The President of the Republic of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, held official bilateral discussions with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez on Tuesday.

During the meeting, President Ramkalawan expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome extended to the Seychelles delegation and commended the strong diplomatic ties between the two island nations, which have spanned over four decades. Despite the geographic distance, he noted, the enduring relations between Seychelles and Cuba is rooted in shared values and mutual respect.

“Our present bilateral cooperation is both dynamic and evolving, and we anticipate continuous engagements on important global matters. I wish to reaffirm my personal commitment to work closely with you towards maintaining and consolidating the deep-seated relations that exists between Seychelles and Cuba.“ said President Ramkalawan.

President Diaz-Canel, in turn, thanked Seychelles for its consistent support of Cuba, particularly regarding the Cuban resolution against the U.S. embargo, and for President Ramkalawan’s participation in the G-77 and China Summit in Havana last year.

The two leaders agreed on key areas to further enhance cooperation, namely in the healthcare domain, pharmaceuticals, education and capacity building, cultural exchanges, as well as exploring new avenues of collaboration.

As part of the official visit, the two nations signed three bilateral agreements, enhancing collaboration in the areas of criminal justice, environmental protection, and academic-diplomatic training.

President Ramkalawan also paid tribute to Cuban national hero José Martí by laying a wreath at his monument, followed by a tour of the memorial.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Thirty-two military and police officers from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on Wednesday completed training on mainstreaming women’s rights and promoting gender equality in peace support operations.

Organized jointly by ATMIS’ Protection, Human Rights, and Gender (PHRG) Cluster and the African Union Compliance Framework (AUCF), the four-day training for Gender Focal Point and Female Engagement officers was to enhance their skills in effective gender mainstreaming and contributing meaningfully to ending gender-based violence and conflict-related sexual abuse.

“Upholding the rights of women has always been part of the value system of African cultures. Therefore, it’s imperative that we entrench these values into ATMIS’ operations and ensure that we do no harm and protect women and children in our areas of operations,” said the Deputy Head of Mission for ATMIS, Sivuyile Bam at the opening ceremony on Sunday.

He added that equipping our Gender Focal Point officers with enhanced skills in gender mainstreaming and addressing gender-based violence, would not only strengthen ATMIS’s operational effectiveness but also contribute to the broader goal of building a more inclusive and just society in Somalia.

“This training underscores our dedication to ensuring that women’s voices are heard, their rights are protected, and their contributions are valued in all aspects of our peace support operations. As we move forward, let us remember that gender equality is not just a women’s issue – it is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of sustainable peace and development”, he said.

The Police Commissioner for ATMIS, Hillary Sao Kanu, spoke on the importance of promoting gender equality and women’s rights within ATMIS military and police operations.

“This training is crucial in generating solutions to empower women, promote gender equality, and overcome societal barriers such as pay gaps, gender-based violence, and sexual-based violence. Gender equality is not just about women’s rights issues, it’s about human rights and fairness,” said CP Kanu.

The Acting Head of the Protection, Human Rights and Gender Cluster for ATMIS, Dr. Omar Alasow, at the closing ceremony on Wednesday, said the participants would subsequently undergo a Training of Trainers (TOT) course to enable them to share the knowledge with other officers in the sectors.

“The participants were trained on various topics, including prevention of sexual exploitation, and abuse, gender-based violence, human rights and protection of women and international humanitarian law,” said Dr. Alasow.

The training also covered Somalia’s legal policy framework for gender equality and strategies for effective partnership with Somali women and the Federal government to incorporate women in peace and security agendas.

The Sector Two Female Engagement team lead and Dhobley Women Association focal point for ATMIS, Capt. Valary Shikuku was grateful for the training, emphasising its importance in advancing women’s rights.

“The training will enable me to support my fellow troop members and the women we engage with in our daily operations in the sector,” said Capt. Shikuku.

Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP), Michael Oluge, emphasised the role of men in safeguarding women’s rights, particularly in during conflict.

“I’ve gained invaluable knowledge and the skills to through this training It’s been a good training experience, and I urge the facilitators to consider including more men in such trainings,” said AIP Oluge.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

As Libya seeks partners for rebuilding its critical infrastructure and supporting economic recovery, international companies, particularly from Europe and the Middle East, are invited to participate in the country’s reconstruction efforts through public-private partnerships and direct investment. The Libya-Italy Roundtable and VIP Networking Evening – taking place in Rome on September 23 – will showcase the country’s current infrastructure drive and associated investment opportunities, as well as highlight the potential of Italian construction and engineering firms to leverage expertise in power and transportation systems to contribute to the broader reconstruction of Libya’s cities.

