The Government of the People’s Republic of China, through the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Wang Qing, has awarded the International Fish Export Certificate to Sierra Leone during the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit.

The certificate was granted following the signing of the Protocol on Inspection, Quarantine, and Sanitary Requirements for Wild Aquatic Products, enabling Sierra Leone to directly export its fish products to China.

During the presentation of the signed Protocol, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Princess Dugba, expressed her deep appreciation for the certificate, emphasising its importance as a key achievement of the China-Africa Cooperation.

“Prior to now, my country has been losing huge revenues in the fish value chain because fishery products could not be exported directly to China except indirect exportation through other regional countries and through certified third parties,” Minister Dugba noted.

She further stated that the Fish Export Certification would unlock new opportunities for direct fish trade between Sierra Leone and China, significantly boosting revenue generation.

The Minister assured the gathering that her Ministry would strictly enforce all hygiene and sanitary requirements necessary for the risk assessment of aquatic products exported to China.

Minister Dugba also expressed gratitude to the Chinese Ambassador and the staff of the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone for their support in facilitating the certification. She revealed plans to engage the Embassy in Freetown and the FAO in discussions about launching a School Fish Farming Project to further enhance Sierra Leone’s fisheries sector.

The signed Protocol was officially presented to Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to China, Abu Bakar Karim, by the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Wang Qing. The agreement was executed between the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Sierra Leone and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.

On the evening of September 3, 2024, President Xi Jinping met with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, who is in China for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The two heads of state announced the elevation of the China-Mauritania relationship to a strategic partnership.

Xi Jinping stressed that China and Mauritania are good friends and close brothers who trust and help each other. The two sides have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, with solid political mutual trust, fruitful cooperation results and deep-rooted friendship between the two peoples. China appreciates Mauritania for standing firmly with China on issues concerning China’s core interests and will, as always, steadfastly support Mauritania in pursuing a development path suited to its own national conditions. China is ready to work with Mauritania to promote Belt and Road cooperation, deepen cooperation in fisheries, infrastructure and other fields, leverage the role of the agricultural and animal husbandry technology demonstration center in aid of Mauritania, accelerate cooperation in Juncao planting technologies, and build China-Mauritania relations into a model of friendly exchanges and win-win cooperation between countries.

Xi Jinping appreciated Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani’s active contributions as rotating chair of the African Union to the preparations for the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and expressed China’s willingness to work closely with Mauritania to take the summit as an opportunity to pool the strength of the Chinese and African people, build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, increase the voice and representation of the Global South countries in global governance, and jointly uphold international fairness and justice.

Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani said, the friendship between Mauritania and China is solid and profound, and the Mauritanian side is deeply proud of its friendly relations with China. He thanked China for its valuable support for Mauritania’s economic and social development, including the country’s fight against COVID-19. The Mauritanian side firmly abides by the one-China principle and resolutely opposes all words and deeds that violate the one-China principle. At present, the world is facing many risks and challenges, and deepening cooperation with China is the hope of Mauritania and other countries to achieve sustainable development. Mauritania and China hold highly identical positions on Palestine and other major issues. Both sides firmly oppose interference in other countries’ internal affairs, call for respect for the independence of all countries, and reject violent extremism. The Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping have provided solutions for all countries to achieve common security and development, and Mauritania highly appreciates and actively supports them. Mauritania looks forward to working closely with China to make the FOCAC Beijing Summit a success and promote peace and development in Africa and the world at large.

Wang Yi was present at the meeting.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Namibia.

AU-IBAR is a fervent proponent of animal welfare in Africa, having been instrumental in the establishment of the African Platform for Animal Welfare (APAW) and the Animal Welfare Strategy for Africa (AWSA). These endeavours unite a diverse array of stakeholders to promote the humane treatment of animals across the continent. AU-IBAR participated in a Regional Training Seminar for National Focal Points for Animal Welfare, which was hosted by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), as part of this mission. The purpose of this training was to share best practices and enhance collaborative efforts.

