His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio delivered a compelling statement on behalf of the g7+ countries at the United Nations Summit of the Future, urging renewed global commitments to peace, stability, and sustainable development.

Representing fragile and conflict-affected states, President Bio highlighted the pressing need for international collaboration to address the everyday challenges faced by member countries. “These challenges are not theoretical; they are our daily reality,” he remarked, emphasizing that the “Pact for the Future” serves as a vital roadmap for transforming circumstances for millions.

He outlined critical areas for g7+ countries, including national ownership and inclusive governance, fostering international peace, innovative financing for sustainable development and embracing science, technology and digital cooperation. Emphasizing the role of youth, he called for empowering them as active agents of change rather than mere beneficiaries.

Furthermore, President Bio advocated for comprehensive UN Security Council reform to ensure fair representation for Africa in global decision-making. He called on world leaders to strengthen trust within fragile states, which he described as the foundation of lasting peace.

As the UN Summit of the Future unfolds, there is hope that the Pact for the Future will catalyze positive change in conflict-affected regions.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.

From 22 to 27 September, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell will travel to New York for the high-level week of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He will host and participate in several high-level multilateral events and a number of bilateral meetings. 

On Sunday 22 September, together with President of the European Council, Charles Michel, High Representative/Vice-President Borrell will represent the EU in a trilateral meeting with the African Union and the United Nations. The President of the European Council and the High Representative/Vice-President, accompanied by Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen, will then meet the UN Secretary General, António Guterres. In the evening, he will co-host a Ministerial dinner on the Middle East, together with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdelrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. 

On Monday 23 September, High Representative Borrell will participate in the G7+ Foreign Ministers meeting focusing on the support to Ukraine´s energy sector. In the afternoon, he will chair an informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers. At the end of the meeting, the High Representative will hold a press conference (ca. 18:00 EST), which will be transmitted live on EbS. He will then participate in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting.

On Tuesday 24 September, High Representative/Vice-President Borrell will join President Michel and President von der Leyen for the opening session of the General Debate of the 79th UN General Assembly. In the afternoon, he will participate in a meeting of the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine. He will deliver press remarks following his intervention, which will be transmitted on EbS. In the evening, he will attend the dinner of the Transatlantic Foreign Ministers, hosted by the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. 

On Wednesday 25 September, High Representative Borrell will represent the EU at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting. He will then host the six leaders from the Western Balkans for the traditional meeting organised on the margins of the UNGA. In the evening, High Representative Borrell will co-host the Ministerial meeting ‘United for Peace in Sudan’ together with Germany and France.  

On Thursday 26 September, High Representative Borrell will co-chair an informal meeting with the Foreign Ministers from the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). In the afternoon, he will participate in the UNRWA Ministerial meeting and the Ministerial meeting of the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee on Palestine. He will then co-chair a meeting on the Middle East Peace Process, together with the Foreign Ministers from various countries as well as representatives of regional organisations. After the meeting, the High Representative will hold a press conference around 19:30 EST.

On Friday 27 September, High Representative Borrell will co-chair the 14th Ministerial meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum, co-hosted by the European Union and Egypt. High Representative Borrell will speak at the public event ‘Navigating Europe’s Challenges: A Conversation with Josep Borrell’, at Council on Foreign Relations. 

The High Representative Borrell will also hold a series of bilateral meetings with international interlocutors. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of European Union External Action: The Diplomatic Service of the European Union.

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi held a meeting with Prime Minister, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Eng. Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Finance, Mr. Ahmed Kouchouk, and Head of the Armed Forces Financial Affairs Authority, Lieutenant General Ahmed El Shazly.

Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Ahmed Fahmy, said the meeting focused on plans to develop the national electricity system and the available financing mechanisms for this purpose. The meeting also reviewed the investments required to enhance distribution networks and improve service quality for citizens, notably in Upper Egypt.

The President was briefed on efforts to expand electricity generation projects and renewable energy storage initiatives, aiming to manage high loads and stabilize the unified network. This reinforces the government’s efforts to eliminate previous load-shedding challenges.

The discussions also focused on work progress in the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant project, including its implementation, timeline and accomplishments at the engineering, technical, administrative levels as well as training and human resources development. This aligns with Egypt’s commitment to enhancing the nuclear power sector as a cornerstone for the diversification of electricity generation sources, as envisaged in Egypt Vision 2030.

