Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele. Photo via Nigerian media

JUBA – A controversial Nigerian cleric has issued spiritual warning on South Sudan and seven other African countries including Uganda, saying President Salva Kiir Mayardit needs to reorganize the army to protect his leadership against rebels which he said are in planning a surprise attack on the state.

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, who is said to be currently on a prayer mountain, in a statement signed by his media aide Osho Oluwatosin, spoke on what these countries should expect and the path their leaders should toil in order to avoid a crisis, pointing out that South Sudan will experience a smooth democratic unless Kiir reorganize his army.

“South Sudan will experience a smooth transition to democracy if the president heeds to advice, observe the fast and protect the country because the rebels are planning big to attack the government force unexpectedly,” he said in the statement quoted by Nigerian news outlets.

He claimed that President Kiir’s government has done so well in the last period, but there is need for reorganization of South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in order to be ready when the rebels, which he did not name, launch their attacks.

“They should reorganize the government force and seek for more international support,” he said.

“The head of the government has done so well but there are some people who are planning hurricane Barbarossa in the country. He should be very careful and prayerful this period,” he added.

It remains unclear in what aspect the head of the government has done well. South Sudan has recently been identified by the Transparency International as the most corrupt country on earth.

The United Nations has also warned that sub-national violence has increased leading to many deaths among the civil population, despite reduction of political violence between the South Sudan belligerents. - Sudans Post

During the meeting, they reviewed relations of common interest between the two sides, and ways of enhancing and developing them. Photo via Gulf Times

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah met with Rwandan Defence Minister Major General Albert Murasira. During the meeting, they reviewed relations of common interest between the two sides, and ways of enhancing and developing them. On this occasion, HE al-Attiyah hosted a luncheon banquet in honour of the Rwandan defence minister and the delegation accompanying him. (QNA) - Gulf Times

Trade education is vital to further grow exports between the UK and Africa

The Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) announced a new investment in Africa with the opening of its first international office in Nairobi, Kenya. Building on the Kenya-UK Economic Partnership Agreement the IOE&IT is developing training, education and consultancy offerings for the entire African continent – unique and specific to Africa-world trade and intra-African trade.

The opening of the office builds on a successful 2021 in Africa where the IOE&IT delivered qualifications in Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria. The Institute has worked with the International Trade Centres, along with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority and Nigerian Export Promotion Council, as well as developing a Trade and Information Pipeline (TLIP) with TradeMark East Africa.

UK exports to Kenya in 2021 were worth £530 million and imports from Kenya totalled £579 million. The TLIP project aims to increase trade for both sides and will help create greater visibility within supply chains and simplify the facilitation of trade between the UK and Kenya. The overall aim of the TLIP initiative is to reduce logistical time constraints for businesses by around 40%, reduce the cost of compliance by 20% - potentially worth an initial saving of up to £36m to UK Exporters.

Marco Forgione, director general of the Institute of Export & International Trade “We are delighted to be opening our first office outside the UK in Kenya. It is a sign of how important we believe our work in Africa is and how much more important we believe it can be. Of course, the Institute has always worked to support our members right around the globe but in opening up this new chapter we are sending a strong signal that we are there for members on the African continent and that we can help traders there to upskill their teams to trade in support of the AfCFTA as well as growing their trade globally. This investment in growing our presence in Africa especially our new base in the Kenya is central to this ambition.”