Kayango, a locality in Western Bahr El Ghazal’s Jur River county, lies at the center of four corridors where seasonal cattle migration is most intense.

Despite the 2016 Marial Bai Agreement which regulates disputes resulting from annual movement of cattle, which has greatly contributed to more peaceful migratory patterns, the influx of nomadic herders from neighbouring Warrap state is never void of clashes with settled communities and, a corresponding rise in crime.

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security and rule of law along this corridor, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) therefore handed over a newly constructed police post to Western Bahr El Ghazal state authorities in this strategic location.

It was a moment of jubilation for community members who showed up to the event en masse, as key state actors, led by the Deputy Governor for Western Bahr El Ghazal, Zachariah Garang received the structure.

“We need peace among our people because cattle keepers and farmers are equally important for our livelihood,” said Deputy Governor Garang, addressing those gathered. “We appreciate UNMISS for the strategic location of this police station. From here, our law enforcement officers can easily reach neighbouring villages when there are issues,” he added.

Funded through the Mission’s Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) programme, the new, solar-powered police post boasts of four detention cells, including separate sections for women, men and juvenile offenders; ablution facilities as well as four fully equipped offices, one of which is reserved for a prosecutor.

Kayango Police Station is already a symbol of security and proximity to justice for more than 16,000 residents of the area, some of whose vigorous singing and dancing during the hand over ceremony spoke volumes of their relief.  

The most assured of these community members however, seemed to be the traditional chief who, in the absence of justice and rule of law institutions had been the only provider of justice through the customary court.

“With four detention cells in this police station, I want to tell perpetrators of crime that there is no longer any possibility for escape by criminals,” Pater Akuar, chief of Kayango, informed the crowd. “Thank you UNMISS,” he added and committed to a cordial working relationship between the traditional justice system and police officers.

For local police, this is a boost to their daily occupation.

“A police station remains an institution for law enforcement,” averred Major General James Simon, Deputy Police Commissioner for Western Bahr El Ghazal. “No one should take the law into their hands. We appeal to the community to report offenses to the police and our officers to do their job in accordance with the law,” he cautioned.

It was a gratifying moment for all present, especially for the delegation from UNMISS led by Leopold Kuassi, Acting Head of the Field Office in Wau.

“I want to assure Western Bahr El Ghazal state authorities of UNMISS’ continued support in their efforts to restore peace and stability to communities affected by conflict,” he stated.

“Our UN Police will enhance the capacity of their counterparts deployed in Kayongo as they conduct their regular confidence-building patrols in the area,” Kouassi assured.

Kayango police station is one of three police stations that the UN Peacekeeping mission is helping fund in Jur River county.

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

President William Ruto has raised concerns over the underfunding of Africa’s renewable energy development.

He said though it was encouraging that 2023 recorded the largest increase in renewable energy capacity, with the addition of about 500 gigawatts globally and new investments worth $600 billion, Africa fared badly.

The President said Africa possesses the highest untapped potential of renewable energy reserves in the world but had only managed 3 gigawatts of the global increase.

“The continent with the world’s greatest potential and the highest demand currently accounts for a paltry 1.6% of the world’s total renewable energy capacity,” he said.

He pointed out that Africa offers huge opportunities for wealthy investors from the Global North in clean energy, offering a win-win outcome for them and the continent.

“African leaders endorsed the Nairobi Declaration, which set the continent’s green power generation target at a five-fold increase from 56GW in 2022 to at least 300 GW by 2030,” he said.

President Ruto made the remarks on Wednesday when he addressed the High-Level Business Segment on Climate Change Response and Transition to Carbon-Free Energy in Seoul, South Korea.

The President said recent floods in Kenya and other parts of the world were a result of climate change and called for joint efforts to mitigate the effects of the phenomenon.

He said Kenya had made tremendous efforts in renewable and clean energy, adding that the country’s power grid is 93% green.

He urged Korea and Korean investors to continue supporting Kenya in clean energy adoption as the country pursues the ambitious plan to enhance the current grid from 3GW to 100GW by 2040.

“The ambition is realistic because Kenya is endowed with abundant potential in every type of renewable energy,” he said.

The President said Africa launched the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative at COP28 to promote the growth of clean energy manufacturing.

He said this potential puts the continent at an advantage to seize the economic opportunities within the global energy transition.

“This can be achieved by mobilising $1 trillion from public and private finance by 2030,” he said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of President of the Republic of Kenya.

Nigeria Rugby Sevens head coach, Steve Lewis, has announced his squad for the Africa Cup Sevens Tournament, which will take place over two weekends from June 26 to July 8 in Mauritius.

