The EU has released an additional allocation of €35 million for humanitarian assistance to West Africa, as the region continues to face a dire humanitarian situation. Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Mauritania, the Gulf of Guinea coastal countries and Nigeria are affected by food insecurity and displacement, caused by growing political instability, persisting and intensifying conflicts and generalised violence.

The funding will help meet the emergency needs of the most vulnerable people, especially in the areas of food assistance, nutrition, health, water, sanitation, shelter and protection.

In particular, the funding will be dedicated to humanitarian partners working in Burkina Faso (€10 million), Mali (€8 million), Niger (€8 million), Mauritania (€1 million), Nigeria (€5 million), and the countries in the Gulf of Guinea (€3 million).

This additional funding brings the total EU aid to these countries to €160.6 million this year.

Background

West and Central Africa, one of the poorest and most fragile regions in the world, is facing a multiplicity of humanitarian crises, driven by conflict, insecurity and climate change. This humanitarian situation has led to unprecedented forced displacements, acute food insecurity and acute malnutrition. Widespread violence and violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) reduce the space for the delivery of humanitarian aid. In Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, spreading violence and constraints in terms of access are hampering the delivery of assistance in many areas leaving millions of people with limited or no assistance. The conflict spillover towards coastal countries (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo) is progressing, generating  insecurity, forced displacements and growing humanitarian needs. In Mauritania, 10% of the population is facing food insecurity, while in Nigeria the very volatile security situation in the Northeast and the Northwest leads to new and ongoing forced displacements, requiring multi-sectoral support. The Northeast and Northwest regions of Nigeria are also affected with a significant spike in the number of malnourished children, while the 2024 lean season is expected to be the most severe over the last seven years.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS.

On 26 August 2024, Chinese Ambassador Han Jing paid a courtesy call on Hon. Reuben Phiri, Minister of Agriculture of Zambia and exchanged views on China-Zambia agricultural cooperation.

Ambassador Han said agricultural cooperation is an important part of China-Zambia relations. The strong support rendered by the Ministry of Agriculture of Zambia has provided a solid guarantee for the implementation of the consensus reached by the two heads of state and further deepening of the comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership between China and Zambia. China is optimistic about Zambia’s agricultural investment prospects and is willing to work with Zambia to make good use of the platform of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), to promote more joint agricultural projects in Zambia and more exports of Zambian agricultural products to China to benefit the two peoples.

Minister Phiri welcomed Ambassador Han to assume his office and said that Zambia-China agricultural cooperation has yielded fruitful results under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state. Chinese businesses are welcome to invest in Zambia’s agricultural sector and it is hoped that the upcoming FOCAC Summit will inject new impetus into the mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between Zambia and China in the field of modern agriculture.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Zambia.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde, engaged in bilateral talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, H.E Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, on the sidelines of the TICAD Ministerial Meeting taking place in Tokyo, Japan from 24th to 25th August.

Minister Radegonde took the opportunity to thank the Japanese Government for all the technical and financial assistance provided to Seychelles over the years. Minister Kamikawa re-affirmed Japan’s commitment to strengthen cooperation with Seychelles and confirmed the upgrading of the Japanese Embassy in Seychelles which will mean that Japan will have a fully-fledged Embassy and a resident Ambassador in Victoria.

Discussions between the two diplomats centered on shared interests, particularly in the areas of Maritime Security, Blue Economy, Fisheries and Connectivity. Minister KAMIKAWA highlighted the support provided by Japan in recent years, mainly in Maritime Law Enforcement, facilitated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and to the Indian Ocean Commission to enhance Maritime Connectivity in the Indian Ocean region. Minister Radegonde welcomed Japan’s commitment to remain a key partner in the various key sectors important to Seychelles and the Indian Ocean Commission.

Minister Radegonde called on the Japanese Government to continue to support Seychelles’ capacity building through scholarships. Minister Radegonde emphasized the importance of Japan’s support for Seychelles in the areas of Climate adaptation and resilience and requested Japan’s assistance in advocating for the plight of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The two Ministers agreed to continue working closely together to ensure a fruitful and successful TICAD 9 summit to be held from 20th to 22nd August 2025 in Yokohama, Japan.

In his capacity as the President of the Council of Ministers of the Indian Ocean Commission, Minister Radegonde held discussions with the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Comoros H.E Mr. Mbae Mohamed.  The two Ministers reviewed the status of the bilateral relations between the Comoros and Seychelles and agreed to work together to continue to enhance those relations.

Minister Radegonde was accompanied at the TICAD Ministerial Meeting by Ambassador Anne Lafortune, Ambassador of Seychelles to Japan, Mr. Jonathan Pool, Second Secretary at the Foreign Affairs Department and Mr. Danio Vidot, Protocol Officer at the Foreign Affairs Department.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism – Foreign Affairs Department, Republic of Seychelles.

The Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Vivianne Fock Tave, welcomed the Ambassador-designate of the People’s Republic of Algeria, H.E Mr Filali Ghouini, at Maison Queau de Quinssy on Monday 26th August, 2024.

Ambassador Fock Tave conveyed the appreciation of the Seychelles Government for the support from Algeria since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in September 1976. The two diplomats expressed their wish to revive the partnership between the two countries.

The two sides discussed capacity building related issues and access to higher education, especially the 5 fully funded scholarships recently awarded to Seychelles by the Government of Algeria.

Discussions also focused on issues related to the African Union, cooperation in the health sector, possible exchanges of expertise, notably in the fields of agriculture and tourism, and the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between the two countries that has already been initialed.

Ambassador-designate Ghouini will present his credentials to President Wavel Ramkalawan on Tuesday 27th August 2024.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism – Foreign Affairs Department, Republic of Seychelles.