Category: General

The Tunisian incubator for projects with a social and environmental impact, Lab’ess (Laboratoire de l’Economie Sociale et Solidaire), announced on Monday the launch on July 17 of a new incubation programme focusing on sustainable cities, for the benefit of project leaders providing viable responses to pressing needs specific to urban areas, particularly in Greater Tunis and Sousse.

To this end, the incubator today launched its call for applications to select 10 high-impact project leaders to join its new programme, with the aim of encouraging the creation of innovative businesses that will bring about systemic change in the service of sustainable cities.

The Lab’ess incubation programme will boost projects through support and funding. The incubation programme is aimed at projects proposing innovative technological solutions to urban environmental problems. These may be early stage companies or start-ups (at the stage of raising their first funds).

It includes a comprehensive training programme, with two bootcamps and workshops tailored to the needs of the incubatees, run by guest speakers, experts and peer entrepreneurs. It also includes individual, tailor-made support, with specialised coaches, modules to choose from and post-incubation support; networking with complementary partners (experts, entrepreneurs, financiers, multi-format networking) and an interest-free loan of up to D19,000. It also provides access to an international network, enabling participation in international trade fairs and a global ecosystem.

Interested social innovators can complete the form available at www.labess.tn until July 9, 2023, at 11.59 pm. The incubation programme will start on July 17, 2023.

This comprehensive support scheme is backed by the French Development Agency and the Innov’i – EU4Innovation project, which supports the innovative entrepreneurship ecosystem, funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France.

Lab’ess is an incubator of PULSE, an association founded in 2006 whose mission is to support and promote entrepreneurship as a lever for inclusive and sustainable development.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The Confederation of Tunisian Citizen Enterprises (CONECT) will hold its 3rd national congress on November 10, 2023 in Tunis.

This date was set by the CONECT Board of Directors at its meeting on June 24 in Sfax.

CONECT’s second congress was held on November 14, 2018 to elect its 25-member executive board.

Nearly 516 congress members, representing regional offices and different sectors, took part in the proceedings.

Founded in September 2011 by Tarek Cherif, its current president and former member of the UTICA executive board, CONECT seeks to promote the brand image of companies and offer them better opportunities at national and international levels.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

An illegal arms and anti-terrorism case trial started Monday in Seychelles’ Supreme Court.

The persons charged in the case are prominent businessman Mukesh Valabjhi and his wife Laura, a lawyer. Also charged in the same case are Leslie Benoiton – a senior officer in the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF), Leopold Payet – a former chief of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces [the former name of the Seychelles Defence Forces]- and Frank Marie – a retired lieutenant colonel and presidential chief security officer.

The presiding judge, Chief Justice Rony Govinden, began the hearing of the case, which relates to more than 100 firearms and over 35,000 rounds of ammunition recovered from the Valabjhi’s home at Morne Blanc during a search on November 18.

This came after the couple was arrested in relation to a case of money laundering of a missing $50 million of funds granted to the government of Seychelles by the United Arab Emirates in 2002.

All the accused appeared before the Supreme Court and were read their amended charges amended by the prosecution on Wednesday, June 28. All the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The trial was initially set for April but was delayed following the application for the recusal of Justice Govinden as the presiding trial judge, which was dismissed on June 1.

Immediately before setting the new date for trial, Govinden had unblocked the couple’s overseas accounts – which were frozen at the request of the Anti-Corruption Commission of Seychelles (ACCS).

Despite the court releasing the couple’s funds in Singapore, they argued again on Monday that they had been unable to pay for their international counsel due to their bank accounts still being frozen.

When addressing the court, Laura Valabhji – a prominent lawyer by profession -explained that the Central Bank in Singapore had not released the funds as they were yet to receive ‘proof of release from the Seychelles Courts”.

Govinden replied that since the courts had already ordered the funds to be released, it was up to the accused and their lawyers to sort out the payment issues.

He added that as technology has evolved there should be ways for the counsel to appear online to represent the couple together with the others representing them- namely France Bonte and Samantha Aglae.

Meanwhile, prosecution counsel, Stephen Powles, made his opening statement before the Supreme Court, providing a summary of the case so far, which included the five accused arrests and how some of the weapons were found in concealed places in the Valahbji couple’s residence at Morne Blanc.

The Court adjourned until Tuesday morning when the prosecution will bring in its first witnesses in the case.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Angolan authorities have recorded in the last 8 years 142 cases of human trafficking, said Monday the national director of Human Rights, Yannick Bernardo.

The official released the statistics while speaking on the sidelines of the “training and awareness workshop on human trafficking for media professionals”.

He mentioned 26 cases as being sentenced and three acquitted.

However, he noted that, in the context of combating human trafficking, “there has been, since 2014, an Inter-ministerial Commission that outlines strategies to oppose actions related to human trafficking”.

