EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, February 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — FINAL COMMUNIQUEWe, the Doha Follow-up Mechanisms, convened at the Peace and Human Rights Studies Center of the El Fasher University on 18-19 February 2014, at the invitation of UNAMID, following deliberations on planning and preparation for the final process of the Darfur Internal Dialogue and Consultation (DIDC) and thorough discussionson how to prepare for this inclusive process, regarding the structure of the internal dialogue and consultation at the levels of Localities, States and the Region, preparation for the agenda, prioritizing issues to be discussed therein, are of the following…
Author: apofeed
KHARTOUM, Sudan, February 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — All media are invited to the opening session of the third meeting of the Joint Commission, set to take place on Tuesday, 25 February 2014, at 9:30 hours in the main conference room at UNDP Headquarters, located on Gama’a Street in Khartoum. The Commission is set up to resolve disputes among parties, referred to it by the Ceasefire Commission, and for ensuring the effective implementation of the provisions of the Final Security Arrangements of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD). The Commission is composed of representatives of signatories to…
BANGUI, Central African Republic, February 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos called for increased security and protection of all communities across the Central African Republic (CAR) as she started the second day of her mission in the country today. She is accompanied by the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibe, and Assistant Secretary-General of the UN Department of Safety and Security, Mbaranga Gasarabwe. Since 5 December 2013, armed confrontations have led to a full-blown humanitarian crisis. Today, close to 700,000 people remain displaced, including more than 270,000 in the capital, Bangui, alone. More than 2.6…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, February 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Mark Simmonds condemns recent fighting in Malakal as a serious violation of the Cessation of Hostilities.Commenting on the recent fighting in Malakal, the Minster for Africa Mark Simmonds said:“I am deeply concerned by the recent fighting in Malakal which has led to a senseless loss of life. It is particularly disturbing that intercommunal fighting in the UNMISS camp has led to the death of civilians who had taken shelter there. Such scenes must not be allowed to re-occur.“I strongly condemn this serious violation of the Cessation of Hostilities, which is the…
KHARTOUM, Sudan, February 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen, and thank you very much for attending this press briefing.As I conclude my fourth mission to the sudan from the 11th –19th February 2014, I would like to thank the Government of the sudan for its continued cooperation with my mandate and for the support extended to facilitate my visit. I also thank the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), UN agencies and international organizations in the Sudan, members of the diplomatic community, civil…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, February 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Office advise against all but essential travel to South Sinai in Egypt except for within the Sharm el Sheikh resort areas. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is now advising against all but essential travel to South Sinai except for the area within the Sharm el Sheikh resort areas. Advice for other areas of the country remains the same including advice against visiting the Governorate of North Sinai. This advice means that we are now advising against all but essential travel to the Governorates of Beni Suef, Minya, Asyut and…
NEW YORK, February 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Raimonda Murmokaitė ( Lithuania):The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack targeting a bus with tourists from the Republic of Korea on board on 16 February in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, killing at least four people and injuring dozens.The members of the Security Council extended their condolences to the families of the victims and expressed their sympathy to all those injured in this heinous act, and to the people and Governments of Egypt…
GENEVA, Switzerland, February 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — As atrocities continue to occur in the Central African Republic, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Wednesday reminded leaders in positions of authority that they have legal obligations and will be held personally accountable for the serious human rights violations committed in CAR, which may amount to crimes against humanity, as a result of their actions or omissions. “Although the overall situation seems slightly calmer in Bangui, reports of more killings and violence continue. The recent assassination of a member of Parliament after he called for those responsible…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, February 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — This is to kindly inform you that following the celebration of 50th anniversary of the Reunification by the Republic of Cameroon, the Cameroon Embassy in Addis Ababa has organise the following activities to commemorate the day. A conference to be addressed by Prof. Jean-Emmanuel PONDI on the theme: “From reunification to integration: fifty years of national construction”. The conference is scheduled to take place at the Medium Conference Hall of the New African Union Conference Center on Thursday 20 February from 5 – 6 pm. This will be followed by…
NEW YORK, February 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A journalist in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo died on Sunday from gunshot wounds he sustained in a shootout between Congolese troops and Ugandan rebels, according to news reports.Germain Kennedy Mumbere Muliwavyo, 28, reporter for the private broadcaster Radio Télévision Muungano in the town of Oïcha, was shot in the stomach and head on Saturday by fighters of a Ugandan rebel group called the Allied Democratic Forces, according to news reports. He was riding in a vehicle of the Congolese national armed forces when the fighters ambushed the car.Two other…
