Afrique

In einer Zeit wachsender geopolitischer Spannungen haben die Bürgerinnen und Bürger immer größere Zukunftssorgen und erwarten von der EU ein geschlossenes und ambitioniertes Handeln.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2026 - EP

A fokozódó geopolitikai feszültségek közepette a polgárok egyre jobban aggódnak a jövőjük miatt, ezért egységes és határozott fellépést várnak az Európai Uniótól.

Forrás : © Európai Unió, 2026 - EP

The 53-year-old, who was once widely seen as the second most powerful person in Libya, was killed on Tuesday according to Libyan media.

Official estimates suggest that around 55% of the town's drinkable water is lost to leaking pipes.

Official estimates suggest that around 55% of the town's drinkable water is lost to leaking pipes.

Un net changement s’impose dans les prévisions météo en Algérie. Après une courte accalmie, les conditions hivernales reprennent de la vigueur avec le retour des […]

L’article Pluies abondantes, chutes de neige et vents violents ce mercredi 4 février : voici les wilayas en alerte est apparu en premier sur .

Dans le cadre de notre cycle de discussions sur l'histoire des Balkans, l'Institut français de Serbie a l'honneur d'accueillir l'historien Bernard Lory, grand spécialiste de l'histoire des Roms dans les Balkans, qui participera à des discussions à Belgrade (le mardi 3 février) et à Niš (le mercredi 4 février). Il se rendra ensuite, le 5 février, en Macédoine du Nord, à Skopje.
Bernard Lory est un historien français reconnu, professeur émérite de l'INALCO (Institut national des langues et (…)

- Agenda / Dans les Balkans

Le programme de renouvellement du parc national de transport de voyageurs se poursuit. Mardi soir, le port de Djen Djen, dans la wilaya de Jijel, […]

L’article Renouvellement du parc algérien : une nouvelle cargaison de bus arrive au port de Djen Djen est apparu en premier sur .

Le président de l'Assemblée nationale 9è législature, Louis Gbèhounou Vlavonou, présidera ce mercredi 4 février 2026 une cérémonie officielle d'hommage à Me Adrien Houngbédji, ancien président du Parlement.

Un ensemble d'études consacrées à Adrien Houngbédji, qui a dirigé l'Assemblée nationale lors des 1ère, 3ème et 7ème législatures, lui sera officiellement remis ce mercredi 4 février 2026.

La cérémonie se tiendra à partir de 10 heures au Palais des gouverneurs à Porto-Novo. Cette initiative vise à reconnaître la contribution de l'ancien président de l'Assemblée nationale à la vie institutionnelle et à l'enracinement de la démocratie parlementaire au Bénin.

Plusieurs autorités politiques, députés, universitaires et personnalités sont conviés à cette cérémonie.

Avocat et acteur politique de premier plan, Adrien Houngbédji est le président-fondateur de l'ex Parti du Renouveau Démocratique (PRD) fondu dans l'Union Progressiste le Renouveau (UP-R).
Me Adrien Houngbédji a été Premier ministre de 1996 à 1998, sous la présidence de Mathieu Kérékou, puis président de l'Assemblée du Bénin de 2015 à 2019.
M. M.

Les relations entre l’Algérie et l’Italie continuent de se consolider. Le président de la République, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, a reçu ce jour un appel téléphonique de […]

L’article Tebboune reçoit un appel de Meloni : Alger et Rome coordonnent leurs priorités communes est apparu en premier sur .

Close-up-of-a-yellowfin-tuna-swimming-in-the-sea. Credit: Freepik---EyeEm

By James Alix Michel and Dona Bertarelli
VICTORIA, Seychelles, Feb 3 2026 (IPS)

The world is entering a decisive period for the future of the ocean. With the High Seas Treaty coming into force and meaningful progress being made on the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, global momentum for stronger marine governance is building. Yet, new pressures linked to the push for deep-sea mining — the extraction of minerals from seabed thousands of meters below the ocean surface — threaten to undermine these gains. To safeguard progress, global decision-making will have to keep pace with such emerging risks. In this context, Africa will host several global discussions in 2026, including those that will shape the ocean’s future, with a series of opportunities for leadership starting with the African Union Summit in February to the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya in June.

