Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a delegation, comprising participants in the conference of Sudan’s political and civilian groups, hosted by Egypt.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Dr. Badr Abdelatty and Director of the General Intelligence Service, Major General Abbas Kamal.  Also in attendance were a number of representatives of regional and international parties, including the Foreign Minister of Chad, senior officials from the UAE, Qatar, South Sudan and Germany, as well as representatives of the African Union, the Arab League and the United Nations, and the Ambassadors of France, the United Kingdom, Norway, the European Union and Saudi Arabia in Cairo.

Spokesman for the Presidency, Counselor Ahmed Fahmy, said the President expressed his appreciation for the participants’ response to Egypt’s invitation to convene this crucial conference, which is held under the slogan:” Together to Stop the War”. The conference convenes amid a critical historical moment Sudan is passing through, which requires creating a conducive climate to unify the visions of the Sudanese on ways to end the war. President El-Sisi emphasized that Egypt will spare no effort or any attempt to bridge the gap between the various Sudanese factions, end the war and ensure restoring security and stability and maintaining the resources of the Sudanese people. The President underscored the importance of concerted efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution that fulfils the aspirations of the Sudanese people and ends Sudan’s deep, multi-dimensional crisis, with its disastrous consequences across all political, social and humanitarian levels.

President El-Sisi underlined that the Egyptian State exerts its utmost effort, bilaterally, regionally and internationally, to confront the repercussions of the Sudanese crisis, by providing all forms of support, in a way that reflects the specificity of Egyptian-Sudanese relations. Egypt continues to dispatch large humanitarian aid shipments to Sudan, in addition to hosting millions of Sudanese brothers in Egypt. Politically, the President stressed the need for the transition to the political path of the crisis to include the participation of all parties, in accordance with the Sudanese national interest. The slogan “Sudan First” should be the driving force for all sincere national efforts, in addition to the need for any credible political process to be based on respecting the principles of Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and preserving the state and its institutions, being the foundation of the unity, building and stability of Sudan and its people, emphasizing Egypt’s keenness to coordinate and cooperate with regional and international partners to resolve the Sudanese crisis.

The Spokesman added that the speakers, symbols of the Sudanese political and civilian groups, expressed their deep appreciation for Egypt’s sincere efforts in support of Sudan since the beginning of the current crisis, which embodies the depth of the ties that unite the peoples of the two countries as well as the unity of history and destiny the two countries share. They stressed that they welcome the Egyptian leadership’s efforts to bring the viewpoints of the Sudanese parties closer to end the current crisis. This is in addition to the support that Egypt provides to the people of Sudan, whether through its tireless efforts to address the catastrophic humanitarian situation across vast areas in Sudan, or through its generous and kind hosting, by both the people and government, of the Sudanese people in their second home, Egypt, which demonstrates the eternal fraternal relations that bind the two countries and peoples.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The people of the Union of the Comoros are celebrating the completion of a major road that will open up its agriculturally rich areas and provide reliable access to its popular tourist centres.

Thousands of Comorians turned up to witness the official opening of the $30 million road artery financed entirely by the African Development Bank.

The President of the Union of the Comoros  Azali Assoumani, and the President of the African Development Bank Group  Dr Akinwumi Adesina, inaugurated the 49.2-kilometre section of the National Road 2 (RN2) on Friday 5 July, on the eve of the country’s 49th independence celebrations.

Opening of the road section linking Moroni, the capital of Grande Comore (the main island of the Comoros archipelago), to Foumbouni region in the island’s south-east represents a major addition to the country’s much needed transport infrastructure development to serve as a catalyst for economic progress of the Comoros.

The new road is expected to offer huge benefits, including a 27% increase in average daily traffic along the route as well as reducing operating costs by 30% for cars  and 33% for trucks. The roadway will reduce average journey times by 50%.

During the inauguration ceremony, President Assoumani acknowledged the support provided for completion of the road and thanked  Dr Adesina for being present at the occasion.

“We are permanent partners. It is thanks to the African Development Bank and the intervention of its president, my dear brother Akinwumi Adesina, that we have built this road. We must continue to thank and encourage him,” President Assoumani said during his speech.

