Ethiopia’s National Rehabilitation Commission announced in a press release that more than 65,500 former combatants have been rehabilitated and reintegrated into civilian life since November 2024, marking significant progress in the country’s peacebuilding and development efforts.

The Prosperity Party Council recently pledged its full support to militants who choose to lay down arms and pursue peaceful options. According to the commission, this commitment has helped create a favorable environment for the successful transition of former combatants into peaceful and productive lives.

The commission emphasized that its efforts focus on supporting former fighters who have come forward through peace agreements and in response to calls from the government, elders, and religious leaders, encouraging them to become active contributors to the country’s peace and development.

Since November 2024, more than 65,500 former combatants have been rehabilitated and reintegrated across the country. Of these, 53,319 are in Tigray, 5,365 in Oromia, 5,168 in Amhara, and 1,712 in Afar.

The federal government and regional administrations have allocated more than 1.7 billion birr to support rehabilitation centers and programs. These initiatives aim to help former combatants build sustainable livelihoods by engaging in various economic activities.

Across the African continent, cities are transforming climate change challenges into innovative opportunities that promote sustainable urban development. These efforts will be spotlighted at the upcoming Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa from September 8–10, 2025.

Hosted by the Government of Ethiopia in partnership with the African Union Commission, the summit will bring together over 20,000 participants, including more than 45 African heads of state and government, alongside policymakers, youth representatives, technical experts, and climate practitioners.

Urban centers across Africa are adopting a range of climate-smart solutions. In Dakar, Senegal, a solar-powered Bus Rapid Transit system is helping reduce emissions while improving urban mobility. Kigali, Rwanda, is advancing green building codes to guide resilient and climate-adapted urban growth. Meanwhile, Addis Ababa is integrating corridor development projects with waste-to-energy and reuse programs to create cleaner, more livable, and inclusive cities.

The iconic Africa Hall has won its first 2025 International Architecture Award, given by The Chicago Athenaeum – Museum of Architecture and Design; and The European Centre for Architecture Art, Design and Urban Studies – in the restoration/renovation category.

Originally designed by Arturo Mezzèdimi, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa officially opened in 1961, but over 50 years later, the building required significant intervention that would ultimately lead to a decade-long investment to restore the building.

“The modernist masterpiece was tasked with the aspirational goal of bringing unity to Africa – on behalf of our heritage team, it was a privilege to restore this cultural landmark. Thank you to the jury for recognising the project, and congratulations to all involved in the awards program,” Architectus Conrad Gargett, representatives say on the company’s LinkedIn page. The company also acknowledged Rory Gardiner, a specialised visual artist and a photographer of architecture, interiors and landscape, often commissioned to capture prestigious architectural sites around the world. His specialised approach to taking the images of Africa Hall has been key to Africa Hall’s global appeal among architects, historians and visual artists.

African banks view the use of artificial intelligence and cloud computing to improve efficiency as their top priority, according to a new survey. The need for more extensive AI use has been spurred by increased customer demand for personalized banking services, the survey by African Banker magazine and Dutch banking software company Backbase found. African lenders are now exploring the use of customer data to build personalized offerings, while offering support augmented by AI. But digital illiteracy still constrains African banks’ ability to serve their customers, according to nearly 8 in 10 respondents, made up of 203 senior banking executives from 40 African countries. The report predicts, however, that the falling cost of internet access and smartphones, along with broader electrification, will improve access to digital financial services in the near future. Semafor