives
of the diplomatic corps accredited in the capital,
participated in the event.
___________________________________________
The International symposium of
African courts meets
in Ethiopia
November 28th, 12:21am
(Prensa Latina)
Ethiopia hosts today the IV International Symposium of African
Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions, with the
attendance of over 22 leaders of these judicial bodies.
The director general of the Secretariat of the Constitutional
Research Council, Dessalegn Weyessa, reported that the
Assembly Hall of the African Union will host the meeting
under the theme “Constitutionalism and State Building”
until next November 30.
Weyssa specified that among the observers and guests are
delegations from Russia, Türkiye, Spain, Latvia, the World
Law Foundation, the Association of Constitutional
Presidents of Hebrew Americans, and other
international participants.
He stated, that Ethiopia will present its expertise in
constitutional interpretation and at the same time
learn lessons from other countries.
The program includes more than a dozen research papers
on related topics, as well as visits to places of interest
in Addis Ababa.
___________________________________________
Free Trade Area shows Africa's
economic potential
November 27th, 12:27pm
(Prensa Latina)
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) redefines the
continent's trade equation and demonstrates its potential for
economic and industrial growth, an official source stated
today in Angola.
The executive secretary of the United Nations Economic
Commission for Africa (ECA), Claver Gatete -- speaking
at the Annual Meeting of the Special Economic Zones
of Africa, acknowledged that it was for a long time
cheaper to trade with external partners, due to
tariff barriers and fragmented logistics.
However, Gatete highlighted the identification of 94 regional value
chains in sectors such as agroprocessing, pharmaceuticals, and
automotive, mineral beneficiation and digital services revealed
another picture in Africa.
He specified - that the continent's industrial participation in the
Gross Domestic Product - is too low, so the Special Economic
Zones are fundamental for the development of cross-border
productive capacity.
As priorities, he recommended aligning Special Economic Zones
strategies with the AfCFTA to ensure that these areas serve as
industrial centres that strengthen regional value chains,
create jobs and expand intra-African trade.
To support this vision --- the ECA concludes a continental study on
Standards and Standards for Successful Special Economic Zones,
conducted with the African Export-Import Bank, the African Union
Development Agency and with the guidance of the Member
States, it was reported.
Second, he suggested improving governance, streamlining
regulation and ensuring reliable infrastructure to reduce
investment risk - and attract long-term capital.
“Today, investors do not limit themselves to comparing Africa's
potential with itself. They compare Africa with the industrial
ecosystems of Southeast Asia, Latin America and the
Middle East, among others. Therefore, our areas
must offer efficiency, transparency and
continuity”, he warned.
In this sense, he said that the ECA's work on digital customs and
reforms helps countries reduce risk perception, so investment
flows to where opportunities already exist: across Africa.
Finally, Gatete urged investing in the African population ---- which
constitutes our greatest competitive advantage, improving their
skills, digital and innovation capabilities to boost the industries
of the future.
The annual meeting runs from November 26 to 28 under the motto:
“Africa Special Economic Zones: Driving Sustainable Industrial
Investment and the Integration of Global Value Chains”.
It is organized by the African Union Commission, the
Organization of African Economic Zones and the
Luanda-Bengo Special Economic Zone.
_________________________________________
ECA warns about external economic
factors .....that affect Africa
November 27th, 12:01pm
(Prensa Latina)
The slowdown of the world economy, investor caution,
and a redefinition of capital flows, due to the climate
imperative, strongly affect Africa, an official source
warned today.
The executive secretary of the United Nations Economic
Commission for Africa, Claver Gatete, expressed this -
when speaking at the Annual Meeting of the Special
Economic Zones of Africa... which meets from
November 26 to 28 --- in Luanda, Angola.
Gatete acknowledged that while investment began to
recover in some countries, overall foreign direct
investment trends remain uneven ....and
vulnerable to external shocks.
He specified that over 20 African nations face debt difficulties,
and some allocate more funds to debt service than to critical
sectors such as health, education and infrastructure.
Furthermore, he stressed, the financial cost remains at least three
times higher than that of developed economies, limiting our ability
to invest in infrastructure, energy security and industrial growth.
Despite these challenges, he emphasized that they should not
postpone the development of the continent until global
conditions improve. Industrialization for Africa is
not an option, but a fundamental imperative,
he asserted.
In that sense, he called for a greater boost to innovation, regional
integration and industrial capacity by mentioning examples such
as the Tangier Med port in Morocco that, in less than 2 decades,
became one of the most strategic industrial gateways in Africa,
The latter connects more than 1,200 companies with regional and
international value chains, promotes annual exports of more than
eight billion dollars and generates more than 100 thousand direct
jobs, he continued.
“From Ethiopia's Eastern Industrial Zone, to Nigeria's Lekki platform
and Angola's Luanda-Bengo centre ----- we see strong evidence that
Africa can design, build and operate globally competitive industrial
ecosystems”, he stressed.
These examples, Gatete emphasized, confirm that with the right
infrastructure, predictable governance --- and political certainty,
African economies can compete and integrate on a large scale.
In this sense, he urged the Special Economic Zones to evolve
from production enclaves to ecosystems of innovation and
transformation; from isolated industrial centres....... to
integrated drivers of continental value chains.
_______________________________________________
South Africa and Finland
strengthen bilateral
cooperation
November 27th, 11:27am
(Prensa Latina)
South African Vice President Paul Mashatile today thanked
Finland for its firm support for the G20 presidency of the
African country, during a bilateral meeting with the
Finnish Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo.
The meeting, according to a presidential statement, allowed
us to review the cooperation agenda between both nations.
On the occasion, Mashatile underlined the value of President
Alexander Stubb's participation in the recent G20 Summit, in
Johannesburg as a sign of Helsinki's continued commitment.
«Relations between South Africa and Finland remain warm,
cordial and constructive», said the Vice President, who
recalled the historical support of the Nordic country
during the fight against apartheid and in current
national development efforts.
Orpo's visit comes after the G20 Summit - and his participation in
the VII African Union-European Union Summit in Luanda, Angola.
The Prime Minister leads a delegation that includes business
leaders.. interested in exploring opportunities in sustainable
mining, water management and smart urban development.
Mashatile highlighted the strengthening of bilateral dialogue after
the State Visit of former President Sauli Niinistö in April 2023,
which generated concrete results. Among those, he noted,
the collaboration in water resources management,
educational models for child development... and
programs for youth outside the school system.
A memorandum of understanding on water resources - signed
in 2023, constitutes a milestone in this cooperation, together
with letters of intent with South African municipalities. The
recent visit of the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Penny
Majodina, to Finland last August reinforces that line of
work, according to the text.
