ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 30, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — I. INTRODUCTIONThe present report is submitted to Council within the framework of the regular consideration of the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR). It covers the period from 19 December 2013 to 20 January 2014, and gives an overview of the major developments that have taken place in the CAR at the political, security and humanitarian levels, as well as an update on the activities of the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA), following the transfer of authority from the Peace Consolidation Mission of the…
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ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 30, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — I. INTRODUCTION The African Union (AU) has, over the past three years, given sustained attention to the situation in Egypt. While significant progress was made following the 25 January 2011 Revolution, notably with the election, in June 2012, of the President of the Republic, Egypt continued to face serious challenges, marked by the growing frustration of many Egyptians over the management of the country, continuing economic difficulties, a deteriorating security situation, and political and social polarization. The period that followed the May 2013 Ordinary Sessions of the AU policy organ…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 30, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — I. INTRODUCTION The present report is submitted in pursuance of communiqué PSC/AHG/COMM.1(CDXI) Rev.1 on the situation in South sudan adopted by Council at its 411th meeting held in Banjul, The Gambia, on 30 December 2013, at the level of Heads of State and Government. The report provides an update on the evolution of the mediation efforts led by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the prevailing situation on the ground, as well as on the follow-up to the above-mentioned Council’s communiqué. The report concludes with observations on the way…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The ONE Campaign (http://www.one.org) today released a new report and launched Do Agric, It Pays, a campaign calling for African governments to commit to spending at least 10% of national budgets on effective agriculture investments, through transparent and accountable budgets. At the heart of the Do Agric campaign is an effort to push political leaders to adopt better policies that will boost productivity, increase incomes and help lift millions of Africans out of extreme poverty. Video ‘Yaya Toure Do Agric Message to Africans’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y3RBqT_uBU Video ‘Do Agric – Keep the Promise’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sH0njnR95s…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — NEPAD Heads of State SummitWHAT: Media is invited to attend the official opening of NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) Summit.DATE: Wednesday January 29, 2014TIME: 09:00WHERE: Medium Conference Hall – Ground Floor of in the new AUBACKGROUND: Twenty African leaders who make up the membership of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee – HSGOC will meet I n the Ethiopian Capital Addis Ababa ahead of the AU Summit. The HSGOC provides leadership to the NEPAD process and sets policies, priorities and the programmes of…
BANGUI, Central African Republic, January 30, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Following several fatal episodes of inter-communal violence in the Central African Republic capital of Bangui last week, MSF’s medical teams treated more than 200 people at the community hospital and at the Castor Health Center. 90 of these patients required lifesaving surgery. “We see a large number of cases every day,” said Marie-Elisabeth Ingres, MSF head of mission in the Central African Republic. “Our teams have witnessed the consequences of extreme violence, including bullet wounds, maimings from attacks, and lynchings, which are daily realities in Bangui.” Thousands of people…
DUBLIN, Ireland, January 30, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Media NotificationMinister for Trade and Development Joe Costello TDSeanad Éireann, 11.45 AM- 1.30 PM, Thursday 30th JanuaryThe Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello TD, will address Seanad Éireann on the humanitarian situation in Syria, South Sudan and the Central African Republic tomorrow, Thursday 30th January at 11.45 AM. Minister Costello will focus on Ireland’s ongoing response to these crises. Journalists and Correspondents are invited to attend the debate. Date: Thursday, 30th January 2014 Time: 11:45 AM Location: Seanad Éireann
NEW YORK, January 30, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by recent detentions in Niger of journalists critical of the government. In the past week, four journalists have been held for days without charge, two of whom remain in custody, and the justice minister has warned of a crackdown. Judicial police in the capital Niamey have since Monday detained Ousmane Dambadji, editor of L’Union, and TV presenter Zakari Abdou of independent broadcaster Canal 3 over commentary aired during a January program on Canal 3, according to local journalists and news reports. Details of commentary…
NEW YORK, January 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Vilcek Foundation (http://www.vilcek.org) is pleased to name Mansour Ourasanah as one of three winners of the 2014 Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in the Arts, this year focusing on design. The prizes are awarded annually to young immigrants who have had a significant impact on the American arts early in their career, and include a $35,000 prize. Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/Vilcek_Foundation-1.jpgPhoto: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/140128-2.jpg (Mansour Ourasanah (Credit Andreas Nilsson) “We are delighted to recognize such a forward-thinking designer as Mansour,” said Marica Vilcek, vice president of the Foundation. “In his designs, he addresses complex…
WASHINGTON, January 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCJanuary 29, 2014The ratification of a new democratic constitution and the installation of an independent government to lead the country towards new elections are historic milestones in Tunisia’s democratic transition.Three years ago this month, Tunisians inspired the world when a brave fruit vendor sparked a revolution that set the country on a path to democracy. While Tunisia’s transition to democracy is not yet complete, these are very important steps. They are proof positive that Tunisia’s democratic transition can succeed.Tunisia’s new constitution enshrines universal human rights for all…
