News
Eritrea: Cultural and arts competitions organized by Ministry of Defense conclude
Download logo
Cultural and arts competitions (Walta Award), organized by the Ministry of Defense and conducted over a period of about three months, enthusiastically concluded on 2 January at Cinema Roma here in Asmara.
The competition covered dance, music, songs, drama, comedy, directing, painting, and short stories, and was participated in by groups from the Eastern Command, Western Command, Naval Force, Rapid Deployment Command, Central Command, Popular Forces Command, 74th Mechanized, Sawa National Service Training Center, as well as the administrative staff in Beleza.
The Egri-Mekel cultural troupe of the Central Command emerged as the overall winner.
According to the Promotion and Information Unit of the Central Command, upon arrival in Dekemhare on 3 January, the Egri-Mekel cultural troupe was accorded a warm welcome.
Capt. Berhane Arefaine, head of the Promotion and Information Unit of the Command, said that the competition contributed to enabling participants to identify their talents. He also expressed hope that the competition will continue annually in earnest.
Brig. Gen. Tekle Kiflai, Commander of the Central Command, congratulated the members of the cultural troupe and expressed the readiness of the Command to provide all necessary support for the troupe's development.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.Egypt: Declining Funding Undermines Education, Health Care
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The Egyptian government has severely undermined the rights to education and health care by failing to allocate sufficient spending, falling short of constitutional obligations and international benchmarks, Human Rights Watch said today. It is failing to ensure free primary education for every child and quality health care accessible to all.
Inadequate funding has contributed to severe shortages and high costs. Egypt has a shortage of hundreds of thousands of classrooms and teachers while the health care system suffers from low salaries, an inadequate doctor-to-population ratio, and a lack of 75,000 nurses. Families pay school fees and out-of-pocket costs, a majority of health care expenses are paid out of pocket, and doctors are personally paying for essential hospital supplies.
“The Egyptian government has failed for years to adequately ensure the rights of education and health for everyone, as demonstrated by its chronic underfunding,” said Amr Magdi, senior Middle East and North Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The lack of adequate funding for health and education demonstrates the government's deep indifference toward its citizens' rights.”
Human Rights Watch analysis found that, over the past five years, education spending in Egypt has consistently decreased in inflation-adjusted terms and as a percentage of total government expenditure and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Health care spending has mostly decreased in inflation-adjusted terms but fluctuated as a percentage of total expenditure and GDP.
In fiscal year 2025-26, which began July 1, 2025, the government proposed and parliament approved an education budget of 315 billion Egyptian pounds (about US$6.3 billion), equivalent to 1.5 percent of Egypt's GDP and about 4.7 percent of government expenditure. Human Rights Watch analysis found that this is the lowest percentage of the budget allocated for education since at least 2019. In inflation-adjusted terms, Human Rights Watch found that spending on education decreased 10 percent from 2024/25 and is 39 percent lower than in 2013/14 or 2014/15, when President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi came to power.
Egypt's 2014 Constitution requires the government to spend no less than 6 percent of GDP on education. Prevailing international benchmarks recommend 4 to 6 percent of GDP and at least 15 to 20 percent of public expenditure. Human Rights Watch's calculation for 2025-26 spending as a percent of GDP would place Egypt in the 12th percentile of all lower middle-income countries, spending less than 88 percent of similarly situated countries.
The current year's health budget of 245 billion pounds (about $4.9 billion) is equivalent to just 1.1 percent of Egypt's GPD and 3.6 percent of total government expenditure. Human Rights Watch found that the budgets from 2021/22 to 2025/26 fluctuated between 1 and 1.4 percent of GDP, never reaching even half the minimum 3 percent the constitution requires.
After adjusting for inflation, health spending in 2025/26 is only 2 percent higher than the prior year and remains 4 percent lower than in 2022/23. When taking population growth into account, per person spending is flat over the last three years.
Egypt's health spending is also significantly below international benchmarks. The Abuja Declaration of 2001, which Egypt signed, included a pledge to allocate 15 percent of government expenditure to health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimatedthat providing universal health coverage, an important element of the right to health, generally requires governments to spend at least 5 to 6 percent of their GDP on health care, four to five times Egypt's current allocation. Egypt adopted a landmark Universal Health Insurance Lawin 2018, which aims to achieve full coverage by 2030.
As in prior years, the government falsely claimed that its 2025/26 budget met constitutional spending minimums for health and education by including extraneous budget lines, such as debt servicing, in its calculations. In 2022, Egypt spent more than twice as much servicing its external public debt per capita than it spent on health care.
Human Rights Watch has previously found that Egypt's declining funding is severely undermining education, raising significant human rights concerns. The government has acknowledged shortages of hundreds of thousands of teachers and classrooms. Public schools charge nominal fees, waived for some low income students, violating Egypt's obligation under the constitution and international human rights law to provide free primary education.
In 2019, families with children in school spent an average of 10.4 percent of their income on school-related costs. Due to the poor quality of chronically underfunded public education, many higher-income parents pay for private lessons and tutoring, worsening wealth-based inequality.
Egypt's underfunded health care system similarly faces significant challenges and the country's declining trends on several important health care indicators raise significant concerns for the right to health.
The health care system suffers chronic and severe shortages of resources. Doctors have reported paying out of pocket for essential hospital supplies like gloves and sutures. President Sisi in recent years acknowledged that salaries for doctors at public health care facilities, set by the government, are inadequate to retain qualified staff, citing a lack of resources.
Low public health care funding contributes to the growing number of nurses and doctors leaving the country, further undermining the availability of health care services. According to the Doctors' Syndicate, 11,536 doctors resigned from working in the public sector between 2019 and March 2022. Approximately 7,000 Egyptian doctors emigrated to work abroad in 2023 alone.
Egypt's doctor-to-population ratio was 6.71 for every 10,000 people in 2020, well below the WHO's minimum recommendation of 10. An independent 2024 study of Egyptian doctors working abroad found that low remuneration, poor working conditions, and a lack of medical equipment and supplies pushed them to leave. Egypt also has a shortage of 75,000 nurses, according to the head of the Nursing Syndicate.