Digitalization - represents another central pillar, with low-cost
connectivity projects in poor settlement areas and the active
Finnish role in the G20 Digital Economy Working Group.
Mashatile valued cooperation in innovation systems
and ecosystems for startups.
Beyond the bilateral agenda, the Vice President recognized the
convergence with Finland on global issues. Both countries
advocate for the comprehensive reform of the United
Nations, especially the Security Council, and share
visions on multilateralism, international law,
gender equality ....and the response to
climate change.
«The story of our respective struggles and the lessons learned
from our shared solidarity remind us that by working together,
we can help build a better world», Mashatile concluded,
emphasizing the role of the association in supporting
African development priorities.
________________________________
Ethiopian National Steering
Committee for COP32 will
meet in 2027
November 27th, 11:27am
(Prensa Latina)
Coordination of government efforts to ensure an inclusive and
organized process --- was the focus of the Ethiopian National
Steering Committee meeting today, as part of preparations
for COP32 in 2027.
The meeting, which included the participation of Prime Minister
Abiy Ahmed, reaffirmed its commitment to an approach that
will bring together national authorities and relevant
stakeholders, to move towards.. the 32nd United
Nations Climate Change Conference (COP32).
The meeting took place a day after the announcement
of the appointment of Foreign Minister Gedion
Timothewos as president and appointee
of the climate event.
Timothewos, as part of his duties, will lead preparations for
the summit, coordinating with national authorities, the a
gencies of the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) and international partners.
Following the support of Ethiopia's candidacy at COP30 held in
Brazil, the Government expressed its gratitude, to all UNFCCC
Member States for entrusting the host duties, while hoping to
work with the global climate community under Timothewos.
CP32 will take place in Addis Ababa in November 2027,
returning the world's largest annual climate meeting
to Africa.
The country highlighted its strong infrastructure, international
connectivity and national climate initiatives, including the
Legado Verde reforestation program and renewable
energy projects, while preparing to host over
60,000 delegates from governments,
multilateral organizations.... civil
society, academic institutions,
youth groups..... and the
private sector.
______________________________
New airport in Ethiopia attracts
attention in African forum
November 27th, 11:03am
(Prensa Latina)
Ethiopia presented the Bishoftu International Airport mega-
project to international investors at the Morocco African
Investment Forum that meets from November 26 to 28,
fana Media Corporation reported today.
The presentation, which sparked interest from development
partners, commercial lenders, export credit agencies and
institutional investors, it represents a breakthrough for
what is expected to be one of the largest and most
strategically important aviation centres in Africa.
During the intervention in Rabat, investors from Africa, Europe,
North America and Asia -- maintained close collaboration with
the project sponsors, reviewing their information memoranda,
the financial model --- and risk allocation framework.
The presentation of the Africa Investment Forum, offered
potential partners an overview of the financial, technical
and strategic bases of the initiative presented by the
Ethiopian Airlines Group, flag airline of Ethiopia
and the largest in Africa.
It was learned that the prequalification of engineering,
procurement and construction contractors is under-
way, and the presentation of offers is expected
in mid-December.
In a message accompanying the presentation, Ethiopian
Finance Minister Ahmed Shide said that the project
represents a significant step in the trajectory
of African aviation.
Shide highlighted that its advanced design and connectivity
will help to position Ethiopia ----- as an important gateway
between the continent --- and the rest of the world. The
airport is an all-new infrastructure initiative --- led by
the Ethiopian Airlines Group, in collaboration with
the African Development Bank, technical
advisors, and financial consultants.
Located near the town of Abusera, about 40 kilometers south
of this capital, the first phase of the construction process is
valued at approximately 12.5 billion dollars.
The facility - is designed to accommodate 60 million passengers
annually, and its full development is expected to increase total
capacity to 110 million passengers, positioning it as the
largest in Africa.
The project also incorporates extensive cargo facilities and a city-
airport development with logistics centres, hotels, retail trade
and direct rail and highway connections to the capital,
according to official sources.
The African Development Bank, appointed earlier this year
as lead organizer and global coordinator, guides the
financial structure of the project.
It is conceived as a transformative engine for economic expansion,
trade, tourism and regional integration, as well as a relief from
pressure on Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport.
______________________________________________________
Pretoria condemns Trump's statement
on exclusion from the G20
November 27th, 10:48am
(Prensa Latina)
The South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, today described
the statements of his US counterpart, Donald Trump, as both
regrettable and based on misinformation, as it intends to
exclude South Africa from the next G20 Summit.
In response to a publication by the US president on his
social network Truth Social, the Presidency of the
Republic of South Africa issued a statement -----
emphasizing that the country's membership in
the forum is sovereign and recognized by
all Member States.
The text rejects --- what it considers “insults” about
the value of the African nation on global platforms.
“South Africa is a member of the G20 in its own right. Its
membership has the consensus of all other members.
As a sovereign, democratic and constitutional
country, it does not appreciate ------- another
nation's insults -- about its participation in
global platforms”, the Presidency noted.
In the text, Ramaphosa added that South Africa “respects
the sovereignty of all countries ...and would never insult
or belittle another State”.
Trump's publication, made the day before, justified the
exclusion based on the transition process of the G20
Presidency and unverified statements.
Faced with this, the South African government recalled that
during the G20 2025 Leaders Summit, held last weekend in
Johannesburg, it was reported that there would not be a
traditional transfer ceremony with the US.
Ramaphosa reiterated his country's commitment to playing
a “full role, active and constructive” at the G20 and urged
Member States to reaffirm the principles of multi-
lateralism and equitable participation.
The South African Presidency also regretted that - “despite
Ramaphosa's efforts - and numerous attempts” to reset
the diplomatic relationship with Washington, Trump
“continues to apply punitive measures against
South Africa - based on false information
and distortions about our country”.
He also highlighted that the Johannesburg Summit was widely
praised as one of the most successful in recent years, with
the adoption of a declaration that reaffirms the “strength
and indisputable value of multilateralism” to address
global challenges.
Regarding the transfer of the Presidency, the statement clarified
that, in the absence of a US delegation at the summit, by
voluntary decision of Washington, the instruments of
the G20 Presidency, were formally delivered to an
official of the US embassy at the headquarters
of the Department of International Relations
and Cooperation.
“As one of the founding members of the G20, South Africa has
always valued the spirit of consensus, collaboration and
partnership that defines the G20 as the primary forum
for international economic cooperation”, the
Presidency concluded.
