Deynile Hospital in Mogadishu, serving a population of over 100,000 people living in IDP camps, received intensive care unit equipment for the first time.

Thanks to the intensive care beds, patient monitors, mechanical ventilators, infusion pumps, defibrillators, electrocardiogram machines and other medical equipment provided by TİKA, the hospital can now offer emergency health services more effectively. With this support, patients can now receive necessary treatment without needing to be transferred to the hospitals in the city center.

TİKA’s efforts to strengthen the health sector in Somalia aim to improve the quality of life for Somali citizens. The intensive care unit support for Deynile Hospital demonstrates Türkiye’s commitment to humanitarian aid and development cooperation in the international arena.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).

Last week, the Congolese government’s Communication and Broadcasting Board (Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel et de la communication, CSAC) suspended journalist Jessy Kabasele for an indefinite period, following his interview with one of the country’s most famous singers, Koffi Olomide, on Le Panier The Morning Show. During the interview, aired by the state-run broadcasting company, Olomide criticized the army’s response to M23 rebels’ assault as too weak.

Congolese authorities have been fighting the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group since hostilities renewed in 2022 in the North Kivu province.

The CSAC accused Kabasele of failing to reframe Olomide’s speech which, it argued, “undermines the enormous efforts and sacrifices made by the government.” The media regulator summoned both Kabasele and Olomide last week, while Olomide’s lawyers are said to have met with a prosecutor on July 15.

Congo’s media regulator has been stifling reporting on the conflict. In February, the CSAC issued a directive requesting the media not to broadcast debates on Congolese army operations without the presence of at least one “expert on the matter.” It also requested journalists avoid radio phone-ins discussing the topic and interviewing “negative forces,” a vague and unclear term that leaves the door open to arbitrary prohibitions.

In April, the CSAC recommended that media outlets should no longer “broadcast information relating to the rebellion in eastern DRC without referring to official [government] sources.”

While international human rights law allows governments during states of emergency to derogate from some obligations to respect freedom of expression, there are strict standards on what governments can do and how. Those standards, which include restrictions having a clear legal basis, being necessary, and proportionate, ensure that the essence of freedom of expression, including freedom to seek, receive, and impart ideas and information, is safeguarded. CSAC’s inference with freedom of expression and freedom of the press fails to meet the criteria.

The cases of Olomide and Kabassele are reminiscent of other journalists and public figures who have been targeted by the authorities.

The work of Congolese journalists operating in eastern provinces has been fraught with danger and their dedication and commitment should be commended. Instead of punishing journalists and private citizens for expressing views on a crisis that is devastating the country, the authorities should protect journalists’ rights to operate safely and freely.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

PAC Capital Limited (“PAC Capital”) (www.PACCapitalLtd.com), the investment banking arm of PanAfrican Capital Holdings, is thrilled to announce the successful completion of a US$443 million Acquisition Facility for Etu Energias. This milestone deal involves the acquisition of Galp’s stake in Block 32, Block 14, and Block 14K offshore Angola. This transaction follows the recent completion of a US$3.3 billion pre-export facility in Nigeria by PAC Capital.

Humphrey Oriakhi, Managing Director of PAC Capital, expressed his excitement about the deal: “This transaction provides the opportunity for another African company to make inroads into these strategic assets, previously dominated by International Oil Companies (IOCs), thereby giving a significant advantage for majority stakes.”

Bolarinwa Sanni, Senior Director at PAC Capital, also highlighted the strategic importance of this acquisition: “This deal is not just a significant milestone for Etu Energias but also a transformative step towards strengthening local ownership and control of key energy assets in Angola. We are proud to have facilitated this landmark transaction.”

The acquisition transaction, which was finalized on the sidelines of the 31st Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM) and the 3rd AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) in Nassau, Bahamas, includes Galp’s 5% non-operating stake in Block 32, 9% non-operating stake in Block 14, and 4.5% non-operating stake in Block 14K.

“The close collaboration between the different parties was fundamental to the success of this business, which represents Etu Energias’ entry into deepwater oil production. The conclusion of this Transaction demonstrates the resilience of our company and represents a huge step in our strategy to build a profitable and diversified portfolio.” said Edson R. Dos Santos, Etu Energias´s Chairman and CEO, who extended his deep appreciation for the support and role of PAC Capital’s in the deal: “PAC Capital’s expertise and dedication were instrumental in securing this acquisition. Their skilful strategic fund arrangement ensured the successful closure of this complex transaction, positioning us to become a leading player in Angola’s oil and gas sector.”

