A joint ATMIS – UPDF and SNAF logistics convoy was hit by a Command Wire Improvised Explosive Device (CWIED) yesterday along the Mogadishu-Buffow-Barawe route.

The attack claimed two lives and injured personnel from both ATMIS and SNAF. All casualties have been evacuated to medical facilities.

We offer our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and pray for a quick recovery of the injured.

This incident strengthens our resolve to support peace and security efforts in Somalia.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi received a written message to His Majesty Sultan Haitham from the Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. The message concerns relations between the two friendly countries.

Sayyid Badr received the message during a meeting in his office with Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh Mohammed.

The meeting discussed the progress of bilateral relations between Oman and Eritrea. There was also an exchange of views on regional and international issues.

The meeting was attended by Ambassador Saleh bin Mohammed Alsuqri, Head of the Omani Foreign Ministry’s Africa Department; Hassan Mohammed Saad, Director of the Arab World Department in the Eritrean Foreign Ministry and a number of officials from both Oman and Eritrea.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Foreign Ministry of Oman.

President Cyril Ramaphosa was honoured yesterday evening, Sunday, 7 July 2024, with a phone call from His Excellency President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt who warmly congratulated President Ramaphosa on his new term of office.

President El-Sisi shared with President Ramaphosa his expectation that South Africa and Egypt will continue to cooperate on issues of common interest.

President Ramaphosa expressed his appreciation for President El-Sisi’s good wishes and agreed on the importance of continued partnership between our two countries on matters of bilateral, continental and multilateral interest.

Of particular significance to the two leaders is the need to work together on the Palestinian issue and the crisis in the Gaza strip.

The Presidents committed themselves to deepening the fraternal ties between Egypt and South Africa as part of advancing continental solidarity.

President Ramaphosa and President El-Sisi were also in agreement on the expansion of trade, mutual investment and other areas of economic cooperation between the two states.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

The newly appointed Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Ndiamé Diop, assumed his new position today. He is succeeding Shubham Chaudhuri who completed his term in the same capacity.

Prior to his assignment to Abuja, Dr. Ndiamé Diop served as the World Bank Country Director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand, based in Manila. In this position, he more than tripled the Bank’s financing to the Philippines to scale up the Bank’s support to key economic reforms (policy-based budget support programs) and the nation’s endeavors to bridge disparities in various sectors, including nutrition, stunting, healthcare, social protection delivery, education, agriculture, and digital connectivity. In Malaysia, he supervised the delivery of a large Malaysia-funded knowledge program aimed at helping the country become a high-income economy through cutting edge economic analyses and technical assistance. Furthermore, he engaged the Thai government to resume World Bank investment lending after a pause of two decades.

“I am most excited to be leading the World Bank’s program in Nigeria, especially at this critical time when Nigeria has a significant opportunity to make progress towards improving its economy and delivering development outcomes for its citizens. I look forward to deepening our partnership with the Government of Nigeria at the Federal and States level by ensuring quality technical and financial support which will help accelerate progress for Nigeria’s development priorities,” said Dr. Ndiamé Diop. “Nigeria is a dynamic and vibrant country which is significant for the entire sub region. The World Bank Group is most committed to working with the Government, development partners and citizens to realize a thriving economy where jobs and economic prospects are created, and millions of Nigerians are lifted out of poverty”.

In his new position Dr. Ndiamé Diop will lead the World Bank’s team in Nigeria and deepen policy dialogue and partnership with the government and key stakeholders. He will oversee the delivery and implementation of lending and non-lending support to Nigeria.

Dr. Diop has held several leadership positions in the World Bank which include, Head of the Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment unit for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, based in Jakarta and Bangkok, Lead Economist for Indonesia, based in Jakarta, Lead economist roles for Jordan and Lebanon, Country Economist roles in the Middle East and North Africa. Notably he served as the Bank’s Resident Representative for Tunisia between 2007 and 2010. He joined the World Bank in Washington DC in 2000 as a Young Professional.

As an economist, Dr. Ndiamé Diop has published in peer reviewed Journals and books on fiscal policy and growth, monetary policy and inflation, macro policies and resilience to sudden stops in capital inflows, natural resource abundance, Dutch disease, and economic diversification.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.