“This road will have a considerable impact on people’s lives. It plays an essential role in opening up areas with high economic potential for agriculture and tourism. It is the only access road to the popular tourist towns of Ouroveni and Male”, said Dr Adesina.  “I think we should even think of renaming this RN2 road ‘The Road of Hope,'” he added.

The upgrading of this section of the RN2 was undertaken in two phases. The first 11-kilometre section was completed in 2021 and a second section of 38.2 km was opened for traffic in June 2024.

“Improving connectivity is essential to enable Comoros to participate effectively in regional and global value chains, particularly in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area and in view of Comoros’ accession to the World Trade Organization,” said Adesina.

The African Development Bank has also invested in other areas to strengthen the Comoros economy, including the empowerment of women and young people, job creation, capacity-building for the country’s technical agencies, and institutional support for the government.

The Bank’s Board of Directors is expected shortly to review the extension of $136 million in grants for Comoros to deepen integration in the regional integration, including for the rehabilitation and extension of the port of Moroni, the expansion of the port of Boingoma, and the establishment of economic zones.

“This project will be the largest ever supported by the African Development Bank in the history of its partnership with the Comoros”, said Dr Adesina.

The Bank Group has provided financial and technical assistance to the National Road Network Rehabilitation Programme since 2017. The programme was set up by the Comorian government to carry undertake large-scale road-network improvements.

African Development Bank a key partner of the Comoros

The African Development Bank is the Comoros’ principal development partner for the country’s transport infrastructure. In its 2021-2025 Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for the Comoros, the Bank undertakes to support the country’s government to create sustainable, high-quality transport infrastructure that can open up the regions of the archipelago and strengthen their connectivity.

The CSP also targets overcoming fragility and strengthening the country’s resilience in order to promote structural transformation and emergence of the archipelago through the development of basic transport and energy infrastructure.

As of 30 June 2024, the Bank Group’s portfolio for the Comoros comprised 10 projects with total commitments of $106.7 million. Operations in the transport sector account for 78% of the total portfolio, followed by energy (9%), agriculture (8%) and multi-sector (5%) projects.

The Bank also plans to provide financing of around $182.5 million in the period 2024-2025, tapping funding sourced from the African Development Fund (ADF) (https://apo-opa.co/3XVbNo4) to support structuring projects as part of the Emerging Comoros Plan 2030 (ECP 2030). Most of this financing will be directed to the transport and energy sectors. Further financing for development in the Comoros will be mobilised from sources including the Climate Action Window, an ADF mechanism that aims to raise at least $4 billion of which 75%  will go towards climate adaptation in the most vulnerable African countries.

Strategically located in the Mozambique Channel, between East Africa and islands of the Indian Ocean, the Union of the Comoros is at the junction of several trade routes.

Speech (https://apo-opa.co/3WaQ3TO)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media contact:
Christin Roby
Communication Department
African Development Bank
email: media@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group: 
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

The ECOWAS Ad-Hoc Ministerial Committee on the Construction of Headquarters of Community Institutions meets on the Margins of the Council of Ministers meeting on July 5, 2024, at the construction site of the New ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria to consider the report of the Experts’ Meeting of the Committee and assess the progress of work at the site.

The New ECOWAS Headquarters building known as “The Eye of West Africa” along the Airport Road in Abuja is being constructed with a grant from the People’s Republic of China through the China International Development Cooperation Agency (China Aid).

While welcoming the participants, H.E. Madam Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, expressed the appreciation of ECOWAS Institutions to the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the land provided, the duty waivers granted, development permits facilitated and all the other supports towards the commencement of the construction at the new ECOWAS Headquarters site.

The Vice President also thanked His Excellency XI Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, and the Government of China for the China-Aid Project of the ECOWAS Headquarters Building in support to the ECOWAS community. “This gesture represents a beacon in the ongoing cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and ECOWAS Member States”, she added.

H.E. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, in his opening remarks thanked his colleague Ministers for their continued commitment to advancing regional integration and socio-economic development of the Region. This he said was evident by their presence at the meeting.

He added that “the new ECOWAS Headquarters is poised to become a beacon of hope, embodying our shared values and heritage. The structure symbolises a promising future for our people – a base from which we will continue to make important strides in regional integration, economic growth, and security”.

After the meeting, the Ministers were taken on tour of the site to see the progress of work which is currently at 33% physical and 45% financial completion. The construction which started in November 2022 is scheduled to be completed and handed over by February 2025.

