“During the civil wars of 2013 and 2016, we never imagined a time would come when we could be free to assemble and discuss the future of our nation without fear,” says Stephen Mathiang Deng, Minister for Cabinet Affairs in Lakes state, South Sudan.

Minister Deng was speaking at a three-day interaction, supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), which brought together key stakeholders—politicians, youth, women, community leaders, faith-based organizations, and academics—to begin constructive conversations on the route towards free, fair, and inclusive elections that are currently scheduled for December 2024.

“Earlier, there was pervasive fear among communities, even to go to a local market. These days it is different. Stores and shops are open, vendors ply their wares; and people convene to talk to one another. It is this dialogue on the way forward towards a more peaceful, prosperous future, that we, as the government, would like to encourage,” adds the Minister, assuring all gathered of the state’s commitment to nurturing spaces for consistent civic and political engagement by all.

Intense and detailed discussions by participants focused on the roles and responsibilities of the National Elections Commission (NEC); the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) and the Political Parties Council (PPC). Stakeholders also sought updates on the status of the Tumaini Peace Initiative, currently ongoing in Nairobi, capital of neighboring Kenya, where non-signatories to the 2018 peace deal are engaged in finding a consensus-based way forward for South Sudan to complete its long overdue democratic transition while incorporating viewpoints across the political spectrum.

“The shifts in the country’s political landscape in past weeks have been rapid, and in an information environment where people may find it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction, connecting state-level actors to national developments, plus raising awareness on individual obligations before citizens head to the polls, is vital,” reveals Guy Bennett, Chief of the UN Peacekeeping Mission’s Political Affairs Division.

“This political parties forum is the first of its kind supported by UNMISS at the state level. So far, we’ve only been rolling these out in different formats in Juba. What’s coming through quite clearly is that South Sudanese everywhere want to be actively involved in shaping a better future. This requires trust between citizens and their leaders; it requires that facts aren’t diluted by differing perspectives; and that everybody is cogniscent of what’s required to hold timely elections. We will, therefore, be replicating this event across all states,” he says.

Mr Bennett’s views are echoed simply, yet eloquently by Anjelina Adhel Malual, Chair of Lakes States’ Civil Society Organizations’ Network.

“We can’t sustain peace or development as individuals. It’s a collective undertaking. And the path towards that is through open, honest communication on what South Sudanese communities want. We are, therefore, overjoyed with the clarity this forum has provided us as well as the options we have jointly come up with to work keeping in mind the interests of all communities,” she avers.

Nyandiar Mabor, a women’s representative, echoes Angelina.

“It’s a fact that when women from all walks of life are fully and equally included in peace processes, they stand the test of time,” she states. “We can define a gender-sensitive political space when we participate in politics, governance, and decision-making. This is non-negotiable if our country is to become truly democratic,” she adds, while noting that the initiative had given participants several actionable ways to strengthen women’s voices.

In a joint communique issued at the end of their deliberations, delegates concluded that they will pursue all avenues to foster trust, build confidence, and work towards establishing versatile, dynamic civic and political discourses across Lakes.

For his part, Christopher Murenga, Head of the UNMISS Field Office in the state, was appreciative of the commitment and enthusiasm demonstrated by all participants, and called for nominees who could form a committee to disseminate these recommendations far and wide.

“Having open, inclusive civic space is a priority for any country. South Sudan is no exception. I am heartened by the conversations we have heard in the past three days. I am certain these will form a strong foundation for all communities across Lakes to participate in nation building,” he said.

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

As Kenya strives for gender equality, women’s participation in political leadership remains a critical focal point. Women face unique challenges in the political arena, necessitating tailored approaches to enhance their opportunities and ensure protection from discrimination.

This calls for efforts to support women in decision-making roles, enabling them to effectively advocate for legislation and policies that advance the interests of women and girls. In alignment with these efforts, UN Women advocates for legislative and constitutional reforms to ensure women’s equitable access to political spheres as voters, candidates, elected officials and civil service members.

Hon. Greg Fergus, the Canadian Speaker of the House of Commons, led a delegation from Canada to Kenya in April 2024, and paid a courtesy call to members of the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) to discuss progress, challenges, and solutions in women’s political leadership in Kenya. Speaking during his address at the courtesy call, Hon. Fergus said “We laud KEWOPA for fulfilling its unwavering distinctive mandate of promoting and protecting democracy while advocating for women’s rights for more than two decades. More women are stepping forward to contest for political positions, breaking traditional barriers and stereotypes,”.

KEWOPA Chairperson, Hon. Leah Sankire while sharing insights on women’s political leadership in Kenya said “We acknowledge the support that KEWOPA has received from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) that has contributed to the advancement of women’s representation.”

“UN Women is proud to work closely with KEWOPA to enhance women’s participation in political leadership and decision-making. Through targeted interventions, significant progress has been achieved in advancing gender equality within Kenya’s legislative sphere,” said Anna Mutavati.

UN women is collaborating with KEWOPA on various areas. KEWOPA, with funding from Global Affairs Canada, conducted an induction for newly elected Members of Parliament following the 2022 elections, emphasizing the retention of experienced legislators.

