ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Media representatives are kindly informed that the Directorate of Information and Communication (DIC) of the African Union, has setup and interview studio with backdrops of the Union, for the use of Media during the twenty second (22nd) Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, holding from 21 to 31 January 2014 at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Venue: New Conference Center of the African Union (AUCC), Briefing room 2.
Author: apofeed
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Director of Women, Gender and Development of the African Union, Mrs. Litha Musyimi-Ogana, held a press conference on 22 January 2014 at the African Union Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, within the framework of the 22nd African Union Summit, holding from 21 – 31 January 2014. Mrs. Ogana Presented the status of ratification of the protocol of the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of women in Africa. She said within the timeframe of ten years 36 member states have ratified the protocol .She…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Mr. Thomas Asare, Director of Planning Budget Finance and Accounting, at the African Union Commission gave a press briefing on Implementation- International Public sector and Accounting System (IPSAS) on 22nd January 2014 at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, within the framework of the 22nd AU Summit holding from 21 – 31 January 2014. Director Asare said, the African Union adopted IPSAS (international public sector accounting standard) in January 2013 as the applicable accounting standard to be implemented at all the organs of the Union. He explained that, the…
DUBLIN, Ireland, January 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Eamon Gilmore T.D., has condemned the series of bomb attacks which took place earlier today in Cairo and which has resulted in at least six deaths and approximately 100 people wounded.“I condemn unreservedly today’s bombings and all such acts of terrorism. I extend my fullest sympathies, on behalf of the Government and Irish people, to the families of those killed and wounded and to the Egyptian people. Such acts are utterly reprehensible and serve only to deepen divisions within Egyptian society.”…
NEW YORK, January 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:As Egyptians mark the third anniversary of their revolution, the Secretary-General encourages them to renew their commitment to peaceful dialogue and non-violence. He reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to support Egypt in building the future for all Egyptians with dignity, freedom, responsible governance and development that inspired the uprising of 2011.The Secretary-General believes that one of the central challenges moving forward is pluralism: the guarantee that all voices are heard, represented and have a stake in…
NEW YORK, January 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:The Secretary-General welcomes the agreement on cessation of hostilities signed today in Addis Ababa by the Government of the Republic of South sudan and the sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in opposition. He calls on the parties to immediately implement this agreement. The Secretary-General congratulates the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on the successful mediation of this agreement and underscores the necessity to continue without delay a national political dialogue to reach a comprehensive peace agreement, with the…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, January 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Every day, more than 1,000 South Sudanese refugees are fleeing the fighting in their home country, crossing into Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda, where emergency teams from Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) are providing medical and humanitarian aid. In just one month, more than 89,000 people, mostly women and children, have been forced to leave their homes behind, often making long journeys on foot, by bus or by truck, taking with them only what they can carry. Some families arrive at the border with nothing; many are in need of food,…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, welcomes the signing, today, in Addis Ababa, by the Government of the Republic of South sudan and the sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army – SPLM/A (in opposition) of Agreements on Cessation of Hostilities and the Status of Detainees, under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Peace and Security Commissioner Smaïl Chergui witnessed the ceremony on behalf of the AU. The Chairperson of the Commission commends the parties for the spirit of compromise and mutual accommodation…
WASHINGTON, January 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementMarie HarfDeputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCJanuary 23, 2014The United States welcomes the signing of a cessation of hostilities between the Government of South Sudan and opposition forces. This agreement is a critical first step toward building a lasting peace in South Sudan, but it is only the beginning of a much longer process to resolve the underlying causes of the conflict, to foster reconciliation, and to hold accountable those who committed horrific abuses against the South Sudanese people.We call on all of South Sudan’s leaders to honor their…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, January 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Foreign Secretary welcomes agreement to cessation of hostilities between South Sudanese Government and opposition fighters.Foreign Secretary William Hague said:“I welcome the signing of a ceasefire agreement in South Sudan, and the efforts of regional mediators that made this possible. The brutal violence of the last month has led to countless deaths and caused thousands of innocent people to endure unimaginable suffering. The government and opposition must ensure that their forces implement the agreement immediately and in full.“It is now vital that both sides work to heal the divisions that led…
