Day: May 8, 2024

ADDIS ABABA – Today marked the launch of the National Cities Cleaning and Green Development Movement in Addis Ababa, under the banner “Cleaner Cities for Ethiopia’s Height.” The event drew high-ranking government officials, including Prosperity Party Vice President Adem Farah and Minister of Urban Development Chaltu Sani, alongside other dignitaries.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, this new national movement, which is an extension of an initiative recently launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed titled “Clean Cities – Healthy Lives,” aims to enhance urban health through the establishment of modern systems for garbage management. The movement is geared towards fostering a cleaner, healthier environment for communities across the nation.

OUAGADOUGOU – Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Health has scheduled a comprehensive national vaccination campaign targeting poliomyelitis. The campaign will be conducted in two rounds; the first from May 10 to 13, and the second from June 7 to 10, 2024. Each phase will last four days, with an additional day allocated to regions facing significant security challenges.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the initiative will involve the vaccination of approximately 5,216,921 children under the age of five, spanning from newborns to 59-month-olds. This preventive measure follows the detection of poliomyelitis cases in the country on March 25, 2024. Concurrently, the campaign will incorporate malnutrition screenings for children aged six to 59 months.

The decision to launch this campaign was influenced by the highly contagious nature of poliomyelitis and the absence of a curative treatment, making prevention through vaccination imperative. Vouanda Somé, a health advisor at the Directorate of Prevention through Vaccination, emphasized the critical nature of the disease during an advocacy workshop held in Ouagadougou. The event gathered journalists, activists, bloggers, health officials, and various stakeholders to bolster support for the vaccination effort.

Mr. Somé highlighted that all children are eligible for this polio vaccination, regardless of their previous vaccination history, and noted that the first round will also focus on early malnutrition detection and treatment at health facilities. He urged the involvement of administrative, political, religious, and community leaders, as well as parents, to ensure no child is left unvaccinated.

OUAGADOUGOU – The Burkina Faso government has officially sanctioned the recruitment of more than 2,000 police personnel. This move follows the decisions made in the council of ministers on Wednesday, which was presided over by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the President of the Transition and Head of State. The government plans include hiring 2,000 non-commissioned officers, 20 officers, and 10 police commissioners through direct competition, with an additional recruitment of 20 police commissioners and 50 officers through professional competitions.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Decentralization, and Security, this recruitment strategy is part of a broader five-year plan spanning from 2023 to 2027. The plan aims to address demographic growth and increasing urbanization which contribute to various forms of criminal activities. The ministry has outlined specific quotas in the recruitment of non-commissioned officers, benefiting the Volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland (VDP), the Assistant Security Volunteers (VADS), and widows of defense and security forces personnel who have died in service.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Digital Transition, Posts, and Electronic Communications has adopted a decree to enhance the operations of digital platforms within the public administration. This initiative, spearheaded by Minister Aminata Zerbo/Sabane, focuses on accelerating the dematerialization of government procedures and services, ensuring secure and user-friendly online platforms.

AFAR – The Niin Lee Palm Spring Lodge, initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed under the “Dine for Generation” program, marks a significant step towards enhancing tourism in the Afar region. The project was officially launched on October 28, 2023.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, Chief Administrator of the region, the construction of the lodge aligns with Ethiopia’s sustainable development goals and efforts to promote peace and security. The site, known for its lush greenery, natural lake, and hot springs, is poised to become a major tourist attraction. Awol emphasized that the lodge, once completed, will catalyze a new era of tourism and agricultural revitalization in the area, benefiting the local community significantly. He also noted that the location’s proximity to Awash National Park and Falls will play a crucial role in attracting tourists and creating job opportunities. Additionally, proceeds from the sale of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s book “Yemedemer Tewled” have been allocated to restore Sultan Alimirah’s historic palace and construct a school in the region.

ADDIS ABABA – A groundbreaking ceremony was held today at the Bole Lemi Industrial Park for a new company that will manufacture passports, national IDs, and other high-security printing products. The establishment, known as Toppan Gravity, represents a significant investment in Ethiopia’s security printing capabilities.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, the $55 million project will be executed in three phases. The company plans to produce a range of security-sensitive items, including ATM and MasterCard cards equipped with microchips. The foundation stone was laid in the presence of high government officials and Japan’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Shibata Hironori.

ADDIS ABABA – The 2024 East Africa Finance Summit is set to commence tomorrow in Addis Ababa, focusing on “Exploring New Frontiers: Shaping the Future of Financial Landscape and Unlocking Opportunities for Collaboration in East Africa.” The two-day annual event will gather key stakeholders from the financial sector across the region.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, Addis Ababa University and i-Capital Africa Institute, the summit is a collaborative effort involving various organizations. Gemechu Waktola, Manager of i-Capital Africa Institute and Chairman of the coordinators committee, emphasized the summit’s role in fostering regional integration among financial institutions and facilitating the exchange of experiences within East Africa. The event aims to discuss developing investment opportunities, potential areas for collaboration, and the ongoing reforms in Ethiopia’s finance sector, including the establishment of a Capital Market.

