The EU will soon become a ‘Friend’ (i.e., observer) of the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment, a regional cooperation framework to tackle piracy, armed robbery, human trafficking and other illegal maritime activities in the North-Western Indian Ocean, including the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

The Council today formally decided to accept the invitation from the Secretariat of the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment. By becoming ‘Friend’ of the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment, the EU signals its strong support for an effective regional maritime security architecture, while strengthening its presence and engagement as a global maritime security provider in the fight against illegal activities at sea. 

The North-Western Indian Ocean is one of the most dynamic centres of economic growth in the world. With 80% of the world’s trade passing through the Indian Ocean, it is crucial to ensure freedom of navigation and protect the EU’s and its partners’ security and interests.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Council of the European Union.

Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma visited Cameroon from April 20 to 22 to reaffirm the U.S.-Cameroon partnership.

Deputy Secretary Verma met with Secretary General at the Presidency H.E. Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh and members of the cabinet and discussed key areas of continued bilateral cooperation.  In separate meetings with journalists and civil society leaders, Deputy Secretary Verma discussed U.S. foreign assistance as well as U.S. engagement on human rights and governance in Africa, including Cameroon.

Underscoring the U.S. Government’s longtime support in the health and security sectors, Deputy Secretary Verma visited the National Veterinary Lab Annex (LANAVET) and the Inter-Regional Coordination Centre (ICC) on maritime governance and security.  As a prime example of how the U.S.-Cameroon partnership is helping to prevent the emergence of new pandemics and save lives, this year marks the second anniversary of the newly renovated LANAVET, funded by the United States with an amount of FCFA 2.3 billion ($3.7 million).

During the visit, Deputy Secretary Verma stated: “Cameroon is a valued partner and plays an important role in economic and regional stability.  We have partnered with the government and people of Cameroon for decades in the areas of health, human rights, regional security, and sustainable economic growth, and we look forward to our continued partnership to advance peace and prosperity for all Cameroonians.”

As the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Richard R. Verma serves as Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Department of State and principal advisor to the Secretary of State, leading the Department’s efforts on modernization, foreign assistance, and a wide range of workforce and strategic issues.  Deputy Secretary Verma previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to India, where he led one of the largest U.S. diplomatic missions and championed historic progress in bilateral ties.  He is also a former Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs and the former National Security Advisor to the Senate Majority Leader.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Cameroon.

By looking at case studies in Burundi, Kenya, Senegal and South Africa, the four reports unpack Open Internet connectivity as a promoter of human-centric development. They also shed light on the crucial role of a free, global, reliable, affordable and secure internet in driving social and economic growth in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the objectives of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

According to the new reports prepared by a team of independent experts contracted by the European Commission “Digital technologies and the Open Internet are two distinct concepts that, if blended into a consistent policy approach, create a digitisation process that maximises the opportunities for social and economic growth.”

The realisation of the Open Internet’s potential for locally driven growth requires a holistic approach, separate but intrinsic to the investment in technology and connectivity, that is focused on the deployment of Open Internet digital infrastructure, the development of enabling policy and regulatory environments for Open Internet, investment in Open Internet skills and competences, the creation of an Open Internet economy, and participation in Open Internet governance.

Each of the four reports serve as a roadmap for other countries and regions, for how  Open Internet approaches can create an environment that will enable and support  digital development, capitalise on its economic potential, while respecting fundamental rights and values.

As part of the EU’s policy of promoting an open, free, global, stable and secure internet based on the multi-stakeholder model of internet governance, the reports build on the ideas covered in a previous report on The Open Internet as cornerstone of digitalisation. As  the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said in her State of the Union 2024 speech: “The internet was born as an instrument for sharing knowledge, opening minds and connecting people. But it has also given rise to serious challenges (…) In response, Europe has become the global pioneer of citizen’s rights in the digital world.”

The reports were produced in the framework of “Promotion and Development of the Open Internet in Africa”, a project funded by the EU Global Gateway.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of European Union External Action.

On April 22, Special Representative of Ukraine for the Middle East and Africa Maksym Subkh received copies of credentials from the Non-Resident Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to Ukraine at the residence in Ankara Francisсa Ashietey-Odunton.

The Special representative of Ukraine expressed gratitude to the Republic of Ghana for consistently supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within the framework of international organizations in the face of Russian aggression.

The parties highly appreciated the level of political dialogue between the two states, which was facilitated by the recent opening of the Ukrainian diplomatic mission in the capital of Ghana, Accra, and the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba to this country in October 2022.

Separately, the constant dialogue between the heads of state of Ukraine and Ghana was noted, as well as the importance of the implementation of the agreements reached during the meeting of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy with the President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos in January of this year.

The Special representative of Ukraine emphasized the importance of involving the Ghanaian side in the implementation of the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and expressed hope for the participation of the high representative of Ghana in the Global Peace Summit, which will be held in Switzerland.

Maksym Subkh informed the Ambassador of Ghana to Ukraine about the creation of the inter-parliamentary relations group with the Republic of Ghana in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and expressed his hope for the creation of an inter-parliamentary relations group with Ukraine in the highest legislative body of Ghana.

The parties discussed the prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation in spheres of mutual interest.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.