The WHO estimated that more than 57 percent of health care expenses in Egypt were paid out of pocket in 2023. Out-of-pocket costs worsen health care inequalities by creating barriers to accessing health care based on the ability to pay. In 2024, President Sisi ratified law 87 on health facilities, which allows private investors to manage and operate public hospitals, a form of privatization, without imposing regulations to ensure universal access to these hospitals, such as by setting price caps.
Human Rights Watch wrote to the Egyptian ministries of education and health on December 22, 2025, to share its findings but did not receive a response.
The rights to education and health care are enshrined in international law, including in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, all of which Egypt has ratified.
Egypt has an obligation to take deliberate, concrete, and targeted steps to the maximum of its available resources to fulfil economic, social, and cultural rights. Egypt should guarantee free primary education and should also ensure high-quality health care is universally accessible for all, regardless of one's ability to pay.
Deliberate retrogressive measures, such as Egypt's reduction in spending on key elements affecting the rights of education and health care, are presumptively a violation of its obligations unless fully justified. Under international law, Egypt also has an obligation to protect the right to health by ensuring that privatization in the health sector does not pose threats to the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of health care.
“By systematically failing to meet constitutional spending requirements for education and health for many years, the government is neglecting the very sectors that would enable citizens to live with dignity and for the economy to thrive,” Magdi said. “This years-long failure shows that the government's talk of social and economic rights is essentially lip service.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).― Advertisement ―
Eritrea: Cultural and arts competitions organized by Ministry of Defense conclude
Download logo
Cultural and arts competitions (Walta Award), organized by the Ministry of Defense and conducted over a period of about three months, enthusiastically concluded on 2 January at Cinema Roma here in Asmara.
The competition covered dance, music, songs, drama, comedy, directing, painting, and short stories, and was participated in by groups from the Eastern Command, Western Command, Naval Force, Rapid Deployment Command, Central Command, Popular Forces Command, 74th Mechanized, Sawa National Service Training Center, as well as the administrative staff in Beleza.
The Egri-Mekel cultural troupe of the Central Command emerged as the overall winner.
According to the Promotion and Information Unit of the Central Command, upon arrival in Dekemhare on 3 January, the Egri-Mekel cultural troupe was accorded a warm welcome.
Capt. Berhane Arefaine, head of the Promotion and Information Unit of the Command, said that the competition contributed to enabling participants to identify their talents. He also expressed hope that the competition will continue annually in earnest.
Brig. Gen. Tekle Kiflai, Commander of the Central Command, congratulated the members of the cultural troupe and expressed the readiness of the Command to provide all necessary support for the troupe's development.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.More News
Eritrea: Cultural and arts competitions organized by Ministry of Defense conclude
Download logo
Cultural and arts competitions (Walta Award), organized by the Ministry of Defense and conducted over a period of about three months, enthusiastically concluded on 2 January at Cinema Roma here in Asmara.
The competition covered dance, music, songs, drama, comedy, directing, painting, and short stories, and was participated in by groups from the Eastern Command, Western Command, Naval Force, Rapid Deployment Command, Central Command, Popular Forces Command, 74th Mechanized, Sawa National Service Training Center, as well as the administrative staff in Beleza.
The Egri-Mekel cultural troupe of the Central Command emerged as the overall winner.
According to the Promotion and Information Unit of the Central Command, upon arrival in Dekemhare on 3 January, the Egri-Mekel cultural troupe was accorded a warm welcome.
Capt. Berhane Arefaine, head of the Promotion and Information Unit of the Command, said that the competition contributed to enabling participants to identify their talents. He also expressed hope that the competition will continue annually in earnest.
Brig. Gen. Tekle Kiflai, Commander of the Central Command, congratulated the members of the cultural troupe and expressed the readiness of the Command to provide all necessary support for the troupe's development.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.TECNO Glory Night Awards, Co-Hosted with TikTok Live and Confederation of African Football (CAF), Celebrated Africa’s Top Influencers and the “Power Your Moment” Spirit...
TECNO Glory Night Awards (www.TECNO-Mobile.in), jointly organized with TikTok Live and CAF, celebrated the creativity of pan-African KOLs powered by TECNO AI. With the launch of TECNO's "Power Your Moment" campaign during AFCON, this theme has been widely recognized by KOLs, stimulating the creation of a large amount of creative content and fully showcasing their power moments in everyone's lives.
As TECNO elevates its long-standing relationship with AFCON into its new title as the Official Global Partner, the brand gathered Africa's leading digital voices for a landmark celebration in Morocco. This signature event spotlighted the influencers whose creativity, authenticity, and cultural impact embody the spirit of "Power Your Moment."
The ceremony was conceived as a tribute to the individuals who, through their creativity, narrative power, and cultural impact, are shaping the future of digital expression across Africa. Influencers from more than twenty countries attended the evening, joined by AFCON football legends, media partners, and TECNO executives. Together, they formed a rare cross-section of talent, influence, and creative leadership.
Throughout the evening, TECNO presented five major awards, each recognizing a unique dimension of creative excellence. The award winners are as follows:
The Moment Excellence Award
Presented to influencers who best captured the emotional soul of "Power Your Moment," delivering stories filled with depth, authenticity, and resonance. These winners stood out through their compelling narratives that deeply resonated with audiences across Africa. Their content showcased authentic moments of triumph and emotion, creating powerful connections that exemplified what it means to truly "Power Your Moment." Through their creative storytelling and genuine engagement, they captured hearts and inspired communities, earning recognition for their ability to transform everyday experiences into memorable digital moments.
Winners:
Nigeria: @ ultimatekombo2
Tanzania: @ eng_makelele
Morocco: @ hajar_arssalanee
"This award represents every creator across Africa who believes their story matters," said @ ultimatekombo2 from Nigeria. "TECNO has given us the tools and platform to turn our everyday moments into something powerful. This recognition inspires me to continue creating content that resonates with our communities and showcases the beauty of our shared experiences."
The Moment King/Queen Award
Celebrating the influencers whose outstanding data performance, interactions, views, and follower growth, redefined true influence during the campaign. These creators dominated the digital landscape with content that not only captured attention but sustained engagement at remarkable levels. Their ability to consistently connect with massive audiences while driving meaningful interactions demonstrated their mastery of the platform and their genuine influence within their communities.
