This morning, Hon. Gen. Jeje Odongo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, had the pleasure of receiving H.E. Zhang Lizhong, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Uganda, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting was characterized by warm and cordial discussions that underscored the long-standing friendship and mutual cooperation between Uganda and China.

During the meeting, H.E. Zhang Lizhong took the opportunity to brief Hon. Gen. Jeje Odongo on the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) meeting. The Ambassador highlighted the critical importance of the forthcoming FOCAC event, emphasizing its role as a significant platform for deepening the strategic partnership between China and African nations. He elaborated on the key themes and priorities that will guide the discussions at the meeting, which aim to foster greater collaboration in areas such as trade, investment, infrastructure development, and people-to-people exchanges.

Hon. Gen. Jeje Odongo expressed his appreciation for the briefing and reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to actively participate in the FOCAC meeting. He noted that the forum represents a unique opportunity to further enhance Uganda-China relations, particularly in areas of shared interest that contribute to the socio-economic development of Uganda. The Minister underscored the importance of FOCAC as a vehicle for advancing the common aspirations of African nations and China, and he expressed confidence that the upcoming meeting would yield tangible outcomes for the mutual benefit of all participating countries.

Both parties reiterated their commitment to strengthening the comprehensive cooperative partnership between Uganda and China. They acknowledged the significant achievements that have been made in the bilateral relationship, including ongoing projects in infrastructure, agriculture, education, and health. The meeting concluded with a mutual resolve to continue working closely together to advance the shared objectives of development, peace, and prosperity.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uganda extends its appreciation to the People’s Republic of China for its continued support and looks forward to a successful and productive FOCAC meeting.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Republic of Uganda – Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has sent a congratulatory message to the Government and People of the Republic of Chad on the occasion marking the 64th Independence Anniversary of that country on August 11, 2024. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Boakai extended warmest congratulations and best wishes to His Excellency Mahamat Idriss Deby and through him to the Government and People of the Republic of Chad, on behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Liberia, and in his own name.

The Liberian President further noted that as the People of Chad celebrate this auspicious occasion, it is his hope that these festivities will cultivate new frontiers in the bilateral ties and promote international peace and security, in keeping with the principles of the United Nations and the African Union. He then prayed that the Almighty Allah will continue to endow President Deby with wisdom and strength as he leads his compatriots to greater prosperity.

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

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) plans to double its financing of intra-African trade from US$20 billion in 2021 to US$40 billion by 2026, Mr. Haytham ElMaayergi, Afreximbank’s Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank, has said.

Mr. ElMaayergi was addressing participants and guests in Abuja at the African Caucus Meeting of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), from August 1 – 3, 2024 where he represented Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank. Attended mainly by ministers of finance and Central Bank Governors from across Africa, the meeting had the theme “Facilitating Intra-African Trade: Catalyst for Sustainable Development in Africa”, and was  aimed at identifying key challenges facing Africa in achieving full integration and at engaging in strategic dialogues to engender sustainable solutions.

Mr. ElMaayergi said that Afreximbank had been a champion in facilitating intra-African trade since its founding and that it had committed US$1 billion to support the funding of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund and a US$10-million grant to facilitate the establishment and operationalisation of that fund.

“The Bank is also partnering with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the African Union Commission (AUC) to ensure a successful implementation of the Pan-African Payments and Settlements System, the African Trade Gateway and the Afreximbank African Collaborative Transit Guarantee Scheme,” he continued.

Mr. ElMaayergi noted that Nigeria was a key founding member of the Bank and had continued to play a critical role in its growth and success as its second largest shareholder, adding that Afreximbank had also played a critical role in supporting the country’s development agenda.

“Since inception in 1993, the Bank has approved over US$40 billion in support of Nigerian public and private sector entities,” he said, adding that it was currently implementing several of its flagship continental initiatives in the country, including the African Medical Centre of Excellence and the Afreximbank African Trade Centre.