As a strategic partner to Libya, Italy has a crucial role to play in rebuilding the country’s infrastructure and supporting energy-related projects. According to Italian energy industry contractor Bonatti, the company’s contracts have increased three-fold since the signing of the $8-billion gas deal between Italian energy major Eni and Libya’s National Oil Corporation, with Bonatti identifying Libya as a promising market for Italian firms. Given its deep ties to Libya’s energy sector, Eni is also well-positioned to expand its involvement in broader infrastructure projects, including the rehabilitation of gas-fired power plants, renewable energy development and power grid modernization.

National Infrastructure Revamp

Efforts to restore Libya’s infrastructure are gradually resuming, with the government rolling out key projects focusing on electricity grids, transportation networks and water supply systems. The General Electricity Company of Libya recently launched construction of a new power substation in Tobruk to improve the city’s electricity network and alleviate pressure on the grid, as well as announced plans for another substation in Lamluda. This accompanies the construction of a 1,320 MW gas-fired plant in South Tripoli, 1,044 MW gas-fired plant in Zliten and a series of solar power projects ranging from 200-1,500 MW in size. While significant investment is still required in the rehabilitation of existing power plants and expansion of the national grid, Libya’s installed generation capacity reached a record 8,200 MW last year, reflecting considerable progress toward closing the country’s power deficit.

Several road and airport rehabilitation projects are also underway, led by the Eastern Libyan Government’s Reconstruction and Stabilization Committee. Launched in April, a new airport in Benghazi will feature 12 gates, utilities, a free zone, air cargo and transit infrastructure and aligns with the broader Benghazi Urban Plan, which aims to modernize and expand the city through improvements in urban infrastructure, water canals, green spaces and access to essential services. Meanwhile, Chinese consortium BFI and Tripoli-based Libyan Railroads have launched a new railway development project in eastern Libya, while plans for the $4.5-billion, 554-km Sirte-Benghazi rail project have been revived, which would link the two Mediterranean port cities.

Water availability is another critical priority for Libya, who advanced a new national water and sanitation plan last October, to be implemented in two phases. Between 2024 and 2026, the first phase provides for new drinking water supply systems to be built and existing ones rehabilitated, as well as the improvement of sewerage networks in 19 Libyan cities. The second phase – to be implemented between 2026 and 2050 – will see the construction of 62 new wastewater treatment plants, renovation of 49 plants and maintenance works carried out on nine plants. With a water deficit of approximately 580,000 cubic meters per day, water treatment and supply projects represent a key sector for foreign investment in Libya, along with power generation and transport infrastructure. With strong support from Italian and international companies, Libya is aiming to rebuild its critical infrastructure, which will be central to the country’s long-term economic recovery and growth.

The Libya-Italy Roundtable and VIP Networking Evening takes place in Rome on September 23, featuring a half-day program that unites Libyan and Italian business leaders and government officials. If your company is interested in participating, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com

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

Fast-tracking the joint border demarcation with South Sudan will address the ongoing security challenges in the Karamoja region, MPs on the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs have recommended.

The recommendation is part of several others contained in the committee’s report on the security situation in the districts of Moroto, Kaabong, and Abim, which was presented during a plenary session chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa on Wednesday, 18 September 2024.

The committee’s deputy chairperson, Hon. Linos Ngompek, presented the report and stressed that the unresolved border dispute between Uganda and South Sudan poses a serious threat to the security of the Karamoja region.

“The committee’s findings highlight the urgent need for resolving territorial conflicts with South Sudan,” Ngompek, also the Kibanda North County MP, said.

The report further revealed that tensions surrounding the border dispute have negatively affected the socio-economic well-being of local communities.

“The Government must expedite the joint border demarcation to preserve Uganda’s territorial integrity and curb security threats posed by the South Sudanese armed forces,” he added.

The committee also highlighted the need for strengthened security infrastructure, recommending the installation of a UPDF brigade in Kaabong, the construction of additional security roads, and efforts to ensure pastoralist communities can access water during droughts.

To promote long-term peace, the committee advocated for continued government support for peace dialogues in Karamoja and skilling programmes for the Karachuna youth. They also recommended allocating funds for desilting the Morungole and Longoromit dams, crucial for water access and reducing conflict over grazing land.

The UPDF Representative in Parliament, Gen. Peter Elwelu, responded to the committee’s report that the security in Karamoja was reinforced.

Elwelu, a former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, assured the MPs and the people of Karamoja that security concerns are a priority to the nation and will be addressed.

While the UPDF launched the Usalama Kwa Wote campaign in 2019 to stabilise the Karamoja region through cattle raider pursuit, criminal disarmament, and livestock recovery, internal thefts continue to plague areas like Acholi, Lango, Teso, Bugisu, and Sebei. Between May 2023 and August 2024, the UPDF’s 5th Infantry Brigade recovered 923 stolen cattle, although 214 remain unaccounted for.

Additionally, the Uganda Wildlife Authority was urged to curb poaching and address the issue of stray animals from Kidepo Valley National Park, which have endangered both lives and property in surrounding areas.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.