Month: May 2023

Tunisia is taking part in the work of the second ministerial retreat of the Council of Ministers on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) from May 29 to 31, 2023, in Nairobi, Kenya.

This meeting aims to draw up a detailed roadmap to complete the agenda of the AfCFTA Secretariat for the current negotiations and to identify the specific priorities for achieving the slogan: "Accelerating the implementation of the AfCFTA", chosen by the African Union for the year 2023.

Minister of Trade and Export Development, Kalthoum Ben Rejeb, and Director General of Tunisian Customs, Najet Jaouadi, are representing Tunisia at this meeting, says a press release issued on Monday by the Department of Trade.

The second ministerial retreat of the Council of Ministers is an opportunity for the trade ministers of the AfCFTA region to exchange views on several issues, including the blocked files linked to the negotiations on rules of origin.

These include the automotive components sectors, textiles and clothing, and certain issues relating to the investment protocol annexed to the agreement.

Transit trade and the possible drop in customs revenues as a result of the application of the customs cuts mentioned in the agreement will be discussed by the participants on this occasion.

They will also examine the dossier linked to negotiations on the liberalisation of trade in services and basic agricultural products, as well as the role of the African private sector in the implementation of this agreement, the same source said.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Two French nationals had been killed and two others injured on Saturday in a crash of two ultra-light aircraft in Chott Jerid, Spokesperson for the Civil Protection announced, indicating that the incident had taken place on the borders between Tozeur and Kebili governorates, south-east of Tunisia.

The first aircraft had been carrying two French nationals aged 60 and 62, both slightly injured, while the second aircraft had caught fire with on board the pilot and his companion, aged 78 and 55, the spokesman added.

Rescue teams from the Tozeur Local Civil Protection Directorate were deployed to the scene and rescued the two injured before transporting the two charred bodies from the Chott Jerid area to the Tozeur local hospital, reads a Civil Protection press release.

The spokesperson further indicated that a helicopter had been used by an air force unit to find the two aircraft, making it easier to locate them and intervene in time with all due efficiency.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunisia observes on May 29, with all the United Nations Member States, the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, which marks, this year, the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the first peacekeeping mission under the banner of the United Nations, celebrated under the theme "Peace Begins with Me."

Tunisia seizes this opportunity to renew its call for a more comprehensive concept of international peace and security, based on international cooperation and solidarity and on a common understanding of the root causes of conflicts, in a way that would help achieve equitable and sustainable development for all countries and peoples, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad statement.

Since its first participation in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1960, Tunisia has been considered among the most important contributors to UN peacekeeping missions, given its conviction about the pivotal role played by these missions in order to protect civilians, support peacebuilding efforts and provide security in conflict contexts.

Tunisia's current contribution of about 1,000 military, police and corrections personnel, women and men, to UN missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Sudan, South Sudan, Mali and Abyei, is testimony to our country's full involvement in this international multilateral instrument as a means to build sustainable peace and security, protect civilians, promote political solutions to crises and achieve recovery, reconstruction and development, despite the complexity of the areas of operations to which many UN peacekeeping missions are deployed and the volatile and dangerous working environments.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The "African Lion 2023" military exercise between Tunisian and American military formations is continuing for the third consecutive week in Tunisia, with the participation of observers from African countries.

The exercise is taking place at the Ben Ghilouf firing and manoeuvring range in the El Hamma delegation, according to a press release from the Ministry of Defence.

African Lion 2023 began on May 8 and will last until June 6, 2023. It aims to improve the operational capabilities of the Tunisian army through field exercises, joint manoeuvres and naval and air operations.

It also includes theoretical and practical courses in military engineering, cybersecurity, international law, and information and communication technologies.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The Cascades Water Agency (AEC) in support of the Noula Local Water Committee (CLE Noula) organized on May 26, 2023 an awareness workshop as part of the markup work on the easement strips of the Niofila dam. The High Commissioner of Leraba, Mahamadi Congo chaired this series of activities.

In order to acquire the real involvement of the actors in the realization and the protection of the banks of the water bodies of the Niofila dam, the CLE Noula initiated large-scale actions whose execution benefited from the support of the project " Eau, CLE du développement durable” (ECDD), implemented by the Dutch Development Organization (SNV) and World Waternet (WWn) consortium, with funding from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

It is from Thursday, May 25, 2023 that the project began with an awareness workshop for actors in the meeting room of the town hall of Douna, a rural town located 7 km east of Sindou, then the official handover of the site and the start of works on Friday, May 26, 2023 in Niofila, Douna department.

Took part in this series of activities, members of the CLE Noula office, local authorities, officials of the Defense and Security Forces, customary and religious authorities of Douna and Niofila, technical services, producers, resource persons and support staff.

It should be noted that the awareness session enabled local actors (populations concerned) to have direct and unfiltered exchanges with the various technical services for water and sanitation, the environment, livestock, agriculture and safety on the causes and consequences of the silting up of water bodies, on the methods of combating this phenomenon as well as the advantages and requirements linked to the biological and mechanical protection of banks .

The High Commissioner, Mahamadi Congo expressed his satisfaction and his confidence in the receptivity and adherence of all the actors concerned in relation to the project.