Highlighting the existence of several other continental multilateral financial institutions created to help address the critical financing gaps in Africa and facilitate trade, with privileges and capitalisation granted them in order to enable them to fulfil their mandates, Mr. ElMaayergi indicated that it was to enhance their effectiveness that the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI) was launched, in collaboration with the AUC, on the margins of the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the AU in Addis Ababa in February.

He noted that the AU had recognized African multilateral financial institutions as crucial for strengthening the continental financial framework and advancing the AU’s Agenda 2063 and called on the meeting participants to reaffirm their commitment to those institutions. He urged the World Bank and the IMF to work with AAMFI in addressing the continent’s challenges.

“Most especially, we call on you to reaffirm that the special privileges and immunities that you have given these institutions, including the preferred creditor status, are essential for addressing the continent’s development needs, and to call upon all stakeholders to respect the treaty obligations you have made to these institutions,” added Mr. ElMaayergi.

The membership of AAMFI currently includes: Africa Finance Corporation; Afreximbank; Trade and Development Bank Group; African Reinsurance Corporation; African Trade and Investment Development Insurance; Shelter Afrique Development Bank; PTA Reinsurance Company; East African Development Bank; and African Solidarity Fund.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. For 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank is setting up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2023, Afreximbank’s total assets and guarantees stood at over US$37.3 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$6.1 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

As heavy seasonal rains kick in across Sudan, refugees and internally displaced people continue to bear the brunt of an incredibly dire humanitarian situation after more than a year of deadly war that has now led to the tragedy of famine conditions, all compounded by the growing impacts of climate change. Heavy rains and flooding have already impacted tens of thousands of people across Sudan, causing further displacement, injuries and deaths.

Over eleven thousand people, including refugees hosted in the country and local communities in the eastern Kassala state, have been impacted by severe floods and heavy rains in the past two weeks.

This includes many families who recently arrived after fleeing violence in Sennar state and who were sheltering in five gathering sites and reception centres. Some have been displaced three or four times since the start of the conflict. They have lost their belongings, including food rations, and are facing significant challenges in accessing clean water and sanitation facilities, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. More than 400 shelters have also been damaged in Shagarab refugee camp, leaving already vulnerable people destitute.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and partners are on the ground making every effort to assist the most vulnerable. Together with state authorities, new land has been identified where tents are being set up to accommodate the affected families.

The new site is expected to host some 800 families newly displaced due to the flooding. UNHCR has already started erecting emergency shelters, with some 400 tents installed so far. Despite the ongoing rain, at least 200 families have been relocated. In addition, UNHCR is planning to distribute plastic sheeting to refugees to repair roofs damaged by the storms.

More rainfall is expected in the eastern and western parts of the country. To mitigate similar impacts in other states including Gedaref, White Nile and Blue Nile states, UNHCR is prepositioning core relief items and shelter kits, cleaning drainages and building dikes to shore up internal roads to protect camps and sites hosting displaced people.

Flooding in the Darfur region is also impacting the already limited ability of aid agencies to reach people in need, in those areas where we otherwise do have access. The humanitarian needs are reaching epic proportions in the region, as hundreds of thousands of civilians remain in harm’s way and famine has recently been confirmed in a displacement site.

The conflict has already destroyed crops and disrupted livelihoods. The climate crisis is making those displaced even more vulnerable. Flooded land means people are unable to grow crops and graze their livestock, adding to food insecurity and hunger in areas also affected by drought and conflict. Climate adaptation measures are sorely needed to reduce vulnerability to these repeated shocks.

As the conflict spreads across the country, people continue to move in search of safety. To date, over 10 million people have been forced to flee their homes both within the country and across its borders.

Since mid-April, El Niño-related heavy rainfall has led to extreme weather events across East Africa – including flooding, landslides, violent winds and hail – which are pounding refugee and displaced communities. As the situation is expected to worsen during the year, UNHCR launched a regional floods appeal for nearly $40 million to assist and protect 5.6 million refugees, returnees, internally displaced people and local communities in Burundi, Ethiopia, Somalia, Rwanda, South Sudan and Sudan, which has so far received only $5 million in funds.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).