PR Times Africa

Day: June 30, 2025

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) applauds Mali’s adoption of landmark law to protect stateless people.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) applauds Mali’s adoption of landmark law to protect stateless people.

The law builds on Mali’s accession to the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions in 2016

GENEVA, Switzerland, June 30, 2025UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the recent adoption of Mali’s groundbreaking legislation to protect the rights of stateless people and resolve their plight.

The law builds on Mali’s accession to the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions in 2016. Comprising 28 articles, it provides a definition of a stateless person, outlines their rights and duties, and provides long-term solutions. It applies to stateless migrants and those born in Mali, guaranteeing rights to health care, education, employment, housing and justice on an equal basis with Malians. The law also protects stateless people from penalties for not having legal documents, prohibits their expulsion (with certain exceptions), and offers a path to Malian nationality or having Malian nationality confirmed.

In Mali, a considerable number of undocumented residents, individuals belonging to nomadic groups, long-term refugees and those in remote border villages are at risk of statelessness or are of undetermined nationality. These communities often struggle to access civil registration and prove their nationality. Since 2017, supported by UNHCR, Mali has taken action to address these issues. Nearly 2,400 individuals at risk of statelessness have been naturalized, and over 30,000 have received birth certificates and other civil documents. Awareness campaigns and partnerships have also helped improve understanding and access to legal identity, even in hard-to-reach areas.

“The adoption of this law is a major step forward in the protection of human rights in Mali and a clear demonstration of the Government’s commitment to end statelessness. It is a beacon of hope for thousands of vulnerable individuals,” said Georges Patrick Menze, acting UNHCR Representative in Mali. “We are proud of our partnership with the Government of Mali and will continue supporting its efforts to ensure that everyone has the right to a nationality”.

UNHCR remains committed to actively supporting the Government with the effective implementation of the new law and sustaining progress in addressing statelessness, and emphasizes the importance of continued support from international partners and donors.

June 30, 2025
Pr Times Africa person of the week. Aziz Akhannouch: A Leader in Moroccan Politics and Business:

Aziz Akhannouch is a prominent figure in Moroccan politics and business. As the 17th Prime Minister of Morocco, he has been instrumental in shaping the country’s policies and direction since October 2021. Here are some key aspects of his background and career:

Early Life and Education:

Born on August 16, 1961, Akhannouch is a Berber, an indigenous ethnic group in Morocco. He comes from a wealthy family and has a strong educational background, which has served him well in his business and political pursuits.

Business Career:

Akhannouch is the CEO of Akwa Group, a leading energy and chemicals conglomerate in Morocco. Under his leadership, the company has expanded its operations and strengthened its position in the market. Akhannouch’s business acumen and strategic vision have contributed significantly to the company’s success.

Political Career:

Akhannouch’s political career began to take shape in the 2000s. He served as Minister of Agriculture from 2007 to 2021, playing a crucial role in shaping Morocco’s agricultural policies and promoting the sector’s growth. His experience in government and his understanding of the complexities of Moroccan politics have prepared him well for his current role as Prime Minister.

Prime Minister of Morocco:

As Prime Minister, Akhannouch has been working to address various challenges facing Morocco, including economic development, social welfare, and regional stability. He has been focused on implementing policies that promote economic growth, improve living standards, and enhance Morocco’s global competitiveness.

Leadership Style:

Akhannouch’s leadership style is characterized by his business background and his ability to bring a pragmatic approach to governance. He is known for his emphasis on efficiency, productivity, and results-driven policies.

Overall, Aziz Akhannouch is a significant figure in Moroccan politics and business, with a proven track record of leadership and achievement. His experience and expertise have positioned him well to lead Morocco forward and address the country’s challenges

June 30, 2025
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission holds technical meeting for the establishment of economic and social council in west Africa.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission holds technical meeting for the establishment of economic and social council in west Africa

The two-day meeting brings together officials from the relevant ECOWAS Departments, Directorates and Divisions, including consultants and partners

The ECOWAS Commission, through the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), is holding a technical session to advance the course of the establishment of an Economic and Social Council of West Africa (ECOWAS-ECOSOC), beginning from the 26th of June 2025 in Niger state, Nigeria.

The two-day meeting brings together officials from the relevant ECOWAS Departments, Directorates and Divisions, including consultants and partners charged with building on the earlier phases of consultations within the context of the wider efforts aimed at consolidating democracy, peace and security while strengthening political stability, security, participatory governance and citizen’s inclusion in the region.