The summit will also serve as a platform to present Ethiopia as a prime investment destination and enable networking and strategic partnerships among participants. It will address topics such as cross-border trade and investments, harmonization of financial regulations, and challenges of inclusion to enhance regional cooperation in a changing global economic landscape. Stakeholders are expected to benefit from high-level discussions on opportunities in the Ethiopian market and solutions for regional payment systems, money integration, and the creation of capital markets across the region.

ZORGHO – A crucial working meeting was convened on May 8, 2024, at the Reading and Cultural Activities Promotion Center of Zorgho, focused on the scaling of Burkina Faso’s Single Social Register (RSU). The meeting, chaired by the High Commissioner of Ganzourgou Province, Aminata Sorgho/Gouba, brought together local authorities, civil society organizations, and key resource persons to discuss the national rollout of the RSU.

According to Burkina Information Agency, head of the operations department of the RSU Technical Secretariat, the RSU is designed as a centralized information system to compile demographic and socio-economic data on poor and vulnerable households. This system aids in the identification and selection of beneficiaries for social programs. The objectives of the RSU include generating unique identification codes for each registered individual and regularly updating beneficiary lists. This initiative, which began in 2021, originates from the National Social Protection Policy established in 2012, aimed at enhancing the living conditions of the most vulnerable groups in Burkina Faso.

The meeting highlighted the RSU’s role in creating a unified and reliable database to streamline investment, reduce operational costs, and coordinate social programs more effectively. Initially piloted in the Center-East and Center-West regions in 2023, the RSU’s tools and procedures were refined ahead of its broader application. The current phase involves expanding the RSU to 11 provinces across seven regions, including Ganzourgou, marking a significant step in the system’s national implementation over the next three years.

Participants at the meeting expressed their support for the RSU’s objectives and engaged actively with the presented information, committing to disseminate what they learned to the broader community. The High Commissioner, Aminata Sorgho/Gouba, praised the dedication of those present and encouraged them to champion the RSU within their locales, emphasizing the initiative’s critical role in combating poverty.

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia and the United Nations are intensifying their collaboration to support Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), as stated by the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A meeting held today between Foreign Affairs State Minister Mesganu Arga and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement, Robert Piper, underscored this commitment.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, During the discussions, Minister Mesganu detailed the government’s successful strategies for relocating IDPs to their original regions. Special Adviser Piper lauded Ethiopia’s efforts, particularly the finalization of a national proclamation aimed at protecting and assisting IDPs. He noted the significant return of IDPs to their homes, attributing this to improved security and other positive developments. The dialogue also emphasized the importance of cooperation among humanitarian, development, and peace actors, focusing on the potential for strengthened UN-Ethiopia collaboration under the DDR program outlined in the Pretoria Peace Agreement.

LOMÉ – Emilie Yaméogo of Burkina Faso claimed the title of Best Chef in West Africa at the West Africa Food Festival (WAFFEST) held in Lomé, Togo, on Thursday, May 2, 2024. Yaméogo, a distinguished member of the Association of Chefs and Cooks of Burkina Faso (ACC-BF), emerged victorious over competitors from Nigeria, Ghana, and Togo.

According to Burkina Information Agency, which reported the event on its Facebook page, Chef Yaméogo presented an innovative menu that showcased her culinary skills and creativity. Her dishes included a starter of millet salad with avocado and tamarind sauce reduction. The main course featured a lamb shank confit with dried fruits, sweet potato puree, and turned vegetables. For dessert, she served a baobab powder pannacotta.

In addition to the top honor, Burkina Faso achieved remarkable success at the festival, securing multiple awards. The country won the silver trophy in the traditional cuisine category and bronze trophies in wedding cake, dessert, and local dish categories. This year marked a significant achievement for Burkina Faso, taking home a total of five trophies from the festival, a record for the nation at this annual culinary event.

OUAGADOUGOU – Today’s headlines in Burkina Faso are marked by a significant donation aimed at supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and a movement towards the emancipation of Africa. On Tuesday, the Minister of Humanitarian Action, Nandy Somé, received over 20 tons of food in Ouagadougou to aid IDPs, according to the state daily Sidwaya. This gesture reflects ongoing efforts to address the needs of displaced communities within the nation.

According to Burkina Information Agency, this donation included bags of rice provided by the Dêmê denial association, in collaboration with UNICEF, to 45 internally displaced students during the 21st edition of the SNC on May 3, 2024, at the center of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. Meanwhile, other media outlets focused on different aspects of national interest. The private daily Le Pays reported on Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s call for the awakening of consciences towards the emancipation of Africa. Captain Traoré, the President of the Transition and Head of State, recently met with a delegation from the African Institute for the Development of the Diaspora (ADDI), where he assigned them a mission to raise awareness about the unity and development of African peoples.

The diverse coverage underscores the multifaceted approach to social and humanitarian issues currently prioritized by the nation’s media and government.