___________________________________________________
Morocco... confiscates
voluminous drug load
November 27th, 10:37am
(Prensa Latina)
The attempt by a drug trafficking gang to transport
1.6 tons of hashish to Europe was thwarted by the
Moroccan authorities, official sources said today.
Hasish is a narcotic plant in the cannabis
family, the same as marijuana.
The criminal network, at least in its Moroccan branch,
was made up of 8 members, six men and two women,
who used the beaches adjacent to Casablanca city,
according to the details of the statement from the
Territorial Surveillance Authority.
Those arrested are apparently just the tip of the iceberg
since the report clarifies that the investigations are
continuing... to find the tip of the skein, which
clearly lies in Europe.
In addition to loading narcotics... inflatable rafts with outboard
motors and fuel were seized from the detainees, geolocation
equipment and a sum of Moroccan currency equivalent to
nearly 150 thousand dollars.... in accordance with the
details of the official statement circulated through
the social network Facebook.
____________________________________________________
The African Union ..condemned
military coup in Guinea Bissau
November 27th, 10:36am
(Prensa Latina)
The president of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali
Youssouf, condemned the military coup d'état in Guinea
Bissau and the arrest of President Umaro Sissoco
along with other officials, a statement
said today.
Youssouf reiterated the continental organization's zero tolerance
and firm rejection of any unconstitutional change of government
......in accordance with its fundamental regulatory instruments,
including the Constitutive Act of the African Union (2000) &
the Lomé Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of
Government (2000).
Likewise, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and
Governance (2007) and the Ezulwini Framework (2009).
According to the text, the president took note of the Joint
Declaration on the post-election situation issued the day
before by the heads of the African Union Electoral
Observation Mission, from the Economic
Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) and the West African
Elders Forum.
He highlighted the imperative to respect the ongoing electoral
process and defend the constitutional order in Guinea Bissau,
in accordance with the mandate of the National Electoral
Commission, the only institution legally empowered to
proclaim the official electoral results in the country.
He called for the immediate and unconditional release of Sissoco
and all detained officials, and urged all parties to exercise
maximum restraint to avoid further deterioration of
the situation.
The statement reaffirmed the readiness of the African Union,
working in close coordination with ECOWAS and other key
international partners, to support all efforts aimed at
restoring stability and safeguarding democratic
processes through dialogue and legally
based mechanisms.
Finally, the Chairman of the African Union Commission expressed
strong support and solidarity with the people of Bissau during
this critical period, and its commitment to accompany it on
the path towards peace, stability and democratic
consolidation.
The event that occurred the day before -- in that African nation -
suspended the ongoing presidential electoral process, whose
victorious results were claimed by both the ruling party and
the opposition.
Likewise, the closure of the country's borders and airspace
was ordered until further notice. After the coup, Sissoco
was arrested and dismissed along with several senior
Army officers and some government ministers.
___________________________________________________
G20 Summit in South Africa, a
space well used by Ethiopia
by Nara Romero Rams
Chief correspondent in Ethiopia
November 27th, 10:02am
(Prensa Latina)
Ethiopia used the XX G20 Summit organized for the first time
in Africa, under the presidency of South Africa, to highlight
its national agenda and defend key continental priorities.
Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos called the
invitation to the Johannesburg meeting “a significant
honour and a great opportunity” to advocate for
fairer global economic policies, sustainable
development, climate action and stronger
international partnerships.
Timothewos emphasized that it provided a vital platform
to raise critical issues not only for Addis Ababa, but for
the African continent as a whole.
He underlined the space to advocate for a fairer global economic
system and promote development for all, as well as his country's
commitment to present concrete proposals to improve the role
of African countries in the global financial system.
Regarding the meetings on the sidelines of the summit, the
diplomat assured... that they allowed Ethiopia to foster
stronger international cooperation and partnerships,
mainly with his contributions in favour of the
environment and climate action.
“Ethiopia is offering solutions -- instead of simply seeking help”,
he said. Addressing the economic challenges of many African
nations, the Ethiopian foreign minister noted that high levels
of debt often force governments to allocate more resources
to serve that commitment ------ than to health, education
or development.
In that regard, he praised Ethiopia's progress in responsible
trade debt management, calling for international support
for such strategies.
“Redirecting debt repayment resources towards sustainable
development benefits everyone”, he said while underlining
the importance ----------- of linking economic growth with
environmental responsibility.
He reaffirmed Africa's commitment to combating climate change
despite contributing minimally to global emissions, emphasizing
that Ethiopia's sustainable development models can serve as
Finance Minister, Ahmed Shide, said Ethiopia made significant
progress on its national development agenda and deepening
global partnerships at the historic G20 Summit.
Shide stated that bilateral and multilateral commitments focused
on promoting sustainable development, enhancing international
cooperation and advancing Africa's economic priorities.
He highlighted --- that Addis Ababa leveraged the platform
to highlight its development strategy while representing
the collective aspirations of African nations.
One of the key issues stemmed from the Global Fund's continued
support for the country's grant access programs, he said. As one
of the continent's main beneficiaries, Ethiopia has been
instrumental in ensuring the success of this aid,
he said.
On the other hand, he referred to the conversations between the
Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, and the South African
President, Cyril Ramaphosa, in which both leaders praised
the economic growth and macroeconomic reforms
underway in the country, a model of urban
development in Africa.
His discussions, he added, focused on strengthening continental
cooperation, promoting Pretoria's investment in Ethiopia -- and
consolidating shared development goals across the region.
The Finance Minister recalled Ahmed's speech to the summit, in
which he stressed the importance of inclusive global economic
cooperation, and described Ethiopia and Africa's technology
priorities, and climate action and sustainable development.
Likewise, he emphasized the growing role of the
continent in shaping global policy agendas.
Regarding commitments -- with the main international partners,
Shide explained that the International Monetary Fund praised
developing macroeconomic reform efforts in Ethiopia and
reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the country's
future climate and development initiatives.
Similarly, the World Bank reiterated its readiness to expand
its programmatic and financial support... policy financing
and capacity-building initiatives - confirming continued
support for major investments, including the Bishoftu
International Airport project.
He revealed that the African Development Bank (AfDB) recognized
Ethiopia as a leading model for development on the continent
and promised sustained collaboration on strategic
development projects, including financing ---
for that airport facility.
The G20 Summit marked a historic milestone for Africa.
“Ethiopia actively promoted the continent's priorities,
advocated sustainable development and
strengthened strategic partnerships
with global stakeholders”,
he concluded.
_______________________________________
New - transitional president
appointed in Guinea Bissau
November 27th, 9:55am
(Prensa Latina)
Army Major General Horta N'tam today assumed the position
of Transitional President in Guinea Bissau for one year,
after the incumbent president Umaru Sissoko
Embaló ...was deposed by a military coup.