Winners:
Nigeria: @ liquorose_
Ivory Coast: @ MIMImimitiktok0101
Senegal: @ fallu_etsesvideos
The Creative Spark Award
Recognizing influencers who consistently push the boundaries of creativity, finding novelty in the ordinary and presenting imaginative, breakthrough content. These winners transformed simple concepts into extraordinary experiences through innovative approaches and fresh perspectives. Their work challenged conventions and inspired others to see familiar moments through new creative lenses, proving that innovation thrives when imagination meets authentic expression.
Winners:
Mali: @ sagaba1
Kenya: @ therealchiche
Morocco: @ brahimlogia
@ therealchiche from Kenya expressed her excitement: "Winning the Creative Spark Award pushes me to keep innovating and breaking boundaries. The #MyPowerMoment campaign challenged us to see creativity in new ways, and I'm honored that my vision connected with audiences across the continent. This is just the beginning of what African creators can achieve."
The Visual Master Award
Awarded to influencers whose works demonstrated exceptional visual artistry, mastery of composition, color, and light, turning every frame into an aesthetic experience. These creators elevated mobile photography and videography to an art form, crafting visually stunning content that captivated audiences. Their technical excellence combined with artistic vision resulted in content that didn't just tell stories but created immersive visual journeys.
Winners:
Egypt: @ ali_hustler
Nigeria: @ jennifrank29
Cameroon: @ mayole_francine
The TECNO Partner Award
A tribute to long-term creator partners who deeply align with TECNO's brand philosophy and especially contribute to the communication of TECNO AI. They are the true companions of the brand, resonating with TECNO's vision of blending technology with human inspiration. These partners have consistently demonstrated their commitment to showcasing how TECNO's innovative AI technology empowers creators to unlock their full potential and share their unique moments with the world.
Winners:
Uganda: @ solo.md
Senegal: @ cheikhetaltesse
Nigeria: @ izziboye
"Being recognized as a TECNO Partner means everything to me," shared @ solo.md from Uganda. "TECNO AI has transformed how I create content and connect with my audience. This partnership goes beyond technology, it's about believing in African voices and giving us the resources to amplify our messages. I'm proud to represent this vision and excited for what we'll build together."
The winners were selected through the #MyPowerMoment campaign, a continent-wide call for entries that invited creators to submit original photo or video content inspired by one of four themes: Power your Glory, Power your Rise, Power your Joy and Power your Creativity. Submissions captured moments of personal transformation, pure happiness, or imagination-driven expression, reflecting the diversity of stories that define African digital culture today.
The TECNO Glory Night Awards not only celebrated achievement, they reaffirmed the brand's commitment to empowering Africa's creative ecosystem. By bringing together influencers from across the continent at AFCON, TECNO strengthens the bridge between sport, technology, and culture.
The brand's investment in the creator community aligns with its ambition to foster deeper integration between its technology offerings and the cultural forces shaping African markets. This celebration is part of a wider effort to strengthen TECNO's association with AFCON, engage creators, and elevate KOL-driven campaigns through emotionally resonant content.
As the evening concluded, the atmosphere reflected a sense of collective pride, not only for the winners but for the continent's creative momentum. The Glory Night Awards marked a defining moment for Africa's next generation of storytellers, who now carry their trophies as symbols of recognition, visibility, and their rising role in shaping Africa's digital narrative.
The night may have ended, but the moments created will continue to shine, because with TECNO, every moment has the power to become extraordinary.
Along with KOL Night Awards, TECNO curated an exclusive product experience zone: brand guides walked Joeboy through its latest devices, spotlighting AI-driven photography features tailored for content creators—aligning with the "Power Your Moment" ethos. The demo let the artist test real-time editing tools, streamlining on-the-go creative workflows.
A highlight was the 3D photo station with TECNO AI : KOLs posed with the device, which offers boosted low-light performance and portrait optimization—key capabilities to elevate their visual content. Many snapped behind-the-scenes shots instantly, turning the experience into shareable moments that mirrored the event's festive energy.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of TECNO Mobile.About TECNO:
TECNO is an innovative, AI-driven technology brand operating in more than 70 countries across five continents. Committed to transforming the digital experience in emerging markets, the brand combines contemporary design, cutting-edge technology, and artificial intelligence. Today, TECNO offers a comprehensive AI-powered ecosystem, including smartphones, wearables, laptops, tablets, intelligent gaming devices, the HiOS operating system, and smart home solutions. Guided by its “Stop At Nothing” philosophy, TECNO continues to lead the adoption of advanced technologies and encourages individuals to relentlessly pursue the best version of themselves.
Egypt: Declining Funding Undermines Education, Health Care
Download logo
The Egyptian government has severely undermined the rights to education and health care by failing to allocate sufficient spending, falling short of constitutional obligations and international benchmarks, Human Rights Watch said today. It is failing to ensure free primary education for every child and quality health care accessible to all.
Inadequate funding has contributed to severe shortages and high costs. Egypt has a shortage of hundreds of thousands of classrooms and teachers while the health care system suffers from low salaries, an inadequate doctor-to-population ratio, and a lack of 75,000 nurses. Families pay school fees and out-of-pocket costs, a majority of health care expenses are paid out of pocket, and doctors are personally paying for essential hospital supplies.
“The Egyptian government has failed for years to adequately ensure the rights of education and health for everyone, as demonstrated by its chronic underfunding,” said Amr Magdi, senior Middle East and North Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The lack of adequate funding for health and education demonstrates the government's deep indifference toward its citizens' rights.”
Human Rights Watch analysis found that, over the past five years, education spending in Egypt has consistently decreased in inflation-adjusted terms and as a percentage of total government expenditure and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Health care spending has mostly decreased in inflation-adjusted terms but fluctuated as a percentage of total expenditure and GDP.
In fiscal year 2025-26, which began July 1, 2025, the government proposed and parliament approved an education budget of 315 billion Egyptian pounds (about US$6.3 billion), equivalent to 1.5 percent of Egypt's GDP and about 4.7 percent of government expenditure. Human Rights Watch analysis found that this is the lowest percentage of the budget allocated for education since at least 2019. In inflation-adjusted terms, Human Rights Watch found that spending on education decreased 10 percent from 2024/25 and is 39 percent lower than in 2013/14 or 2014/15, when President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi came to power.