This acquisition significantly enhances Angola’s energy security by empowering local companies to own strategic petroleum assets, thereby strengthening the nation’s energy sector. It marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing effort to boost local participation and leadership in the oil and gas industry in Angola.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of PAC Capital Limited.

Media Contact:
Omolola Ojo 
On behalf of PAC Capital Limited 
Email: omolola.ojo@panafricancapitalholdings.com 

About PAC Capital Limited:
PAC Capital Limited is the Investment Banking and Advisory arm of PanAfrican Capital Holdings, with a proven track record of successful fundraising and financial advisory services across various sectors such as Aviation, Financial Services, Healthcare, Telecommunications, Power&Energy, Oil&Gas, Agro-Allied, and Hospitality industries in Nigeria and beyond.

Mid-year is often a good time to review the status of your business and consider making changes to help your business grow during the second half of the year. It is also an opportunity to assess the level of support your business is getting from digital solution tools, what is available in the market, and what to consider helping propel your business and customer engagement.

While enterprise businesses may have large technology budgets and can assemble a team of specialists, it can be different for small and microbusiness owners. They grapple with a variety of unique challenges running their business to compete in crowded marketplaces, yet this is starting to change.

Generative AI (AI) has taken significant strides over the past year and introducing new tools and strategies does not have to become a major investment or require expertise. With AI by your side, it’s use can help create a marketing strategy to not only stand out, but also help to drive increased engagement and fuel growth. With the increasing use of AI tools, Generative AI is on a path to become the next equalizer for small businesses.

Putting AI to work for content creation

AI becomes a companion in crafting both creative and easy to use content calendars. With AI tools, it can be easy to determine which themes and topics will resonate with desired audiences. From there, content can be created to be distributed across channels, establishing deeper connections with customers while boosting an online presence.

Generative AI steps in to assist in crafting content that captures attention and keeps readers engaged. It provides suggestions and enhancements to existing content and suggests professional images giving small businesses an edge in refining their messaging. And it saves time by tailoring integrated content across various channels. AI’s ability to tweak copy based on real-time feedback and analytics, can also help to fine-tune a rich content strategy delivering strong results.

Unveiling the benefits for targeted marketing

AI tools can also be used to delve deeper into competitor research. Using sophisticated algorithms and data, AI tools can swiftly gather information on competitors’ activity. And that is not all – AI can also serve up invaluable customer insights by analysing data from various sources. By discerning customer preferences, behaviours, and demographics, small businesses can more precisely pinpoint the right audience for their products and services. Once locked onto the right targets, AI helps discover the most effective channels to reach potential customers, helping to ensure marketing efforts are reaching the right audiences.

Evaluate, Adjust, and Shine

AI powered tools are not just here to make businesses look good, they excel at measuring customer performance. By tracking metrics like website engagement rates, conversion rates and customer satisfaction, AI provides insights into what is working and what needs a tweak. This allows small businesses to gauge the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and make informed decisions for improvement.

With access to this variety of insights, along with knowledge of their own business plans, businesses can take advantage of the benefits of using AI tools to streamline processes, consider new ideas and gain customer insights. Working along with human intervention, these insights can be essential to refine the outcomes. Knowing the business well can add the human evaluation element to the AI produced insights, which presents a more well-rounded view when considering opportunities for improvement.

With business owners using AI responsibly, the use of AI tools can be a significant technology enhancement for small businesses looking to go up against their competition and successfully grow their business. With these tools easily available to small business owners and entrepreneurs, AI offers the ability to both save time and money while elevating brand presence and resonating with target audiences more effectively than ever before.

For more information getting started with AI:

AI guide for web design — How to create a website with AI (https://apo-opa.co/3LsELnF)

AI logo design — A hands-on guide (https://apo-opa.co/3zI9J8S)

Find out more about how GoDaddy can help your business (https://apo-opa.co/4cJHbua)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GoDaddy.

About GoDaddy:
GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs around the world start, grow and expand their businesses. People turn to GoDaddy to name their idea, create a professional Web site, attract customers, sell their products and services, and accept online payments. GoDaddy’s easy-to-use tools help micro-entrepreneurs manage everything in one place, and its experts are available to provide 24/7 assistance. For more information about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.