Author: apofeed

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Within the frame work of the 22nd AU Summit, H.E. Mrs. Elham Mahmoud Ibrahim, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the AU Commission will on Tuesday, 28 January 2014 at 17:00 hold a press briefing on the following issue: – Africa 2063: connecting the continent The briefing will be held in Briefing Room 1, at the new AU Conference Center, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Journalist are invited to take part in the press briefing

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Within the frame work of the 22nd AU Summit, H.E. Amb. Jean- Baptiste Natama, Chief of Staff, Bureau of the Chairperson of the AU Commission will on Tuesday 28 January 2014 at 12:00 hold a press briefing on the following issue: – Africa, a partner to count with, in 2063The briefing will be held in Briefing Room 1, at the new AU Conference center, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Journalist are invited to take part in the press briefing

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — All media are invited to the launch of the Great Lakes Women’s Platform (GLWP) which will take place on 28 January 2014 at the Addis Ababa Hilton Hotel from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM.The event will be immediately followed by a press conference in the same venue at 12:30.Delivering on her promise to ensure that women’s voices are heard at the negotiating table and to support female-led initiatives, the United Nations Special Envoy of the Secretary-General (SESG), Ms. Mary Robinson will kick off the Great Lakes Women’s Platform (GLWP) on…

LONDON, United-Kingdom, January 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Baroness Warsi today met two of CAR’s foremost religious leaders whose efforts to reduce tensions in CAR are crucialSenior Foreign Office Minister Baroness Warsi met Archbishop Dieudonné Nzapalainga and Imam Omar Kabine Layama, two-thirds of the Central African Republic’s (CAR) Inter-Religious Forum, on 27 January at the House of Lords. After the meeting Baroness Warsi said: “I applaud the leadership and courage of both Archbishop Dieudonné Nzapalainga and Imam Omar Kabine Layama of the Central African Republic whom I had the privilege of meeting today. Their message to me was the…

LAGOS, Nigeria, January 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Heirs Holdings (http://www.heirsholdings.com), the pan-African proprietary investment company founded by Tony O. Elumelu, CON, has announced its investment in US start-up Planet Labs’ innovative satellite manufacturing technology. Heirs Holdings is the only African investor in the project, which is based in San Francisco. Photo Tony Elumelu: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/tony-elumelu.jpg Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/heirs-holdings.jpgPlanet Labs aims to transform the way imaging of the Earth is carried out, through the introduction of ultra-small satellites called “doves.” These “doves” circle the planet in low orbit and are significantly cheaper to produce and deploy than existing technology. Moreover, as…

MOGADISHU, Somalia, January 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) protests against the decision to ban the Somali Chanel television in the town of Beletwein of Hiiraan region in Central Somalia by the Hiiraan administration on 26 January, 2014.The deputy chairman of the Beletwein district in charge of Public relations, Mr. Abdikarim Shire Abdi announced the ban of the Somali Chanel television, a privately owned television based in the UK, on Sunday under the areas under their control, after the television aired a report over a recent clan fighting in the region, which infuriated…

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 415th meeting held on 27 January 2014, adopted the following decision on the situation in Madagascar:Council, 1. Takes note of the briefing made by the Commissioner for Peace and Security, as well as of the statement made by the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC); 2. Recalls its previous communiqués and press statements on the situation in Madagascar, in particular PSC/ PR/COMM.(CLXXXI) communiqué, adopted at its 181st meeting held on 20 March 2009, PSC/PR/COMM.1(CCXVI) and…

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Members of the Executive Council concluded today, 26January 2014, in the Ethiopian city of Bahir Dar, three days of intense debates on the Africa Agenda 2063, in the framework of the AU First Ministerial Retreat, which held under the theme of “Defining Agenda 2063 for Africa”.In his closing remarks, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the AU Executive Council, expressed satisfaction at the successful conclusion of the retreat, urging that it “should be the beginning…

TOKYO, Japan, January 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 1. A new President was elected after the presidential elections in the Republic of Madagascar in a format that reflected the consensus of its citizens. Japan expresses its respect to the people of Madagascar, the country’s interim government and the institutions concerned, for having overcome a political crisis over around five years. In addition, Japan extends its congratulations to Mr. Hery Rajaonarimampianina, who was elected to the new Presidency.2. Japan conducted independent election monitoring activities in the first and second round of voting in the presidential elections as well as in…

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, January 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The European Commission has released almost €140 million to finance five development projects for the Republic of Guinea. Following inclusive and peaceful elections held on 28 September 2013, the European Union was able to resume full cooperation with the country and release the funds from the 10th EDF (European Development Fund) (2008 2013). The funds will be used to support the Government’s efforts in promoting good governance, protecting human rights and improving mobility and road infrastructure. ‘The European Union is committed to supporting the Guinean Government’s efforts in finding…