According to the Odemocrata information portal, the investiture,
supported by the Military Junta, known as the Military High
Command for the Restoration of National Security and
Public Order -- was announced by the high-ranking
military man himself in a speech broadcast by
National Radio Broadcasting, the state
television network.
In his address to the entire country, N'tam maintained that
the armed institution decided to intervene to “safeguard
democracy and political stability”, which, according
to his statement, were threatened.
He also alleged that the military action was carried out
in the face of alleged threats of interference, public
disorder ..and the risk of a disintegration of the
rule of law.
After calling on political parties, civil society and youth to unite,
focusing on the fight against drug trafficking and corruption,
the new transitional leader expressed that the uniformed
high command .......will work to restore normality.
N'tam, who served as chief of the Army Staff, assumes the position
of provisional ruler, after previously serving as commander of the
Presidential Battalion & later, Commander of the National Guard.
According to press reports, in the last few hours the acting Head
of State Sissoko Embaló was overthrown and arrested by the
Army, along with other senior government officials and
political opposition figures.
The action occurred when the country was preparing this
Thursday to know the results of the presidential and
legislative elections ......held last Sunday.
Various sources indicated that the coup d'état occurred
after the presidential candidates, Sisoko Embaló, and
the opposition candidate, Fernando Dias da Costa,
both proclaimed their respective victories..... at
the polls.
Organizations in the region, including the African Union
and the Economic Community of West African States,
condemned the coup in Guinea Bissau.
Both entities, together with the West African Elders Forum,
expressed their deep concern about the announcement
of this act .....by the armed forces, while the country
awaited the announcement of the election results.
ECOWAS also specified that the riot constitutes a serious
violation of the constitutional order and that the
electoral process must be resumed and
concluded without any coercion,
obstruction or interference.
Television media reported that in the country's capital, Bissau,
and other parts of this territory, an atmosphere of tense calm
is perceived, in the midst of extensive security, after the
suspension of the electoral process, the closure of
borders and the temporary closure of
social networks.
_______________________________________
Portugal ---- demands an end to violence
after a military coup in Guinea-Bissau
November 27th, 9:54am
(Prensa Latina)
The Government of Portugal today demanded immediate
institutional normalization in its former African colony,
Guinea Bissau, where the military deposed President
Umaro Sissoco Embaló and suspended the
electoral count.
This country urges all actors to refrain from acts of
institutional or civil violence and to resume the
regular functioning of institutions to complete
the scrutiny, the Portuguese Foreign
Ministry demanded in a statement
after the military coup.
The self-proclaimed «Higher Military Command to Restore
National Security» imposed border closures, media
suspensions and a night curfew, evidencing the
systemic crisis --- generated by decades of
capitalist exploitation.
African affairs analysts point out that this new episode of
instability reflects the consequences of Western neo-
colonialism, which keeps sovereign nations in
cycles of violence - through their permanent
interference in their democratic processes.
The experts also stressed that Guinea-Bissau, with nine coups
since its independence in 1974, exemplifies - how historical
colonial powers maintain mechanisms of domination that
prevent the sovereign development of African peoples.
_____________________________________________
The Eternal Flame: Fidel Castro's legacy
inspires Zimbabwe .....and the world
November 27th, 2:03am
(Prensa Latina)
The spirit, the ideas, fidel Castro's courage and imposing
legacy of resistance constitute an inextinguishable
flame that illuminates the path of the fight for
independence, justice and human dignity,
they pondered.... here today.
We join the chorus of progressive peoples from around the world
to solemnly and decisively commemorate the ninth anniversary
of the death of the Commander in Chief, eternal beacon of the
Cuban Revolution, mafa Kwanisai Mafa, Coordinator of the
Fidel Castro Chair, at the Midlands University of
Zimbabwe, highlighted.
In an article published in this African nation, Mafa assured that the
historical leader of the Cuban Revolution was not simply a head
of state, but a global revolutionary architect -- a philosopher
of liberation -------- and the personification of unbreakable
anti-imperialism.
His life's work – he emphasized - stands as a colossal monument
to the principle that a small, determined nation, united by
conviction, can stand firm and not just survive -- but
prosper -- in the face of the most powerful and
sustained aggression.
For more than half a century, Fidel was the unwavering face of the
resistance against imperialist domination. His challenge to the
colossal power of the North was a powerful and practical
lesson for developing nations: sovereignty - is not
negotiable, with the Revolution that marked the
change forever in the geopolitical panorama.
In the opinion of the professor, he transformed the mentality
of the global south, demonstrating that a different and more
just world was possible.
This lesson resonates deeply here in Zimbabwe, a nation that
understands the high cost of the anti-imperialist struggle and
the constant need to safeguard our economic and political
independence.
Perhaps the most inspiring facet of his legacy, Mafa said in
the article also published in Modernghana, is his profound
internationalism. For Fidel and the Cuban Revolution,
solidarity was not an abstract political term, but
rather, a concrete and self-sacrificing action.
That commitment ---- he stated ---- directly accelerated the end of
apartheid in South Africa - and guaranteed the independence of
Namibia. As well as being reflected - during our own liberation
struggle in Zimbabwe.
Mafa considered that the historical leader of the Caribbean island
understood that the true measure of the success of a revolution
does not lie in military power or the accumulation of wealth,
but in the well-being and improvement of its citizens.
A few years after the Revolution, he launched the Literacy
Campaign, mobilizing young volunteers to teach reading
and writing in the most remote corners of the country,
which was declared a Territory Free of Illiteracy, in
1961, an unparalleled feat for most nations in the
global south, even..... the richest ones.
Despite the blockade, Cuba developed a universally
accessible, free and first-class health system,
the text stated.
According to the professor, nine years after Fidel's death,
we reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the resilient
Cuban people, that continues to defend dignity
despite continuous and criminal economic
sanctions, designed to subdue them
by hunger.
We call on all progressive forces to demand the unconditional
lifting of the unjust blockade -- and the return of the illegally
occupied territory of Guantanamo Bay to the Cuban people.
The Fidel Castro Chair of Zimbabwe, he concludes, renews
commitment to the ideals for which Fidel lived and fought:
socialism, internationalism and anti-imperialist resistance.
______________________________________________________
Trump has announced that South Africa
will not be invited to the 2026
G20 summit ..in the US.
November 26th, 7:55pm
(RT.ru)
The Republic of South Africa will not be invited to
the G20 summit in the United States in 2026,
according to US President Donald Trump.