Egypt's 2014 Constitution requires the government to spend no less than 6 percent of GDP on education. Prevailing international benchmarks recommend 4 to 6 percent of GDP and at least 15 to 20 percent of public expenditure. Human Rights Watch's calculation for 2025-26 spending as a percent of GDP would place Egypt in the 12th percentile of all lower middle-income countries, spending less than 88 percent of similarly situated countries.
The current year's health budget of 245 billion pounds (about $4.9 billion) is equivalent to just 1.1 percent of Egypt's GPD and 3.6 percent of total government expenditure. Human Rights Watch found that the budgets from 2021/22 to 2025/26 fluctuated between 1 and 1.4 percent of GDP, never reaching even half the minimum 3 percent the constitution requires.
After adjusting for inflation, health spending in 2025/26 is only 2 percent higher than the prior year and remains 4 percent lower than in 2022/23. When taking population growth into account, per person spending is flat over the last three years.
Egypt's health spending is also significantly below international benchmarks. The Abuja Declaration of 2001, which Egypt signed, included a pledge to allocate 15 percent of government expenditure to health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimatedthat providing universal health coverage, an important element of the right to health, generally requires governments to spend at least 5 to 6 percent of their GDP on health care, four to five times Egypt's current allocation. Egypt adopted a landmark Universal Health Insurance Lawin 2018, which aims to achieve full coverage by 2030.
As in prior years, the government falsely claimed that its 2025/26 budget met constitutional spending minimums for health and education by including extraneous budget lines, such as debt servicing, in its calculations. In 2022, Egypt spent more than twice as much servicing its external public debt per capita than it spent on health care.
Human Rights Watch has previously found that Egypt's declining funding is severely undermining education, raising significant human rights concerns. The government has acknowledged shortages of hundreds of thousands of teachers and classrooms. Public schools charge nominal fees, waived for some low income students, violating Egypt's obligation under the constitution and international human rights law to provide free primary education.
In 2019, families with children in school spent an average of 10.4 percent of their income on school-related costs. Due to the poor quality of chronically underfunded public education, many higher-income parents pay for private lessons and tutoring, worsening wealth-based inequality.
Egypt's underfunded health care system similarly faces significant challenges and the country's declining trends on several important health care indicators raise significant concerns for the right to health.
The health care system suffers chronic and severe shortages of resources. Doctors have reported paying out of pocket for essential hospital supplies like gloves and sutures. President Sisi in recent years acknowledged that salaries for doctors at public health care facilities, set by the government, are inadequate to retain qualified staff, citing a lack of resources.
Low public health care funding contributes to the growing number of nurses and doctors leaving the country, further undermining the availability of health care services. According to the Doctors' Syndicate, 11,536 doctors resigned from working in the public sector between 2019 and March 2022. Approximately 7,000 Egyptian doctors emigrated to work abroad in 2023 alone.
Egypt's doctor-to-population ratio was 6.71 for every 10,000 people in 2020, well below the WHO's minimum recommendation of 10. An independent 2024 study of Egyptian doctors working abroad found that low remuneration, poor working conditions, and a lack of medical equipment and supplies pushed them to leave. Egypt also has a shortage of 75,000 nurses, according to the head of the Nursing Syndicate.
The WHO estimated that more than 57 percent of health care expenses in Egypt were paid out of pocket in 2023. Out-of-pocket costs worsen health care inequalities by creating barriers to accessing health care based on the ability to pay. In 2024, President Sisi ratified law 87 on health facilities, which allows private investors to manage and operate public hospitals, a form of privatization, without imposing regulations to ensure universal access to these hospitals, such as by setting price caps.
Human Rights Watch wrote to the Egyptian ministries of education and health on December 22, 2025, to share its findings but did not receive a response.
The rights to education and health care are enshrined in international law, including in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, all of which Egypt has ratified.
Egypt has an obligation to take deliberate, concrete, and targeted steps to the maximum of its available resources to fulfil economic, social, and cultural rights. Egypt should guarantee free primary education and should also ensure high-quality health care is universally accessible for all, regardless of one's ability to pay.
Deliberate retrogressive measures, such as Egypt's reduction in spending on key elements affecting the rights of education and health care, are presumptively a violation of its obligations unless fully justified. Under international law, Egypt also has an obligation to protect the right to health by ensuring that privatization in the health sector does not pose threats to the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of health care.
“By systematically failing to meet constitutional spending requirements for education and health for many years, the government is neglecting the very sectors that would enable citizens to live with dignity and for the economy to thrive,” Magdi said. “This years-long failure shows that the government's talk of social and economic rights is essentially lip service.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).Explore more
Eritrea: Cultural and arts competitions organized by Ministry of Defense conclude
Download logo
Cultural and arts competitions (Walta Award), organized by the Ministry of Defense and conducted over a period of about three months, enthusiastically concluded on 2 January at Cinema Roma here in Asmara.
The competition covered dance, music, songs, drama, comedy, directing, painting, and short stories, and was participated in by groups from the Eastern Command, Western Command, Naval Force, Rapid Deployment Command, Central Command, Popular Forces Command, 74th Mechanized, Sawa National Service Training Center, as well as the administrative staff in Beleza.
The Egri-Mekel cultural troupe of the Central Command emerged as the overall winner.
According to the Promotion and Information Unit of the Central Command, upon arrival in Dekemhare on 3 January, the Egri-Mekel cultural troupe was accorded a warm welcome.
Capt. Berhane Arefaine, head of the Promotion and Information Unit of the Command, said that the competition contributed to enabling participants to identify their talents. He also expressed hope that the competition will continue annually in earnest.
Brig. Gen. Tekle Kiflai, Commander of the Central Command, congratulated the members of the cultural troupe and expressed the readiness of the Command to provide all necessary support for the troupe's development.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.TECNO Glory Night Awards, Co-Hosted with TikTok Live and Confederation of African Football (CAF), Celebrated Africa’s Top Influencers and the “Power Your Moment” Spirit...
TECNO Glory Night Awards (www.TECNO-Mobile.in), jointly organized with TikTok Live and CAF, celebrated the creativity of pan-African KOLs powered by TECNO AI. With the launch of TECNO's "Power Your Moment" campaign during AFCON, this theme has been widely recognized by KOLs, stimulating the creation of a large amount of creative content and fully showcasing their power moments in everyone's lives.