WASHINGTON, January 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Statement by the President on South SudanI welcome today’s signing of a cessation of hostilities agreement in South Sudan, which is a critical first step toward building a lasting peace. Now, South Sudan’s leaders need to work to fully and immediately implement the agreement and start an inclusive political dialogue to resolve the underlying causes of the conflict. The full participation of political detainees currently being held by the Government of South Sudan will be critical to those discussions, and we will continue to work to expedite their release. I am grateful…
WASHINGTON, January 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The World Bank Group announced today that it will mobilize US$100 million in emergency development funds to help restore key government services and provide much-needed food, healthcare, and other vital supplies for the people of the Central Africa Republic (CAR) after violence overwhelmed their country in recent months, and displaced more than 25 percent of the population. Briefing its Executive Board, the World Bank’s Vice President for Africa said that the funds would be released in the course of 2014 and only in line with a steadily improving peace and security situation…
GENEVA, Switzerland, January 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Special Rapporteur on slavery, Gulnara Shahinian, will undertake a follow-up mission to 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*. “This visit will allow me to discuss the adoption of the road map to ending slavery in Mauritania, which was prepared in cooperation with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,” Ms. Shahinian said. “Its adoption and implementation would be a milestone towards the…
OSLO, Norway, January 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “Norway welcomes the ceasefire agreement in South sudan. It is crucial that the parties now keep strictly to these agreements. All hostilities must cease at once and civilians must get access to humanitarian assistance,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende. The conflicting parties – the Government of South Sudan, and a delegation representing former Vice President Riek Machar – have today taken an important step towards reaching a peaceful solution to the conflict. The ceasefire agreement was brokered by mediators from the regional organisation Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), with…
NEW YORK, January 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UN HUMANITARIAN CHIEF VALERIE AMOS TO VISIT SOUTH SUDANWHO: Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator WHAT: Mission to the Republic of South sudan WHEN: 27-29 January 2014 WHERE: The capital, Juba, and Lakes and Jonglei States UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos is scheduled to visit South sudan from 27 to 29 January 2014 to draw attention to the humanitarian consequences of the current crisis and to mobilize further support for vital aid efforts. During her three-day visit, USG Amos is expected to meet with representatives of…
KHARTOUM, Sudan, January 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — [as delivered] Good Morning and Happy New Year everyone. It has been nine months since I took office as the Head of UNAMID. A number of significant events have taken place in Darfur and the region, which will impact the Mission’s work in this year. In this first press conference since assuming office, I would like to focus on some of these past developments and highlight the way forward for UNAMID in 2014, which I hope will be the year of peace in Darfur. In 2013 the conflict in Darfur surpassed…
GENEVA, Switzerland, January 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Ms. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, will conduct an official visit to the Seychelles from 27 to 31 January 2014. “I would like to better understand the situation of trafficking of persons in the Seychelles, especially that of women, children, as well as men, and assess the State’s response to counter trafficking,” said Ms. Ezeilo. The UN Special Rapporteur is mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to promote the prevention of trafficking in persons in all its forms and…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Council,1. Takes note of the Report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the revised Concept of Operations for the AU Mission in Somalia;2. Recalls its communiqué PSC/PR/Comm.(CCCXCIX) adopted at its 399th meeting held on 10 October 2013, endorsing the recommendations of the AU-UN Review of AMISOM and Benchmarking Exercise, as well as the relevant provisions of UN Security Council resolution 2124 (2013), adopted on 12 November 2013, on the development of a new Concept of Operations, with a view to enabling AMISOM to respond to the increasingly asymmetrical tactics…
NEW YORK, January 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Security Council, in its resolution 2127 (2013) of 5 December 2013, requested the Secretary-General to rapidly establish an international commission of inquiry for an initial period of one year, including experts in both international humanitarian law and human rights law, in order immediately to investigate reports of violations of international humanitarian law, international human rights law and abuses of human rights in the Central African Republic by all parties since 1 January 2013, to compile information, to help identify the perpetrators of such violations and abuses, point to their possible…
CONAKRY, Guinea, January 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — An IMF mission led by Harry Snoek visited Conakry during January 9-17, 2013 to complete discussions on the third review of a program supported by an arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF),i which was approved by the IMF Executive Board on February 24, 2012 (see Press Release No. 12/57) in the amount of SDR 128.52 million (about US$194.99 million). The mission met with the President of the Republic, Alpha Condé and held working meetings with the State Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Kerfalla Yansané, the Minister for Plan, Sékou…