“The timing is right. Let us keep the fire lit.”

That was the motivational message from South Sudan’s Minister of Federal Affairs, Losuba Ludoro Wongo, at the opening of a workshop to progress the development of a permanent constitution and address the crucial issues of federalism and power sharing.

Sponsored by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the Max Planck Foundation, the workshop focused on understanding the principles and application of federalism in South Sudan, its implementation in the permanent constitution-making process, challenges and opportunities related to political and fiscal devolution, and ensuring an inclusive process led by the people.

“The major root cause of conflict is bad governance. If the relationship between those who govern and those who are governed is not clearly spelt out and defined in a way that ensures resources reach most of the population, there is always conflict,” explained the Minister of Federal Affairs, Losuba Ludoro Wongo.

“That’s why the emphasis in the Revitalized Peace Agreement is to call for reforming the governing system to establish a fully-fledged federal system of government where political powers and resources are fully devolved to the states and local government. This way, South Sudan will realize peace and stability.”

Article 1.4.11 of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, signed by parties to the conflict in 2018, reaffirms the commitment to establish a federal and democratic system that respects South Sudan’s diversity while ensuring national unity.

The importance of progressing this system in an inclusive manner was emphasized by the Head of the African Union Mission in South Sudan.

“We should focus on what kind of federalism is needed and remember that no one size fits all. It must be born in the context of the culture, the geography, the history etc. of South Sudan, not transported from somewhere,” stressed Ambassador Joram Biswaro. “The type of federalism should emanate from the South Sudanese themselves, not only those in Juba, but across the country.”

The Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Guang Cong, also reaffirmed UNMISS’ commitment to help the National Constitutional Review Commission to implement the crucial task of constitution-making.

“Your role in shaping the future of South Sudan is of utmost importance. The work you do today will leave a lasting impact on future generations, fostering peace and harmony for years to come,” he told members of the Commission.

The Ambassador of the European Union in South Sudan described the historic significance of the process.

“The constitution-making process is elemental to the construction of a social contract between the citizens and those who are entrusted with their leadership and governance. Beyond being a legal text, the new constitution will be a founding document for South Sudan and, therefore, it should be a process of creating a common state for all ethnicities and societal groups with a common identity where all voices are heard,” said Ambassador Timo Olkkonen.

“I call on the Government to provide guidance to that process and I urge them to show commitment and ownership by providing adequate financial means to prepare a constitution that the South Sudanese population can call their own.”

The Special Envoy for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development stressed the need for consensus and clarity on the way forward with the peace process more generally.

“Time is of the essence and the long-awaited political guidance, which is long overdue, best serves the interests of the country if it comes sooner rather than later. The delay and confusion surrounding the talks in Juba and Nairobi is leaving a lot of room for speculation, misinformation and disinformation which may have serious ramifications for the peace process if it is allowed to continue unabated,” said Dr Ismail Wais.

The Chair of the National Constitutional Review Commission, Dr. Riang Yer Zuor, described federalism as a “settled issue” but pointed to the need for the people of South Sudan to consider how it will work in practice. He also highlighted the importance of civic education and public consultation, as well as further training for the members of the Commission who are tasked with progressing the process.

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

Demand for rapid responses to crime and the swift delivery of justice often results in law enforcement professionals working around the clock.

Judges are no exception, says the Director of Legal Administration and Public Prosecution Attorney in Malakal, Nyangon Arop.

“Many judges have to work after official working hours, including from home. To enable this remote working, they need to live in an appropriate environment,” she says.

The Rule of Law Division of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, is helping to meet this need by sponsoring the construction of the State Judiciary accommodation in Malakal, Upper Nile through a Quick Impact Project, which provides funding for infrastructure projects under $50,000 that help meet community needs.

“At the moment, there is only one judge in the Upper Nile. Providing proper housing will help the State to deploy an additional county judge. This will strengthen the justice system by ensuring a continuous presence,” says Samuel Lovoni, UNMISS Justice Advisor.

UNMISS worked with a partner specializing in construction to renovate the previously dilapidated accommodation.