As TECNO elevates its long-standing relationship with AFCON into its new title as the Official Global Partner, the brand gathered Africa's leading digital voices for a landmark celebration in Morocco. This signature event spotlighted the influencers whose creativity, authenticity, and cultural impact embody the spirit of "Power Your Moment."
The ceremony was conceived as a tribute to the individuals who, through their creativity, narrative power, and cultural impact, are shaping the future of digital expression across Africa. Influencers from more than twenty countries attended the evening, joined by AFCON football legends, media partners, and TECNO executives. Together, they formed a rare cross-section of talent, influence, and creative leadership.
Throughout the evening, TECNO presented five major awards, each recognizing a unique dimension of creative excellence. The award winners are as follows:
The Moment Excellence Award
Presented to influencers who best captured the emotional soul of "Power Your Moment," delivering stories filled with depth, authenticity, and resonance. These winners stood out through their compelling narratives that deeply resonated with audiences across Africa. Their content showcased authentic moments of triumph and emotion, creating powerful connections that exemplified what it means to truly "Power Your Moment." Through their creative storytelling and genuine engagement, they captured hearts and inspired communities, earning recognition for their ability to transform everyday experiences into memorable digital moments.
Winners:
Nigeria: @ ultimatekombo2
Tanzania: @ eng_makelele
Morocco: @ hajar_arssalanee
"This award represents every creator across Africa who believes their story matters," said @ ultimatekombo2 from Nigeria. "TECNO has given us the tools and platform to turn our everyday moments into something powerful. This recognition inspires me to continue creating content that resonates with our communities and showcases the beauty of our shared experiences."
The Moment King/Queen Award
Celebrating the influencers whose outstanding data performance, interactions, views, and follower growth, redefined true influence during the campaign. These creators dominated the digital landscape with content that not only captured attention but sustained engagement at remarkable levels. Their ability to consistently connect with massive audiences while driving meaningful interactions demonstrated their mastery of the platform and their genuine influence within their communities.
Winners:
Nigeria: @ liquorose_
Ivory Coast: @ MIMImimitiktok0101
Senegal: @ fallu_etsesvideos
The Creative Spark Award
Recognizing influencers who consistently push the boundaries of creativity, finding novelty in the ordinary and presenting imaginative, breakthrough content. These winners transformed simple concepts into extraordinary experiences through innovative approaches and fresh perspectives. Their work challenged conventions and inspired others to see familiar moments through new creative lenses, proving that innovation thrives when imagination meets authentic expression.
Winners:
Mali: @ sagaba1
Kenya: @ therealchiche
Morocco: @ brahimlogia
@ therealchiche from Kenya expressed her excitement: "Winning the Creative Spark Award pushes me to keep innovating and breaking boundaries. The #MyPowerMoment campaign challenged us to see creativity in new ways, and I'm honored that my vision connected with audiences across the continent. This is just the beginning of what African creators can achieve."
The Visual Master Award
Awarded to influencers whose works demonstrated exceptional visual artistry, mastery of composition, color, and light, turning every frame into an aesthetic experience. These creators elevated mobile photography and videography to an art form, crafting visually stunning content that captivated audiences. Their technical excellence combined with artistic vision resulted in content that didn't just tell stories but created immersive visual journeys.
Winners:
Egypt: @ ali_hustler
Nigeria: @ jennifrank29
Cameroon: @ mayole_francine
The TECNO Partner Award
A tribute to long-term creator partners who deeply align with TECNO's brand philosophy and especially contribute to the communication of TECNO AI. They are the true companions of the brand, resonating with TECNO's vision of blending technology with human inspiration. These partners have consistently demonstrated their commitment to showcasing how TECNO's innovative AI technology empowers creators to unlock their full potential and share their unique moments with the world.
Winners:
Uganda: @ solo.md
Senegal: @ cheikhetaltesse
Nigeria: @ izziboye
"Being recognized as a TECNO Partner means everything to me," shared @ solo.md from Uganda. "TECNO AI has transformed how I create content and connect with my audience. This partnership goes beyond technology, it's about believing in African voices and giving us the resources to amplify our messages. I'm proud to represent this vision and excited for what we'll build together."
The winners were selected through the #MyPowerMoment campaign, a continent-wide call for entries that invited creators to submit original photo or video content inspired by one of four themes: Power your Glory, Power your Rise, Power your Joy and Power your Creativity. Submissions captured moments of personal transformation, pure happiness, or imagination-driven expression, reflecting the diversity of stories that define African digital culture today.
The TECNO Glory Night Awards not only celebrated achievement, they reaffirmed the brand's commitment to empowering Africa's creative ecosystem. By bringing together influencers from across the continent at AFCON, TECNO strengthens the bridge between sport, technology, and culture.
The brand's investment in the creator community aligns with its ambition to foster deeper integration between its technology offerings and the cultural forces shaping African markets. This celebration is part of a wider effort to strengthen TECNO's association with AFCON, engage creators, and elevate KOL-driven campaigns through emotionally resonant content.
As the evening concluded, the atmosphere reflected a sense of collective pride, not only for the winners but for the continent's creative momentum. The Glory Night Awards marked a defining moment for Africa's next generation of storytellers, who now carry their trophies as symbols of recognition, visibility, and their rising role in shaping Africa's digital narrative.
The night may have ended, but the moments created will continue to shine, because with TECNO, every moment has the power to become extraordinary.
Along with KOL Night Awards, TECNO curated an exclusive product experience zone: brand guides walked Joeboy through its latest devices, spotlighting AI-driven photography features tailored for content creators—aligning with the "Power Your Moment" ethos. The demo let the artist test real-time editing tools, streamlining on-the-go creative workflows.
A highlight was the 3D photo station with TECNO AI : KOLs posed with the device, which offers boosted low-light performance and portrait optimization—key capabilities to elevate their visual content. Many snapped behind-the-scenes shots instantly, turning the experience into shareable moments that mirrored the event's festive energy.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of TECNO Mobile.About TECNO:
TECNO is an innovative, AI-driven technology brand operating in more than 70 countries across five continents. Committed to transforming the digital experience in emerging markets, the brand combines contemporary design, cutting-edge technology, and artificial intelligence. Today, TECNO offers a comprehensive AI-powered ecosystem, including smartphones, wearables, laptops, tablets, intelligent gaming devices, the HiOS operating system, and smart home solutions. Guided by its “Stop At Nothing” philosophy, TECNO continues to lead the adoption of advanced technologies and encourages individuals to relentlessly pursue the best version of themselves.