Source: Burkina Information Agency

On Monday, May 29, 2023, around 200 girls and women benefited from installation kits from the NGO Educo, during a trade fair, as part of training relating to female entrepreneurship.

This training activity of the NGO Educo, is part of the implementation of the project "Promotion of girls' access to a quality education and vocational training system" in the regions of the Sahel, North , East and Centre-North of Burkina Faso” (PROMESSE-FP).

Thus, about 200 girls and women were equipped in several areas of female entrepreneurship, during a fair organized by the NGO.

For the project coordinator, Sam Joseph Dabiré, this trades fair constitutes a favorable framework for connecting the actors of vocational training and the professionals of several trades with the beneficiaries.

According to him, the training will facilitate the acquisition of installation kits and the installation process of the beneficiaries.

It is planned as part of the implementation of the project, the creation of 1000 jobs for girls.

The North region hosted the first phase of the fair with the training and installation of participants for a total amount of 24 million CFA francs.

The governor of the North region, Raymond David Valentin Ouédraogo, who presided over the ceremony, invited the beneficiaries to take good care of the equipment received.

Mr. Ouédraogo also invited beneficiaries to be examples in their respective localities for the results set.

Source: Burkina Information Agency

The Civil Society Organizations of Orodara gathered within a provincial coordination organized on Sunday, May 28, 2023, a march-meeting in support of the President of the Transition, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, in his strategy reconquest of the national territory.

Leaving from the Faso Kadi cinema hall in Orodara, the walkers of the day were mainly composed of young people. On foot, on motorbikes, on bicycles and in vehicles, they beat the pavement to the Orodara High Commission.

Armed with Russian and Burkinabè flags, the marchers chanted slogans in honor of the president, Ibrahim Traoré.

Each other also held placards and banners containing messages of peace and support for Captain Traoré, the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) and the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) for their efforts. in reclaiming territory.

The various speakers were delighted with the strong mobilization around the march-meeting and invited the youth of Kénédougou to remain mobilized and united to support the actions of the captain, Ibrahim Traoré.

They also expressed their wishes to see the country regain its former tranquility.

On the occasion, the president of the Regional Youth Council of Hauts-Bassins, Omar Traoré thanked all the actors who worked in one way or another, to the success of the march-meeting.

He expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the youth delegation from Sikasso in Mali who made the trip to Orodara to support them.

The spokesperson for the demonstrators, Yaya Traoré, who is also president of the Kénédougou provincial youth council, delivered a message to the first official of the province.

In response, the High Commissioner of the province of Kénédougou, Saïdou Sakira thanked them for this peaceful march and also reassured them to convey their message to whom it may concern.

Source: Burkina Information Agency

The Burkinabè Head of State, Captain Ibrahim Traoré congratulated President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday for his "brilliant" re-election to the presidency, reaffirming his availability to work with him, for the strengthening of the relations of friendship and cooperation which unite Burkina Faso and the Republic of Türkiye.

"Mr. President, Your brilliant re-election to the supreme magistracy of Your country, following the presidential elections on Sunday, May 28, 2023, gives me the happy opportunity to address to you, on behalf of the people of Burkina Faso and on my own, my heartfelt congratulations and my best wishes for the fulfillment of your mandate.

I take this opportunity to reaffirm to You my availability to work with You to strengthen the relations of friendship and cooperation which unite Burkina Faso and the Republic of Türkiye”, wrote the President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, late in the night. May 28-29, 2023.

As a reminder, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was re-elected Sunday at the head of his country, with nearly 52% of the vote.

Source: Burkina Information Agency

The Association for Aid to Children in Distress in Burkina Faso (AAED), offered on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Ouahigouya, food to internally displaced persons and those living with disabilities . The handover ceremony took place in the presence of the Secretary General (SG) of the province of Yatenga, Pierre Claver Bansé.

According to the former deputy and president of the Association for Aid to Children in Need in Burkina Faso (AAED), Sidiki Bélem, the province of Yatenga is going through difficult times because of insecurity.

It is in view of these consequences on the existence of vulnerable people that the association with its own funds, with the support of its German partner Wunshtraeume, is part of the approach of active solidarity by mobilizing foodstuffs such as rice and maize, for the benefit of 261 internally displaced women and people living with physical and motor disabilities.

The representative of the beneficiaries, Abdoulaye Ouarmé, expressed his satisfaction for the association's gesture towards vulnerable people.

“We thank the members of the association, especially its president Bélem Sidiki as well as his partner for having once again thought of us, in this precarious situation”, he indicated.

Mr. Ouarmé wished that God would bless the donors for their gesture and assist them in their development activities, support for women and people living with disabilities.

The representative of the governor of the North, the secretary general of the province of Yatenga, Pierre Claver Bansé, thanked the gesture of the donors which responds to the call for solidarity of the authorities of the Transition in this period of difficult security and humanitarian crisis of the country.

“I would like that in unison with the beneficiaries of the day that we give thanks to God and implore him to grant us peace and protection,” he added.

Mr. Bansé also reiterated his thanks to the donors and invited the beneficiaries to make good use of the food received.

Source: Burkina Information Agency