Latest news with #Sahel
France 24
a day ago
- Politics
- France 24
Macron appoints military advisor as new army chief
Fabien Mandon, a 55-year-old air force general and former Mirage fighter jet pilot, takes over from Thierry Burkhard. The appointment of Mandon, who has extensive combat experience, comes after Macron last week called for a boost in France's defence spending, citing Russia as a threat for all of Europe. Macron said that "if you want be feared you must be powerful" and urged "mobilisation" by all government departments. "I have every confidence in General Fabien Mandon," Macron said on X, adding he would "guide our forces in the face of major challenges". Lecornu said Mandon took on the job in the context of "an increasingly demanding security environment". Until Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, France's armed forces were mainly focused on international missions and asymmetric warfare against non-state actors, such as jihadist groups in Africa's Sahel. Over the past three years, Burkhard has overseen a strategic shift to include the possibility of high-intensity war between states. Mandon's career includes several foreign deployments, including in the Central African Republic, Chad, and Tajikistan, from where he flew missions in Afghanistan. "I killed in Afghanistan. And I know whom I killed: Taliban. I have the soul of a fighter," he recently told French magazine L'Express. Mandon also served temporarily as commander at the Avord Air Base, where nuclear-capable fighter jets are stationed. © 2025 AFP
Arab Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
Exposed: How a Pakistani Paid for Kuwait Visa
KUWAIT CITY, July 23: Under the directives of His Excellency the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahd Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, and as part of the Ministry of Interior's intensified campaign to combat human trafficking and illegal residency practices, the General Department of Residence Affairs Investigations has uncovered a large, organized network involved in issuing residency permits illegally in exchange for money. The case came to light following a complaint filed by a Pakistani resident who reported paying 650 Kuwaiti Dinars to a man named Yasser Bilal Muhammad, also a Pakistani national, in return for securing a residency permit. The accused was summoned and confessed to receiving the payment for processing the residency. Further investigations revealed that he was a partner in 11 companies, collectively employing 162 workers. When several workers registered under these companies were questioned, they admitted to paying between 500 and 900 dinars for residency permits. Additionally, some individuals admitted to paying 60 to 70 dinars extra to have false salary information added to their work permits—an act that enabled them to qualify for family residency visas. During the investigation, Fahad Al-Enezi, the authorized signatory of the 11 companies, was also summoned. He admitted to receiving monthly payments between 500 and 600 dinars, and stated that he used the "Sahel" application to access work notifications and permits via the Public Authority for Manpower. A total of 12 suspects have been referred to the Public Prosecution, and ongoing investigations include raids, seizures, and inspections at the offices of the involved companies. Legal and administrative measures are being prepared against all individuals found to be complicit in this fraudulent network.
Zawya
a day ago
- General
- Zawya
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) unveils massive online open course for waterbird management in African wetlands
A new massive online open course (MOOC) developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and partners is set to support the sustainable management of wetlands and waterbirds in the Sahel and North Africa. The new course, ' Identifying and counting waterbirds in North Africa and the Sahel – how and why? ', provides training in essential skills for international waterbird monitoring and insights into the ecological challenges facing wetland habitats. It was produced by the RESSOURCE+ Project as part of the FAO-led Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme, and was designed in collaboration with Tour du Valat and the French Biodiversity Agency. A MOOC is a free online course that offers unlimited participation and is open to everyone, although this new course targets in particular French-speaking participants from North African and Sahelian countries. 'By strengthening the national and local capacities in the participating countries, this massive online open course will foster sustainable wetland management and biodiversity conservation,' said Zhimin Wu, Director of FAO's Forestry Division. Skills for waterbird monitoring Registration is now open until 1 December 2025 for the first session of the course. Participants will learn how to access networks of waterbird observers, collect and interpret data, and identify and count around 210 waterbird species in North Africa and the Sahel region. The course provides 40 hours of online training, structured into six modules and featuring 35 animated sequences, 10 video interviews with experts, over 5 000 photos and video clips of birds, and 210 factsheets designed to facilitate species identification, along with numerous quizzes, tests and further learning resources. It should take roughly six weeks to complete the training, which is self-paced, enabling participants to fit the course around their schedules. Participants are eligible for certification provided they successfully complete the course within three months. During the first six weeks, the course designers will be on call to respond to participants' questions through the chat function. Additional MOOC sessions are planned for 2026 and beyond. The RESSOURCE+ Project The RESSOURCE+ Project supports governments and communities in conserving wetlands and waterbirds in Sahelian countries. The project aims to promote waterbird monitoring, sustainable levels of hunting and effective wetland conservation policies in the Sahel. It is co-funded by the French Facility for Global Environment and the European Union through the Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme. The RESSOURCE+ Project is led by FAO with support from technical partners recognized for their expertise, in collaboration with national authorities, wildlife institutions, NGOs and local communities. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) ministerial committee endorses membership of Sahel countries as non-Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) members
