Latest news with #Sira
Wamda
05-05-2025
- Business
- Wamda
Jordan's Sira expands to UAE to build inclusive, trust-based networks across MENA
Jordan-based professional community platform Sira has expanded to the United Arab Emirates as part of its mission to foster authentic, values-driven connections across the MENA region. Founded in 2022 by Ayah Saeed and Zara Najjar, Sira is a membership-based network that reimagines professional communities by prioritising collaboration, empathy, and authenticity over status and job titles. The platform offers a private communication space, curated events, and peer-led admissions focused on shared values rather than professional prestige. The UAE expansion will support Sira's efforts to build a more inclusive, trust-based network across sectors. With over $3.6 million in collaborations generated between members to date, Sira aims to redefine what meaningful professional connection looks like in the region. Press release: Sira, the MENA region's pioneering membership professional community dedicated to fostering authentic connection and holistic growth, is proud to announce its expansion into the United Arab Emirates. This strategic move aligns seamlessly with the UAE's 2025 declaration as the "Year of Community," emphasising the nation's commitment to fostering unity and inclusive growth. At The Core: Authentic Connections Over Transactional Relationships Sira was co-founded by Ayah Saeed and Zara Najjar, who both have experience working within global entrepreneurial networks, where they witnessed firsthand both the power and the pitfalls of traditional professional communities. 'After attending countless networking spaces that felt more like name-tag exchanges than real conversations, we were drained,' said Saeed. 'I'd often receive messages saying, 'I'm not sure if you remember me, but we met in 2020 at an event.' And they were right; I didn't remember. Because we never really connected.' That disconnection sparked a bold idea: What if a professional community prioritised values over vanity? Where job titles, funding rounds, and status didn't matter, but who you are, how you think, and how you show up did? Our bet was simple: bring together truly diverse, driven professionals from all industries and backgrounds and create the space for them to be themselves. and let shared values lead the way. That way, we get more collaboration, more connection, more learning, more genuine care, and ultimately, a stronger sense of belonging. This is how trust is built, how connections become meaningful, how growth becomes collective, and how a group of people becomes a community. 'Most professional networks are exclusionary by design,' said Zara Najjar. 'They're built around status and gatekeeping. At Sira, we inverted that model. Our application process is anonymous and values-led. We evaluate potential members based on their commitment to collaboration, growth, respect, empathy, and authenticity. Then, we share de-identified applications with existing members to review and vote on. It's a more democratic and inclusive way to build a community, one that reflects who people are, not just what they do.' More Than Networking: A Place to Belong Members of the Sira Community enjoy access to a private communication space, where they can connect with like-valued professionals. They offer monthly events centred around professional and personal development, building meaningful connections, and inspirational talks from industry leaders like Rania Atalla, Salah Oqbi, and Dr Geoff Smart. But at the heart of Sira is their commitment to creating mediums for authentic connection. The way they initiate conversations both online and offline and their approach to curating events all lead to genuine interactions, meaningful engagement, and authentic connection. They go beyond superficial exchanges; by dropping the facade, encouraging vulnerability, and creating spaces for their members to share their true selves, they facilitate more profound bonds and more impactful collaborations. 'Being part of the Sira community has been transformative, allowing me to expand my professional network, forge lasting friendships, and gain invaluable exposure to diverse individuals with rich experiences and values. From the very beginning, I felt included, connected, and empowered by the community's warm and supportive environment. It's truly inspiring to be part of such a high-achieving network that consistently looks forward to helping and uplifting its members.' — Anas Qawasmeh, Sector Lead for Fintech & Innovation, DIFC. Proof That Meaningful Connection Works Over the past two years, Sira members have collaborated on more than $3.6 million USD in business transactions through hiring, referrals, investments, and joint ventures. It's not a coincidence. It's what happens when people with aligned values connect in spaces designed for openness, trust, and mutual support. Join a Community Built on Real Connection As Sira continues to grow, we welcome professionals from all walks of life, whether you're an employee, entrepreneur, freelancer, creative, doctor, educator, or anything in between. If you value authenticity, growth, and meaningful connection, we invite you to join a discovery call to learn more about the community and how to become a member.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Posts claiming trio of states in Sahel launched a common currency are false
On March 13, 2025, a TikTok page called ' tv' shared a video with its almost 150,000 followers claiming the AES has abandoned the CFA franc and launched a new currency called Sira. The video's caption reads, 'Sira is here to stay,' while the clip's narrator calls on member nations of the rival Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to congratulate the AES. 'You see ECOWAS could not introduce eco currency for the past three decades till now. Congratulations to the AES (sic),' reads a comment on the post. 'The guys are more than serious. May God be with them,' says another, indicating that some people believe the post. The same claim has also appeared multiple times on Facebook, such as here and here. The governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger were ousted in military coups in 2020, 2022 and 2023 respectively. In turn, ECOWAS suspended each of the new regimes from the regional bloc and imposed strict sanctions on Niger and Mali (archived here). Amid deteriorating relations, the three countries announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024, accusing the group of being ineffective in fighting the jihadist insurgency in the region and of being manipulated by former colonial power France (archived here). But claims that the AES launched a single currency are false. The bills shown in the video do not include denominations or the issuing financial authority – two of the typical features of a banknote. A reverse image search did not return any record of when or where the purported currency was launched. There were also no details about what the name Sira meant. Images circulated on social media also had different fonts of the name of the currency. One of the banknotes shared on social media had three different serial numbers, which would not occur in reality as serial numbers are used as unique identifiers for currencies (archived here). During a state visit to Russia on April 3-4, Niger's Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare said the alliance was eager to mint its own currency (archived here). 