The training, taking place from September 3rd to 5th, 2024, addresses a variety of animal welfare topics; commencing with sessions for newly appointed focal points, which were succeeded by discussions on global and regional strategies. Practical challenges associated with animal transport and slaughter, updates on WOAH standards, and experiences were also addressed during the training. Presentations were delivered to WOAH Focal Points regarding the UNEA Resolution and AU-IBAR’s outreach initiatives, with an emphasis on the implementation of AWSA.

Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, delivered the presentation on AU-IBAR’s outreach through AWSA during the meeting, and underscored the critical significance of advocating for humane animal treatment. She emphasised that the AWSA, which was established in 2018 with the support of Chief Veterinary Officers, WOAH, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Animal Welfare Organisations, and other key stakeholders, offers a comprehensive framework for African Union Member States to develop and implement their own animal welfare strategies. Nevertheless, she recognised that AWSA is confronted with obstacles, including inadequate financial resources and technical capabilities, which have contributed to inadequate implementation.

“AU-IBAR acknowledges the necessity of enhancing the capacity of Country Animal Welfare Focal Points (CAWFPs) to address technical gaps and improve performance within the current financial constraints. CAWFPs are instrumental in the domestication and implementation of AWSA, as well as the monitoring of progress,” Dr. Salih stated.

The CAWFPs are indispensable in guaranteeing that national strategies are consistent with AWSA and WOAH standards. Additionally, they offer technical assistance to stakeholders, monitor progress by monitoring advancements and identifying obstacles in the implementation of animal welfare initiatives, and provide training.

“AU-IBAR is in the process of creating a comprehensive set of training resources for animal welfare in response to the necessity for robust training and capacity building.” Dr. Salih further stated that these resources will equip CAWFPs and other stakeholders with the necessary tools and information to effectively fulfil their duties.

In order to fortify these critical focal points, AU-IBAR is dedicated to working in close partnership with WOAH to accomplish shared objectives. Dr. Salih also emphasised that the African Union has taken a significant step by prohibiting the slaughter of donkeys in Africa for their hide, which underscores the organisation’s dedication to the preservation of these animals.

“AU-IBAR is overseeing the creation of a Pan-African Strategic Framework to protect the welfare of donkeys and provide assistance to the communities that depend on them.” “This initiative is designed to mitigate the hazards associated with the donkey skin trade and guarantee the longevity of this indispensable resource,” stated Dr. Salih.

The meeting underscored the significance of CAWFPs in the advancement of animal welfare throughout Africa by surmounting current obstacles through strategic frameworks, capacity development, and collaborative endeavors.

AU-IBAR is instrumental in the coordination, support, and guidance of the implementation of AWSA in its capacity as the secretariat of the African Platform for Animal Welfare. The Africa General Assembly for Animal Welfare (AGAAW) is a component of APAW that incorporates representatives from African Union Member States, Regional Economic Communities, and other animal welfare stakeholders throughout the continent. The Coordination Committee of Animal Welfare in Africa (CCAWA) supervises APAW, which is comprised of stakeholders from AGAAW.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).

Following consultations hosted by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) at its headquarters in Tripoli on Monday and Tuesday, the representatives of the House of Representatives (HoR) and High Council of State (HCS) reached important understandings on the crisis of the Central Bank of Libya (CBL), particularly on the mechanism and timelines for appointing the CBL Governor and Board of Directors.

The representatives of the two chambers requested an additional period of five days to complete their consultations towards a final consensus on the arrangements of the management of the CBL until a new governor and board of directors are appointed.

UNSMIL reminds all Libyan stakeholders of the adverse impacts of the ongoing CBL crisis on the livelihood of citizens and on the confidence of international financial institutions in the Libyan banking system.

As UNSMIL commends the climate of cooperation that prevailed in the consultations with the representatives of both chambers on the one hand and the representative of the Presidential Council on the other, it calls on all parties to fulfill their obligations, refrain from any unilateral decisions and actions, and intensify efforts to reach an agreement without any delay.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).