“Even though the provision and transport of quality materials in Upper Nile is a challenge, we are proud to have delivered a project that will help bolster the rule of law in Malakal,” says Jeremiah Wunenguer Kiir, the project manager for the Humanitarian Organization for People Empowerment (HOPE).

The judge’s accommodation is just a few minutes’ walk from the Court, which ensures quick and easy access. It will also be used as a guesthouse for other judicial representatives visiting Malakal as well as facilitate the deployment of mobile courts to the region.

“Previously we could not allocate space for judicial visitors to come and support us even though we were flooded with cases. As our partner for peace, UNMISS is helping us to attract other judges to work in the Upper Nile,” says Malakal judge, Ayiei Nyang Ayiei.

“If we want peace, we must work hard for justice and the improvement and empowerment of the system. We want the people of South Sudan to trust and to believe in us.”

UNMISS is now planning to renovate the High Court to continue enhancing the infrastructure and the capacity of the judiciary in Malakal.

“Supporting the delivery of justice is a priority for UNMISS and our aim is to improve access for all people across the Upper Nile,” says Alfred Orono Orono, Head of UNMISS Malakal Field Office”.

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

The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has approved $400,000 in grant funding for the Liberia Pension Sector Intervention Project, to support  the expansion of pension coverage  in Liberia.

The grant is being sourced from the Capital Markets Development Trust Fund (CMDTF), a multi-donor trust fund, managed by the African Development Bank that supports development of  efficient and diversified capital markets in African countries. The CMDTF is funded by donors including the Ministry for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands and the Ministry of Finance of Luxembourg.

Liberia`s National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), the only existing pension service provider in country, currently provides coverage to mainly formal sector public service employees. There is thus a gap in coverage for the private sector, and particularly informal businesses.

Under the Liberia Pension Sector Intervention Project, the funding will support targeted reforms of Liberia’s pension sector including an assessment of the current pension system towards development of a national strategy, and capacity building for the pension sector ecosystem, including public and potential private pension sector operators.

The project is expected to enhance the enabling enviroment and support the emergence of domestic institutional investor base,  thereby broadening the pension coverage and enabling the pension system to mobilise additional savings for investment, including through domestic financial markets. It will be implemented by the Central Bank of Liberia, which oversees the country’s financial sector. 

Hon. Henry F. Saamoi, Acting Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia said, “The CBL appreciates the continued support of the African Development Bank toward the development of Liberia’s pension sector and looks forward to working with the Bank to implement this important reform. The Liberia Pension Sector Intervention Project should enhance Liberia’s readiness for the development of its capital market by institutionalising the investor base, and improving the pension sector’s legal and regulatory environment,” Mr. Saamoi added.

Ahmed Attout, African Development Bank Director for Financial Sector Development said, “We are excited to partner with the Central Bank of Liberia on this operation that is expected to facilitate a reformed pension system capable of mobilising domestic savings, that can be chanelled through financial markets, thereby contributing to deepen the domestic capital markets in Liberia. This aligns with the Bank’s goal of facilitating the emergence of well-functioning capital markets that can efficiently mobilise and allocate savings to fund the credit needs of economic agents and the continent’s development while reducing intermediation costs.” 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media Contact:
Olufemi Terry,
African Development Bank Group,
media@afdb.org

Technical Contacts:
Akin Adigun,
Financial Sector Development Department,
African Development Bank Group,
a.adigun@afdb.org

Peter Onyango,
Financial Sector Development Department,
African Development Bank Group,
p.onyango@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 34 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

NBA Africa (www.NBA.com) today announced the 10 startup companies from seven African countries that have been selected to pitch their products to a panel of international industry leaders at a Demo Day at the NBA headquarters in New York City on Wednesday, Sept. 25 as part of “Triple-Double: NBA Africa Startup Accelerator (http://apo-opa.co/47lTICe),” which the league launched in April 2024 to support Africa’s technology ecosystem and the next generation of African entrepreneurs.

The panel will then determine the four winning companies that will be awarded financial support and mentorship, including an opportunity to participate in workshops and development programs facilitated by NBA Africa or its partners.  Below are the 10 startups that will compete for the four prize-winning spots.