BANGUI, Central African Republic, February 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi is currently undertaking a political mission in the Central Africa Republic as part of African Union efforts at addressing the crisis in the country. She is joined on her delegation by Justice Sophia Akuffo of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights as well as Commissioners Kayitesi Zainabo and Bechir M. Khalfallah of the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights.The mission among other things is aimed at engaging the transition government and other stakeholders in finding durable…
GENEVA, Switzerland, February 18, 2014 — IOM has conducted a second survey of the return intentions of displaced people (IDPs) in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR). It follows an initial Intention Return Survey conducted January 15-16. The goal was to identify changes in the IDP community’s return intentions over a one-month period. The survey was based on over 600 interviews conducted by IOM site facilitators at over 40 IDP sites in Bangui. According to the latest findings of the Commission on Population Movement, published on 11 February, there are currently 714,000 displaced people in Car –…
EVANSTON, Ill., February 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The continued fight to eliminate polio gets an additional $36 million boost from Rotary in support of polio immunization activities and research to be carried out by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (http://www.polioeradication.org), which aims to end the disabling viral disease worldwide by 2018.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/rotary.pngThe funding commitment comes at a critical time as the eradication initiative focuses on stopping polio in the three countries where the virus remains endemic: Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Stopping polio in those countries is crucial in order to halt the recent spate of outbreaks in countries…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, February 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — FCO Minister, Hugh Robertson, visits Tunisia, welcomes progress and pledges continued UK support for the democratic transition. The Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Hugh Robertson, said:“I was delighted to visit at a historic moment in Tunisia’s democratic transition.“In my discussions with the Tunisian Foreign Minister and other political leaders, I conveyed my warm congratulations for the impressive progress on the transition, including the adoption of a new democratic Constitution. This Constitution not only embodies the fundamental rights the Tunisian people called for three years ago but…
KHARTOUM, Sudan, February 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Mr. Ali Al-Za’tari, is saddened to hear that a volunteer with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society was killed by a land mine near Abu Jubaiha in South Kordofan late last week. Other volunteers were also critically injured by the explosion. “The humanitarian community in sudan extends its deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of those killed and injured by this land mine blast. sudan has one of the largest land mine problems in East Africa. Sadly it is often humanitarian workers…
DUBLIN, Ireland, February 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, T.D., made the following statement on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda.“I am deeply concerned by the news that Uganda intends to enact legislation to criminalise homosexuality. I have made it clear, including in direct talks with President Museveni, that the enactment of this draconian legislation would affect our valued relationship with Uganda. Ireland, together with our EU partners, has engaged actively with the Ugandan Parliament and President Museveni in an effort to halt the regressive and discriminatory Anti-Homosexuality Bill. It…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, February 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), in partnership with United Nations, are today celebrating 8 winners of the 2013 Somali Media Awards competition for events held in Mogadishu and Garowe on 17 February, 2014. The Media Awards recognized professionalism and excellence in the Somali media sector.Somali journalists submitted entries across four categories – gender, children and youth, access to basic services, and investigative journalism. Winners were chosen anonymously and transparently by a jury of veteran Somali journalists with support from UN communications experts.The events held both in Mogadishu’s Maka Al-Mukarama…
TOKYO, Japan, February 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 1. On Monday February 17, the Government of Japan decided to provide emergency relief goods worth 12 million yen (plastic sheets and blankets) to the Republic of Burundi, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).2. On Sunday February 9, heavy rain attacked Bujumbura, capital city of the Republic of Burundi. The Government of the Republic of Burundi reported, as of February 14, that 77 persons were dead, 180 persons were wounded, and 5,000 houses were collapsed because of this disaster. According to the UN Office in Burundi, as of February 12,…
BERLIN, Germany, February 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid issued the following statement today (17 February) on the subject of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda:I am utterly appalled that Uganda’s President Museveni is intending to sign into law a bill that would make homosexuality punishable by up to life in prison. It is particularly shocking that he is basing his decision on the claim that homosexuality has spread in society because of social factors.Human rights are indivisible. All people have the right, anchored in law, to be protected from…
GENEVA, Switzerland, February 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM has helped over 7,000 Libyans in 13 countries to take part in the country’s upcoming constitutional drafting assembly elections, at the request of the Libyan High National Election Commission (HNEC).The three-day out-of-country poll, which ran from February 15th–17th, allowed Libyans in Canada, Egypt, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Malaysia, Qatar, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States to vote in the elections, which will take place in Libya on February 20th.The elections to the assembly, which will be composed of 20 members each from Libya’s…