Yannick Bernardo blamed the cases of human trafficking for the longest border, prompting the national authorities to enhance surveillance.

In view of the harmful effects of these acts, the official stressed the need for the media to help raise society’s awareness of the phenomenon.

The training meeting on human trafficking is attended by 25 journalists from different public and private agencies.

Angola approved, in 2020, the first National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Trafficking in Human Beings in the country, as part of the National Strategy for Human Rights.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Angolan head of State João Lourenço arrived Monday in the province of Benguela to witness the ceremony for the transfer of the concession of rail services and logistics support for the Lobito Corridor.

At Catumbela airport, João Lourenço was welcomed by the provincial governor, Luís Nunes, and members of the Executive.

The ceremony will take place on Tuesday (4th) in Lobito, coastal Benguela province.

Heads of State from Zambia Hakainde Hichilema and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Félix Tshisekedi are expected on Tuesday in the province of Benguela for the event.

Zambia and the DRC share border with Angola and are linked to the Lobito corridor project.

The three heads of State are expected to deliver speech, according to the programme reached ANGOP this Monday.

The programme includes the transfer notice for the concession of rail and logistics services to support the Lobito Corridor to the Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium, the inauguration of the fiber optic link between Angola and Zambia, by video call.

Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium is made up of Trafigura, Vecturis and Mota Engil, the winner of the international competition on November 4, 2022.

It is responsible for transporting heavy loads as well as maintaining the infrastructure of the Benguela Railway (CFB).

In turn, the CFB will be in charge of transporting passengers and lighter loads.

Lobito Corridor extends from the port of Lobito, bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, and crosses Angola from West to East, passing through the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié and Moxico.

It covers the mining areas of Katanga province in the DRC and Copperbelt in Zambia.

The corridor represents the shortest route to a port from the mineral-rich areas of DRC and Zambia.

For the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the corridor is crucial for development in the region, with benefits for Angola and neighbouring countries (DRC and Zambia).

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Angolan government discussed Monday a Draft Law that authorises the President, as holder of the Executive Power, to legislate on the incentives to be attributed to the concession area of Block 20 /11.

This was during the meeting of the Cabinet Council, chaired by the head of State João Lourenço on Monday in Luanda.

The members of the Cabinet Council reviewed the Draft Presidential Legislative Decree on norms that will regulate the attribution of new incentives to prospecting, research, evaluation, development and production of hydrocarbons in the concession area of the Block 20/11.

Also in the oil and gas sector, the session endorsed the Presidential Decree approving the Amendment to the Concession Area Contract, also for Block 20/11.

The move is meant to integrate the areas of Blocks 21/09 and 20/15 into the said concession zone, with a view to enabling their economic development, as well as enabling the transformation of oil potential into commercial wealth and mitigating the decline in crude oil production.

The participants also approved the Presidential Decree on Amendments to the Production Sharing Contract for Block 20/11, in order to ensure the implementation of the terms and conditions agreed in the addendum to the Production Sharing Contract for Block (20/11).

This is an addendum to the contract signed by the National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels, Total Energies, EP Angola and Sonangol Pesquisa e Produção, S.A.

The Monday’s meeting also considered the Presidential Decree approving the Production Sharing Contract between the National Concessionaire (Sonangol) and the Empreiteiro Group made up of Azule Energy Angola B.V. and Equinor Angola Block 31/21 AS.

The Decree provides for the associated development of petroleum activities in this area of the Lower Congo maritime zone.

Mining Prospecting Rights

Still in the field of oil and gas, the members approved the Presidential Decree that enables the Attribution of Mining Rights for Prospecting, Research, Development and Production of Liquid and Gaseous Hydrocarbons in the Concession Area of Block 16/21.

The approval focuses on the joint exploration of the said Block, based on the Production Sharing Contract signed between the National Concessionaire and TOTAL Energies EP Angola.

Exploration of Fuel Filling Stations

The meeting also gave green light to the Presidential Decree approving the Regulation on the Issuance of Licenses for the Exploitation of Fuel Filling Stations.

The document establishes the norms and procedures for issuing a license to operate a Fuel Filling Station, for commercial purposes, and implementation of the measures defined in the SIMPLIFICA 2.0 Project, as part of the State Reform.

The document also ensures the transfer to the Municipal Administrations of competence to issue operating licenses for Fuel Supply Stations with a storage capacity of up to 200 cubic meters and to extend the period of validity of the license should be implemented.

Price regime related to the concession area of the new Natural Gas Consortium

The Cabinet Council approved a Presidential Decree that establishes the transfer pricing regime applicable to certain commercial operations in the Concession Area of the New Natural Gas Consortium.

The focus of the Decree is the stability and economic viability of the project, through the creation of fiscal contractual rules that meet the economic and commercial specificities of the transactions associated with the Project.

Bilateral cooperation

As for bilateral cooperation, the meeting approved the Agreement between Angola and the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) on Privileges and Immunities, for Hosting the 26th Interpol African Regional Conference, this year.