"On my behalf, South Africa will not receive an
invitation to the G20 summit, which will be
held in 2026 --- in the great city of Miami,
Florida," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Earlier, South African Foreign Ministry spokesman
Crispin Piri expressed the opinion that the
absence of the US.... at the G20 in
Johannesburg.. received too
much attention.
___________________________
France Press: Guinea-Bissau's Military
Claims Full Control over the Country
November 26th, 3:38pm
(Vesti.ru)
In Guinea-Bissau, the military has declared full control over the
country, according to the France Press (AFP) news agency.
In addition, all borders were closed and the electoral process
was suspended in the country, where general elections were
held on November 23.
On November 26, the publication Jeune Afrique reported that a coup
d'état had taken place in the West African country of Guinea-Bissau.
President Umaro Sissoco Embaló told journalists that he had been
detained in his office at the presidential palace. According to the
president, the coup was organized by the Chief of the General
Staff of the Army. In addition to the head of state, the military
detained the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces,
General Biage Na Ntana, the Deputy Chief of the General
Staff, General Mamadou Touré, and the Minister of the
Interior, Botche Kande.
On November 23, Guinea-Bissau held a general election. Umaro
Sissoco Embalo declared himself the winner, claiming that he
received 65% of the vote. He based his claim on his own
calculations. However, opposition-backed candidate
Fernando Dias also claimed victory. The official
announcement of the election results was
scheduled for Thursday, November 27.
There have been attempts to stage a coup in Guinea-Bissau
almost every year. President Embalo reported this in 2022
and 2023.
____________________________________________________________
Ethiopian Foreign Minister
appointed president of
COP32 in 2027
November 26th, 1pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Government of Ethiopia today reported the appointment
of Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos as president of the
32nd United Nations Conference on Climate Change
(COP32) in 2027.
A statement from the Prime Minister's Office --- specified that
Timothewos will supervise the preparations for the meeting,
coordinating with national agencies, agencies of the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
and international partners - to ensure success.
The statement thanked the UNFCCC Member States for choosing
the African country to host the conference, highlighting this
appointment as an opportunity to strengthen their
participation in global climate diplomacy.
Ethiopia was officially announced as hosting COP32 during
the closing plenary session of COP30 -- recently held in
Belém, Brazil. The summit is scheduled to take place
in November 2027, returning Africa to the world's
largest annual climate meeting.
The text -- highlighted Addis Ababa's strong infrastructure,
international connectivity and national climate initiatives,
including the Green Legacy reforestation program, and
renewable energy projects, while preparing to receive
more than 60 thousand delegates from all over
the world.
Following support for the bid, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
praised the continent's unified stance on climate action,
pointing out on social networks that Africa spoke with
one voice at COP30.
Ahmed thanked the African Group of Negotiators for their
support, describing it as recognition of Ethiopia's leader
-ship in climate action and its ability to host major
global events.
He reaffirmed the commitment to holding a strong and
inclusive conference that promotes collective action
against climate change.
_______________________________
South Africa announces urgent
measures in the face of
water crisis
November 26th, 7:11am
(Prensa Latina)
South African Vice President Paul Mashatile, presented at the
National Council of Provinces a comprehensive plan to face
the growing water and sanitation crisis that affects the
country's municipalities.
Speaking before the plenary, Mashatile cited a report from the
Ministry of Water and Sanitation that reveals a significant
drop in the distribution capacity of local systems.
According to the document, national reliability was reduced
to 68 percent, while 60 percent of supply networks show
a deterioration in the liquid's quality.
The leader attributed the situation, to a combination of factors
such as governance deficiencies, lack of technical personnel,
insufficient investment in infrastructure ......and financial
management problems.
On the occasion, the vice president stressed that the
Government is adopting decisive measures to
reverse the panorama ------ and guarantee
reliable services to the communities.
Among the immediate actions, he said, is the work of the Water
Task Force, in charge of coordinating infrastructure projects,
institutional reforms and improvements in administration.
Mashatile recalled how the National Water and Sanitation Summit
held in March proposed key interventions, including new
financing modalities and the search for economic
sustainability for the sector.
The Ministry also created a Public-Private Partnerships Office at
the South African Development Bank, with the aim of preparing
municipal projects to attract private investment.
Through this instance, the Olifants River Management Program
is already being implemented, designed to meet the large-
scale water needs in Limpopo and promote regional
economic development.
The model applied in Olifants, in accordance with the Ministry,
is based on a shared financing scheme: 50% of the costs
come from mining companies and the rest from public
funds through subsidies and budget instruments.
Mashatile announced that they are seeking to expand
this type of project, combined with the support of the
Infrastructure Fund.
The vice president.. also mentioned initiatives in Johannesburg,
Cape Town, the Vaal Gamagara supply scheme in the Northern
Cape, plus the Lesotho Highlands and uMkhomazi projects.
They are all part of a national strategy to ensure water
supply in urban and rural areas.
Regarding corruption, Mashatile acknowledged the negative
impact of prolonged tanker use and vandalism against
critical facilities. The National Treasury --- issued a
circular - warning municipalities about excessive
dependence on these vehicles, designed only
for temporary emergencies.
Finally, the leader called for community participation in the
protection of infrastructure ---- and to report suspicious
activities that fuel criminal networks. “Water is life”,
he emphasized, reiterating the Government's
commitment to guaranteeing a reliable
service, especially in popular
neighbourhoods ...and
rural communities.
___________________________________
They will protect 62 million children in
the DRC against rubella and measles
November 26th, 5:47am
(Prensa Latina)
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is ready today to start
a vaccination campaign against rubella and measles, which
must protect 62 million children from nine months to
14 years of age.
The day before, President Félix Tshisekedi received a delegation
from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI),
led by its executive director, Sania Nishtar, who highlighted
that the DRC is the third country with the largest portfolio
of that organization, with 2,200,000 dollars invested.
Nishtar noted that GAVI is also part of the largest measles and
rubella vaccination campaign in its history, which takes place
in the DRC from November 27 to December 1, 2025, and will
initially cover the provinces of Great Katanga, Lower Uele,
Upper Uele and Ituri.
The board congratulated the Congolese president
for the 2.6 tax on health coverage ....and for the
control of the Ebola virus disease.
The official launch of the vaccination campaign took place on
November 24, with the presence of the executive director of
GAVI and the Congolese Minister of Health, Roger Kamba.
The introduction of the combined RR vaccine is a great step for
the country, as it simultaneously protects against measles,
one of the most contagious childhood diseases, and
against rubella, which is dangerous for pregnant
women and can cause serious birth defects.