There was a brief “Topping-out Ceremony” ahead of the site visit which had in attendance Mr. Wei Pengfei, the General Manager of the Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group Company (SCEGC) International Corporation, H.E. Mr. Zhang Yi, Charge d’affaires of Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, among other dignitaries.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The ECOWAS Commission through the Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs organized a 3-day capacity building workshop from 1st to 3rd July 2024 for the ECOWAS Protection and Human Security Integrated Coordination Mechanism (ECO-PHSICM) with the support of the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Coordinating Centre (NCCRM) which is the coordinating Secretariat for the Mechanism (under the auspices of the Office of the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia).

The Workshop focused on reviewing progress recorded by Liberia from the establishment of ECOPHSICM in 2022 and the adoption of an Implementation Roadmap. The Workshop also had the objectives of reviewing the Roadmap (in view of new and emerging issues) and developing an Action Plan for its actualization for the period 2024 to 2026. The Mechanism was established to drive a whole of Government and Society approach in strengthening the ‘protection web’ for all persons within the territory of the Republic of Liberia.

Welcoming the participants, the Ag. Director of the NCCRM, Mr. Arthur BESTMAN stated that the workshop was important to Liberia and the sub-region as it seeks to enhance national capacities for preventing, responding to and mitigating threats to human security.  He stressed the need for collaborative efforts by actors in the public and private sectors. Acknowledging collaboration with partners, including WANEP, the Peace Building Office of Liberia, and GIZ-EPSAO, he thanked ECOWAS and the Government of Liberia for their continued commitment to realizing the goals of the mechanism.

Mr. Olatunde OLAYEMI Programme Officer, Trafficking in Persons, on behalf of the ECOWAS Director for Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Dr SINTIKI Tarfa Ugbe, delivered remarks and presented an overview of the workshop. He highlighted the importance of protection within the wider ambit of a human security approach as reflected in the Revised Treaty of ECOWAS and in the Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peace-keeping and Security as well as the Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. He pointed out the special attention given to the protection of the rights of women and children and other vulnerable groups. He highlighted the essential components of the workshop, including a review of the current Roadmap and the objective of clarifying key actions and indicators for the period 2024 to 2026 and identification of key opportunities to be leveraged by the Mechanism. He mentioned the provision of the sum of 25,000 USD released to the office of the ECOWAS Resident Representative in support of the ECOPHISM and thanked H.E the Resident Representative for actions already being taken, in close coordination with the NCCRM, to implement the grant.

Dr Nathaniel B. Walker who represented the ECOWAS Permanent Representative in Liberia, Amb. Josephine NKRUMAH stated that the workshop, aimed at strengthening national delivery in the area of protection and human security, is based on the identification of human security realties in West Africa. These include weaknesses in the rule of law and observance of fundamental human rights. Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Minister of Justice, Republic of Liberia, pledged the unwavering support of his Ministry to the NCCRM in Liberia and ECO-PHSICM and asked all stakeholders to develop strategies and create a synergy that will support and sustain the program in Liberia and the sub-region. He highlighted the need for a general strengthening of the rule of law as being core to human rights and human security.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Prince Menkalo Gbieu, the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Vice President of Liberia, tasked stakeholders to unite and show commitment in advancing and implementing plans for the strategic mitigation of human security risks; towards an overall harmonious society and national and regional security. He charged that, the prosperity of the people and security, stability and peaceful coexistence within the subregion depends on the quality of decisions and actions taken, including during the Workshop. He concluded by expressing gratitude to the ECOWAS Commission for its support to the NCCRM in Liberia.

Remarks were also received from representatives of the ECOWAS National Office; Ministry of Labor; Ministry of Gender, Women and Children’s Protection; Ministry of Finance&Development Planning and the Press Union of Liberia on behalf of the partners present at the workshop

The workshop featured sessions on a wide range of thematic focus areas that include baseline risk and preparedness assessment of protection and human security vulnerabilities in Liberia, mapping of operational roles of key stakeholders that are part of the ECO-PHISCM, action Planning for Implementation of the ECOPHISCM Road-map, practical strategies and procedures for community engagement, gender mainstreaming in ECO-PHISCM operations amongst others.

The workshop which was well attended ended with the adoption of a plan of action for the implementation of the Liberian Road map on Protection and Human Security.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).