We express deep concern over the report of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), published on 27th June 2024, which concluded: “fourteen months into the conflict, Sudan is facing the worst levels of acute food insecurity ever recorded by the IPC in the country”.

The disturbing results in the report reveal an unprecedented level of food insecurity in Sudan, leaving 25.6 million people in high levels of acute food insecurity and 14 areas at risk of famine.

We are particularly concerned about the IPC reporting a “stark and rapid deterioration” in food security and the dire impact of the deteriorating situation on the safety and well-being of the civilians, including many thousands of children, suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

We also express deep concern over the repercussions of prolongation of the conflict on Sudan and on the neighboring countries.

We particularly recognize that the deepening food insecurity in Sudan presents a significant humanitarian challenge with potential repercussions for displacement, refugees, and migration dynamics. This underscores the importance of a coordinated international response to the crisis.

Alarmed by the worsening humanitarian crisis and the tragic consequences of the conflict on the Sudanese people, we recall the UNSC request for the parties to the conflict to allow the rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, including by removing bureaucratic and other impediments.

We stress that parties must facilitate the urgent provision of the required visas and travel authorizations for humanitarian personnel and essential supplies, in line with resolution 2736 adopted on 13 June 2024.

We call on the warring parties in Sudan to immediately halt hostilities, respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and comply with all relevant Security Council resolutions.

We reiterate the call on all foreign actors to cease providing armed support or material to the warring parties to refrain from any action that would heighten tensions and fuel the conflict.

We urge the international community to deliver an immediate and coordinated international response to address the urgent needs of those affected in Sudan.

The international community must scale up its humanitarian aid, and support the IPC recommendations to increase nutrition interventions, restore productive systems and improve data collection.

We also stress the urgent necessity to address the crisis and prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation and the impending risk of famine in Sudan including working towards achieving a sustainable resolution to the conflict in Sudan.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism – Foreign Affairs Department, Republic of Seychelles.

Residents, dignitaries, and peacekeepers joyfully and recently participated in a “Run for Peace” event in Wau, undertaken under the theme “Let’s celebrate unity, peace, and diversity”, making it clear to participants what they were being part of.

More than 2,000 people ran, jogged or walked the 10 kilometres of the race, which was jointly organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and the state’s Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports.

“This initiative is excellent because you can see how it brings people together and allows us to interact both with others and with UN peacekeepers,” said Wau resident Clara Octavio, adding that such communal fun can boost peaceful sentiments among young people.

Everyone having a good time was the whole and all-important point of this crowd-pleasing happening.

“Winners, losers, running fast or walking slowly; none of that really mattered today,” confirmed Major Sakli, a Bangladeshi peacekeeper. “All we wanted to do was to strengthen the ties between communities living in the area, and between them and UNMISS. Trust between us will help us protect civilians,” he added.

Sara Cleto, Governor of Western Bahr El Ghazal State, not only participated in the run but also expressed her hope that more sport events be arranged.

“We could host a similar race every year. I am grateful to participate in promoting harmony by gathering people for healthy activities that can unite us and create better relations with neighbouring states as well,” she said.

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

Faced with increasing water stress and climate change impacts on the water resources it shares with its neighbours, Cote d’Ivoire has joined the United Nations Water Convention – a UN treaty to improve joint water management across borders. 

It is the 53rd Party to the Convention and 10th African country to join the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, known as the 1992 UN Water Convention. This further consolidates the strong momentum for water cooperation in Africa, where over 90% of water resources are in 63 basins shared by two or more countries.  

“Cote d’Ivoire’s accession is a milestone for multilateralism and reaffirms the role of the UN Water Convention as a tool to support water cooperation for peace, sustainable development and climate change adaptation across borders. I encourage all countries worldwide to join this proven instrument for water diplomacy and I reconfirm our commitment to support them in this process”, said Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary of UNECE, which services the UN Water Convention.  