The DRC - will also carry out vaccination against polio
this coming weekend, a debilitating ailment that has
not yet been completely eradicated.
These two complementary campaigns ---- will strengthen
''herd immunity'' --- prevent epidemics and provide each
child with reliable, long-lasting accessible protection.
While in the DRC, the executive director of GAVI met with
the Minister of Finance, Doudou R. Fwamba Likunde,
with whom, he addressed both strengthening and
expanding support for ongoing immunization
initiatives, with the aim of closing
vaccination gaps and ensuring
that no one is left behind.
He also spoke with the Unicef and World Health
Organization teams in the country ---- to better
understand current priority health challenges
and emerging opportunities... to sustainably
increase vaccination coverage in the DRC.
________________________________
African Union seeks to strengthen
the continent's statistical system
November 26th, 12:12am
(Prensa Latina)
High-level meetings begin today in Ethiopia convened by
the African Union Statistics Institute to strengthen the
governance of the sector, promote the formulation of
evidence-based policies - and aid the 2063 Agenda.
Until November 29, the event brings together the main
leaders and political leaders of the continent in a
coordinated effort to advance the new chapter
of the African Statistical System.
The culminating event, the 19th session of the Committee
of Directors General of the National Statistical Offices,
will be held.. under the theme of the continental
organization of the year, 2025: “Justice for
Africans and people of African descent
through reparations”.
The latter serves as a powerful call ---- to integrate historical
reparation into the discourse of contemporary development
and coincides with the beginning of the 2nd International
Decade for People of African Descent (2025-2034).
The series of meetings will focus on the robust implementation
of the key policy instruments Strategy for the Harmonization
of Statistics in Africa, adopted by the AU Summit of Heads
of State and Government, in January 2018.
This proposal is approved for the period 2017-2026 and aims to
generate harmonized quality statistics that are available and
accessible to support design, planning, implementation,
monitoring and evaluation of the continent's
integration policies and inclusive
development, including
Agenda 2063.
The African Statistical Charter is the other document to
be analyzed and was adopted in February 2009 by the
African Union Assembly. It serves as a regulatory
framework and a legal instrument for
statistical development.
However, it has been ratified by 30 countries so far, hence
the series of high-level meetings seek to mobilize all
stakeholders - for its full implementation.
The combined sessions are expected to produce
key strategic directions for the African
Statistical System.
_____________________________________
Regional Law Society Conference
has Started today --- in Ethiopia
November 26th, 12:02am
(Prensa Latina)
Ethiopia hosts today the XXX Annual Conference of the East
African Law Society (EALS), considered an important
milestone to commemorate three decades of
promoting regional integration in the
legal community.
Until November 29, nearly a thousand participants will
participate ---- including presidents of associations,
lawyers, legislators in the area and international
partners, they attend the event, that is called
for the first time, by the African country.
The president of the Federal Bar Association of Ethiopia,
Tewodros Getachew, explained that the conclave will
serve as a platform to chart the next chapter of the
profession in the region.
Tewodros specified that among the thematic areas of debate
are the forums of Leading Law Firms, Lawyers, Young
Lawyers and the Rule of Law Section. They will
have prominent foreign panelists in their
respective fields, he added.
“We hope that Ethiopian lawyers will benefit greatly from this,
whether by directly participating in training panels, building
skills, networking, etc... expanding their professional
practices, and influencing the region”, he noted.
For his part, executive director of the EALS, David Sigano,
stated that this historic event includes essential spaces
and is part of the trend towards the creation of an
African lawyer - capable of operating without
fear or border limitations.
“We are training lawyers who feel comfortable working in Addis
Ababa, Juba, Nairobi, Kinshasa, Kampala, Bujumbura, Kigali
and Dar es Salaam, without having to worry about going
to another country”, he stated.
Key topics include -- debates on innovation, artificial intelligence,
climate justice, the legal future, governance and regional unity,
as well as the promotion of stronger links between legal
professionals throughout the region.
_________________________________
They emphasize - the importance of
investing in value chains in Africa
November 25th, 1:06pm
(Prensa Latina)
The president of the European Council, António Costa,
emphasized today the need to invest in value chains
in Africa to create jobs and combat poverty,
inequalities and irregular migration.
In his words during the conclusion of the seventh Summit of the
African Union (AU) and the EU, held in Angola, he stressed that
the African continent has natural resources that are essential
for the energy and digital transition, but its greatest wealth
is its human capital ...and its youth.
We have to look at the value chains that Africa requires with a logic
of association, so that these profits and jobs are generated and
remain permanently here, Costa said.
He added that it is necessary to invest in education, support
African entrepreneurs and mobilize the creativity of youth.
Mobility can play an essential role, he noted, but indicated that
this issue must be of common interest for the sending and
receiving countries, well, Africa cannot lose its talent in
criminal networks that enrich themselves at the cost
of despair, and human lives cannot be lost in
the Mediterranean.
He added that the fight against human trafficking - will also
depend on guaranteeing legal channels to ensure mobility.
“We have five years to transform what is our joint vision into
reality”, stressed the president of the European Council,
who called not to lose the dynamics of the summit.
Costa recalled that the European Union is the first trading partner
of the African continent and the first investor, and he considered
that the implementation of the African Free Trade Area.... is an
opportunity to expand relations in this area.
However, he appreciated that it is possible to advance much further,
and seriously address the issue of debt ------- because it limits the
continent's development capacity, and also apply the decisions
adopted in Seville, Spain, at the conference for
development financing.
“We also.. have to invest in infrastructure, renewable energy, digital
connectivity, in the African capacity to produce vaccines in Africa
and for Africa, and we have to develop sustainable value chains
in agriculture and critical minerals”, he said.
The president of the European Council, said that the AU-EU summit
sends a powerful message to the world about the need to promote
rules-based multilateral order.
“Only multilateralism allows us to respond to global challenges and
comply with the Sustainable Development Goals, combat climate
change, poverty, inequality, guarantee food security.... health
security and the fight against transnational crime”, he said.
To achieve this, he stated, it is necessary to defend the reform of
international bodies, global financial systems, the World Trade
Organization and the United Nations Security Council.
______________________________________
Ethiopia seeks better position in
the world coffee and tea market
November 25th, 11:09am
(Prensa Latina)
Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh today asked all partners
in the coffee sectors, tea and spices, redouble their efforts to
position Ethiopia as a world leader in this activity.
Tiruneh, speaking at the performance recognition ceremony of the
Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority in the last fiscal year held at
the Addis Ababa Science Museum, he demanded to act with
urgency, precision and excellence to improve quality
standards, increase added value ....and improve
the country's competitiveness, worldwide.