'The first instrument of sovereignty is currency. Because our struggle is built around sovereignty. You cannot be sovereign if someone else mints your currency. It's clear that we're not going to stay in this CFA franc affair. France itself knows it,' Sangare told Russian broadcaster RT in an interview. 'We are made to believe that we're not capable of putting a currency into circulation — yet some countries have done it on their own. So why couldn't the three of us (Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso) do the same? We know that our sovereignty begins with the minting of currency, and we will do it.' Sangare did not provide a timeline for the launch of the proposed currency. Modibo Mao Makalou, an economist and former advisor to the Malian presidency on economic and financial affairs, said that several steps have to be taken before a new currency can be introduced. 'Creating a new currency for the AES would require leaving the UMOA (the West African Economic and Monetary Union) and its central bank, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), which currently prints banknotes and makes coins,' he told AFP Fact Check on April 4, 2025. 'After that, the AES would need to set up its own central bank, which would issue and manage the new currency.' Makalou said the three AES countries are still a part of the UMOA, which includes eight West African countries that use the CFA franc. In February 2024, the head of Niger's junta Abdourahmane Tiani also mentioned the possibility of a new currency and described it as 'a step out of colonisation' (archived here). Major currency exchange rate platforms like OandaFX still show the CFA franc in use in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali (archived here).
AFP
09-04-2025
- Business
- AFP
Posts claiming trio of states in Sahel launched a common currency are false
On March 13, 2025, a TikTok page called ' tv' shared a video with its almost 150,000 followers claiming the AES has abandoned the CFA franc and launched a new currency called Sira. The video's caption reads, 'Sira is here to stay,' while the clip's narrator calls on member nations of the rival Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to congratulate the AES. Image Screenshot of the false TikTok post, taken on April 4, 2025 'You see ECOWAS could not introduce eco currency for the past three decades till now. Congratulations to the AES (sic),' reads a comment on the post. 'The guys are more than serious. May God be with them,' says another, indicating that some people believe the post. The same claim has also appeared multiple times on Facebook, such as here and here. The governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger were ousted in military coups in 2020, 2022 and 2023 respectively. In turn, ECOWAS suspended each of the new regimes from the regional bloc and imposed strict sanctions on Niger and Mali (archived here). Amid deteriorating relations, the three countries announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024, accusing the group of being ineffective in fighting the jihadist insurgency in the region and of being manipulated by former colonial power France (archived here). But claims that the AES launched a single currency are false. Design inconsistencies The bills shown in the video do not include denominations or the issuing financial authority – two of the typical features of a banknote. A reverse image search did not return any record of when or where the purported currency was launched. There were also no details about what the name Sira meant. Images circulated on social media also had different fonts of the name of the currency. One of the banknotes shared on social media had three different serial numbers, which would not occur in reality as serial numbers are used as unique identifiers for currencies (archived here). Image Screenshot showing inconsistencies in the name of the currency (circled in red) and the different serial numbers on one banknote (circled in blue). In the pipeline During a state visit to Russia on April 3-4, Niger's Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare said the alliance was eager to mint its own currency (archived here). 'The first instrument of sovereignty is currency. Because our struggle is built around sovereignty. You cannot be sovereign if someone else mints your currency. It's clear that we're not going to stay in this CFA franc affair. France itself knows it,' Sangare told Russian broadcaster RT in an interview. 'We are made to believe that we're not capable of putting a currency into circulation — yet some countries have done it on their own. So why couldn't the three of us (Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso) do the same? We know that our sovereignty begins with the minting of currency, and we will do it.' Sangare did not provide a timeline for the launch of the proposed currency. Modibo Mao Makalou, an economist and former advisor to the Malian presidency on economic and financial affairs, said that several steps have to be taken before a new currency can be introduced. 'Creating a new currency for the AES would require leaving the UMOA (the West African Economic and Monetary Union) and its central bank, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), which currently prints banknotes and makes coins,' he told AFP Fact Check on April 4, 2025. 'After that, the AES would need to set up its own central bank, which would issue and manage the new currency.' Makalou said the three AES countries are still a part of the UMOA, which includes eight West African countries that use the CFA franc. In February 2024, the head of Niger's junta Abdourahmane Tiani also mentioned the possibility of a new currency and described it as 'a step out of colonisation' (archived here). Major currency exchange rate platforms like OandaFX still show the CFA franc in use in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali (archived here).