“The accession of Côte d’Ivoire to the UN Water Convention will support relations with countries with which we share water resources. In our capacity as defenders of water in the context of the United Nations, we must use transboundary cooperation to reinforce peace, and for harmonious and sustainable development in our countries”, said Minister of Water and Forest of Côte d’Ivoire, Laurent Tchagba.  

Cote d’Ivoire, the 9th largest economy in Africa and 5th fastest growing economy on the continent, shares eight transboundary river basins (Black Volta, Bia, Tanoé, Comoé, Niger, Sassandra, Cavally et Nuon) with its neighbours, which include Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.  Meeting the water needs of the country’s population of some 30 million people, which is growing by 2.5% annually, brings significant challenges. Its water resources are threatened by urbanisation, climate change impacts including drought and flooding, while water quality is deteriorating due to pollution from agricultural, industrial waste, illegal gold panning and untreated wastewater. Water resources are also unevenly distributed across the country, with areas of water stress in the north and north-east.  

According to the last Sustainable Development Goals indicator 6.5.2 report, in Cote d’Ivoire only 25% of the transboundary basin area is covered by operational arrangements. No transboundary aquifers shared by the country are covered by operational arrangements. 

Cooperation is indispensable to address Africa’s water challenges 

Since the global opening of this treaty to all UN Member States in 2016, Chad, Senegal, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Togo and Cameroon became the first African nations to accede, before being joined by five countries in 2023 – Nigeria, Namibia and the Gambia, in addition to Iraq and Panama who became the first Parties in their respective regions. Over 20 more are in the process of joining, the majority of which are in Africa, including Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone, which are in the final stages of accession.   

The four largest economies of West Africa – Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire — are now Water Convention Parties. 

The 10th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention, to be held in Ljubljana, Slovenia (23-25 October), is expected to further catalyze this momentum.   

Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Claver Gatete, said “In the context of increasing water scarcity and high demand for water in Africa, Côte d’Ivoire’s accession as the 10th African Party to the 1992 Water Convention is a significant step for the continent. The UN Economic Commission for Africa – ECA – will continue to work in partnership with the UN Economic Commission for Europe – UNECE – to promote transboundary water cooperation to address climate change impacts and reduce conflict risks, fostering an enabling environment for the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063.” 

Reinforcing transboundary cooperation helps countries to jointly develop and implement climate change adaptation strategies, which are key to reduce risks linked to flooding, drought and other climate related events, which cost African countries between 2% and 9% of their GDP.  

According to the African Development Bank, one in every three people in Africa currently faces water insecurity, only 58% of Africans have access to safely managed drinking water services, and 72% of people lack basic sanitation services. Water, however, also has huge transformational potential, considering less than 5% of cultivated land is irrigated today and only 10% of hydroelectricity potential in Africa is utilized.  

With Sub-Saharan Africa’s population forecast to double by 2050 and climate change impacts set to intensify, strengthening cooperation across borders is crucial to addressing water challenges and seizing opportunities on the continent. Fortunately, Africa, along with Europe, is among the regions with the highest levels of water cooperation, illustrated by a number of established joint bodies to manage many of its transboundary rivers and lakes, such as the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the Niger Basin Authority, Senegal River Basin Development Organisation, Volta Basin Authority, and the Cubango Ovakango River Basin Commission. Joining the UN Water Convention further reinforces this cooperation. 

However, the latest data for Sustainable Development Goals indicator 6.5.2 revealed that in sub-Saharan Africa, one-third of the countries in the region sharing transboundary rivers, lakes, and aquifers have 90% or more of their transboundary basin area covered by operational arrangements.  

The Convention requires Parties to prevent, control and reduce negative impacts on water quality and quantity across borders, to use shared waters in a reasonable and equitable way, and to ensure their sustainable management through cooperation. Parties bordering the same transboundary waters are obliged to cooperate by concluding specific agreements and establishing joint bodies.   