“The era of Ethiopian coffee has begun, taking its rightful place in
the world market”, he said, calling for unity and determination
to advance this vision.
He highlighted that the government strategy of «legacy-driven
green growth» -- was fundamental to transform the economic
sector & improve the living conditions of millions of farmers.
Citing recent achievements, he noted - that strategic prioritization
and collaboration along the value chain allowed many producers
to overcome difficulties and achieve prosperity, and some -- are
now recognized as successful entrepreneurs.
In the 2024-2025 budget year (Ethiopian year 2017), Ethiopia
exported a record 470 thousand tons of coffee, generating
revenues worth $2.65 billion.
For the current period, the government aims to export
600 thousand tons and exceed three billion dollars
in income.
For his part, the Minister of Commerce and Regional Integration,
Kassahun Gofe, stated that the government will continue to
strengthen the sector through innovation, research and
the expansion of the global market.
Gofe revealed that coffee has long played a fundamental role in
generating foreign currency for the country. In fiscal year 2017,
for the first time, over $2.65 billion of the total $8.3 billion in
exports ---- came from that product, he added.
In his opinion, recognizing exporters and those who contribute to
the sector will help expand best practices and inspire others to
achieve better results.
“We will continue to work diligently --------- through institutional
coordination to protect national interests, strengthen modern
production methods, ensure product quality and ......expand
access to the global market”, he concluded.
_________________________________________
Ethiopia ---- emphasized the importance
of multilateralism at the AU-EU Summit
November 25th, 10:28am
(Prensa Latina)
The president of Ethiopia, Taye Atske-Selassie, today emphasized
the importance of inclusive multilateralism and equitable global
governance at the VII African Union-European Union Summit
that concluded in Angola.
Selassie highlighted that in today's complex and interconnected
world, it is essential that Africa and other developing countries
have a meaningful and permanent voice...... in global
decision-making.
He called for reforms ------------ that guarantee fair and representative
international institutions, including a permanent position in Africa
on the United Nations Security Council, and multilateral financial
systems that are more responsive to the needs of those nations.
He stressed that the world order must ensure the equal
participation of all countries to promote shared
prosperity, peace and stability.
The VII African Union-European Union Summit met here, on
November 24 and 25 and brought together leaders of the
continental organization and the member states of the
economic association. Peace, security, climate
action, economic integration and global
governance --- were the focus of
the debates.
According to local authorities, the event attracted more than
80 delegations, which represents a record for the African
nation in terms of the number of personalities received.
African leaders called for fairer financial support, faster
implementation of joint projects and a stronger role in
international institutions. They also urged increased
investment in clean energy and
sustainable development.
_________________________________________
They maintain that the AU-EU alliance
must materialize -------- in results
November 25th, 9:33am
(Prensa Latina)
The president of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali
Youssouf, argued today that the alliance between Africa and
Europe needs concrete actions and results ---- to transform
people's lives and renew hope.
Speaking at the closing of the seventh Summit of the African Union
(AU) and the European Union (EU), held in Angola, it meant that the
strength of the bond does not come from the decrees, but from the
ability to turn the stated purposes ----- into reality.
“The legacy of this summit will be measured in the progress
that our young people, our women, our entrepreneurs and
our citizens will make”, he emphasized.
He commented that the meeting, dedicated to 25 years of
partnership between the blocs, reaffirmed the common
will to face challenges together..... in a complex
global scenario.
The Luanda Declaration, the final document of the event, is not only
a joint declaration, he noted, but a shared ambition for sustainable
development for the people of both parties, continental integration,
fair trade and responsible multilateral governance.
He added that it addresses issues such as demographic
dynamics, the climate crisis and efforts to achieve the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the AU
Agenda 2063 and the common vision,
AU-EU 2030.
Ali Youssouf highlighted that this summit --- was marked by the
participation of civil society, young people and the economic
sector, that - in parallel events - they addressed key issues
such as employment and social inclusion.
“The business forum built new bridges between entrepreneurs,
businessmen and policy makers, to generate creative energy
and open opportunities for investment in infrastructure,
sustainable energy, agriculture and the digital
economy”, he detailed.
He stressed that the alliance between the parties, must be built
on reciprocity and mutual respect, and hoped that “the spirit of
solidarity and partnership shared at the summit will continue
to grow, and may Africa and Europe be together - in a future
of shared prosperity, security and dignity”.
________________________________________
Politician Adolf Hitler Uunona
has once again ------ run for
election in Namibia
November 24th, 4:07pm
(RT.ru)
Politician Adolf Hitler Uunona has applied for the fifth time
to participate in the regional elections, in Ompundja
District, in Namibia.
This - is reported by Bild.
He is once again running for the ruling SWAPO party,
and the country will vote --- on November the 26th.
Uunona was last re-elected in 2020,
when he gained 84.88% of the vote.
In the current election campaign, the politician is
only referred to as "Comrade Adolf Uunona"
in campaign materials.
_________________________________________
Africa and Europe have
a lot to gain - together
November 24th, 1:09pm
(Prensa Latina)
The president of Angola and incumbent of the African Union (AU),
João Lourenço, stated today that, within a framework of mutual
respect, Africa and Europe ---- have a lot to gain together.
The president, in the opening speech of the seventh African Union-
EU Summit, held in Luanda until tomorrow under the motto
Promoting peace and prosperity through effective
multilateralism, it signified the opportunities
that open up from this relationship.
“Europe has the knowledge and technology, Africa has the
fundamental raw materials for global industries”, the
president said, adding that it also has arable land,
and abundant water sources - for irrigation and
energy production, among other advantages.
He added that a developed African continent, does not send illegal
immigrants across the Mediterranean nor does it have a constant
need to solicit donations and debt forgiveness.
“The relationship that the AU maintains with the EU must be guided
by a pragmatic spirit, free of bureaucratic obstacles that often
delay........ the proper functioning and implementation of
important jointly planned actions”, Lourenço stressed.
He added that it would be useful, especially with regard to
measures to ensure the permanence of young Africans in
their countries of origin - the implementation of projects
that ensure the employment of the population, starting
with ---------- guaranteeing them vocational training.
He recalled that Africa has a vital need to access financing for
the execution of works that guarantee the electrification of
the continent, industrialization, the mobility of people,
goods and services, as well as..... laying the
foundations for its development.
In this sense, he called for the comprehensive reform of the
global financial system ------- “which includes fairer debt
restructuring mechanisms, expanding the allocation
of ------ special loan rights and innovative financial
instruments that support the continent's efforts”.