Dona-Bertarelli-and-James-Alix-Michel-meeting-at-Our-Ocean-Bali-in-2018. Credit: Dona-Bertarelli-Philanthropy

As two long-standing friends of the ocean who have witnessed both its fragility and its generosity, we view the ongoing discussions on deep-sea mining as a moment that calls for careful, science-based and inclusive reflection. This is especially true in a region of the world where people depend on a healthy ocean for livelihoods, culture, spirituality and climate resilience, and where more than 30 per cent of Africans, roughly 200 million people, rely on fish as their main source of animal protein.

These concerns are particularly relevant to the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), one of the most biodiverse marine regions in the world, with endemism as high as 22 per cent yet at the convergence of multiple environmental stresses. Coral reefs and mangrove forests are deteriorating, while illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and sand mining put additional pressure on already fragile ecosystems. The lasting impacts of the 2020 Wakashio oil spill in Mauritius show how quickly harm to the ocean can ripple across communities. In such a fragile setting, the introduction of a new extractive industry demands the highest level of scrutiny.

In the face of these emerging challenges, Seychelles has an important role to play. For decades, it has demonstrated leadership in championing the blue economy and protecting marine ecosystems. Early ratification of the BBNJ Treaty, along with advocacy for High Seas marine protected areas such as the Saya de Malha Bank, has positioned the country as a respected voice for responsible ocean governance. If deep-sea mining begins in the Pacific, the Indian Ocean is likely to follow, including on the mid-Indian Ridge east of Seychelles’ EEZ and within the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries agreement region. Catalyzing a new wave of continental leadership on deep-sea protection would advance a vision of ocean stewardship grounded in equity and sustainability. A precautionary pause on deep-sea mining would give concrete expression to that vision.

Polymetallic nodules on the deep seabed. Credit: Deep-Rising

Scientific research continues to underline this need for caution. Deep-sea mining would have an irreversible impact on seabed ecosystems and species. And recent studies of the midwater zone, where waste plumes from deep-sea mining would spread, show that mining particles could reduce the nutritional quality of the natural food supply for zooplankton by up to ten times. This would decrease food quality and trigger effects that move through the food web, ultimately affecting larger species and the overall health of the ocean millions of people rely on. In an environment where more than 99.99 percent of the deep ocean floor has yet to be explored or directly observed, introducing large scale industrial activity could cause damage that cannot be undone.

The economic risks for the region are equally significant. The Western Indian Ocean’s natural assets have been conservatively valued at 333.8 billion dollars, making the ocean one of the region’s most important sources of long-term wealth. Within this, fisheries represent the single largest asset and a cornerstone of economic resilience. The region generates about 4.8 percent of the global fish catch, roughly 4.5 million tonnes each year, underscoring how many economies and communities depend on healthy stocks. In Seychelles and across the region, tuna fisheries in particular underpin national revenue, employment and food security. Undermining the sustainability of fisheries could therefore not only threaten livelihoods but also diminish long-term economic opportunity.

Deep-sea-creature. Credit: Schmidt-Ocean-Institute

The accelerating push for deep-sea mining activities also raises concerns about repeating historic patterns seen in other extractive sectors across Africa. The uneven distribution of benefits from land-based resource exploitation has shown how easily local communities can be left with environmental impacts while external actors capture most of the value. Without strong governance frameworks that ensure fair participation and transparent decision-making, current deep-sea mining models risk following a similar trajectory, privileging short-term economic gain for multinational corporations over regional priorities.

Finally, the argument that deep-sea mining is necessary for the renewable energy transition is also increasingly at odds with current evidence. Rapid advances in recycling technologies, circular economy approaches, and alternative materials are already reducing the projected demand for minerals from new extractions. These pathways can support the global transition without the need to industrialize one of the least understood parts of the planet. The United Nations Environment Programme has also made clear in their 2022 report that “there is currently no foreseeable way in which investment into deep-sea mining activities can be viewed as consistent with the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles”.

White-sand-and-clear-turquoise-water-on-a-Seychelles-beach. Credit: Unsplash—Alin-Mecean

In parallel, African-led nature-positive initiatives are demonstrating how ocean resources can be managed in ways that support both people and the environment. Initiatives such as the Great Blue Wall aim to create connected networks of protected and restored marine areas that strengthen biodiversity, climate resilience and community wellbeing across the WIO region. These efforts demonstrate what a regenerative blue economy can look like in practice. Preserving these gains requires ensuring that new activities do not compromise the progress already made.