Additionally, technical assistance was provided by UN Women for the development and launch of KEWOPA’s 2023-27 Strategic Plan, aimed at guiding legislative direction in the 13th Parliament and enhancing its representative and oversight roles.

Moreover, the collaboration has facilitated advocacy efforts for the implementation of the two-thirds gender principle in the National Assembly, including awareness forums and engagement with the multi-sectoral working group.

Together, we have also strengthened the capacity of Members of Parliament through training, mentorship, and constituency outreach initiatives, creating an enabling environment where women can fully exercise their political rights.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

By Laila Bastati, Chief Commercial Officer, APO Group (https://APO-opa.com/).

At APO Group, we believe in the transformative power of public relations and communications to reshape and build new, positive narratives about Africa. Our mission is to amplify the voices of many outstanding individuals and organisations across the continent, showcasing their stories of growth, resilience, and innovation.

As PR professionals, we challenge outdated stereotypes that have long overshadowed Africa’s immense potential. It’s crucial to do away with these perceptions that limit our vision and hinder progress. They create a narrow and often negative view that overlooks the rich diversity, cultural heritage, and economic dynamism of Africa. By breaking these stereotypes, we open a world of opportunities for collaboration, investment, and development that benefits everyone.

Through our work, we highlight the ingenuity of African entrepreneurs, the groundbreaking advancements of startups, and many other remarkable achievements across various sectors and industries. This not only shifts global perceptions but also fuels the aspirations of future generations, encouraging them to dream bigger and aim higher.

As we continue to push boundaries and celebrate our collective successes, let us remain committed to building a new narrative for Africa – one that is deeply rooted in authenticity, diversity, and the limitless possibilities that Africa holds.

#PublicRelations #BreakingStereotypes #NewNarratives #Resilience #Growth

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group Insights.

The Invest in African Energy (IAE) forum in Paris has unveiled its 2025 theme: Pioneering Africa’s Energy Boom: Strategic Investment for Maximum Returns. This year’s event focuses on drawing in new technical and financial partners to harness the vast potential of Africa’s energy sector ­– driving growth and returns on investment.

Building on this year’s edition, the forum will place a renewed focus on broadening the pool of global investors in Africa’s energy sector and catalyzing new sources of capital, as well as crafting policies and incentives that enable private sector participation. As global financing for new oil and gas projects continues to tighten, project developers are looking to engage with development finance institutions, multilateral development banks, private equity, pension funds and alternative funding mechanisms, which will play a key role in the forum’s 2025 agenda.

IAE 2025 (http://apo-opa.co/4bF1x6z) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 13-14, 2025 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit (http://apo-opa.co/4bF1x6z) . To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

The forum will showcase ongoing and upcoming projects with significant investment potential, providing detailed insights into specific partnership and investment opportunities across the continent. Between 2024 and 2025, oil and gas licensing rounds are expected in Nigeria, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, Kenya, Angola, Mozambique and South Africa, featuring a mix of onshore, offshore, shale gas and deepwater assets. As the continent seeks to attract a wide range of explorers to sign new contracts and drive exploratory drilling, the forum will explore the strategic returns associated with investment in Africa’s proven and frontier acreage.

Advanced seismic survey and upstream geoscience and data generation activities are also priority areas for investment in Africa’s upstream markets – able to de-risk exploration, identify potential drilling targets, yield new discoveries and reduce the environmental footprint of oil and gas exploration. Geophysical companies like Norway’s TGS have partnered with national oil companies (NOCs) in Liberia, Guinea-Conakry and Tanzania to enhance the understanding of the subsurface data within Africa’s lesser explored markets, with a view to supporting 2025 licensing rounds.

Partnerships between African NOCs and international exploration companies represent another strategic opportunity for knowledge and technology transfer. The continent has seen a string of recent farm-in deals in Namibia, South Africa, Morocco and Angola, among other markets, mostly involving independent explorers buying into highly prospective assets. Senegal’s NOC Petrosen has announced it is looking for farm-in partners for the Yakaar-Teranga gas development project, while Norway’s BW Energy is seeking new partners for the Kudu gas project in Namibia. 

In line with the theme, IAE 2025 will also address how government support and policy incentives can serve to maximize returns for investors and establish more attractive operating environments. The forum will highlight the growing commitment of African governments to create favorable investment conditions, build investor confidence and facilitate successful project deployment through supportive regulatory frameworks. Recent reforms include a host of fiscal incentives in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector to attract over $10 billion in new investments in the next 12-18 months; substantial changes to Ghana’s oil and gas royalty scheme to be implemented this year; and Angola’s new legislation which focuses on updating local content policies, which aims to encourage more integration between foreign firms and domestic companies.

“Returning for its third edition, IAE 2025 is solidifying its position as the premier African energy project showcase outside of the continent. Next year’s edition distinguishes itself by not only connecting global investors with Africa’s most dynamic opportunities, but also ensuring that projects are bankable and ensure maximum returns for all stakeholders – that is our goal,” says Sandra Jeque, Event&Project Director at event organizers, Energy Capital&Power. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.