The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Windhoek, Namibia, participated in the largest trade exhibition in Namibia, the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF), held in Ongwediva, Oshana Region, from August 23 to 31, 2024. This year’s OATF, which had the theme “Bridging Tradition and Innovation,” featured 457 local and international exhibitors, including those from Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, and Indonesia.

The OATF was officially opened by Namibia’s Vice President, Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who expressed that OATF 2024 is expected to pave the way for the success of Namibian SMEs in the regional and global economy.

Following the opening ceremony, Vice President Nandi-Ndaitwah visited several exhibitor stands, including the Indonesian Embassy’s stall.

The Vice President of Namibia appreciated the Indonesian Embassy’s support at OATF 2024 and the ongoing activities organized by the Namibian Government. 

At OATF 2024, Indonesian Embassy’s​ promoted consumer products from well-known Indonesian companies, such as PT ABC President, PT Borden Eagle Indonesia, PT Porto Indonesia Sejahtera, PT Kobe Indonesia, PT Kalbe International, PT Mayora Indah Tbk, and PT Dami Sariwana.

The Embassy has been participating in OATF since 2002. In addition to promoting Indonesia’s featured products, the Embassy aims to increase Namibians’ awareness of Indonesia.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Windhoek, Republic of Namibia.

For over one decade Nigeria has witnessed serious security concerns occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram. This has resulted to unprecedented loss of lives, displacements, loss of livelihoods and exacerbation of food and nutrition crisis. These insecurities and hostilities have been recorded majorly in the Northern States of Nigeria. The affected population has been forced to move many times sometimes from being internally displaced and vice versa. The situation has seriously fragilized the coping mechanisms and thresholds of the individuals as well as communities.

In line with the directives of the Heads of State, the ECOWAS Commission established a Stabilization Fund with a commitment of the sum of one (1) Million USD in the 2020 budget as part of its commitment to supporting the Nigerian Government’ Economic Recovery and Growth plan the “Buhari Plan” and other ongoing efforts by the International Community in the region. Sequel to the 2020 budget, another sum of one (1) Million USD was approved in the 2023 budget of ECOWAS to further assist the victims of the crisis in the North.

Accordingly, the kick off of the implementation of the Stabilization fund held in Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria on 30 August 2024. The event was graced by the Executive Governor of Katsina State, His Excellency Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda Ph.D. The Governor was accompanied by the Deputy Governor and members of the State Executive Council.

Other dignitaries present were the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mr. Abel Enitan, The Permanent Representative of Nigeria to ECOWAS, Ambassador Musa Sani Nuhu and the Head of the ECOWAS National Unit in the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olawale Awe. The ECOWAS Commission was represented by Mr. Alozie Amaechi Godfrey, from the Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs.

During the event, nutrition assistance was provided for six months to 6,788 malnourished children and 5,657 pregnant and breastfeeding women in Katsina and Sokoto States. The sum of One hundred and Seven thousand Two hundred Naira (N107, 200) was also provided in form of cash-based transfers to help meet the food assistance needs of 1,949 Internally Displaced Persons and other most vulnerable groups.

Other assistances provided included livelihood assistance, capacity strengthening of states systems and psycho-social support for social cohesion and peace.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Economic Community of West African States has convened a Joint Strategic Consultation Meeting with relevant partners and stakeholders to chart a new way forward for the implementation and management of the ECOWAS Peace Fund (EPF).

Established under Article 36 of ECOWAS 1999 Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security, the ECOWAS Peace Fund is a support tool for ECOWAS activities in the areas of human security, conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacekeeping and security. Specifically, the Fund was established to assist in financing peace, security and humanitarian activities of ECOWAS.

During the 3-day Strategic Consultation Meeting held on 27- 29 August in Abuja, Nigeria, the Commission and its partners discussed the EPF mandate, its achievements, challenges and lessons learned; Peace Funding Mechanisms and Modalities; EPF’s 5 -Year Strategic Plan, objectives and priorities, and the European Union’s Peace Funding Mechanisms and Modalities, among other important issues.

Participants also highlighted the challenges facing the implementation and management of the ECOWAS Peace and shared innovative ideas on the way forward regarding how to enhance the operational efficiency, effectiveness and impact of the Fund for to achieve its overall objectives.

In his opening remarks to declare the meeting open, the Director, Peacekeeping and Regional Security, Dr Cyriaque PAWOUMOTOM, who spoke on behalf of the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Dr Abdel-Fatau MUSAH, welcomed participants and enjoined them to come up with innovative and practicable ideas on areas of the ECOWAS Peace Fund which needed to be fine-tuned based on best global practices in order to make the Fund fit-for-purpose and more impactful. He noted that despite numerous challenges, the Commission has continued to make progress in supporting the consolidation of peace within the subregion.

In her presentation, Leila Ben Amor MATHIEU, Head of Human Development Section, Delegation of the European Union in Nigeria highlighted the EU’s mechanisms and facilities available for ECOWAS such as the INDICI, Africa Peace Facility/Early Response Mechanism, and the EU Peace Facility, among others. She expressed the EU’s willingness and commitment towards supporting the ECOWAS Peace Fund initiative.

Presenting the ECOWAS Peace Fund’s 5 -year Strategic Plan, the Fund Manager for the ECOWAS Peace Fund, Dieudonne Nikiema, said the Plan is the basis for the full operationalization and institutionalization of the EPF within the ECOWAS Commission. He stressed that the purpose of the Strategic Consultation Meeting was to bring stakeholders together to explore the best structure for the Peace Fund to enable it to fulfil its mandate and objectives.

“The 3-day Strategic Consultative Meeting has provided a good opportunity for ECOWAS and its partners and stakeholders to reflect together and cross-fertilise ideas on how to make the ECOWAS Peace Fund very strong in order to meet to the needs of our different Communities.”

In his closing remarks on behalf the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, the Director, Peacekeeping and Regional Security, Dr Cyriaque PAWOUMOTOM, thanked participants and ECOWAS staff members for their participation in the highly productive and interactive consultative meeting.

He said, “We had three days of productive interactive meeting discussing how to make the ECOWAS Peace Fund work better. The objective is to make the fund more effective in supporting the funding of peace and security needs of our member states. The next step is for us to go to our decision-making bodies within the with all the necessary information that will enable them to take the necessary informed decisions based on the report from this strategic consultative meeting.”

ECOWAS was the first Regional Economic Community (REC) to set up a Peace Fund. Over the years, the ECOWAS Peace Fund has contributed to the materialization of programmes, projects and initiatives supporting ECOWAS peace and security agenda since its operationalization in 2006.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development Chairperson, Mr Xola Nqola, today confirmed that the committee will engage with Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Thembi Simelane later this week about recent media reports regarding a VBS Mutual Bank loan.

“The committee has noted with grave concern the serious allegations in media reports regarding an alleged loan to the Minister. These types of allegations are damaging to the image that South Africa is trying to portray as a country ridding itself of any form of corruption,” Mr Nqola emphasised.

“We therefore thought it prudent to call the Minister speedily to a committee meeting where she can take Parliament and South Africans into confidence regarding these allegations,” he said.

Mr Nqola said the meeting will take place on Friday at Parliament.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.