Across the continent, young leaders, civil society and scientific institutions are calling for greater accountability in decisions that shape our collective future. Their message is clear: long-term wellbeing for everyone must come before short-term gains for a select few. This call also echoes a growing movement worldwide, with more than 40 countries now supporting a pause on deep-sea mining, including France, Fiji, Chile and Mexico. A precautionary pause on deep-sea mining is not a rejection of economic progress, but a commitment to sound science, inclusive dialogue and responsible stewardship. We are hopeful that countries in Africa and elsewhere in the world will hear this call and secure the future of the ocean for generations to come.

James Alix Michel is the former President of Seychelles (2004–2016) and a global advocate for the blue economy, ocean conservation and climate resilience.

Dona Bertarelli is a Swiss philanthropist, IUCN Patron of Nature and biodiversity champion, deeply committed to a healthy balance between people and nature.

IPS UN Bureau

 

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Une affaire de vol de vivres dans une école a été examinée ce mardi 03 février 2026, lors de l'audience correctionnelle de flagrant délit du tribunal de première instance d'Abomey-Calavi.

Un homme, la quarantaine révolue, a comparu devant le tribunal de première instance d'Abomey-Calavi ce mardi 03 février 2026, pour vol de vivres dans une école. Les aliments selon les déclarations à la barre, ont été volés lors d'un cambriolage perpétré par des hors la loi pendant les congés de fête. Dans ladite école, aucun gardien n'assure la sécurité, a déclaré la directrice présente au procès. Les malfrats selon ses déclarations, auraient emporté 7 sacs de maïs, 9 sacs de riz, 40 bidons d'huile de 5 litres, un sac de sel de cuisine, des boîtes de tomates et des pâtes alimentaires, et plusieurs autres aliments destinés aux apprenants.
L'enquête a conduit à l'interpellation d'un individu. Une partie des vivres volés aurait été retrouvée chez lui. Interrogé, il a déclaré que c'est l'un de ses parents enseignant dans la partie septentrionale du pays, qui lui a donné.
Le dossier est renvoyé au 24 février 2026, pour comparution du parent ayant fait don de vivres au prévenu et son époux, et pour continuation.

F. A. A.

GAM Assurances figure parmi les finalistes des Intelligent Insurer Awards 2026 – MENA, dans la catégorie Meilleure Transformation Digitale en Afrique et au Moyen-Orient. Une […]

L’article GAM Assurances finaliste aux MENA Intelligent Insurer Awards 2026 pour sa transformation digitale est apparu en premier sur .

Les 26es Journées mondiales sans téléphone & smartphone se tiendront les 6, 7 et 8 février 2026. C'est un événement initié par l'écrivain français Phil Marso. Cette année, le thème : « Souriez ! L'IA dirige votre vie » met en lumière l'impact croissant de l'intelligence artificielle (IA) sur notre quotidien, interrogeant notre autonomie, nos métiers et notre sécurité.

L'IA : entre progrès et dépendance

L'IA s'immisce partout : dans nos tâches quotidiennes, nos choix, nos métiers. Si elle facilite certaines activités, elle crée aussi une dépendance accrue (ChatGPT utilisé comme un GPS permanent) et menace des emplois, notamment dans la communication et le design. Pire, elle ouvre la porte à des usurpations d'identité via des deepfakes, comme l'a alerté la DGSI le 5 janvier dernier.

Un outil indispensable… mais à maîtriser

Phil Marso, instigateur de ces journées, reconnaît l'indispensabilité du smartphone (administratif, santé, paiements, etc.). L'enjeu ? Ne pas en devenir addict, mais en garder le contrôle. D'où le sous-titre de cette édition : « enfin presque ! ».

Nouveautés 2026

– 6 chansons produites par Phil Marso sous le pseudo Adikphonia, explorant les facettes du téléphone portable.

– Lancement d'une nouvelle Journée Mondiale en avril 2026, dont le thème sera dévoilé prochainement.

Interpellé dans un bar alors qu'il avait consommé sans payer, un individu assène des coups à une serveuse et à l'épouse du promoteur du bar. Son procès a lieu ce mardi 03 février 2026, au tribunal de première instance d'Abomey-Calavi.

