The 2016 First Ordinary Session for the 4th Legislature of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) kicked off on Monday, at the International Conference Center in Abuja, Nigeria with calls for the enhancement of the powers of the body. The Speaker of the Parliament, Moustapha Cisse Lo, in his opening remarks, told his colleagues […]

A 33-year-old Liberian man stabbed last month in London, the UK is now out of an induced coma after four weeks. Amara Darpoh Clarke was on April 18 stabbed multiple times by a neighbor, Lee Francis, after a commotion over a park space. “We are happy that he left coma last week and that things are progressing slowly,” Fidel C.T. Budy, secretary […]

The Group BMCE Bank of Africa announces the closing of Round 1 of the second edition of the African Entrepreneurship Award. The AEA is dedicated to inspire talented African entrepreneurs, or originating from Africa, by funding businesses using technologies that transcend borders to create jobs and improve lives. Round 1 opened in mid-February and closed […]

Sweden has released a strategy for its development cooperation with Liberia focusing on  peacebuilding and state building. According to a release from the Swedish foreign ministry, the aim of the strategy “is to help strengthen Liberia’s public services and create the conditions for peaceful, inclusive and sustainable development.”                       “Activities are also to contribute to increased […]

Somalia has made a $1 million donation to the drought-hit breakaway northwestern region of Somaliland, ahead of controversial talks between the two sides later this month to clarify their future relations. Mogadishu, far from one of the world’s flushest governments, has been quick to point out the donation was not designed to influence the talks in […]

Many individuals who have been moved by a particular speech or speeches I have delivered in the past have been privately requesting copies of the speech(es) for their own reading and enlightenment. I have therefore been graciously sharing my speeches, my poems, or some other intellectual property with scores of interested individuals upon request. But […]

“I started seeing myself as a survivor and not a victim the day I took back the power my abusers had over me.”  Those are the words of Francess Cole, an outspoken survivor of female genital mutilation (FGM) and the Founder of Life After FGM. Life After FGM is hosting its first sister talk conference, […]

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, friends, I am honoured to be here today and proud to co-host this event, on behalf of Sweden, together with Egypt and the International Peace Institute. The GA debate we will engage in today and tomorrow is timely. Unprecedented numbers of people are fleeing violent conflict. The world is rife with […]

The African Innovation Foundation (AIF) today announced the top 10 nominees for its landmark programme, the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA). Now celebrating its 5th year under the theme “Made in Africa”, IPA is the premier innovation initiative in the African continent, offering a grand share prize of US$150 000 and incentives to spur growth and […]

Our world is bleeding. We are faced with unprecedented humanitarian needs and levels of global forced displacement. Today, more than 59,5 million people are displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or human rights violations – the highest number since the Second World War. UNHCR estimates that the average length of displacement […]