On Thursday, August 8, 2024 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba held talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade Maneesh Gobin in the capital of Mauritius Port Louis.

This is the first visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to Mauritius since the establishment of bilateral relations in 1992.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expressed his gratitude to Mauritius for consistent support of Ukraine, in particular, voting for important resolutions in the UN General Assembly and recently joining the Peace Summit communique.

Dmytro Kuleba explained in detail the logic of Ukraine’s next steps on the way to the second Peace Summit and called on Mauritius to take an active part in the implementation of the Peace Formula. Maneesh Gobin assured that Mauritius is ready to assist Ukraine in involving more African countries in the process of restoring a just and lasting peace based on the Peace Formula.

The parties emphasized the mutual importance of compliance with the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, in particular the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

The Ministers discussed in detail the deepening of Ukraine’s ties with African countries, the development of our state’s relations with the African Union, and the prospects for trilateral trade and investment cooperation between Ukraine, Mauritius and certain African countries.

Dmytro Kuleba and Maneesh Gobin separately thoroughly discussed the development of trade and investment between Ukraine and Mauritius, which is one of the most successful economies in Africa with the highest GDP in terms of purchasing power parity, ranks first among African countries in the World Bank’s Global Competitiveness Index and 13th in the world for ease of doing business.

The Ministers agreed on further steps in preparation for the conclusion of an agreement on the mutual promotion and protection of investments and an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation, which will significantly stimulate economic and trade cooperation, contribute to the attraction of investments in Ukraine and its restoration.

Dmytro Kuleba especially welcomed the interest of Mauritian businesses in the reconstruction of Ukraine. He invited Mauritius to participate in the Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine next year in Rome.

At the end of the negotiations, the Ministers signed a visa-free agreement between Ukraine and Mauritius, which at this stage will primarily facilitate the trips of Mauritian investors and businessmen to Ukraine in search of new work opportunities in our country. After the end of the war, the agreement will help to increase the number of Ukrainian tourists in Mauritius. The agreement will enter into force after the completion of internal procedures in both states.

The Ministers also agreed to expand cooperation between the Sumy State University and the Mauritius Whitefield Business School.

Dmytro Kuleba invited Maneesh Gobin to visit Ukraine and organize a business forum to establish partnerships between Ukrainian and Mauritian businesses.

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

President Wavel Ramkalawan of Seychelles will join other Heads of State in Kigali, Rwanda, on August 11, 2024, for the swearing-in ceremony of President Paul Kagame, who has been re-elected as the President of the Republic of Rwanda.

During President Ramkalawan’s absence, Vice-President Ahmed Afif will fulfill the duties of the presidency as per constitutional provisions.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

The 4th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Zambia were held in Lusaka on 8th August, 2024. The Indian side was led by Shri Puneet R. Kundal, Additional Secretary (East and Southern Africa), Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India and the Zambian side was led by Ms. Etambuyu Anamela Gundersen, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

During the FOC, both delegations reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations between the two countries including review of institutional mechanisms, scholarships, training and capacity building, cooperation in higher education, and trade and commercial relations. Discussions were also held on cooperation in sectors such as defence, health, agriculture, mines and mineral resources, small and medium enterprises, digital platforms, consular issues, cultural exchanges etc. Both sides expressed satisfaction over the existing bilateral ties and noted the need to strengthen them further. Discussions were also held on regional and international issues of mutual interest including co-operation in multilateral forums such as the UN.

The discussions provided an opportunity for both sides to assess the existing state of bilateral relations and explore ways to further strengthen these. Both sides agreed to hold the next FOC in New Delhi at a mutually convenient date.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs – Government of India.

President William Ruto has presided over the swearing-in of his reconstituted Cabinet with a pledge to enact far-reaching measures to root out corruption and enhance accountability in the public service.

Speaking after the 19 Cabinet Secretaries were sworn into office at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday, President Ruto said the country was beginning a new chapter of governance and development.

“The women and men who have been appointed to serve the nation in the reconstituted Cabinet have today embarked on a mission that cannot and must not fail,” he said.

The 19 Cabinet Secretaries are Kithure Kindiki (Interior), Soipan Tuya ( Defence), John Mbadi (Finance), Adan Duale ( Enviroment), Davis Chirchir ( Roads), Kipchumba Murkomen (Sports), Salim Mvurya ( Trade), Margaret Nyambura (ICT), Justin Muturi (Public Service) and Rebecca Miano (Tourism).

Others are Alfred Mutua ( Labour), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), Julius Migosi (Education), Eric Muga (Water), Hassan Joho ( Mining), Alice Wahome ( Lands), Deborah Barasa (Health) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives).

The Gender and East African Community dockets have not been filled because the National Assembly rejected the nomination of Ms Stella Lang’at to the Gender and Culture ministry.

Ms Beatrice Askul, the EAC ministry nominee, has not yet been vetted.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Prime Cabinet Secretary and CS for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi were present.

The new CSs were accompanied by their families who witnessed as they took their oath of office.

In his address, President Ruto noted that great strides have been made in the implementation of the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda over the past two years, but is optimistic that more will be achieved under the new Cabinet.

“I am confident that each one of you has what it takes to deliver on your mandate and to satisfy the people’s expectations,” the President told the appointees.

Among the President’s raft of proposals to curb corruption is the introduction of a Unified Personal Identification system aimed at stamping out “ghost workers” across government, including constitutional commissions.

Further, he said the Cabinet will propose to Parliament a legal and institutional framework for mandatory continuous vetting of all public officers.

Additionally, the President said the Cabinet will speed up amendments to the Witness Protection Act, Evidence Act and the Criminal Procedure Code to make fighting against corruption effective.

He said he has engaged the parliamentary leadership to expedite the enactment of the Conflict of Interest Bill, which aims to overhaul the country’s approach to conflict of interest situations in the public service.

Moreover, he said the government will digitise the procurement process to make it more open and transparent.

Beginning the 2025/2026 financial year, the President added that the government will adopt a zero-based budgeting system to re-orient the expenditure framework of the government.

Once again, the President reiterated the need for the broad-based government in bringing together former political rivals, saying inclusivity will ultimately lead to national stability.

“I am persuaded that a moment such as this in the history of our nation calls for patriotic citizens to forge an alliance of rivals to harness our collective political capital, knowledge and expertise to take the strides necessary to make our country great,” the President said.

He recalled critical moments in Kenya’s history when dialogue and consensus pulled the country from the brink of the precipice.

“Here we are again being called upon to remember the lessons of history, to live up to the demands of this moment and set aside our partisan interests in order to show up for Kenya.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of President of the Republic of Kenya.