JUBA, South Sudan, January 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Checked against deliveryGood afternoon, I am coming to the end of a three-day visit to South sudan where I have had an opportunity to see for myself the impact of the conflict on people over the last six weeks. I have also had an opportunity to discuss the situation with the President [Salva Kiir], the Ministers of Humanitarian and Cabinet Affairs, donors, UN agencies, and partner organizations in the country. In just over six weeks, more than 702,000 people have been displaced by the conflict across the country, and another…
MASERU, Lesotho, January 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by David Dunn, visited Lesotho during January 14-27 for discussions on economic policies in the context of the 2014 Article IV consultation.1 The team met with the Honorable Ministers of Finance, Development Planning, and Trade, Industry, Cooperatives, and Marketing, the Governor of the Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL), Honorable Members of Parliament serving on the Public Accounts Committee and Economic Cluster, other senior government and CBL officials, as well as representatives of the financial sector, business community, a trade union, and development…
WASHINGTON, January 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim issued the following statement on the announcement of Tunisia’s new constitution:“We congratulate the Tunisian people for the milestone their country has reached with the adoption and signing of the new constitution. The perseverance by both the Tunisian leadership across the political spectrum and civil society to choose the path of dialogue and compromise serves as an inspiration for countries around the world.The new constitution, based on the principles of respect for human rights, equity, and accountability, will serve as the basis for Tunisian law and…
ALGIERS, Algeria, January 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On January 23, 2014, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation1 with Algeria without a meeting.2Economic performance in 2013 has been satisfactory. Inflation, which reached 8.9 percent last year, has decelerated significantly in 2013 thanks to fiscal consolidation and prudent monetary policy. Real gross domestic product (GDP) growth is expected to slow to 2.7 percent in 2013 from 3.3 percent in 2012, reflecting a continued decline in hydrocarbon sector output and lower public spending, somewhat offset by the strong growth of private demand and…
GENEVA, Switzerland, January 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai commended the Rwandan Government on its economic development in the 20 years since the 1994 genocide, but urged that undue restrictions on the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association be lifted so that the country can expand its achievements to the fields of multiparty democracy and human rights. “I commend Rwanda for its remarkable progress in developing infrastructure, building institutions and ensuring stability and security over the past 20 years,” Mr Kiai said* at the end of his first official visit to the country. “These…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “Technology and the Future of Humanitarian Aid”29 January, 2014, AUC, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaThe Department of Political Affairs in collaboration with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) will be organizing a Launch of the World Disaster Report.Date Wednesday, 29 January, 2014Time 10:00 – 12:00 noon, followed by cocktail reception Venue Small Conference 3, New Conference Centre, AUC, Addis Ababa EthiopiaBackground Ninety per cent of lives saved after disasters are saved by local people, but in much of the world these ‘first responders’ have little or no access to…
GENEVA, Switzerland, January 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM has launched a new outreach project designed to engage Tanzanians living abroad in the country’s development.The project “Enhancing the Migration Evidence Base for the Development of Tanzania” started this week with a three-day diaspora engagement workshop to highlight the ways in which the diaspora can contribute to national development.The event, which ends today, was attended by high-level representatives and key stakeholders from government ministries, academia, civil society organizations and research institutions.In his opening remarks, Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Membe said that the Tanzanian diaspora now numbered some 3.7…
GENEVA, Switzerland, January 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM is now providing business coaching and mentoring skills to 1,442 Rwandan returnees in a programme that seeks to train both employees and the self-employed. The programme, now on its fifth month, is targeting 10 districts across the country and will be completed in March 2014.IOM has already dispatched 25 business coaches to each of the 10 target districts: Gisagara, Huye, Karongi, Musanze, Nyabihu, Nyamagabe, Nyamasheke, Nyaruguru, Rubavu and Rutsiro. They will organize sessions to share business skills and help the trainees develop group or individual business plans in the coming…
GENEVA, Switzerland, January 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Global Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia has donated an additional USD 32,000 to support IOM’s ongoing assistance to Ethiopian migrants stranded in Yemen.This second contribution from the Ethiopian diaspora organization based in Washington, DC follows an initial USD 30,000 contribution earlier this month earmarked to provide humanitarian assistance to Ethiopians returning from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.The Chairman of the Global Alliance, Mr. Tamagne Beyene, hopes to continue mobilizing Ethiopians in the Washington, DC area, estimated at over 250,000 strong, to support their fellow country men…
NEW YORK, January 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement of the new Government in the Central African Republic (CAR). He congratulates the Head of State of the Transition, Ms. Catherine Samba Panza and the Prime Minister, Mr. André Nzapayeké, for their efforts to put the transition back on track. The establishment of a new government offers a fresh opportunity to move the political process forward. The Secretary-General reiterates the readiness of the United Nations to support the transitional authorities in their efforts to ensure the security and the welfare of the people of the CAR.…