Un individu devant le tribunal d'Abomey-Calavi pour des faits de coups et blessures volontaires. Le prévenu selon les déclarations à la barre, est invité dans un bar par un ami. Sur les lieux, les deux demandent à une serveuse de leur servir une bouteille de la bière ‘'Beaufort'' chacun. L'ami après avoir vidé sa bouteille, s'est levé et n'est plus revenu. L'accusé, après quelques moments d'attente se lève à son tour, et va chercher sa moto pour partir. C'est alors que la serveuse l'interpelle et réclame les sous des deux bouteilles de bière. Les échanges entre les deux dégénèrent et il assène des coups à la serveuse.
Informée de la tension qui règne dans le bar, l'épouse du promoteur intervient et défend la serveuse. Sa réaction déplait au client indélicat qui lui assène également des coups. L'accusé selon les deux victimes, serait même allé chercher un couteau pour les poignarder. Il a fallu l'intervention des clients sur place pour l'en empêcher. Les coups reçus selon l'épouse du promoteur, ont impacté sa santé et elle dut se rendre à l'hôpital pour des soins.
Au procès ce mardi, elle a présenté les pièces justificatives des dépenses effectuées à l'hôpital pour sa prise en charge sanitaire. Ces dépenses sont estimées à 100 000 francs CFA. Sur ce total, elle a été dédommagée à hauteur de 41 000 francs CFA au cours du procès. « Est-ce que vous voulez quelque chose pour les coups et la gifle que vous avez reçus » ? A cette question du président de céans, la serveuse répond par la négative, mais exige la réparation de son téléphone portable endommagé pendant la bagarre. Ignorant le coût de la réparation, le juge lui demande de se renseigner avant la prochaine audience.
Se fondant sur la bonne foi de son client à réparer les dommages causés à ses victimes, le conseil demande une liberté provisoire pour le prévenu. Le président de céans rejette sa demande et renvoie la cause au 10 février 2026. A cette audience, le gérant du bar et d'autres témoins sont attendus.

F. A. A.

Jeudi dernier, le Jury disciplinaire de la Confédération africaine de football (CAF) a rendu son verdict concernant la finale controversée de la Coupe d’Afrique des […]

L’article Sanctions de la CAF : première réaction du Maroc est apparu en premier sur .

Le projet de la Commission européenne de financer une partie du prochain budget pluriannuel de l’Union de 2 000 milliards d’euros grâce à de nouvelles taxes européennes suscite de fortes réserves parmi les États membres. Derrière la proposition d’introduire de nouvelles ressources fiscales communes se joue en réalité un délicat rapport de force politique.

The post Le financement du futur budget européen ravive les tensions entre États membres appeared first on Euractiv FR.

DRAFT INTERIM REPORT on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of a broad package of agreements to consolidate, deepen and expand the bilateral relations with the Swiss Confederation
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Christophe Grudler

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Notre compréhension de la migraine commence enfin à évoluer, bouleversant les idées reçues sur ce qui constitue un symptôme et ce qui constitue un facteur déclenchant, et sur la partie du cerveau qui joue un rôle clé dans le développement de traitements efficaces.

David Oburo, IPBES Chair. Credit: Busani Bafana/IPS

By Busani Bafana
BULAWAYO, Feb 3 2026 (IPS)

British Monarch King Charles says science is the solution to protecting nature and halting global biodiversity loss, which is threatening humanity’s survival.

In a message to the 12th session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which opened in Manchester, United Kingdom, this week, King Charles said nature is an important part of humanity but is under serious threat, which science can help tackle.

“We are witnessing an unprecedented, triple crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution at a pace that far outstrips the planet’s ability to cope,” said King Charles in a message delivered by Emma Reynolds, United Kingdom Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Science is the Solution

“The best available science can help inform decisions and actions to steward nature and, most importantly, to restore it for future generations, “ King Charles noted, pointing out that humanity has the knowledge to reverse the existential crisis and transition towards an economy that prospers in harmony with nature.

Delegates representing the more than 150 IPBES member governments, observers, Indigenous Peoples,  local communities and scientists are meeting for the  IPBES’ 12th Session, expected to approve a landmark new IPBES Business & Biodiversity Assessment. The report,  a 3-year scientific assessment involving 80 expert authors from every region of the world, will become the accepted state of science on the impacts and dependencies of business on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people. It will provide decision-makers with evidence and options for action to measure and better manage business relationships with nature.

