U.S. Marine Corps General Michael Langley, Commander, U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major Michael Woods, Command Senior Enlisted Leader visited Côte d’Ivoire April 28-29, 2024, to reinforce the longstanding partnership between the United States and the Ivoirian government.

During his visit, General Langley engaged in high-level discussions with both military and civilian leadership, including President Alasane Ouattara and the Chief of Defense Lt. Gen. Lassina Doumbia, emphasizing the shared commitment to regional stability and security cooperation. The visit underscored the importance of collaboration between the United States and Côte d’Ivoire in addressing common security challenges, including violent extremism and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

“Our enduring partnership with Côte d’Ivoire underscores our mutual commitment to fostering peace and enhancing regional security to ensure a prosperous future for all Ivoirians.” said U.S. Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire Jessica Davis Ba.

General Langley commended the dedication and professionalism of the Ivoirian defense forces, highlighting their pivotal role in regional security initiatives. “The Ivorian military exemplifies a commitment to excellence and serves as a cornerstone of regional stability,” said Langley. “Through joint training exercises and information sharing, we have made significant strides in countering terrorism and violent extremism.”

The U.S. and Ivoirian militaries cooperate on a number of joint training exercises through AFRICOM. Côte d’Ivoire participates in the International Military Education and Training program and contributes to the Global Peacekeeping Operations Initiative, facilitated by the United States, which aims to develop an interoperable peacekeeping capacity among African nations.

“The U.S. remains committed to supporting Côte d’Ivoire’s efforts to enhance security and stability within its borders and across the region,” stated Langley. “Our partnership is founded on mutual respect and a shared vision of promoting peace and prosperity in Africa.”

General Langley reiterated the U.S. commitment to working alongside Côte d’Ivoire and other African nations to promote a secure and prosperous future for the continent.  AFRICOM is providing more than $65 million in 2024 with much of that investment focused on counterterrorism and border security in northern Côte d’Ivoire.

U.S. Africa Command, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, is one of 11 U.S. Department of Defense combatant commands, each with a geographic or functional mission that provides command and control of military forces in peace and war. U.S. Africa Command employs the broad-reaching diplomacy, development, and defense approach to foster interagency efforts and help negate the drivers of conflict and extremism in Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is confident that all systems are in place for the shipment of voting materials to enable South African citizens living abroad to cast their ballots.

DIRCO and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) have met and agreed on logistics for the dispatching of election materials.

Voting materials will be sent to all 115 South African diplomatic missions using diplomatic airfreight bags. The short-term contract for this purpose is in place.

The diplomatic bag is protected by diplomatic immunity.

DIRCO makes use of diplomatic bags to dispatch official documents and articles to and from South Africa in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

Minister Simmers honors the Masakh’Isizwe bursars and Apprentice programme graduates

On Saturday 27 April, the Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers awarded 50 new Masakh’iSizwe(MiS) Bursars for the 2024 academic year and honoured 32 learners who have completed their 3 year Apprenticeship programme.

The event honoured individuals who have been awarded a full-time MiS bursary by the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure to pursue studies in the transport, engineering, built environment, and other infrastructure disciplines. Beneficiaries who completed their trade test in electrical and welding in the 3-year Apprenticeship programme were awarded their certificates.

The Masakh’iSizwe Bursary programme offers bursaries for full-time studies towards a degree or diploma in the transport, engineering, and infrastructure disciplines. This is part of the department’s strategy to mitigate the skills scarcity in the infrastructure sector. It covers various expenses such as tuition fees, support programmes to ensure academic performance remains on track, accommodation, meals, and/or transportation. This comprehensive support allows students to focus on their studies without financial obstacles.

Present on the day and addressing the incumbent bursars was Thulisile Notshe a 2nd year Civil Engineering student at Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Thulisile shared her story and said, “I am grateful to the Western Cape Government for awarding me the Masakh’iSizwe bursary. The programme has completely transformed my life as they’ve not only helped me with the payment of tuition but also with essential resources, such as study material tutor sessions. This has allowed me to solely focus on my academic work without the worries of financial burdens. Thus, I was able to obtain an 80% average mark in my first year.”

The ceremony also honored 32 learners who completed the 3-year Apprenticeship programme with a qualification in an artisan trade. The learners completed and passed their trade test and are now red seal certified within their Artisan Trades.