Egypt: Declining Funding Undermines Education, Health Care
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The Egyptian government has severely undermined the rights to education and health care by failing to allocate sufficient spending, falling short of constitutional obligations and international benchmarks, Human Rights Watch said today. It is failing to ensure free primary education for every child and quality health care accessible to all.
Inadequate funding has contributed to severe shortages and high costs. Egypt has a shortage of hundreds of thousands of classrooms and teachers while the health care system suffers from low salaries, an inadequate doctor-to-population ratio, and a lack of 75,000 nurses. Families pay school fees and out-of-pocket costs, a majority of health care expenses are paid out of pocket, and doctors are personally paying for essential hospital supplies.
“The Egyptian government has failed for years to adequately ensure the rights of education and health for everyone, as demonstrated by its chronic underfunding,” said Amr Magdi, senior Middle East and North Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The lack of adequate funding for health and education demonstrates the government's deep indifference toward its citizens' rights.”
Human Rights Watch analysis found that, over the past five years, education spending in Egypt has consistently decreased in inflation-adjusted terms and as a percentage of total government expenditure and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Health care spending has mostly decreased in inflation-adjusted terms but fluctuated as a percentage of total expenditure and GDP.
In fiscal year 2025-26, which began July 1, 2025, the government proposed and parliament approved an education budget of 315 billion Egyptian pounds (about US$6.3 billion), equivalent to 1.5 percent of Egypt's GDP and about 4.7 percent of government expenditure. Human Rights Watch analysis found that this is the lowest percentage of the budget allocated for education since at least 2019. In inflation-adjusted terms, Human Rights Watch found that spending on education decreased 10 percent from 2024/25 and is 39 percent lower than in 2013/14 or 2014/15, when President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi came to power.
Egypt's 2014 Constitution requires the government to spend no less than 6 percent of GDP on education. Prevailing international benchmarks recommend 4 to 6 percent of GDP and at least 15 to 20 percent of public expenditure. Human Rights Watch's calculation for 2025-26 spending as a percent of GDP would place Egypt in the 12th percentile of all lower middle-income countries, spending less than 88 percent of similarly situated countries.
The current year's health budget of 245 billion pounds (about $4.9 billion) is equivalent to just 1.1 percent of Egypt's GPD and 3.6 percent of total government expenditure. Human Rights Watch found that the budgets from 2021/22 to 2025/26 fluctuated between 1 and 1.4 percent of GDP, never reaching even half the minimum 3 percent the constitution requires.
After adjusting for inflation, health spending in 2025/26 is only 2 percent higher than the prior year and remains 4 percent lower than in 2022/23. When taking population growth into account, per person spending is flat over the last three years.
Egypt's health spending is also significantly below international benchmarks. The Abuja Declaration of 2001, which Egypt signed, included a pledge to allocate 15 percent of government expenditure to health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimatedthat providing universal health coverage, an important element of the right to health, generally requires governments to spend at least 5 to 6 percent of their GDP on health care, four to five times Egypt's current allocation. Egypt adopted a landmark Universal Health Insurance Lawin 2018, which aims to achieve full coverage by 2030.
As in prior years, the government falsely claimed that its 2025/26 budget met constitutional spending minimums for health and education by including extraneous budget lines, such as debt servicing, in its calculations. In 2022, Egypt spent more than twice as much servicing its external public debt per capita than it spent on health care.
Human Rights Watch has previously found that Egypt's declining funding is severely undermining education, raising significant human rights concerns. The government has acknowledged shortages of hundreds of thousands of teachers and classrooms. Public schools charge nominal fees, waived for some low income students, violating Egypt's obligation under the constitution and international human rights law to provide free primary education.
In 2019, families with children in school spent an average of 10.4 percent of their income on school-related costs. Due to the poor quality of chronically underfunded public education, many higher-income parents pay for private lessons and tutoring, worsening wealth-based inequality.
Egypt's underfunded health care system similarly faces significant challenges and the country's declining trends on several important health care indicators raise significant concerns for the right to health.
The health care system suffers chronic and severe shortages of resources. Doctors have reported paying out of pocket for essential hospital supplies like gloves and sutures. President Sisi in recent years acknowledged that salaries for doctors at public health care facilities, set by the government, are inadequate to retain qualified staff, citing a lack of resources.
Low public health care funding contributes to the growing number of nurses and doctors leaving the country, further undermining the availability of health care services. According to the Doctors' Syndicate, 11,536 doctors resigned from working in the public sector between 2019 and March 2022. Approximately 7,000 Egyptian doctors emigrated to work abroad in 2023 alone.
Egypt's doctor-to-population ratio was 6.71 for every 10,000 people in 2020, well below the WHO's minimum recommendation of 10. An independent 2024 study of Egyptian doctors working abroad found that low remuneration, poor working conditions, and a lack of medical equipment and supplies pushed them to leave. Egypt also has a shortage of 75,000 nurses, according to the head of the Nursing Syndicate.
The WHO estimated that more than 57 percent of health care expenses in Egypt were paid out of pocket in 2023. Out-of-pocket costs worsen health care inequalities by creating barriers to accessing health care based on the ability to pay. In 2024, President Sisi ratified law 87 on health facilities, which allows private investors to manage and operate public hospitals, a form of privatization, without imposing regulations to ensure universal access to these hospitals, such as by setting price caps.
Human Rights Watch wrote to the Egyptian ministries of education and health on December 22, 2025, to share its findings but did not receive a response.
The rights to education and health care are enshrined in international law, including in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, all of which Egypt has ratified.
Egypt has an obligation to take deliberate, concrete, and targeted steps to the maximum of its available resources to fulfil economic, social, and cultural rights. Egypt should guarantee free primary education and should also ensure high-quality health care is universally accessible for all, regardless of one's ability to pay.
Deliberate retrogressive measures, such as Egypt's reduction in spending on key elements affecting the rights of education and health care, are presumptively a violation of its obligations unless fully justified. Under international law, Egypt also has an obligation to protect the right to health by ensuring that privatization in the health sector does not pose threats to the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of health care.
