Scores of people were reportedly killed in the capital, Bamako, on Tuesday when Islamic militants attacked several locations, including a military police academy, according to international media reports.

The violence forced the authorities to temporarily close the international airport.

The militant group JNIM, which is linked to Al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility.

Call for justice

The Secretary-General strongly condemned the terrorist attack.

He called on the Malian transitional Government “to ensure that those responsible for this despicable attack are held to account.”

Mr. Guterres also extended his sincere condolences to the families of the victims as well as to the transitional Government and the people of Mali. 

He wished a speedy recovery to those injured, including one UN guard unit member.

More than 20 UN agencies are in Mali, supporting the authorities in achieving development goals.

The UN maintained a decade-long peacekeeping mission in the country, known as MINUSMA, which ceased operations in December 2023. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

The World Bank’s Board of Directors has approved US$90 million in additional financing for the Horn of Africa Initiative: Djibouti Regional Economic Corridor project. 

The new support will expand the scope of the US$70 million original project, approved in December 2021, to enhance regional connectivity and resilience, logistics efficiency, and improve accessibility for the population living in Djibouti along the Djibouti-Addis Southern corridor. The project is part of a broader initiative for regional integration in the Horn of Africa, encompassing Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. Launched in 2019, the Horn of Africa Initiative aims to deepen regional integration and foster closer economic ties.

The new financing will support the rehabilitation, improvement, management, and maintenance of three sections of the Southern Corridor Road. It will also finance activities aiming at supporting transit facilitation to support regional integration and provide technical assistance to the Government of Djibouti.

“This additional financing will help Djibouti to further strengthen its position as a regional trade hub and improve the lives of its people,”  said Ousmane Dione, the World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, during his first visit to the country in this role. “The project will also contribute to the country’s efforts to achieve its Vision 2035, which aims to diversify the economy and enhance social inclusion.” 

Djibouti’s strategic location at the crossroads of regional trade and connectivity has seen its importance grow significantly over the past decade. Bordering the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Gulf, the regional corridor is crucial for the movement of goods and services in the region, given Djibouti’s location on the Horn of Africa and its port facilities.

“We are determined to lead the way. Therefore, we will continue to invest in the infrastructure” harvest collectively our regional development and integration,” said Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, Djibouti’s Minister of Economy and Finance in charge of Industry. “I am thankful to our partners, especially, the World Bank for supporting regional and continental connectivity.”

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

Though sunlight filtered in through the blinds of a conference room in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, the mood was somber.

Government representatives, the diplomatic community, regional stakeholders, civil society and the United Nations were participating in an extraordinary meeting of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission in South Sudan’s capital, Juba.

Their aim: Deliberating on the resolution to further extend the country’s ongoing transitional period to February 2027.

Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) was among the speakers gathered around a semi-circular table.

The top UN official’s remarks were pointed and heartfelt, to say the least.

 “While the UN will endorse the extension of the transitional period, we do so with real regret and disappointment,” stated Mr Haysom.  

“Two years ago, we were in an identical situation as we are today and gave our support specifically under the condition that there would be no more extensions. Today, it is sadly evident that the country is not ready for elections that we could confidently expect to generate a credible and peaceful outcome, necessitating from our part a consideration of this extension proposal,” he added.

A lackluster peace process, a dire economic situation and widespread floods are only some of the challenges being faced by this young nation as it struggles to complete its difficult but necessary journey from war to peace. Vitally, critical benchmarks contained within the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement remain outstanding.

Rabi Mohamed, representing the Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), summed it up accurately.

 “We unanimously support the decision to extend the transitional period due to the prevailing circumstances of the country including, but not limited to, the difficult socio-economic conditions, lack of adequate preparations by the election commission and in the security sector,” he said.

Now, more than ever, firm decisions regarding the way forward are needed as is a clear timeline from the country’s leaders to restore public confidence in the peace process, as Prosper Addo, Senior Political Affairs Officer, from the African Union Mission in South Sudan (AUMISS), underscored.

 “The AU hopes that this will give the opportunity to all—the institutions working on constitution-making, elections and security to prepare adequately and in a timely manner for elections,” he stated.

It is clear that South Sudan’s leaders have an uphill battle as they strive to marshal the political will needed to hold the country’s first elections since its independence, in the face of tremendous disappointment and frustration among citizens and waning international support.