In the field of education, the meeting approved the diplomas referring to the Legal regimes of the General and Secondary Technical-Professional Education Subsystem.

The 5th ordinary session of the Cabinet Council also approved the Organic Statute of the National Service for Copyright and Related Rights (SENADIAC), Body of Indirect State Administration.

SENADIAC is in charge of the administrative management of the National System of Copyright and Related Rights and ensures compliance with legislation on the matter.

The objective is to provide culture creators and other agents with the enjoyment of the corresponding rights, for the well-being of all, thus promoting creativity and innovation and boosting the development of cultural and creative industries

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

The new Inspector General of State Administration (IGAE) Ângelo de Barros da Veiga Tavares Monday guaranteed that he will contribute to the promotion of good governance.

IGAE boss made the pledge after being sworn in by the President João Lourenço, stressing the importance to contribute with actions of education and awareness for civil servants, so that the structures of the central and local administration of the State fulfill their responsibilities.

Speaking to the press, the Inspector General also pledged to cooperate with the institutions, such as the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) and the Constitutional Court.

Ângelo de Barros da Veiga Tavares said that the cooperation of the IGAE will extend to the Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Criminal Investigation bodies and the Financial Information Unit.

In addition to Ângelo Tavares, the President swore in the new deputy governor of the National Bank of Angola (BNA) Maria Juliana de Carvalho Van-Dúnem de Fontes Pereira and the Executive Administrator of the Board of Directors of this financial institution, Maria de Fátima Trindade Poças.

Prior to his appointment to the new position, Ângelo Tavares was adviser to the President of the Republic, after having been Minister of the Interior.

He takes over from Sebastião Ngunza, who becomes Chief Justice of the Court of Auditors

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Angolan head of State João Lourenço asked the new boss of the General Inspectorate of State Administration (IGAE) Ângelo de Barros Veiga Tavares to keep the visibility gained by the institution in recent years.

The president made the call during the swearing in ceremony of the new Inspector General of IGAE, Ângelo de Barros Veiga Tavares, this Monday.

The head of State also swore in the new deputy governor of the National Bank of Angola (BNA) Maria Juliana de Fontes Pereira and the executive director of this financial institution Maria de Fátima Trindade Poças.

The Head of State said that he expects from the new officials “all the dedication to work in order to fulfill with success the functions to which they were appointed.

Prior to his appointment to the new position, Ângelo Tavares was adviser to the President of the Republic, after having been Minister of the Interior.

He takes over from Sebastião Ngunza, who becomes Chief Justice of the Court of Auditors

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Tunisia has strongly condemned the Israeli raid on the Palestinian territories, particularly on the town of Jenin and its refugee camp in the West Bank, saying it was high time to call the Zionist entity to account.

The Israeli offensive is undoubtedly a flagrant and blatant violation of UN resolutions and international human rights pacts,” denounced the Department of Foreign Affairs in an official reaction to these painful events.

The Israeli assault on the town of Jenin and the Jenin camp has so far claimed the lives of several unarmed Palestinians, both martyrs and wounded.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Tunisians Abroad, Tunisia reaffirmed its categorical rejection of the atrocities perpetrated against the brotherly Palestinian people.

In this regard, it urged the international community and the UN Security Council to assume their full responsibility in the face of the injustice being inflicted on the Palestinian people and put an end to the dangerous escalation of the occupation forces, and prevent it from acting as an “irreproachable” power above any form of international accountability.

While vigorously denouncing the attacks on Jenin, Tunisia reiterated its position of principle in favour of the Palestinian cause, stressing that it stands by the Palestinian people in their hard struggle to recover their legitimate and inalienable rights and to establish an independent state on their land, with the holy city of al-Quds as its capital.

Rebellious and defiant, the city of Jenin and its refugee camp in the occupied West Bank have since dawn today been the scene of a major Israeli offensive, the largest since the 2002 aggression.

During this attack, the occupying forces pounded the town of Jenin and its camp with artillery and air raids, killing eight people and wounding 27 others, all Palestinians.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The Tunisian Coalition Against the Death Penalty (CTCPM), represented by its President Chokri Letaief, was elected by an overwhelming majority to the Steering Committee of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP), during the General Assembly held in Nairobi, Kenya, on June 23 and 24.

Chokri Letaief indicated that the support received by the Coalition extends to all Tunisian civil and democratic associative movements that pursue their commitment to dignity, freedom and justice, according to a statement issued on Monday by the Tunisian Coalition Against the Death Penalty.

In this context, it called on the Tunisian authorities to respect the “right to life” and to approve the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Founded on May 13 2022, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty is made up of more than 160 NGOs, bar associations, local authorities and trade unions.

Its aim is to strengthen the international dimension of the fight against the death penalty. Its objective is the universal abolition of the death penalty.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse