Eritrean professional cyclists Merhawi Kudus and Metkel Eyob clinched first and second place at Stage 4 of the Tour de Banyuwangi ljen Men Elite race.

The race, which began on 22 July in Indonesia, covered 607.8 km over four stages. Merhawi Kudus and Metkel Eyob, both members of the Terengganu Cycling Team, made history by finishing first and second in the fourth stage, which covered 162.8 km.

The two Eritrean cyclists also dominated the race by winning the Yellow Jersey and the King of the Mountain titles, respectively.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

“We are excited to have you here to listen to our concerns. Our children are gradually disappearing as they fall victim to abductions, and we are worried about this troubling trend,” said Loliha Andrew, a visually impaired elder of Lowoi.

Recent cattle raids and child abductions have left residents feeling distressed and concerned about their safety, access to basic services and disrupted schooling for boys and girls.

“The other night, armed unidentified individuals appeared in the village. We believe that they are still lingering in the bushes,” said Jakomina Chelson, a women’s leader and community mobilizer in nearby Lohila.

Because of the relative absence of police in the area, the youth have taken it upon themselves to escort students to and from school. As for people in need of medical attention, many don’t dare to make their way to healthcare centres.

“The insecurity has impacted the delivery of health services here. Our daily consultations are down by maybe 90 per cent. Many mothers now opt for home deliveries that can be dangerous,” said Loki Daniel, head of the primary antenatal care clinic in Lohira.

Once the wave of child abductions and general insecurity was brought to the attention of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), a team of civilian peacekeepers promptly visited Lowoi to engage with local residents, listen to their grievances, and discuss what can be done to address their issues.

“Child abductions are grave violations of human rights. It is a problem that requires a strategy to deter perpetrators, and that plan needs to involve both the government and residents to be successful,” asserted Rosemary Astini, a Human Rights Officer serving with UNMISS.

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

The Executive Board of the National Union of Eritrean Women conducted a meeting on 24 and 25 July to review the implementation of programs in the first half of this year and discuss the new strategic plan. The meeting took place at the central office of the union.

During the meeting, a report was presented on efforts to enhance the awareness and capacity of women, increase their participation in education and development programs, strengthen their economic capacity, and strengthen the organization of young women. The report highlighted both strengths and challenges encountered.

The board noted that it has been working to realize its vision and objectives by designing a strategic plan, with encouraging outcomes being registered, considering existing challenges, opportunities, and demands.

The board also emphasized the importance of strengthening ongoing activities, including the organizational capacity of women and the development of overall awareness and participation, as part of their focus for the second half of this year.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

The World Bank has released the seventh edition of its Economic Update for Mauritania, which highlights a slowdown in economic growth in 2023, despite strengthened macroeconomic stability.

Economic growth declined in 2023 to 3.4% (0.7% in per capita), following a strong expansion of 6.4% (3.7% in per capita) in 2022. This deceleration is partly due to tighter monetary policy and fragile dynamics in some key sectors, such as rainfed agriculture and extractive industries. However, Mauritania’s growth performance remains higher than the world average of 3 percent and that of sub-Saharan Africa (2.9%).

In 2023, inflation declined faster than expected, reaching 5% compared to 9.6% the previous year. The current account deficit narrowed, supported by lower international food and energy prices, as well as a reduction in capital goods imports. The fiscal deficit also declined to 2.5 percent of GDP, supported by lower capital expenditure.

The medium-term outlook remains favorable, with growth projected at 5.4%. In order to realize sustainable growth potential, it remains crucial to overcome structural challenges, including by improving public financial management, optimizing the use of existing labor, and creating a more stable tax base.

The report highlights the current challenge of low human capital utilization in Mauritania: children born in 2024 can expect to utilize only 15% of their human capital potential by age 18. It is therefore paramount to address the bottlenecks that prevent the full and effective utilization of human capital, which is particularly acute in the country, and disproportionately affect youth, women, and educated workers. Closing gender gaps, lack of empowerment of women in the workforce, and access to education and economic opportunities for youth remain critical to maximizing the country’s economic potential.

In response to these challenges, the report proposes priority reform options to strengthen sustainable and inclusive growth.

In this regard, the improvement of the quality of education and vocational training to meet the needs of the labor market, as well as the improvement of employment prospects and support for entrepreneurship, are reform areas proposed in the report.

The report also recommended improvements in budget programming and execution, the adoption of a prudent and transparent tax framework, and the optimization of the country’s labor market information system, which offer real opportunities.

“Although Mauritania has made important strides in macroeconomic stability, it is fundamental to address the structural challenges that constrain long-term growth. By continuing its efforts to maximize human capital and optimize public finance management, Mauritania will not only be able to consolidate its gains, but also promote more sustainable and inclusive growth,” said Ibou Diouf, World Bank Resident Representative in Mauritania.

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