From the United Nations Mission in South Sudan’s (UNMISS) base in Bentiu, adjacent to country’s largest internally displaced persons camp, the remnants of a once vibrant forest stretch in every direction.

What used to be lush with vegetation and wildlife only four years ago is now a grey, watery landscape, the legacy of catastrophic floods since 2021.

However, a glimmer of green is returning, thanks to the ‘Green Bentiu Initiative,’ actioned by Blue Helmets from Pakistan.

The project aims to restore some of what the relentless flooding destroyed, and an impressive 500 native trees have already been planted.

Now the initiative is spreading its roots, from humble beginnings inside a Pakistani engineering compound in the UNMISS Field Office to greater Unity State and Ruweng Administrative Area.

Among the equipment dispatched to remote UNMISS operating bases, Pakistani peacekeepers have been carefully stowing away saplings. Recently, 15 trees were delivered to a Mongolian base in Abiemnom, and 40 trees were planted in a small ceremony at the local Rubkona Airfield with the help of peacekeepers from various countries.

Captain Taimoor Ahmad, a Pakistani peacekeeper who helped organize the airstrip event, insists his contingent’s plans don’t stop here.

“Next, we are going to invite the local community to join us. Our goal is to plant fruit-bearing trees and orchards in areas where communities live so they can benefit from them in the years to come,” he said.

Handing our reporter a shovel, he added, “There are nearly 3,000 peacekeepers here [in Bentiu], and we want each one to plant their own tree.”

Restoring local flora and fauna has multiple benefits. During the wet season, the trees help absorb excess water, reducing flood risks. In the dry season, when extreme heat prevails, they provide much-needed shade for birds and animals, creating a more hospitable environment.

If planted strategically, trees can even help strengthen the 120 km of dykes that Pakistani peacekeepers erected in 2021 to protect hundreds of thousands of people sheltering in Bentiu’s internally displaced persons camp and surrounding areas.

Walking through the burgeoning green spaces within the Pakistani base, Major Hina Nasser, an UNMISS peacekeeper responsible for a respectable three-metre-high, year-old tree, reflected on the long-term impact of their efforts.

“Our goal is to leave an enduring legacy. We may be rotating out soon, but these trees will remain, helping to restore what was lost,” she said with a smile.

The current rotation of Pakistani engineers is set to return home after more than a year in service of peace, but their successors are already prepared to continue and expand the Green Bentiu Initiative. Along with an eager contingent of new peacekeepers, the lasting goal is for the community to take ownership of the initiative and build back a better, greener Bentiu.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Kayango, a locality in Western Bahr El Ghazal’s Jur River county, lies at the center of four corridors where seasonal cattle migration is most intense.

Despite the 2016 Marial Bai Agreement which regulates disputes resulting from annual movement of cattle, which has greatly contributed to more peaceful migratory patterns, the influx of nomadic herders from neighbouring Warrap state is never void of clashes with settled communities and, a corresponding rise in crime.

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security and rule of law along this corridor, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) therefore handed over a newly constructed police post to Western Bahr El Ghazal state authorities in this strategic location.

It was a moment of jubilation for community members who showed up to the event en masse, as key state actors, led by the Deputy Governor for Western Bahr El Ghazal, Zachariah Garang received the structure.

“We need peace among our people because cattle keepers and farmers are equally important for our livelihood,” said Deputy Governor Garang, addressing those gathered. “We appreciate UNMISS for the strategic location of this police station. From here, our law enforcement officers can easily reach neighbouring villages when there are issues,” he added.

Funded through the Mission’s Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) programme, the new, solar-powered police post boasts of four detention cells, including separate sections for women, men and juvenile offenders; ablution facilities as well as four fully equipped offices, one of which is reserved for a prosecutor.

Kayango Police Station is already a symbol of security and proximity to justice for more than 16,000 residents of the area, some of whose vigorous singing and dancing during the hand over ceremony spoke volumes of their relief.  

The most assured of these community members however, seemed to be the traditional chief who, in the absence of justice and rule of law institutions had been the only provider of justice through the customary court.