“By systematically failing to meet constitutional spending requirements for education and health for many years, the government is neglecting the very sectors that would enable citizens to live with dignity and for the economy to thrive,” Magdi said. “This years-long failure shows that the government's talk of social and economic rights is essentially lip service.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).APO Group Congratulates Clients and Partners Named on New African’s 100 Most Influential Africans List
APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading multi-award-winning, pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, congratulates its clients and partners recognised by New African magazine on the 2025 “100 Most Influential Africans” list, including Afreximbank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), Africa Finance Corporation, the Roman Catholic Church, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the African Energy Chamber, the Merck Foundation, and the UN Global Compact, as well as all honourees recognised for their leadership and impact on Africa's progress.
The New African list serves as a leading benchmark of influence across the continent, highlighting individuals and institutions whose work significantly contributes to Africa's economic growth, social development, and global standing.
APO Group celebrates the accomplishments of its clients and partners, whose leadership, innovation, and resilience continue to drive Africa's advancement across finance, energy, healthcare, public health, faith-based leadership, and international cooperation.
In finance and development, Dr. George Elombi, President and Chairman of Afreximbank, and Prof. Benedict Oramah, whose decade-long tenure concluded in October 2025, are recognised for their leadership in strengthening intra-African trade and economic resilience. Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), is honoured for his role in financing development and promoting inclusive and sustainable growth across the continent. Samaila Zubairu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Africa Finance Corporation, is noted for his contribution to Africa's infrastructure development and economic transformation.
In the business category, NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, is recognised for advancing Africa's energy agenda and championing pragmatic, Africa-led energy solutions. Dr. Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer of the Merck Foundation, is honoured for her transformative leadership in expanding healthcare access, education, and medical capacity building across Africa.
Faith-based leadership is also recognised, with the Head of the Roman Catholic Church in Africa, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, acknowledged through its institutional leadership for its long-standing contribution to education, healthcare delivery, peacebuilding, and community support across the continent.
In the public health category, Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), is recognised for his decisive leadership in strengthening Africa's health security architecture. Under his stewardship, Africa CDC has enhanced epidemic preparedness, coordinated continental responses to public health emergencies, and reinforced Africa's capacity to respond to an era increasingly shaped by complex and persistent health threats.
In the public and international cooperation category, Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chief Executive Officer of the UN Global Compact, is recognised for advancing sustainable development, responsible business practices, and global partnerships aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com), Founder and Chairman of APO Group, who was himself named on the New African “100 Most Influential Africans” list in both 2024 and 2025, said:
“We are proud to see our clients and partners recognised for their impact across business, finance, healthcare, faith-based institutions, public health, and international cooperation. APO Group is honoured to serve as a communications partner to organisations and leaders driving meaningful change across the continent, ensuring their voices are heard and their contributions recognised worldwide.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.Media contact:
marie@apo-opa.com
About APO Group:
Founded in 2007, APO Group (www.APO-opa.com) is the leading award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service. Renowned for our deep-rooted African expertise and expansive global perspective, we specialise in elevating the reputation and brand equity of private and public organisations across Africa. As a trusted partner, our mission is to harness the power of media, crafting bespoke strategies that drive tangible, measurable impact both on the continent and globally.
Our commitment to excellence and innovation has been recognised with multiple prestigious awards, including a PRovoke Media Global SABRE Award and multiple PRovoke Media Africa SABRE Awards. In 2023, we were named the Leading Public Relations Firm Africa and the Leading Pan-African Communications Consultancy Africa in the World Business Outlook Awards, and the Best Public Relations and Media Consultancy of the Year South Africa in 2024 in the same awards. In 2025, Brands Review Magazine acknowledged us as the Leading Communications Consultancy in Africa for the second consecutive year. They also named us the Best PR Agency and the Leading Press Release Distribution Platform in Africa in 2024. Additionally, in 2025, we were honoured with the Gold distinction for Best PR Campaign and Bronze in the Special Event category at the Davos Communications Awards.
APO Group's esteemed clientele, which includes global giants such as Canon, Nestlé, Western Union, the UNDP, Network International, African Energy Chamber, Mercy Ships, Marriott, Africa's Business Heroes, and Liquid Intelligent Technologies, reflects our unparalleled ability to navigate the complex African media landscape. With a multicultural team across Africa, we offer unmatched, truly pan-African insights, expertise, and reach across the continent. APO Group is dedicated to reshaping narratives about Africa, challenging stereotypes, and bringing inspiring African stories to global audiences, with our expertise in developing and supporting public relations campaigns worldwide uniquely positioning us to amplify brand messaging, enhance reputations, and connect effectively with target audiences.
Joint Statement between the African Union Commission and the United Arab Emirates
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On 6 January 2026, the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) held a high-level meeting in Addis Ababa between H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AUC, and H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of State.
The meeting built on the first round of political consultations held in Abu Dhabi on 13 September 2025, within the framework of the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding, and reaffirmed the shared commitment of both sides to further strengthening the UAE–AU partnership.
Both sides reviewed progress achieved since the inaugural consultations, exchanged views on priority areas of cooperation, and reaffirmed their commitment to sustained political dialogue.
They converged on the centrality of Agenda 2063, in particular the flagship initiative “Silencing the Guns by 2030,” as well as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), underscoring the mutually reinforcing relationship between peace, security, trade and development. In this regard, they agreed to intensify cooperation in support of these strategic priorities, recognizing that durable peace underpins economic integration, while expanded trade and investment contribute to stability, resilience and sustainable development in Africa.
Both sides welcomed the UAE's launch of the USD 1 billion “AI for Development” initiative, announced at the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg in November 2025, and affirmed its potential to support Africa's development priorities through innovation and digital transformation.
The Chairperson and the Minister exchanged views on peace and security dynamics in the Horn of Africa, underscoring the close interdependence between stability in the Horn of Africa and security in the Arabian Gulf, including with regard to maritime security and regional prosperity.
On Sudan, both sides underscored the need for an immediate unconditional humanitarian truce, a permanent ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access throughout Sudan, accountability for violations of international humanitarian law, and establishing an independent civilian-led government reflecting the aspirations of the Sudanese people.
