Meetings

Brussels, 23 September 2025 – The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) marked the handover of the Presidency of its Committee of Ambassadors and Council of Ministers from the Kingdom of Eswatini to the Solomon Islands, in line with Article 20 of the Revised Georgetown Agreement, which provides for an equitable rotation of leadership of the OACPS among the six regions. Over the past six months, under the stewardship of H.E. Mr. Sibusisiwe Mngomezulu, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Eswatini, the outgoing Bureau has steered the Committee of Ambassadors with vision and resolve, focusing on key priorities including: Restoration of financial stability and credibility of the Organisation; Promotion of inclusivity, dialogue, and consensus-building; Support for the installation of the new leadership of the OACPS Secretariat; and Advancing implementation of the Samoa Partnership Agreement.

Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is the eighth-largest country in Africa, with an area of over 1,240,192 square kilometres. Wikipedia Capital: Bamako Official languages: Bambara, Hassaniya, Tamasheq language · See more Currency: West African CFA franc Population: 24.48 million (2024) World Bank Date of Independence: September 22, 1960 Government: Republic, Unitary state, Semi-presidential system

Belize is a nation on the eastern coast of Central America, with Caribbean Sea shorelines to the east and dense jungle to the west. Offshore, the massive Belize Barrier Reef, dotted with hundreds of low-lying islands called cayes, hosts rich marine life. Belize’s jungle areas are home to Mayan ruins like Caracol, renowned for its towering pyramid; lagoon-side Lamanai; and Altun Ha, just outside Belize City. ― Google Capital: Belmopan Official language: English Currency: Belize Dollar Continent: North America Population: 417,072 (2024) World Bank Calling code: +501

Saint Kitts and Nevis is a dual-island nation situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. It's known for cloud-shrouded mountains and beaches. Many of its former sugar plantations are now inns or atmospheric ruins. The larger of the 2 islands, Saint Kitts, is dominated by the dormant Mount Liamuiga volcano, home to a crater lake, green vervet monkeys and rainforest crisscrossed with hiking trails. ― Google Capital: Basseterre Currency: East Caribbean Dollar Population: 46,843 (2024) World Bank Official language: English King: Charles III Calling code: +1

Papua New Guinea, in the southwestern Pacific, encompasses the eastern half of New Guinea and its offshore islands. A country of immense cultural and biological diversity, it’s known for its beaches and coral reefs. Inland are active volcanoes, granite Mt. Wilhelm, dense rainforest and hiking routes like the Kokoda Trail. There are also traditional tribal villages, many with their own languages. ― Google Capital: Port Moresby Currency: Papua New Guinean Kina Official languages: English, Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu, Papua New Guinean Sign Language Continent: Oceania Prime minister: James Marape Date of Independence: September 16, 1975

Eswatini, formally the Kingdom of Eswatini, also known by its former official names Swaziland and the Kingdom of Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by South Africa on all sides except the northeast, where it shares a border with Mozambique. Wikipedia Capitals: Mbabane, Lobamba Currency: Swazi Lilangeni King: Mswati III Official languages: Swati, English Gross domestic product: 4.892 billion USD (2024) World Bank Government: Monarchy, Diarchy, Unitary state, Parliamentary system, Absolute monarchy, Constitutional monarchy Population: 1.243 million (2024) World Bank

Brussels, [03 September 2025] – The Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) convened virtually on 02 September 2025 under the chairmanship of Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, President of the OACPS Parliamentary Assembly and Co-President of the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly. In his opening remarks, the President welcomed the newly appointed Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Moussa Saleh Batraki, a distinguished Chadian civil servant with extensive experience in governance, peace and security, and international development.

Trinidad and Tobago is a dual-island Caribbean nation near Venezuela, with distinctive Creole traditions and cuisines. Trinidad’s capital, Port of Spain, hosts a boisterous carnival featuring calypso and soca music. Numerous bird species inhabit sanctuaries such as the Asa Wright Nature Centre. The smaller island of Tobago is known for its beaches and the Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve, which shelters hummingbirds. ― Google Capital: Port of Spain Currency: Trinidad & Tobago Dollar President: Christine Kangaloo Official language: English Continent: South America Dialing code: +1 Population: 1.368 million (2024) World Bank

Gabon, a country along the Atlantic coast of Central Africa, has significant areas of protected parkland. The forested coastal terrain of its famed Loango National Park shelters a diversity of wildlife, from gorillas and hippos to whales. Lopé National Park consists of mostly rainforest. Akanda National Park is known for its mangroves and tidal beaches. ― Google Capital: Libreville Currency: Central African CFA franc Official language: French Population: 2.539 million (2024) World Bank Continent: Africa Dialing code: +241

At the invitation of H.E. João Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and Chair of the OACPS Summit of Heads of State and Government, H.E. Moussa Saleh Batraki, Secretary General of the OACPS, paid an official visit to Luanda, Angola, this Friday 15 August 2025.

The Republic of the Congo, also called Congo-Brazzaville, is a central African nation with rainforest reserves that are habitats for gorillas. Its capital city, Brazzaville, lies across the Congo River from Kinshasa, the capital of neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo. Brazzaville's highlights include traditional craft markets and the mid-20th-century Basilique Sainte-Anne, with a green-tiled roof and spire. ― Google Capital: Brazzaville President: Denis Sassou Nguesso Prime minister: Anatole Collinet Makosso Currency: Central African CFA franc Area: 342,000 km² Population: 6.333 million (2024) World Bank Dialing code: +242

H.E. Moussa Batraki, Secretary-General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), was received in audience by H.E. President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. The Secretary-General updated President Obiang on the progress of the OACPS institutional reforms and the preparations for the 11th Summit of OACPS Heads of State and Government, set to be held in Malabo in early 2026.

Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon to the southwest, Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west. Wikipedia Capital: N'Djamena Continent: Africa Population: 20.3 million (2024) World Bank Official languages: French, Arabic Currency: Central African CFA franc Government: Unitary state, Presidential system Area: 1.284 million km²

Côte d'Ivoire is a West African country with beach resorts, rainforests and a French-colonial legacy. Abidjan, on the Atlantic coast, is the country’s major urban center. Its modern landmarks include zigguratlike, concrete La Pyramide and St. Paul's Cathedral, a swooping structure tethered to a massive cross. North of the central business district, Banco National Park is a rainforest preserve with hiking trails. ― Google

Jamaica, a Caribbean island nation, has a lush topography of mountains, rainforests and reef-lined beaches. Many of its all-inclusive resorts are clustered in Montego Bay, with its British-colonial architecture, and Negril, known for its diving and snorkeling sites. Jamaica is famed as the birthplace of reggae music, and its capital Kingston is home to the Bob Marley Museum, dedicated to the famous singer. ― Google

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa, bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Ivory Coast to the southwest. It covers an area of 274,223 km². In 2024, the country had an estimated population of approximately 23,286,000

The Cook Islands is a nation in the South Pacific, with political links to New Zealand. Its 15 islands are scattered over a vast area. The largest island, Rarotonga, is home to rugged mountains and Avarua, the national capital. To the north, Aitutaki Island has a vast lagoon encircled by coral reefs and small, sandy islets. The country is renowned for its many snorkeling and scuba-diving sites. ― Google

Niger, officially the Republic of the Niger, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is a unitary state bordered by Libya to the northeast, Chad to the east, Nigeria to the south, Benin and Burkina Faso to the southwest, Mali to the west, and Algeria to the northwest.