 “It is time for South Sudan’s leaders to prioritize the interests of the nation; rebuild public trust and confidence; open up the necessary political and civic space for elections; engage and accommodate all voices and viewpoints, including the non-signatory parties in the Tumaini Initiative, with a view to breaking this perpetual cycle of continuous transitions in South Sudan and pave the way towards an inclusive and sustainable peace,” averred Mr. Haysom.

This is the second extension of the transitional period and has elicited mixed reactions from stakeholders, even as the South Sudanese continue to advocate for their right to choose their leaders.

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

The NCOP Gauteng delegation conducted a successful oversight visit to unfinished and abandoned human settlements, health, education, and road projects in the West Rand and Sedibeng regions on Wednesday.

The visit is part of the week-long NCOP Provincial Week Programme, held under the theme “Confronting the Challenges Facing the Timely Delivery of Viable Public Infrastructure to Communities.”

The Provincial Week Programme aims to provide permanent delegates to the NCOP and their counterparts from the Gauteng Provincial Legislature with an opportunity to conduct oversight visits to various community development structures, including incomplete road projects, housing projects and other delayed or abandoned public infrastructure projects in the province. These oversight sessions involve officials and managers from affected districts and provincial and national government departments.

Among the abandoned projects visited by the delegation yesterday was the Montrose Mega Project in Randfontein. The project started in 2017 and is expected to yield 13 792 mixed typologies upon completion.

Briefing the delegation on the challenges, interventions and way forward, the provincial Department of Human Settlements said the project had faced various challenges, such as non-performance by the developer, as he failed to resume site in January 2024. The developer also failed to disclose a liquidation order issued by the court against him in 2023 in favour of contractors. The delegation was informed that the developer failed to pay the Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), which he appointed as his service providers. The abandoned project is now facing a serious problem of vandalism of the units.

As part of the interventions, the department reported that it sought a legal opinion on the options available to act against the developer and a notice of termination was issued. The delegation was told that three criminal cases had been opened for the vandalism of the infrastructure, and some of the perpetrators had been brought to justice.

The department further reported that, as part of the way forward, they are appointing a security company to protect the remaining infrastructure and will commence negotiations with the land owner on acquiring the land.

The delegation also visited the Rus-Ter-Vaal Secondary School. The project was initiated in 2016 and set for construction in 2018. A contractor was appointed and initiated the construction process but abandoned the site without completing the project.

The delegation was told that the project remains abandoned as of August 2024. The department is set to appoint a contractor and hand over the site to the contractor by the end of September.

The MEC for Education committed to providing regular feedback to the NCOP on this delayed project and ensured that the contractors’ contract would be terminated where there were unjustifiable delays.

The NCOP Gauteng delegation also conducted oversight at Kopanong Hospital in Vereeniging. Construction of the hospital started in 2021, with an original completion date of August 2022. The appointed contractor could not finish the project, and their contract was terminated.

The delegation was very concerned about the state of the Kopanong Hospital, which is in decay. The abandoned, incomplete wards were meant to accommodate emergency patients during COVID-19, but the contractor failed to finish the job.

The delegation also visited the R82 Old Johannesburg Road in Walkerville. The Initial consultant was terminated due to poor performance. A new consulting engineer was appointed on 23 August 2024. The delegation was informed that the project is scheduled to recommence the first week of October 2024. The contractor is mobilising to return to the site at the beginning of September 2024.

Some of the challenges facing the project include the encroachment of 10 households on the site—intervention to relocate the residents is being sought.

The delegation further visited the Bekkerdal Care of the Age Centre, New Simunye High School in Westonaria, and the Lethabong Mega Project in Sebokeng. The delegation applauded the Lethabong Mega Project, as it was the only site progressing well among all the visited projects.

The delegation, led by Ms Jane Mananiso, NCOP Gauteng Provincial Whip, recommended that criminal cases be opened against developers who are at fault for any of the projects’ issues.

Highlighting the importance of accountability and transparency, Ms Mananiso said public representatives must ensure that every rand spent on infrastructure development translates into tangible benefits for the people. “The NCOP’s oversight provides an invaluable mechanism for ensuring accountability and transparency, and I have no doubt that your engagements with us this week will help strengthen the systems that underpin effective governance,” she said.

The delegation is today, Thursday, 19 September, conducting oversight visits to projects around the Ekurhuleni and Tshwane regions. The projects include:

– Bakerton Library in Springs
– Barcelona Primary in Daveyton
– Semphato Junior Secondary School in Soshanguve
– Transoranje LSEN – Pretoria
– Women Living Monument in Pretoria
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.