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Senegalese journalists protest again over continued detention of colleague, Pape Ale Niang

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Journalists are not giving up over the arrest of their colleague in Senegal as they hit the streets in hundreds of the capital city, Dakar on Friday over the continued detention of Pape Ale Niang”.

Alé Niang was arrested on the weekend by police over allegations that he distributed information the authorities say is ‘liable to harm’ national security.

An official of the organizers of the protest, the convention of young reporters, Migui Marame Ndiaye, said: “We mobilised this afternoon to demand his release.

“Pape Alé Niang’s place is not in prison but in the newsroom. That is why we will lead the fight. We are going to fight for the release of our colleague Pape Alé Niang who has only done a service to Senegalese democracy, he has only done his job normally.”

Other journalists and activists are involved in the course for Niang’s release. Notably is  Nina Penda Faye, who said: “we have also made it known to the State of Senegal, to the Senegalese government, that it was out of the question that in 2022 there are still Senegalese, journalists precisely who are imprisoned for press offences.

“We want this to stop and we ask the State of Senegal, we ask mainly our leaders to release all hostages including Pape Alé Niang who was detained for press offences.”

The protest comes two weeks after a journalist umbrella body, the Coordination of Press Associations (CAP) called for his release.

The travails of journalists like Alé Niang poses a question mark on the subject of press freedom in the Wes African country which reports say stands out with its media pluralism.

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Metro

EU launches initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria

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The European Union (EU) has launched an initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria, particularly in the northwestern parts of the country.

Mrs. Tobi Ransomed, who is the consortium lead, disclosed this during the launching of the “Accelerating Basic Education and Livelihood Opportunities for Children and Youth in North West Nigeria Program” (ABEP), held in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State, on Thursday.

While declaring the event open, Ransomed noted that the high rate of out-of-school children in the region required a holistic approach from all relevant stakeholders to ensure these children reached their potential.

Speaking further, she said the ABEP three-year pilot program would be implemented through Save the Children International, PLAN, and Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAG) across twelve local government areas in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States.

“Data from Save the Children International (SCI), has shown that 10% of the world’s out-of-school children are in Nigeria, with over 10 million primary school-age children not in school. Approximately 25% of girls and 10% of boys in the country have been victims of sexual violence,” she stated.

“The program aims to increase access to safe, quality, and inclusive alternative and accelerated education programs for 324,000 young girls and boys, as well as 32,400 persons with disabilities, supporting their transition into formal or non-formal education.

“This project plans to increase access to livelihood opportunities, vocational education, and green job opportunities for 60,000 youths and 6,000 persons with disabilities, with 20,000 beneficiaries in each participating state.

“The overall objective is to contribute to the empowerment of the poorest, underserved, and most marginalized population groups, including women, girls, and youth, by providing access to quality, inclusive, gender-sensitive, and conflict-sensitive education in northwestern Nigeria with a special focus on Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States,” she stated.

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World Bank pledges $3b to support Zambia’s development goals

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The World Bank Group has pledged to avail Zambia with approximately $3 billion to support the country’s development goals under the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for 2025-2029, with nearly half of the funds already disbursed.

World Bank Country Manager, Achim Fock, who made this known at the CPF launch at the Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka on Wednesday, outlined the global lender’s focus areas, which included enhancing jobs, human capital, and climate resilience.

Fock highlighted that $200 million had been approved to strengthen Zambia’s social protection programs, including the Refugee and Host Community Project.

He also expressed optimism for upcoming approvals, including the Climate and Economic Resilience Financing and the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector.

Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, who also spoke at the event, noted that 2.3 million Zambian households have so far benefited from social protection interventions such as the Cash for Work Programme, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives amid crises like the recent drought.

Musokotwane further reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting lives during times of crises such as the recent drought.

“More than two thirds of the Zambian population was affected by the drought. It was the government’s view that the first priority was to save lives,” Musokotwane stated.

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