The 2nd Extraordinary Meeting of the GIABA Ministerial Committee (GMC) concluded in Accra, Ghana on the 19th of July, 2025, with a decision to allow the three Sahel countries that have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to join the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) as Non-ECOWAS Members. The Ministers present at the high-level meeting unanimously considered the importance of dealing with insecurity in the region in a collaborative manner. The decision will be transmitted to the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and the Authority of Heads of State and Government for consideration. During the session,Nigeria's Minister of Justice handed over the chairmanship of the GMC to the Minister of Finance of Sierra Leone, who assumes the role as the new Chair of the Committee. The meeting was officially declared open by the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Financing Agreements to Strengthen Education in Mauritania and Chad
The Governments of Mauritania and Chad today signed funding agreements for the Regional Engagement for Learning and Collaboration in Education (RELANCE) Project, supported by the World Bank and the Federal Republic of Germany, for a total of $137 million. This ambitious project aims to transform education systems in both countries by strengthening sector governance and expanding access to flexible and inclusive learning pathways. It targets more than 850,000 young people, half of whom are girls, while promoting access to learners with special needs. In a regional context of sustained demographic growth, disparities in access to education, and increasing demand for job-relevant skills, RELANCE offers a collaborative and integrated approach. It builds on ongoing efforts to strengthen education systems while introducing regional mechanisms for coordination, resource sharing, and innovation. The project includes the establishment of a Regional Institute of Education in Nouakchott to strengthen executive capacity in the education sector, drive applied research, and inform policy through data and evidence. Supported by the Association of African Universities, the institute is positioned to become a center of academic excellence for both countries, fostering structured, long-term collaboration and knowledge exchange. "T he signing of the financing agreements for the RELANCE Sahel project reflects our collective commitment to building a resilient, educated, and forward-looking Sahel," said Sid'Ahmed Bouh, Minister of Economy and Finance. The initiative includes the creation of a regional Open School in each country, designed to meet the needs of young people outside the traditional education circuits, especially in areas where access to education remains limited. This hybrid system will combine digital learning, face-to-face support and professional training. 'The Regional Open School is a concrete response to the educational realities of our country. It will allow thousands of young people, often far from traditional structures, to have access to adapted learning paths that bring skills and hope,' said Dr. Aboubakar Assidick Tchoroma, Minister of National Education and Civic Promotion of Chad. The project also benefits from significant financial support from the Federal Republic of Germany, through KfW, under the Sahel and West Africa Coast Multi-Donor Trust Fund. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to enhanced regional cooperation. 'RELANCE reflects an ambitious and pragmatic regional approach. By supporting this initiative, Germany reaffirms its willingness to support Sahel countries in their efforts to build more inclusive education systems that are better grounded in local realities,' said H.E. Dr. Florian Reindel, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Mauritania. The World Bank is supporting participating countries through a strategic partnership that combines technical support with long-term financing. RELANCE builds on the achievements of existing national projects, such as the Basic Education Sector Support Project (PASEB II) in Mauritania and the Project to Improve Learning Outcomes in Basic Education (PARAEB) in Chad, while introducing a unique regional dimension. 'Shaping minds is about charting the path to a brighter future. Like a carefully planted seed, an ambitious education policy carries the promise of progress. The RELANCE project thus reflects our shared commitment to making education a transformative force in Mauritania and Chad, by training informed, empowered generations ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow," said Ousmane Diagana, World Bank Vice President for Western and Central Africa. Designed as an open regional platform, the project will be open to other Sahel countries interested in joining. It marks an important step towards building a more integrated Sahelian educational space capable of meeting the aspirations of a dynamic and committed youth. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.