The King lauded IPBES for bringing together the world’s leading scientists, indigenous and local knowledge, citizen science and government to share valuable knowledge through the Business and Biodiversity Report—the first of its kind.

“I pray with all my heart that it will help shape concrete action for years to come, including leveraging public and private finance to close by 2030 the annual global biodiversity gap of approximately USD 700 billion,” said King Charles.

IPBES Chair, Dr. David Obura, highlighted that the approval of the IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment is important just days after the World Economic Forum’s 2026 Global Risks Report again spotlighted biodiversity loss as the second most urgent long-term risk to business around the world.

“In transitioning and transforming, businesses should all experience the rewards of being sustainable and vibrant, benefiting small and large,” Obura emphasized. “The Business Biodiversity assessment synthesizes the many tools and pathways available to do this and provides critical support for businesses across all countries to work with nature and people and not to work against either or both.”

Addressing the same delegates, Emma Reynolds,  UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, highlighted the urgency of collective action, the critical role of science, and the opportunities for business in nature.

Reynolds noted there was momentum around the world as countries were restoring wetlands and forests, communities were reviving degraded landscapes and businesses were increasingly investing in nature after realizing that nature delivers real returns.

“The tide for nature is beginning to turn, but we cannot afford to slow down,” said Reynolds. “The window to halt diversity loss by 2030 is narrowing. We need to build on that momentum, and we need to do it now.”

Multilateralism, a must for protecting nature

Paying tribute to IPBES for supporting scientific research, Reynolds emphasized that the rest of the world must step forward when others are stepping back from international cooperation. This is to demonstrate that protecting and restoring nature was not just an environmental necessity but essential for global security and the economy.

“The UK’s commitment to multilateralism remains steadfast,” she said. “We believe that by working together, sharing knowledge, aligning policies, and holding one another accountable, we can halt and reverse the diversity loss by 2030,.“

In January 2026, the United States withdrew its participation in IPBES, alongside 65  international organizations and bodies, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.

The United States was a founding member of IPBES, and since its establishment in 2012, scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders—including Indigenous Peoples and local communities—from the United States have been among the most engaged contributors to its work.

The approval of the Business and Biodiversity Assessment by IPBES government members this week will be multilateralism in action, she said, noting that the assessment would not be possible without the critical role of science.

Reynolds underscored the need to base sound policy on solid scientific evidence. Decisions made in negotiating rooms and capitals around the world must be guided by the best and most up-to-date science available. IPBES  exists to provide exactly that.

Noting that the business depends on nature for raw materials, clean water, a stable climate, and food, Reynolds said companies that recognize their dependency on nature are proving that nature-positive investment works.

“Business as well as the government must act now to protect and restore nature… we have the science. We have the frameworks… What we need now is action.”

“Nature loss is now a systemic economic risk. That’s precisely why the assessment on business impact and dependencies is both urgent and necessary,” said  Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

“The first-ever business and diversity assessment will deliver authoritative evidence on how businesses depend on nature, how they impact it, and what that means for risk, for resilience, and for long-term value creation.”

Business and Biodiversity are linked

Underscoring that biodiversity loss is linked to the wider planetary crisis, Astrid Schomaker, executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, paid tribute to IPBES as a provider of science as a public good.

“IPBES has remained a  ‘beacon of knowledge at a time when science  and knowledge itself is under strain and when the voices of disinformation are sometimes louder than the facts,” said Schomaker, noting that ahead of the first global stocktake of progress in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), the science provided by IPBES would be invaluable.

“The Business and Biodiversity assessment constitutes a win for everyone. Clarifying that biodiversity loss isn’t just an environmental issue; it’s a serious threat to economic systems, livelihoods, business profitability, and societal resilience. Biodiversity simply underpins and provides the stability we all need.”

Target 15 of the KMGBF, focuses on business reducing negative impacts on biodiversity and global businesses need to assess and disclose biodiversity-related impacts.

IPBES executive secretary, Dr. Luthando Dziba, said IPBES was on track to deliver, in the coming years, crucial knowledge and inspiration to support the implementation of current goals and targets of the KMGBF, and to provide the scientific foundation needed by the many processes now shaping the global agenda beyond 2030.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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