The squad features significant changes, including the absence of co-captains Declan Nwachukwu (center) and Olukolade Awobowale (winger), both sidelined due to injuries. Former captain Onoru Jatto is also notably absent from the list.

“This is an exciting new squad for Nigeria 7s, with seven debutants eager to make a name for themselves in Mauritius against the best teams in Africa,” said Coach Lewis.

“We want to finish with strong momentum to help us prepare for the next season,” stated Nigeria Rugby President, Dr. Ademola Are.

In Pool A, the Stallions Sevens will compete against Kenya, Madagascar, and host team Mauritius.

Pool B includes Uganda, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, and Côte d’Ivoire, while Pool C features Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, and Algeria.

Nigeria Sevens Team for Mauritius Tournaments:

Akpabio Samuel

Dodo Boluwatife

Sam Esukuloh

John Daniel

Richard Adeniyi-Jones

Macaulay Ogheneloyeme

Aniebonam David

Odunlami Oluwadara

Ilube Matthew

Henry-Ajudua Frederick

Etim Gabriel

Obano Oghenesuvwe Osereme

Kitto Oliver Lewis

Anthony John-Oluwatobiloba

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF).

Oil and gas exploration company Eco (Atlantic) – through its wholly-owned subsidiary Azinam South Africa – has signed a farm-in deal with energy company Tosaco Energy for a 75% working interest in Block 1 – located in the offshore South African Orange Basin. Eco (Atlantic) has assumed operatorship of the block, with the remaining 25% stake expected to be transferred to South African company OrangeBasin Oil&Gas. Upon completion of the transaction, Eco (Atlantic) will assume control of one of the largest blocks in the Orange Basin.

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) – representing the voice of the African energy sector – believes that this transaction is only the start of a wave of Orange Basin deals in the coming years. Having revealed substantial deposits in neighboring Namibia, the basin stands to play a catalyzing role in driving energy security in South Africa. The AEC commends the efforts by Eco (Atlantic) to unlock undeveloped blocks offshore South Africa and looks forward to a discovery being made in the coming years.

The strategic acquisition is on trend with a strong lineup of companies looking at tapping into the Orange Basin. Since play-opening discoveries were made by energy majors Shell, TotalEnergies and Qatar Energy in 2022, over 15 finds have been made by an assortment of majors and independents. In February 2024, TotalEnergies intersected hydrocarbon-bearing intervals in the Mangetti-1X exploration well in Block 2913B – marking the second discovery made by the company in the basin. TotalEnergies is currently leveraging the Tungsten Explorer drillship to assess reserves available at the well. The discovery followed the company’s Venus-1X find made in February 2022. Research firm Wood Mackenzie estimates that Venus alone could hold as much as three billion barrels of oil – making it sub-Saharan Africa’s largest oil discovery.

Additionally, in January 2024, multinational energy corporation Galp made its second oil discovery at the Mopane-1X well in PEL 83. Preliminary estimates place over 10 billion barrels of oil at the Mopane field. The company is currently seeking a farm-in partner to develop the block, with a 40% stake in the Mopane discovery up for grabs. Meanwhile, energy major Shell continues to witness a string of success, with its recent Lesedi-1X well – discovered in July 2023 – representing the fourth commercial discovery made by the firm in the Orange Basin. Other finds – namely, Graff-1X, La Rona and Jonker-1X – hold as much as 1.7 billion barrels combined. Shell is currently undertaking an extensive drilling campaign, with up to 25% of the company’s 2023-2024 exploration budget being directed towards deepwater exploration in the Orange Basin.

These discoveries underscore the size and potential of the Orange Basin, with substantial deposits likely extending into South Africa. Block 1 is located on the maritime border of South Africa and Namibia, in close proximity to blocks held by Shell, Galp and TotalEnergies. The block is also situated by the Kudu Development Project – Namibia’s inaugural natural gas project with 1.3 trillion cubic feet of reserves. Kudu is poised to be a gamechanger for the country, providing low-cost power and fuel while laying the foundation for gas-driven economic growth. As such, Block 1’s proximity means that the asset could likely yield similar developments and the Eco (Atlantic) acquisition is the first step towards realizing this goal.

“The Orange Basin has emerged as one of the most promising offshore plays worldwide in recent years. Exploratory success on the Namibian side of the basin shows strong potential for the South African side, and while exploration in this area has been slow to date, the recent farm-in by Eco (Atlantic) is poised to reverse this trend. The AEC has long-advocated for the need to advance drilling efforts in Africa and the Orange Basin stands to play a transformative role in the region’s energy landscape,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chaiman of the AEC. “We look forward to witnessing commercial success across Block 1 and commend Eco (Atlantic) for their commitment to unlocking the potential of this asset.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.