Staff Writer

 In Kinshasa, women from across the country are raising their voices to demand an end to the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. Their plea took the form of a detailed advocacy note, officially submitted to Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner. The document is the result of a collective effort by women’s associations and human rights groups. Drafted after nine consultation sessions held between February and April 2025, with support from […]

 In Aru, a new round of peace talks is building on earlier efforts to bring stability to Ituri province. The dialogue, known as “Aru 2”, brings together authorities, armed groups, local leaders, and civil society to reinforce the process launched in 2023. That previous initiative, supported by MONUSCO, led to the signing of a peace protocol by several armed groups including CODECO, ZAIRE, FRPI, FPIC, TCHINI YA TUNA, and MAPI […]

 The National Assembly, during its hybrid plenary sitting yesterday, approved the Public Sector Pension and Related Payments Bill. The Bill, introduced by the Minister of Finance as part of the 2025 Budget, proposes that public sector-related pension, post-retirement medical and other benefits in terms of statutory and collective agreement obligations become direct charges against the National Revenue Fund (NRF). This means the Bill will make it easier for the government […]

 Comoros' economy shows signs of recovery, surpassing pre-COVID-19 levels. Growth rose from 3 percent in 2023 to 3.4 percent in 2024, driven by household consumption supported by a 5.4 percent increase in remittances and strong services sector performance. Average annual inflation declined from 8.5 to 5.0 percent in 2024, reflecting the stabilization of global commodity prices and lower inflation in the Eurozone. Growth is projected to reach 4 percent by 2027, […]

 The Chairpersons of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Ian Cameron, and the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Ms Joy Maimela, welcome the bold step taken by the Ministers of Police and of Basic Education to sign and launch the Collaborative Implementation Protocol on School Safety. The protocols, if properly implemented, will be a game-changer in school safety, especially with increasing incidents of crime in the four identified provinces. “The […]

 Fintech company eQUB is digitizing Ethiopia’s traditional savings culture through its mobile app. With support from the NTF V Tech project in Ethiopia, the business is bringing a trusted community system online to improve financial access, transparency and inclusion. In Ethiopia, informal saving groups known as ‘equb’ have long helped people access money when formal credit options are limited. It’s a system built on trust, and used by friends, neighbours, and […]

 The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services has noted with concern the number of inmates participating in rehabilitation programmes and has urged the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to encourage greater participation, as this will benefit both offenders and the department. Committee Chairperson Ms Kgomotso Anthea Ramolobeng said the committee yesterday received a briefing from the DCS on rehabilitation and reintegration programmes: the effectiveness of educational, vocational and therapeutic programmes, including […]

 H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, held an expanded meeting with a number of leaders and representatives of the Chinese business community, with the participation of Eng. Hassan El-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade. The meeting took place during her participation in the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Tianjin, China, and included several CEOs from Chinese companies in the automotive, pharmaceutical, […]

 The Portfolio Committee on Police has reiterated its concern that some South African police stations continue to ignore the National Commissioner’s directive that police must respond immediately in cases of missing persons. The committee held a follow-up meeting with the SAPS and Women Empowerment Platform on violence against children regarding the matter of Jayden Lee Meek and other missing children. “What came out of all the cases of missing children […]