President William Ruto has called for a strong commitment from all parties in the South Sudan peace process to achieve lasting and sustainable peace.

The President said the mediation process is keen on ending conflict and political instability in South Sudan.

He said the Tumaini Initiative, a high-level mediation for South Sudan, has brought together eight categories of parties and groups, ensuring the process is inclusive and home-grown.

“This initiative exemplifies the Pan-African policy of African solutions to African challenges, contributing to the ‘Silencing the Guns in Africa initiative’ and fostering an environment for transformational development in South Sudan, our region, and the entire African continent,” he said.

He spoke during the launch of high-level meditation for South Sudan at State House, Nairobi.

Present were Presidents Salva Kiir Mayardit (South Sudan), Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi), Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia), Nangolo Mbumba (Namibia), and Faustin-Archange Touadera (Central African Republic), and African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, among others.

The President lauded the progress made by the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity, the Real-SPLM, and the South Sudan United Front in the mediation process.

“The path you have chosen is noble, and what you have accomplished so far under this initiative is admirable. Here is your opportunity to design a future worthy of your vision,” he said.

The President said Kenya stands ready to contribute to ending cycles of conflict and instability in Sudan to achieve the peace and prosperity its people have long fought for.

“I pledge my unwavering commitment and availability to support this process at any stage of the mediation roadmap,” he said.

President Salva Kiir thanked President Ruto for accepting the role of resolving the South Sudan process.

He said he was hopeful that the mediation will yield positive results ahead of the country’s general elections later this year.

President Kiir said the South Sudan government will negotiate in good faith and with an open mind.

“We hope that the opposition groups have a similar conviction and desire for peace in South Sudan, which, when fully achieved, will bring everlasting stability and economic development in the region, not just South Sudan,” he said.

President Hichilema encouraged the participants in the peace process to be accommodating and engage in genuine negotiations with a spirit of give and take.

“In today’s world, no one really wins the war; you may win a battle, but the war continues,” he noted.

Lazarus Sumbeiywo, the chief mediator in the South Sudan peace process, lauded regional and international partners for supporting the peace process.

He said, for the last month, the mediation has consulted widely with the parties involved to ensure the process is inclusive.

“After this launch, we plan to engage in sustained and continuous mediation to ensure a speedy and comprehensive resolution of the issues, so long as the parties go along with the plan.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of President of the Republic of Kenya.

Following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, the UAE has allocated USD 15 million in aid to the victims of the floods and the effects of the heavy rainfall that swept through Kenya, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of innocent people, displacement of thousands of civilians, and destruction of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, houses, medical facilities, and agricultural lands, particularly in northern areas of the capital Nairobi.

His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council, affirmed the UAE’s keenness, under the directives of the UAE President, to respond to the humanitarian needs on both regional and international levels in an urgent manner, to safeguard lives and mobilize aid efforts to assist the most vulnerable. Furthermore, H.H. emphasized the need to assist those afflicted by disaster regardless of their location, particularly in view of the severe climate and environmental changes witnessed across the globe, and their repercussions including natural disasters that necessitate mobilizing all humanitarian international efforts to support countries and societies in need.

His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, said: “The UAE is extending this support, following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, as part of the deep-rooted relations between the two countries, reflecting the UAE’s solidarity with Kenya in mitigating the severe consequences of recent floods. It also aims to meet the essential needs of the people of Kenya, stemming from the UAE’s humanitarian and developmental role in providing urgent relief to nations in times of crises and natural disasters.”

His Excellency also expressed his sincere condolences and solidarity with the government and people of the Republic of Kenya, and to the families of the victims of the floods, as well as his wishes for a speedy recovery to all the injured.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs&International Cooperation.

The West African Festival of Arts and Culture (ECOFEST) will be held from 2st – 28th September 2024 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Organised by the Commissions of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), in partnership with the Ivoirian Ministry of Culture and Francophonie. The theme for ECOFEST 2024 is ‘Culture, a catalyst for peace, diversity, economic and social integration in West Africa’.

This festival will inaugurate a new era in the celebration of West African cultural diversity and reaffirm the role of culture as a driving force for integration, social cohesion and the socio-economic and cultural development of the West African sub-region.

ECOFEST will also be an opportunity to engage public and private stakeholders in the cultural sector for the promotion of the vaste cultural wealth in the Sub-region.

The official launching of the Festival will take place on Saturday 11 May 2024 from 3pm at the Palais de la Culture Bernard BINLIN-DADIE in Abidjan.

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

The Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Mrs Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, opened a three-day regional technical conference on Human Capital Development (HCD) in Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday 8 May 2024. 

This meeting of experts and focal points from Member States, organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, aims to strengthen the commitment of Member States, partners and ECOWAS technical staff to Human Capital Development at regional and national levels.

In her opening speech, the Vice-President of the Commission, H.E. Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, said that since the launch of the regional strategy in 2021, ECOWAS has actively supported the development of national HCD strategies and significant results have been achieved. “Today, we can proudly say that seven (7) out of 15 ECOWAS Member States have received ECOWAS funds to support the development of their strategies. Nigeria and Burkina Faso have completed the development of their national HCD strategies. The Federal Republic of Nigeria has moved on to implement its strategy at Federal State level, with substantial support from ECOWAS,” she added.

H.E. Damtien L. Tchintchibidja pointed out in her speech that in their efforts to achieve these HCD objectives, ECOWAS Member States are faced with a number of challenges: political instability, growing insecurity, terrorist attacks, climate change, epidemics and economic migration; and that despite these challenges, ECOWAS is determined to continue implementing the HCD programme.

At the opening ceremony, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank, technical and financial partners of ECOWAS, reiterated their commitment to continue working with ECOWAS to meet the challenges of human capital development.

Ms Charlotte Lejeune of the Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation reaffirmed her institution’s commitment to promoting human capital development through its partnership with ECOWAS, focusing on innovative solutions to improve education, health, nutrition and financial inclusion in West Africa.

Mr Robert Taliercio O’Brien, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia, in his message, mentioned the demographic, economic and climatic challenges facing West Africa, where 65% of the population is under the age of 25, and stressed the need for ECOWAS Member States and partners to work in a coordinated manner.

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