Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed. The meeting was also attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, and members of the UN Delegation including UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Elena Panova, and UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Development Agenda, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin.

Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Ahmed Fahmy, said the UN Deputy Secretary-General conveyed UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ greetings to President El-Sisi. She noted that Mr. Guterres looks forward to further advancing cooperation and coordination between the two sides. This was appreciated by President El-Sisi, who lauded the UN Secretary General’s positive stances on regional challenges.

The meeting focused on ways to strengthen the outstanding and historical cooperation between Egypt and the United Nations. The two sides reviewed Egypt’s role across various axes of multilateral cooperation, notably in the domains of security and peace, climate change, and achieving comprehensive and sustainable development.

The talks tackled the latest regional developments, ways to achieve calm and restore stability in the region, as well as ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and exchange detainees. This is in addition to Egypt’s intensive efforts to deliver humanitarian aid and relief into the Strip and the obstacles it encounters. Both sides stressed the significance of the pivotal role played by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and the increasing importance of this role at the present time, given the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the Strip.

On Sudan, President El-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s keenness on reaching a ceasefire, protecting Sudan’s resources and its brotherly people, and preserving state institutions and sovereignty. He stressed the need for concerted international and regional efforts to provide all means of support to end the political crisis and the humanitarian tragedy that the brotherly Sudanese people have been enduring.

The UN Deputy Secretary-General lauded Egypt’s active role within international fora, particularly the United Nations. She also commended its unyielding efforts towards peace and stability in the region, with the aim of sparing it from a regional confrontation that could inflict severe negative regional and international repercussions. The UN official also stressed the United Nations’ appreciation for Egypt’s pivotal humanitarian role in the refugee dossier in the region, and the burdens it endures in this regard. She affirmed the United Nations’ keenness on continuing and intensifying coordination and effective cooperation with Egypt across all levels.

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

The ECOWAS Commission through the Directorate of Free Movement of Persons and Migration conducted a Cross Border Cooperation Project Monitoring and Evaluation exercise from 14-19 August 2024, in Wellingara-Ba, The Gambia, to assess the level of implementation of the Wellingara-Ba Lumo (Market) project.

The Wellingara-Ba Lumo project, being financed by the ECOWAS Commission under the ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation Support Programme (ECBCSP), is developed by the Gambian Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment which houses the ECOWAS National Office, in collaboration with the Mansakonko Area Council. The purpose is to convert the local market in the area to a modern Cross-Border Trading Centre.

The Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Albert Siaw-Boateng who led the Monitoring and Evaluation team on behalf of the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs. Massandjé Toure-Litse, commended the level of the progress of the project thus far, citing the advanced stage of the main structures, the completed  solar-powered borehole and solar-powered lights as well as a perimeter fence as welcome developments towards the completion of the Wellingara-Ba Lumo.

Speaking during the assessment of the Project site, the Head of the ECOWAS National Office of The Gambia, Mrs. Ndeye Taraba Touray briefed the ECOWAS Commission’s Monitoring and Evaluation team on details of the project and highlighted some of its challenges which include the need for additional financing for its completion.

The Wellingara-Ba Lumo Project is expected to have fifty market stalls, six toilet facilities – three for male and three for females and a cold storage facility whilst noting that there are two hundred and fifty (250) registered market women.

The ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation Support Programme is a Multi-Sectoral Development Programme that works with local communities in border regions to ensure social cohesion, regional construction and sustainable development. Within the framework of the programme, the ECOWAS Commission had disbursed a one hundred thousand US Dollars ($100,000) subvention to Member States towards the implementation identified tangible cross-border projects.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Government of Japan will hold the TICAD Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo on August 24 and 25. At the meeting, participants will hold discussions towards TICAD 9, which is to be held from August 20 to 22, 2025 in Yokohama.

On the occasion of the Meeting, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, will hold bilateral and other meetings with ministers of African countries and seek to strengthen the relationship between Japan and African countries.

On this opportunity, thematic events will also be held on various topics, including youth, education, and health.

(Reference1) Attendees and co-organizers

Attendees: Delegations including foreign ministers from African countries, international organizations, African regional organizations, the private sector, the civil society, among others
TICAD co-organizers: Government of Japan, the United Nations, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank, and African Union Commission (AUC)

(Reference2) Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD)

TICAD is an international conference led by Japan to discuss the development of Africa. Since TICAD I in 1993, TICAD had been held every five years until TICAD V, which was held in 2013. In 2016, TICAD VI was held in Africa (Nairobi, Kenya) for the first time, and since then, TICAD has been held every three years. TICAD 9 will be held from August 20 to 22, 2025 in Yokohama.

(Reference3) Thematic Events

Various organizations will hold thematic events on the occasion of the Ministerial Meeting. Specifically, they include a Model of the African Union by university students, proposals by youths, a panel discussion on innovation in Africa, an event hosted by the civil society, and two health-related events that will discuss the use of Japanese companies’ innovation for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and global health financing.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

This year, the South African Police Service (SAPS) is observing Women’s Month by celebrating its women in blue who do not only bring inclusivity and empathy to the table, but who also go beyond the call of duty to serve and protect the people of South Africa.

Today, we introduce the nation to Sergeant Silindile Njilo, a crime prevention member attached to the Ntuzuma police station in KwaZulu-Natal.  

Njilo and baby “Tholakele” captured the hearts and minds of the nation when a video clip of them trended on social media platforms earlier this year. Loosely translated, the name Tholakele means ‘being found’; the real identity of the toddler is being withheld.  

Little did Njilo know how her Day Shift would unfold when she reported for duty on 05 May 2024 and found an abandoned baby girl at the Client Service Centre (CSC). The baby was brought to the police station during the previous shift by the owner of a local tavern after the biological mother had left the baby at his establishment.

Wasting no time, Njilo went home to get a wash basin and returned back to the police station where she bathed Tholakele, changed her into a new set of clothes and fed her while waiting for social work services to arrive. It was as if the baby instinctively realised that she was safe in the arms of Njilo and a bond immediately formed between them.

Baby Tholakele, a name Njilo gave her, has since been placed at a place of safety. Njilo visits often and says she continues to love and care for Tholakela as if she is one of her own.

Njilo, a devote wife and mother of two, also says her act of humility that day was merely a reflection of her humble upbringing as she knows how it feels to ‘come from nothing’.

Her mother single handedly raised Njilo and her siblings with no steady income and adds by saying that she will never forget her late mother’s words: “Be a light and take care of those who need help”. She often takes out money from her own pocket to buy basic essentials and food to support poverty-stricken community members.

Joining the Service 14 years ago, was a dream come true for Njilo as she believes there is no greater calling than to be of service to her community.

As a crime prevention member, her duties include dealing with general enquiries and complaints lodged by the public, attend to crime scenes, effecting arrests and detaining suspects as well as carrying out patrol duties.

“I urge our community members to support and stand alongside members of the South African Police Service. Because, together we can achieve more towards a safer country for all,” said Njilo.

Nothing short of a heroine, Sergeant Silindile Njilo continues to be a shining light in the community she serves!

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Police Service.