In addition to facilitating cooperation on surface water, the Water Convention helps countries work together on groundwater reserves, which are less susceptible to climate change impacts and hence crucial for climate change adaptation. 40% of the continent is situated on transboundary aquifers, where 33% (381 million people) of Africa’s population resides. The UN Water Convention has supported pioneering cooperation on the Senegal-Mauritania Aquifer Basin, leading to the establishment by the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Senegal of a joint body to support its cooperative management. 

Recognizing that sound transboundary water management needs to be rooted in solid national governance, the Water Convention supports new Parties to develop national implementation plans. Following multistakeholder processes, Togo, Senegal and Ghana, for instance, have started using their plans to mobilise resources for implementation, while Chad is set to do the same following the recent validation of its plan; the development of Guinea Bissau’s plan is underway, while Nigeria and Cameroon are expected to follow in the development of their plans. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

The Prime Minister of The Bahamas, The Honourable Philip E.B. Davis, will take center stage as the keynote speaker during the 9th ALM Africa Summit 2024, scheduled for July 17-18, 2024, at The Dorchester on Day 1; and the iconic UK House of Lords, Parliament Square, both in London, UK.

Organized by the African Leadership Magazine (ALM), this business event is set to gather influential leaders and policymakers from across Africa, the Caribbean, the UK, and beyond, fostering critical discussions on the future of trade collaborations in the global south.

Prime Minister Davis, recognized for his visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to national and regional progress, will deliver a keynote address centered on the summit’s theme “Africa Unleashed: Navigating Disruptions, Enhancing Opportunities – The Bahamas example”.

The Prime Minister’s participation underscores a deep-seated commitment to fostering collaboration between Africa and the Caribbean and advancing sustainable development initiatives across these regions. He brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the global stage. His tenure has been characterized by a resolute commitment to inclusive growth and adept navigation of economic and social challenges, prioritizing sustainable development. His strategic initiatives have enhanced The Bahamas’ resilience in a dynamic global economy, solidifying its position as a leader in the Caribbean region.

Joining Prime Minister Davis are distinguished leaders such as The Right Hon. Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, Speaker of the Liberia House of Representatives; Dr. Olavo Correia, Deputy Prime Minister&Minister for Finance of Cape Verde; Baroness Sandy Verma of the UK House of Lords; Lord Dollar Popat, member, UK House of Lords Member&Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Rwanda, Uganda&DRC; and H.E. Rindra Rabarinirinarison, Minister of Economy&Finance of Madagascar, alongside other policymakers, political figures, business leaders, and diplomats from Africa, the UK, and Europe. Together, they will engage in insightful discussions addressing pressing issues affecting Africa’s business and socio-economic spheres.

The ALM Africa Summit, now in its 9th edition, is a premier annual program hosted by the African Leadership Magazine since 2016. The Summit provides a platform for structured high-level networking, collaboration, and the forging of new alliances and partnerships to address critical emerging challenges facing the African region, aiming to drive transformative change and showcase innovative projects and best practices that advance the continent’s development goals.

A major highlight of the summit is the 14th African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) Ceremony, a flagship annual recognition event by African Leadership Magazine to celebrate exceptional corporate practices and outstanding achievers in Africa’s business sphere and private sector. The ABLA ceremony aligns with African Leadership Magazine’s tradition of showcasing often overlooked aspects of Africa’s businesses and leaders, spotlighting the achievements and impact of African business leaders shaping the continent’s economic future.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Leadership Magazine.

For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
Ehis Ayere
Phone: +44 23 9265 8276
Email: ehis@africanleadership.co.ukk

For summit details and registration, visit www.AfricanLeadership.co.UK

About African Leadership Magazine:
African Leadership Magazine, published by African Leadership Organisation (UK) Limited, has been a trailblazer in promoting impactful leadership and driving development initiatives across Africa for over 17 years. Through its advocacy for Afro-positive narratives and facilitation of strategic partnerships, the magazine continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the continent’s trajectory towards sustainable growth and prosperity.