ABUJA, Nigeria, January 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI) has rated the Nigerian Export-Import Bank – NEXIM (http://neximbank.com.ng) as ‘Best Performing African DFI.’ The decision was an outcome of the ‘2013 Annual AADFI CEOs Forum of African Development Banks and Finance Institutions’ on the theme “Strengthening African DFIs with Appropriate Standards and Guidelines: 3rd Peer Review & Rating of African DFIs” held at the Serena Beach Hotel & Spa, Mombasa Republic of Kenya from 13-15 November, 2013. The Forum marked the conduct of the 3rd Peer Review of DFIs with the AADFI…

GENEVA, Switzerland, January 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A follow-up mission to Mauritania by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, its causes and consequences, Gulnara Shahinian, has been cancelled due to a medical emergency. The Human Rights Council’s independent expert was due to visit Mauritania from 27 to 30 January 2014, to assess new developments since her first country visit in 2009 and the initiatives taken by the Government in response to her recommendations*. A new media advisory will be release in the coming weeks, as soon as Ms. Shahinian fully recovers and the mission…

WASHINGTON, January 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCJanuary 26, 2014The United States is deeply concerned by renewed inter-religious violence in the Central African Republic (CAR). We condemn attacks by both anti-Balaka and Seleka groups in Bangui and the provinces. We are also deeply disturbed by reports that some CAR leaders may be supporting attacks by anti-Balaka and Seleka, respectively, instead of working for peace and reconciliation.Preventing the violence from gaining further momentum and costing more lives will require all of CAR’s leaders, past and present, to be clear in condemning it. We urge CAR’s…

GENEVA, Switzerland, January 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Central African Republic is now at a critical juncture, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay warned on Monday, amid renewed fighting and the flight of ex-Séléka and Muslim civilians towards the north of the country. Since 21 January, clashes between anti-Balaka and ex-Séléka supported by armed Muslim civilians in the Bangui neighbourhoods of PK5, PK11, PK12 and PK13, have resulted in several casualties. Mobs went on a rampage, looting shops, homes and mosques in Muslim areas of these neighbourhoods. The fighting has also forced ex-Séléka and Muslim…

BERLIN, Germany, January 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A Federal Foreign Office spokeswoman today (24 January) issued the following statement concerning recent events in Egypt:We utterly condemn today’s attacks in Cairo that claimed several lives and left many people injured. Our sympathy is with the families and friends of the victims. To the injured we wish a speedy recovery.This new wave of violence in Egypt gives us cause for grave concern. There will only be progress in Egypt if the country succeeds in overcoming polarisation within society and enabling all forces in society to participate in an inclusive political…

GENEVA, Switzerland, January 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — New Constitution a defining moment for democracy in Tunisia – The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has today congratulated Tunisia on the adoption of the country’s new Constitution which enshrines religious freedom and equality between men and women. In a letter to the Tunisian National Constituent Assembly, IPU President Abdelwahad Radi warmly welcomed the development, saying the adoption would mark the day when the country was “provided a firm basis for developing a modern democratic State.”The new Constitution, adopted by an overwhelming majority (200 votes out of 216), was not only agreed by…

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The 24th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the AU officially opens on Monday 27 January 2014WHAT: 24th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU). THEME: Year of Agriculture and Food Security in AfricaWHEN: 27- 28 January 2014 January 2014 at 10 a.m.WHERE: African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa Ethiopia, Large Conference Hall (plenary) /AUCCWHY: In the context of the 22nd Summit of the AU, the twenty fourth (24th) Ordinary Session of the Executive Council will deliberate on the different reports of the ministerial meetings organised…

PORT-LOUIS, Mauritius, January 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On 27 January at La Plantation Hotel in Balaclava, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will celebrate the renewal of their partnership under the EU-funded Programme to Promote Regional Maritime Security in the Eastern and Southern Africa – Indian Ocean region, better known under its acronym MASE.The EU and UNODC have agreed to take the opportunity of an important training session in Mauritius to celebrate the renewal of their partnership under the Programme to Promote Regional Maritime Security (MASE programme) in the presence…

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A campaign for the universal ratification and reporting on the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC)Addis Ababa, 23 January, 2014. – Alongside the 22nd AU Summit (21 – 31 January, 2014), on 29 January, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) is launching the Campaign for the Universal Ratification of and Reporting on the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC). The campaign marks the 25th Anniversary of the adoption of the ACRWC on…

ENTEBBE, Uganda, January 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — As U.S. airlift missions operating at the request of the French government and African Union authorities continue, Uganda maintains their role as a key U.S. strategic partner.In just two months, the Ugandans allowed the U.S. military to stage at least three essential missions out of Entebbe.”The Ugandans have been invaluable,” Col. William Wyatt, Office of Security Cooperation Uganda chief said. “Both the Civil aviation authority and Ugandan People’s Defense Force have been instrumental in helping us stage important missions out of Entebbe.” Most recently, the U.S. Air Force has been staging…