Moreover, the meeting reviewed the program for the establishment of the electrical infrastructure in new cities, including transformer stations and the operational status for the extension of power lines and high-voltage cable tunnels to these cities.

Deliberations covered electricity interconnection projects with neighboring countries, and the preparedness of the national infrastructure for these interconnections. Additionally, the discussions reviewed strategies for cooperation with the private sector to leverage its administrative, technical and technological expertise so as to continue improving the service, ensure operational quality and enhance performance rates.

The President gave directives to continue efforts toward improving electricity services for various uses in all governorates of the Republic, and enhancing the capability of the national network to accommodate the expected increase in consumption, given both the population growth and development programs. This will be achieve through the continuous modernization of power generation plants, transmission and distribution networks and control centers, coupled with increased efficiency in utilizing new and renewable energy. This will ultimately support and reinforce efforts to achieve comprehensive national development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

92 health care workers trained; 119 metric tons of medical supplies distributed; 320 000 people assessed at WHO screening centre.

Cecilia Achuwor, a 38-year-old mother of six children, is one of the hundreds of thousands of refugees and returnees who have crossed the border into South Sudan since the beginning of the conflict in neighbouring Sudan 16 months ago. “My husband remains in Khartoum,” she says. “We separated from him without any communication. He doesn’t know where we are and we also don’t know where he is. I am here alone with the children, and they are all sick,” she says.

Achuwor, a South Sudanese national, is at a transit centre near Renk, a small town that borders Sudan to the north. Since the beginning of the Sudanese conflict, almost 60% of the 600 000 refugees and returnees who have entered South Sudan have done so through two points of entry near Renk. More recently, a new conflict has begun just to the east of Renk, and humanitarian workers have reported people arriving on foot through the bush.

“Rather than coming from an area like, say, Khartoum that had good access by road, now we’re seeing people literally walking into South Sudan for care and protection,” says Dr Brendan Deenan, World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer in South Sudan. “So, the situation is worse than it was previously, and we are seeing many health challenges, humanitarian challenges, and protection challenges on a daily basis.”

Refugees and returnees often present with a range of infectious diseases, as well as chronic diseases. “At least 50% of the cases are communicable diseases. Malaria is on top of the list, followed by acute respiratory tract infections and we are seeing a rise in acute watery diarrhoea,” says Dr William Nazario, a doctor with International Medical Corps.

Meanwhile, Dr Ayuel Deng, Medical Officer for Renk County highlights that more and more people are presenting with hypertension, diabetes and cancers and require chronic medication and specialist services.

WHO is supporting county health authorities to coordinate the health response for returnees and refugees. At two transit centres near Renk, the Organization is providing supportive supervision to three health agencies ‒International Medical Corps, Relief International and World Vision International ‒ who deliver primary health care services to 4000 refugees and returnees a week.

This has helped to ensure better access to health services for these vulnerable populations, who have to endure difficult conditions at the transit centres. “The service here is good” says Nailla Elhadi Hamid, a 40-year-old refugee from Sudan. “I even brought my son here, who is sick with malaria, and the medicine is available. Before that, my sister had eye pain and she found the medicine was also available.”

Following a cholera outbreak in Sudan in September 2023, WHO has trained around 92 health care workers from health facilities around Renk in cholera surveillance, prevention, treatment and control. The Organization has established a cholera screening centre at the Wunthou point of entry. Since December 2023, 320 000 people have been assessed by health workers here, not only for cholera, but also other infections diseases and health conditions. “We also provide oral rehydration solution because where people have come from, they are weak.” says John Toch, a clinical nurse at the centre.

Since the start of the conflict, WHO has also distributed 119 metric tons of medical supplies and equipment to treat 680 000 people, including kits for a range of infectious diseases and malnutrition. As part of its cross-border collaboration, WHO South Sudan country office in partnership with the WHO Sudan country office delivered 51 metric tons of emergency health kits to reach 830 000 people living in conflict-affected communities near the border. “We really appreciate WHO, because they support us a lot in terms of supplies to our partners,” says Deng.

“WHO, health authorities and implementing partners are collaborating daily to deliver health services to refugees and returnees hoping for a better life,” says Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative in South Sudan. “Without our donors this would not be possible. So, working together with others, WHO will continue to support the health emergency response in South Sudan.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – South Sudan.