Both sides recalled the statement issued jointly by the African Union Commission and IGAD on 14 September 2025, welcoming the QUAD 12 September 2025 Joint Statement. They further recalled the High-Level Humanitarian Conference convened on the margins of the AU Summit in February 2025, welcomed regional and international efforts to address the humanitarian crisis, and condemned atrocities committed against civilians by the warring parties. They also reaffirmed support for Sudan's territorial integrity, and unity, and the imperative of a peaceful settlement.
On Somalia, both sides reaffirmed their support for Somalia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and stability.
Both sides reaffirmed that the occupation of the three islands of the United Arab Emirates (Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa) by Iran constitutes a violation of the sovereignty of the UAE and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
They reiterated their support for the UAE's call for a peaceful resolution of the dispute on the three islands, in accordance with international law, including through bilateral negotiations or the International Court of Justice.
Against the backdrop of the 2026 AU theme on water and sanitation, both sides highlighted the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, to be co-hosted by the UAE and the Republic of Senegal, as a key opportunity to advance global action on water resilience. They agreed to cooperate closely, towards tangible, action-oriented deliverables and measurable impact across Africa, through initiatives, such as the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening AUC–UAE cooperation across shared priorities in support of peace, stability and sustainable development.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) and Africa’s Gas Future: A Flexible Solution for Accelerated Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Development
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Floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) is rapidly emerging as a cornerstone of Africa's gas development strategy, as the continent prepares for a sharp rise in demand and seeks faster, more resilient pathways to market. According to the African Energy Chamber's (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.Org) State of African Energy 2026 Outlook, Africa's natural gas demand is projected to increase by 60% by 2050, underscoring the urgency of bringing new supply online efficiently and at scale. At the same time, Africa already hosts the highest concentration of FLNG infrastructure globally, positioning the continent as a natural testbed for floating solutions that monetize offshore resources while mitigating above-ground risks.
Accelerated FLNG Deployment
Early FLNG successes are already reshaping development models across the continent. Cameroon's Hilli Episeyo FLNG project stands as Africa's first operational FLNG facility and a global reference point. Brought online in record time, the project demonstrated how FLNG can rapidly unlock gas exports from relatively modest reserves. Since then, Africa's FLNG market has expanded, with several projects now under development or in operation.
On the maritime border of Senegal and Mauritania, the Gimi FLNG vessel – situated at the bp-led Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG development and operated by Golar LNG – reached its commercial operations date in 2025. As the first FLNG unit deployed in the MSGBC region, the vessel will monetize up to 15 trillion cubic feet of gas through a 20-year Lease and Operate Agreement.
In Gabon, Perenco is developing the Cap Lopez FLNG project with a capacity of 700,000 tons per year, starting in 2026, with the unit being built by Dixstone. Offshore Nigeria, UTM Offshore is developing an FLNG facility at the deepwater Yoho field, a $5 billion project progressing toward FID. As Africa positions itself for the next phase of gas-led growth, FLNG stands out as a practical, future-focused solution – one that aligns technical innovation with the continent's urgent development needs and long-term energy ambitions.
Implications for the Sector
One of FLNG's most compelling advantages is scalability. Unlike onshore LNG developments, which require extensive land acquisition, supporting infrastructure and long construction timelines, FLNG facilities can be deployed in phases and scaled according to reservoir performance and market demand. This modular approach reduces upfront capital requirements and allows producers to accelerate first gas while preserving optionality for expansion. The Congo LNG project illustrates this approach: following phase one operations in 2023, operator Eni moved quickly toward phase two, bringing production online in 2025 – just 35 months after construction began and six months ahead of schedule. With first exports set for 2026, the project demonstrates how FLNG can be developed at speed and scale.
FLNG also helps mitigate above-ground risks – an issue shaping gas development strategies across Africa. Mozambique offers a clear example. Despite hosting some of the world's largest gas discoveries, security challenges in Cabo Delgado caused delays and force majeure declarations on major onshore LNG projects. Offshore FLNG developments, however, have proven more resilient. Eni brought the Coral Sul FLNG project online in 2022, with the Coral Norte FLNG project reaching a $7.2 billion FID in 2025. While projects such as Mozambique LNG and Rovuma LNG faced delays, Coral utilized FLNG to reduce exposure to onshore security threats and logistical bottlenecks, enabling continued operations even in complex environments.
Making Energy Poverty History Through Gas
Beyond speed and resilience, FLNG could become a catalyst for Africa's broader economic development. By reducing capital intensity and shortening development timelines, FLNG improves project bankability and attracts a wider pool of investors. It also supports gas-to-power strategies, petrochemical development and regional energy security by enabling monetization of gas that might otherwise remain stranded for years.
However, FLNG is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Successful deployment requires robust regulatory frameworks, clear fiscal terms and strong collaboration between governments, operators and financiers. When aligned with national gas master plans and long-term industrial strategies, FLNG can serve as a powerful bridge between exploration success and sustainable economic impact.
These discussions will be central at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, where governments and industry leaders will explore how floating solutions can unlock Africa's vast gas potential while managing risk and accelerating timelines. AEW continues to provide a critical platform for sharing lessons learned, advancing project dialogue and mobilizing capital into innovative LNG developments.
“FLNG is changing the game for African gas producers. It allows countries to monetize resources faster, reduce exposure to security and infrastructure risks, and generate revenues that can be reinvested into broader development. When deployed strategically, FLNG can help Africa turn gas discoveries into energy security, industrial growth and real economic transformation,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.Appointment of Director General of the Seychelles Intelligence Service
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The Office of the President has today announced the appointment of Mr. Sabry Khan as Director General of the Seychelles Intelligence Service (SIS).
The appointment follows recommendations made to the President by the National Security Council, and following consultation with the Defence and Security Committee of the National Assembly.
The appointment is in accordance with the provisions of the Seychelles Intelligence Service Act of 2018.
The general functions of the Seychelles Intelligence Service are to establish mechanisms for detecting any threats to the security of Seychelles and its institutions, and to protect the security of Seychelles. It will work in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and public institutions.
Mr. Khan brings extensive experience in national security, law enforcement, and intelligence-related operations, with a strong background in aviation security, inter-agency coordination, and strategic risk management. His professional career spans senior leadership roles within the Seychelles Police Force, Air Seychelles, and the Seychelles Airport Authority, where he has worked closely with national security institutions in safeguarding critical infrastructure and national interests.
Mr. Sabry Khan's appointment takes effect on 6th January 2026.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.