Backrest (Rwanda) provides a wearable technology solution called WristWrist for venues and event organizers to facilitate cashless payments at event venues.  WristWrist provides a payment system whereby attendees can load money onto wristbands before an event and spend it at the event venue through seamless, quick transactions.
Buzza (Nigeria) helps sports organizations improve their operations through digital solutions, including enabling organizations to transition from paper-based to digital management, setting up websites, collecting payment, and growing revenue.  Athletes can also sign up for the platform to track their matches and scores and build their profiles to become more prominent sports figures and influencers across Africa.
Festival Coins (Nigeria) is an event technology company that offers a customizable, no-code event registration and ticketing platform called Tix Africa for events in Nigeria and Ghana.  It enables event organizers to sell tickets online, process payments, and handle on-site registrations.
Gara (Côte d’Ivoire) is a pan-African video gaming and comics platform that encourages and facilitates the distribution of digital entertainment experiences on the continent.  Through culturally relevant products, including games featuring local celebrities and adaptable payment systems for local currencies, Gara aims to facilitate greater reach and monetization of the creative and cultural industries on the continent.
HustleSasa (Kenya) provides live event services that support payment processing, attendee check-in, merchandise sales, customer data management, influencer tracking, and more.
Naemo Global (Nigeria) aims to revolutionize sports scouting on the African continent through its proprietary scouting software Afriskaut, which utilizes data analytics and AI.  The Afriskaut platform processes football match videos and extracts critical data, which it makes available to clients via a platform and application programming interface (API) to support scouting the next generation of elite talent.
Power to Girls Foundation (Ghana) provides a social connection and mentorship platform called My Power App dedicated to empowering and supporting girls and women ages 13-20.  The platform provides educational resources, connects users with mentors, offers a confidential helpline, and fosters a supportive community of like-minded girls, addressing critical growth areas such as education, mental health, and personal development.
Salubata (Nigeria) creates modular shoes repurposed from plastic waste.  With a global patent and two design rights for its innovation, the company aims to reduce the global carbon footprint through its environmentally friendly products.
UBR VR (Egypt) delivers state-of-the-art, fully immersive, in-person virtual reality (VR) experiences across Egypt.  Its rich historical and fantasy VR worlds are culturally relevant and localized, allowing players to roam freely in enclosed spaces and interact with each other in a designated play area.  These VR experiences are unparalleled in the country and foster a sense of connection to both the local community and fellow players.
Vambo Technologies (South Africa) provides a digital language technology platform that leverages AI to provide real-time translation, content creation, and language learning technology.  Not only does Vambo AI offer widely spoken languages such as Amharic, Yoruba, French and Portuguese, it also offers more niche languages spoken across Africa to facilitate true digital inclusion on the continent.

“We have been inspired by the level of talent and creativity from all of the applicants, and we congratulate the 10 deserving finalists who will showcase their innovative solutions at Demo Day later this month,” said NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi.  “NBA Africa is committed to supporting the continued growth of startups on the continent, including the four prize-winners whose innovative solutions will further elevate the sport and creative industries in Africa for years to come.”

Operated by ALX Ventures, “Triple-Double: NBA Africa Startup Accelerator” was open to early-stage startups in Africa that develop solutions in event management and ticketing, youth development, AI, and digital marketing.  The initiative will support Africa’s tech ecosystem and the next generation of African tech entrepreneurs by providing them with access to mentorship and capital that will help drive growth in the sports and creative industries.

The four prize-winning startups will be announced at Demo Day.

Video (http://apo-opa.co/4d2bY4w): Triple-Double: NBA Africa Startup Accelerator Reveals 10 Finalists for Demo Day

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).

Contact:
Pawel Weszka
NBA Africa Communications
pweszka@nba.com
+27 10 0072666

About NBA Africa:
NBA Africa is an affiliate of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  NBA Africa conducts the league’s business in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and has opened subsidiary offices in Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; Johannesburg, South Africa; Lagos, Nigeria; and Nairobi, Kenya.  The league’s efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through youth and elite development, social responsibility, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, NBA Stores, the BAL, and more. 

NBA games and programming are available in all 54 African countries, and the NBA has hosted three sold-out exhibition games on the continent since 2015.  The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that concluded its fourth season in June 2024.  Fans can follow @ NBA_Africa and @ theBAL on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube