A nine-member delegation from the African Union Political Affairs Peace and Security (AU PAPS) has concluded a four-day visit to Somalia, after consulting with the Federal Government of Somalia and partners on security arrangements post-ATMIS in 2024.

Their consultations are in response to AU Peace and Security Council communiqué 1217 and UN Security Council Resolution 2741 (2024), which requests the completion of a Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for an African Union-led peace support operation to be submitted to the UN Security Council by July 31, 2024.

The delegation, received by the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) and Deputy Head of ATMIS, Sivuyile Bam, held discussions with the ATMIS senior leadership team, officials from the Federal Government of Somalia, and representatives of ATMIS Troop-Contributing Countries (TCCs).

They also met with Somalia’s international partners, including the United Nations, European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates, who are part of the Core Security Partners Group (CSPG). The AU Director of Conflict Management in the Political Affairs Peace and Security Department, Dr. Alhaji Sarjo Bah, joined the meeting virtually.

In a collaborative effort with the Hawassa city administration, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) has inaugurated 20 kiosks aimed at creating job opportunities for 100 local youth and women entrepreneurs. This initiative follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed on April 5, 2024, and is part of a broader commitment to support economic empowerment in the region.

The kiosks, designed to enable beneficiaries to sell various goods and hot meals, were officially handed over during a ceremony held at the Walde-Amanuel Square in Hawassa. The event was attended by representatives from the city administration, including the Deputy Mayor, Mr. Biruk Solomon, as well as high-ranking government officials, project beneficiaries, and senior executives from CCBA in Ethiopia.

Each of the 100 beneficiaries will collectively manage the kiosks, organized into groups of five. CCBA has supported these entrepreneurs with an initial stock of 10 Coca-Cola products and a financial grant of 10,000 birr to help kickstart their business ventures.

The President of the African Development Bank Group Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has said the decision by Nigeria’s government to allow massive food importation risks destroying the country’s agriculture.

This follows the announcement by Nigeria’s Minister for Agriculture Abubakar Kyari on July 10 that the Federal Government would suspend duties, tariffs, and taxes on the importation of maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas through the country’s land and sea borders, for 150 days.

“Nigeria’s recently announced policy to open its borders for massive food imports, just to tackle short-term food price hikes, is depressing,”  Adesina told African Primates of the Anglican Church at a Retreat in Abuja, Nigeria, on Friday.

He warned that the policy could undermine all the hard work and private investments that have gone into Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

In a remarkable display of resilience and global leadership, Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s leading carrier, has been awarded the prestigious Global Recognition and Appreciation Award at the First International Post-COVID Conference held in Toronto.

This accolade acknowledges Ethiopian Airlines’ pivotal role in distributing emergency gear throughout Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the timely delivery of essential medical supplies and saving countless lives.

The conference, jointly organized by Livelihood Development International Initiatives (LDII), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and other partners, aimed to build a unified frontier for responding to future global pandemics.

Expressing his gratitude, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mesfin Tasew, stated, “We are honored to receive this prestigious recognition for our significant contribution worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. This recognition is a testament to the commitment, dedication, and hard work of our team members, the airline community, and the stakeholders who worked tirelessly with us to keep our operations running smoothly during those difficult times. This award gives us the courage to stay committed to serving our customers and communities, even in the face of unprecedented challenges.”