The department’s Apprenticeship programme was established in 2016 and provides learners with an opportunity to obtain a trade test and an artisan certificate, certified by the Quality Council for Trade Occupations (QCTO).

The Department provides support by facilitating the programme, providing accredited electrical and welding training, and placing learners with host employers for experiential learning opportunities. The department funds both the theoretical training and experiential training for the learners, as well as payment of a stipend.

Provincial Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers described the department’s programmes as one of many ways in which the Western Cape Government is creating opportunities for young people to prosper in the future. “Through these, we are opening doors to more opportunities for young people who are want to use education and training as their weapon to carve a better future for their families and communities. The Masakh’iSizwe bursary has helped change the lives of many young people and in the past, some of our past bursars, upon graduation bought homes for their parents.”

“As the Western Cape Government, we are making advances in the energy resilience and mitigation programmes, and therefore with that comes opportunities for skilled artisans to lead this province as we build for the future. Our Apprenticeship programme has achieved an 86% pass rate and many of these learners have already obtained permanent employment from the private sector partners, confirming the quality of this programme” added Minister Simmers.

The closing date for applications for the 2025 Masakh’Isizwe Bursary Programme is 31 August 2024.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic Of South Africa: Western Cape Provincial Government.

President William Samoei Ruto this morning convened a Special Cabinet meeting to deliberate on additional measures required to mitigate the effects of the ongoing torrential rains on life, property and livelihoods on the people of Kenya.

The Cabinet received and considered a weather forecast report from the Meteorological Department, indicating that the ongoing rains will persist in intensity and duration, and warning that the situation could get dire because the soils around the country are fully saturated.

Further, the Cabinet noted that the relevant Government agencies have completed the mapping out of all the fragile ecosystems around the country, which pose grave danger to public safety and health in the likely event of further precipitation.

Consequently, the Cabinet directed that all members of the public residing within these risky areas are required to move out within 48 hours. These include areas near dams and other water reservoirs in public or private land, areas prone to mudslides and landslides and riparian lands along rivers and other water courses across the country.

All members of the public affected by this directive will be notified by the end of day tomorrow, May 1, 2024.

The Government has put in place measures to support the evacuation and temporary shelter of those that will be affected by this directive in the event that they require assistance.

Further, the Government has identified public spaces in various parts of the country where those affected will be given temporary shelter together with the provision of essential food and non-food supplies.

While the Government encourages voluntary evacuation, all those who remain within the areas affected by the directive will be relocated forcibly in the interest of their safety.

National Government Administration officers (NGAO) are directed to work with county governments, humanitarian organisations and other stakeholders to ensure that the process of notification, evacuation and shelter provision is carried out in a timely, humane and effective manner.

The National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) will provide the coordination of government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), development partners, humanitarian organisations and other stakeholders to ensure a seamless and coherent exercise throughout the country.

Security agencies will enforce this directive with the support of the National Youth Service.

The office of the Deputy President will immediately convene a meeting bringing Government (MDAs) and development partners to harmonise resource mobilisation and coordinated disaster response to mitigate further loss of lives, and destruction of property and livelihoods.

The Cabinet was also informed that water levels at Masinga and Kiambere dams have reached historic highs, with Masinga this morning recording its highest levels ever surpassing those recorded on 7th May, 2020. Kiambere Dam has also recorded its highest levels ever on 26th April, 2024, surpassing the previous historic levels on 29th November, 1997.

The resultant effects downstream, especially in Garissa and Tana River counties, could worsen the already dire situation. Currently, large swathes of land have been submerged along the River Tana, thousands of people have been displaced, and lives and livelihoods have been affected. The residents of the two counties and others living near other dams and water reservoirs must move out in line with the directive of the Cabinet.

In Nairobi, where the effects on people who live on riparian lands have been devastating, especially in the informal settlements along the Nairobi River, the Cabinet has directed that people living within the 30 metres riparian corridor move out within 48 hours as their lives are in harms way.

The Cabinet has also directed the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development to fast track the roll out of social housing to accommodate the many people living in the informal settlements, and giving priority to those that will be vacating the riparian area.

The ministry and county governments are expected to enumerate and document all the people that will be vacating the riparian areas.

The Cabinet has further directed the Nairobi Rivers Commission, the Nairobi County Government and the ministry to work with the communities living along the three main rivers in Nairobi – Mathare, Ngong and Nairobi – to create an additional 30 metres planning corridor.

This corridor will be useful for the development of social housing, parks, roads and other public utilities.

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