In his opening remarks, the ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Amb Abdel-Fatau Musah charged participants to be mindful of the goal of an ECOWAS-ECOSOC which is to constitute that bridge of a powerful voice to interface with decision makers and at the same time being a reverse influential organ of citizenry engagement.

He noted that the idea of an ECOSOC for ECOWAS is to mutually reinforce everyone through an institutionalized people’s organ with a facilitating platform that is a voice of the regional community’s farmers, young people’s organizations, non-governmental organizations, women, youth and professional groups, etc.

The Commissioner added that through ECOWAS-ECOSOC as an authentic voice of the people, “we are our own architects, the People’s social wellbeing in order to truly attain a people-centered development. The benefits will be for all as the proposed organ should be insulated from the control of national governments being an authentic voice of the people” He added.

Following the welcome address by the Ag Head, Mediation and Coordination of Regional Political Affairs Mr. Constant Gnacadja, the facilitator and former Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission H.E Toga Gayewea McIntosh gave an overview of the previous consultative meetings.

There were also goodwill messages from the representatives of ECOWAS Commission’s partners- the African Union, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) as well as the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice.

At the meeting, participants will examine, among others, the justification of ECOSOC, membership and eligibility criteria, structure and sustainability.

A firmly established ECOWAS-ECOSOC is seen as movement that can play a crucial role in identifying emerging social and economic trends and issues by strengthening the use of dialogue, advocacy, as well as policy recommendations in the resolution of common challenges of poverty, inequality, political instability, environmental difficulties and conflict.

The technical meeting builds on the foundations laid by the earlier held Internal consultative Meeting of ECOWAS Staff, which took place on the 12th to 13th of December 2023 in Lagos, the regional consultative meeting of civil society organizations that happened on the 22nd and 23rd of February 2024 in Abuja and the experts’ group meeting which held on the 12th and 13th of June 2024, in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.

June 30, 2025
Cassava Technologies partners with the South African Artificial Intelligence Association to boost local access to Artificial Intelligence (AI) compute services

Cassava Technologies partners with the South African Artificial Intelligence Association to boost local access to Artificial Intelligence (AI) compute services

Cassava Technologies partners with the South African Artificial Intelligence Association to boost local access to Artificial Intelligence (AI) compute services The two organizations will also collaborate on initiatives aimed at supporting the regional and broader African AI ecosystem JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 30, 2025, Cassava Technologies (https://www.CassavaTechnologies.com), a global technology leader of African heritage, is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the South African AI Association (SAAIA), an industry body focused on growing responsible AI adoption, to deliver artificial intelligence (AI) solutions and GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaas) across the African continent. In terms of the agreement, SAAIA’s more than 3,000 AI practitioners, comprising entrepreneurs, researchers, and members of the wider business community in South Africa, will have access to Cassava’s data centre GPUs to develop and deploy local AI solutions and initiatives. The two organisations will also collaborate on initiatives aimed at supporting the regional and broader African AI ecosystem.Supporting local AI entrepreneurs is a key pillar of SAAIA, and access to GPU-as-a-Service is a key enabler to growing the emerging AI startup ecosystem “We are proud to partner with SAAIA to support the growth of Africa’s AI ecosystem. By extending our advanced AI infrastructure and capabilities to SAAIA’s growing community of AI professionals, we’re enabling greater access to the compute power required to build, test, and scale innovative local solutions. We believe this partnership will deliver meaningful value to both organisations and, more importantly, to the business and research communities driving AI development on the continent,” said Ziaad Suleman, CEO of Cassava Technologies South Africa and Botswana.As South Africa’s leading AI ecosystem builder, the South African Artificial Intelligence Association is focused on promoting the advancement of responsible AI in the country by uniting thousands of AI practitioners across the commercial, government, academic, startup, and NGO sectors. SAAIA also hosts the largest AI event in Africa, AI Expo Africa, and serves as a driving force behind trade and investment in the continent’s rapidly expanding smart technology segment.“SAAIA is pleased to be partnering with Cassava Technologies in strengthening AI in South Africa. Supporting local AI entrepreneurs is a key pillar of SAAIA, and access to GPU-as-a-Service is a key enabler to growing the emerging AI startup ecosystem,” said SAAIA Founder and Chairman, Dr Nick Bradshaw. Cassava’s collaboration with SAAIA reinforces its commitment to providing world-class digital solutions and advancing responsible AI adoption, innovation, and growth in Africa. It follows Cassava’s recent announcement of plans to build Africa’s first AI factory, providing local businesses, governments, and researchers with access to cutting-edge AI computing capacity. This aligns with Cassava’s vision of being the leading digital solutions provider in its chosen markets, empowering Africans to thrive in the digital economy.

June 30, 2025