He stressed as fundamental to move towards the consolidation of
peace, stability and security in Africa, as an essential condition
to achieve development purposes, in addition to pointing out
the importance of hearing the African voice in the field of
global governance.
He mentioned, that the serious situation of deterioration of security
in Europe, Africa and the Middle East derives from non-compliance
with the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations
and international law.
“The violation of the principles of non-aggression, respect for the
independence and sovereignty of States, the need for a peaceful
resolution of disputes via negotiations and non-interference in
the internal affairs of States ---------- endangers world peace
and security”, he maintained and stressed --- that it is
urgent to rescue multilateralism... for the good
of Humanity.
________________________________________
Ethiopian volcano Hayli Gubbi Active
after thousands of years asleep
November 24th, 12:36pm
(Prensa Latina)
The eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano on Mount Erta Ale, after 10
thousand years of inactivity, it is being monitored today by experts
in Ethiopia as it is considered to be ----- one of the most powerful
explosions witnessed.
The crater located in the lowlands of Dallol (Danakil Depression), in
the Afar region, began to expel thick columns of ash and smoke,
the day before, that led to nearby communities being moved.
However, international volcano monitoring centers confirmed
that the activity stopped completely that evening, with no
new explosions ...or ash emissions.
The head of the Department of Seismology at the Institute of
Geophysics, Space Science and Astronomy at Addis Ababa
University, Atalay Ayele, explained that the eruption was
caused by the movement of active lava.
Ayele reported sending Geophysics researchers to study the
situation in the region of intense volcanic activity, whose
eruptions are typically caused by erosion and the
movement of active rock material.
He noted that lava flows form periodically, which can trigger
eruptions from low to high intensity. The latter, he added,
can throw rocks and stones into the air and generate
smoke and ash, hence the call for local residents to
take the necessary precautions.
Authorities have so far not issued details about possible impacts
or safety warnings, although witnesses reported visible ash
falls... in the surrounding areas.
Mount Erta Ale, located within the Danakil Depression, is known as
one of the most active volcanoes in the world and has recorded
multiple eruptions in recent decades. Officials continue to
closely monitor the situation.
___________________________________
Singapore Prime Minister promises
growth in ties with Ethiopia
November 24th, 12:15pm
(Prensa Latina)
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, today praised Ethiopia's
Green Legacy Initiative and the promising growth of bilateral ties
during his official visit to the African country.
Wong arrived in this capital the day before, to complete a three-day
work agenda and was received by his Ethiopian counterpart, Abiy
Ahemd, who organized a welcome ceremony at the National
Palace to sign memorandums of understanding and
discuss new avenues of cooperation.
Ahmed noted that the visit builds on constructive discussions
held during his trip to Singapore, in June 2024.
“I always remember that sincere discussion”, he expressed while
considering the presence of the Asian leader as a reflection of
trust in strengthening friendship and partnership between
both nations.
Highlighting Singapore's remarkable transformation rooted in good
governance, long-term planning and sustainable growth, he
revealed that Addis Ababa draws lessons from those
valuable experiences - as it pursues similar
development
aspirations.
Wong, on his first bilateral visit to Africa.. as prime minister of that
Southeast Asian country, thanked Ahmed for the warm reception
and generous hospitality extended to him and his delegation.
Recalling that the last Singapore head of government to visit
Ethiopia was Lee Kuan Yew in 1964, he claimed to be
“recovering a long period of absence” with his visit
to renew the countries' long-standing friendship.
He acknowledged being “impressed by how green the city is”,
calling it “a testament to the success of the Green Legacy”
initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
He added that the tree seedlings planted during the official
ceremony would serve as a symbol of friendship between
the two sides and hoped that, like those plants, the
bilateral relationship would continue to grow.
During the discussions they addressed the expansion of economic
and commercial ties. In that sense ----- the Asian leader
expressed optimism that his visit ...will add impetus
to bilateral cooperation.
Ahmed, for his part, highlighted the opportunities for greater
collaboration ---- in trade, investment, smart transportation
and logistics, digital infrastructure, financial technology,
cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
They chaired the signing of two memorandums
of understanding, on skills development and
collaboration on carbon credits.
Previously, the distinguished visitor and his delegation
visited the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum
accompanied by Foreign Minister Gedion
Timothewos and the Mayor of Addis
Ababa, Adanech Abiebie.
Ethiopia and Singapore established official
diplomatic relations on March 31st, 1969.
_____________________________________
Safe and sound: the minors
escaped from escutchers
November 24th, 10:52a
(Prensa Latina)
One sixth of the 303 kidnapped last Friday, by an Islamist group
from a Catholic school in the state of Niger (northwest Nigeria)
are today healthy and saved.... along with their families.
The escape of the 58 kidnapped people, between 10
and 18 years old, as well as 12 teachers, occurred
individually, taking advantage of moments of
laxity on the part of their captors.
The kidnappers broke into the local Catholic school and forced
the students to follow them, the president of the Niger State
Christian Association told the Yurk media, the very
Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna.
Hours later, the governor of the state of central Kwara
announced the release of 38 faithful kidnapped “by a
group of unknown people during the Sunday service
of a temple in the area.
The kidnapping of civilians, especially minors of both sexes,
as well as government officials and civilians, is one of the
means used by terrorist groups that control areas of
northern and northeastern Nigeria..... where Boko
Haram, the Islamic group, has its headquarters.
____________________________________________
Sudanese army describes
US mediation - as biased
November 24th, 6:07am
(Prensa Latina)
The Sudanese Army rejected United States mediation in the
conflict affecting its country, describing it ....as biased in
favour of the Western-backed paramilitary forces,
official sources indicated here today.
Sudan's top military leader, Abdel Fattah al Burhan, in a
speech released the day before, criticized the latest
peace proposals for Sudan presented by the US
and said that these benefit the so-called
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the
United Arab Emirates, whom he
sees as their main support.
Al Burhan denounced that the US proposal eliminates
the presence of the Armed Forces and calls for the
dissolution of all security agencies and leaves
rebel militias in their areas --- which he
considers unacceptable, because
they are a clear call ---- for the
further division of Sudan.
Likewise, Al Burhan promised that the Armed Forces are
determined to recover Darfur ..and large areas of the
neighbouring Kordofan region, the current focus
of fighting between the parties.
The top leader of the Sudanese Army said he had given mediators
a road map - with his conditions to stop the devastating war in
Sudan, among which, are the withdrawal of the paramilitary
Rapid Support Forces from the cities --- and excluding the
United Arab Emirates from the group of peace-keepers,
which stand out.