“With four detention cells in this police station, I want to tell perpetrators of crime that there is no longer any possibility for escape by criminals,” Pater Akuar, chief of Kayango, informed the crowd. “Thank you UNMISS,” he added and committed to a cordial working relationship between the traditional justice system and police officers.

For local police, this is a boost to their daily occupation.

“A police station remains an institution for law enforcement,” averred Major General James Simon, Deputy Police Commissioner for Western Bahr El Ghazal. “No one should take the law into their hands. We appeal to the community to report offenses to the police and our officers to do their job in accordance with the law,” he cautioned.

It was a gratifying moment for all present, especially for the delegation from UNMISS led by Leopold Kuassi, Acting Head of the Field Office in Wau.

“I want to assure Western Bahr El Ghazal state authorities of UNMISS’ continued support in their efforts to restore peace and stability to communities affected by conflict,” he stated.

“Our UN Police will enhance the capacity of their counterparts deployed in Kayongo as they conduct their regular confidence-building patrols in the area,” Kouassi assured.

Kayango police station is one of three police stations that the UN Peacekeeping mission is helping fund in Jur River county.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

President William Ruto has raised concerns over the underfunding of Africa’s renewable energy development.

He said though it was encouraging that 2023 recorded the largest increase in renewable energy capacity, with the addition of about 500 gigawatts globally and new investments worth $600 billion, Africa fared badly.

The President said Africa possesses the highest untapped potential of renewable energy reserves in the world but had only managed 3 gigawatts of the global increase.

“The continent with the world’s greatest potential and the highest demand currently accounts for a paltry 1.6% of the world’s total renewable energy capacity,” he said.

He pointed out that Africa offers huge opportunities for wealthy investors from the Global North in clean energy, offering a win-win outcome for them and the continent.

“African leaders endorsed the Nairobi Declaration, which set the continent’s green power generation target at a five-fold increase from 56GW in 2022 to at least 300 GW by 2030,” he said.

President Ruto made the remarks on Wednesday when he addressed the High-Level Business Segment on Climate Change Response and Transition to Carbon-Free Energy in Seoul, South Korea.

The President said recent floods in Kenya and other parts of the world were a result of climate change and called for joint efforts to mitigate the effects of the phenomenon.

He said Kenya had made tremendous efforts in renewable and clean energy, adding that the country’s power grid is 93% green.

He urged Korea and Korean investors to continue supporting Kenya in clean energy adoption as the country pursues the ambitious plan to enhance the current grid from 3GW to 100GW by 2040.

“The ambition is realistic because Kenya is endowed with abundant potential in every type of renewable energy,” he said.

The President said Africa launched the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative at COP28 to promote the growth of clean energy manufacturing.

He said this potential puts the continent at an advantage to seize the economic opportunities within the global energy transition.

“This can be achieved by mobilising $1 trillion from public and private finance by 2030,” he said.

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

Nigeria Rugby Sevens head coach, Steve Lewis, has announced his squad for the Africa Cup Sevens Tournament, which will take place over two weekends from June 26 to July 8 in Mauritius.

The squad features significant changes, including the absence of co-captains Declan Nwachukwu (center) and Olukolade Awobowale (winger), both sidelined due to injuries. Former captain Onoru Jatto is also notably absent from the list.

“This is an exciting new squad for Nigeria 7s, with seven debutants eager to make a name for themselves in Mauritius against the best teams in Africa,” said Coach Lewis.

“We want to finish with strong momentum to help us prepare for the next season,” stated Nigeria Rugby President, Dr. Ademola Are.

In Pool A, the Stallions Sevens will compete against Kenya, Madagascar, and host team Mauritius.

Pool B includes Uganda, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, and Côte d’Ivoire, while Pool C features Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, and Algeria.

Nigeria Sevens Team for Mauritius Tournaments:

Akpabio Samuel

Dodo Boluwatife

Sam Esukuloh

John Daniel

Richard Adeniyi-Jones

Macaulay Ogheneloyeme

Aniebonam David

Odunlami Oluwadara

Ilube Matthew

Henry-Ajudua Frederick

Etim Gabriel

Obano Oghenesuvwe Osereme

Kitto Oliver Lewis

Anthony John-Oluwatobiloba

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF).