MBABANE, Swaziland, January 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Mr. Jiro Honda visited the Kingdom of Swaziland during January 13‒21, 2014. The mission discussed macroeconomic developments, the preliminary fiscal framework for 2014/15, and the authorities’ policy priorities, setting the stage for the upcoming 2014 Article IV consultation (scheduled for mid-2014). The mission met with the Prime Minister, Hon. Sibusiso Dlamini; Minister of Finance, Hon. Martin Dlamini; Minister of Economic Planning and Development, Hon. Prince Hlangusemphi; the Governor of the Central Bank of Swaziland, Mr. Majozi Sithole; other senior government officials,…
Author: apofeed
GENEVA, Switzerland, January 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — As a semblance of normality returns to Bangui, violence grinds on elsewhere in the country, particularly the north-west. The ICRC and the Central African Red Cross Society are stepping up their efforts to bring aid to the victims. Even though an unsure calm can be seen to be returning to the streets of the capital, where life is gradually returning to normal despite ongoing sporadic outbreaks of violence, armed men who are out in strength on the roads leading out of Bangui to the north and west continue to expose the…
KIGALI, Rwanda, January 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Two U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft operating at the request of the French government and African Union authorities continued airlifting a Rwandan mechanized battalion Jan. 19.The joint operation with personnel from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force is in support of an African Union effort to confront destabilizing forces and violence within Central African Republic.”The African Union has decided to stand up a mission in the Central African Republic to decrease the violence that has been occurring over the last several months,” Lt. Col. Allen Pepper, senior officer…
WASHINGTON, January 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCJanuary 21, 2014The United States welcomes the selection of Catherine Samba-Panza as Transitional President in the Central African Republic (C.A.R.). As C.A.R.’s first woman head of state since the country’s independence, and with her special background in human rights work and mediation, she has a unique opportunity to advance the political transition process, bring all the parties together to end the violence, and move her country toward elections not later than February 2015.We also commend the Transitional National Council for conducting the selection process for the new…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, January 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, has welcomed the endorsement of the Cabinet nominated by Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed following a vote today in the Somali Federal Parliament. “I congratulate the new Ministers, Deputy and State Ministers of Somalia. The Cabinet has a large task ahead: delivering peace and reconciliation, rule of law and good governance to the Somali people, as well as providing public services and building the economy,” SRSG Kay said. “The United Nations will continue to support the Federal Government of…
GENEVA, Switzerland, January 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated USD 8 million to IOM to support the organization’s response to the growing displacement crisis in South Sudan.UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos emphasized the urgent need for the funds. “Conditions for the South Sudanese fleeing hostilities in their country are getting worse by the day. With this CERF funding, humanitarian agencies will be better able to meet the needs of people desperately seeking shelter and safety,” she noted.An estimated 490,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs)…
TOKYO, Japan, January 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 1. As a result of a public referendum held on 14th and 15th January, the draft of the amended Egyptian constitution was approved. Japan regards it as an important step towards the political normalization of Egypt according to the Road Map. Japan expects that attaining such a development in a proper way that includes a wide range of Egyptian people will lead to social stability and establishment of democracy.2. Japan continues to follow the development of the democratization process, which includes the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.3. Japan will also continue…
GENEVA, Switzerland, January 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM is distributing medical and laboratory equipment to different health clinics strategically located in HIV hot-spots in Uganda to tackle the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS along major transport corridors in the country.“HIV/AIDS is still stigmatized in Uganda and especially in my community, a fishing community,” says Salongo Dennis Lukyamuzi, a fisherman from the village of Kasensero along the shores of Lake Victoria. Kasensero, like many fishing villages, has amongst the highest prevalence rates of HIV in Uganda, with up to 20 per cent of the population carrying the virus.“Mobility is a…
NAIROBI, Kenya, January 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, willinvest $10 million in equity to support the expansion of BridgeInternational Academies, a provider of high-quality primary and pre-primary education for children from poor families. CDC, the UK’s development finance institution, will invest $6 million in equity alongside IFC. The funding will support the company’s plans to expand to more countries in Africa, where Bridge presently operates, as well as in India. While Bridge already educates 80,000 children, the organization’s mission is to reach ten million over the next decade.Bridge International Academies, founded…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “Transforming Africa’s Agriculture: Harnessing Opportunities for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development” is the theme that will be at the center of discussions during the 22nd Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), scheduled to take place from 21st to 31st January 2014 at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Summit will officially kick off tomorrow, Tuesday 21st January with the 27th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC). The PRC will discuss items on the agenda in preparation of…
NEW YORK, January 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the Human Rights Council’s special session on the Central African Republic, as delivered by Michael Møller, Acting Head of the United Nations Office in Geneva, today, 20 January:I thank the African Group for taking the initiative to call this special session on the Central African Republic — a crisis of epic proportions which requires immediate and concerted action.The Central African Republic is in free fall. Public service institutions have collapsed. Security forces have disintegrated. Fear has enveloped the country. The Office of the…
NEW YORK, January 21, 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 election of Catherine Samba Panza as Head of State of the Transition of the Central African Republic through a transparent process led by the National Transitional Council. He congratulates Ms. Samba Panza on her election and commends all those involved in the election process and looks forward to the nomination of a new Prime Minister in the coming days. The change of leadership in the Central African Republic offers a critical opportunity to put…
GENEVA, Switzerland, January 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Statement by High Commissioner Pillay at the Special Session of the Human Rights Council on the Situation of Human Rights in the Central African Republic Geneva, 20 January 2014Mr. President, Distinguished Members of the Human Rights Council, Excellencies and Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, In my interim report to this Council on the human rights situation in the Central African Republic I highlighted the perpetration by the Séléka of summary executions and attacks on civilians, torture and ill-treatment, sexual violence and widespread looting of public and private property, in Bangui and other…
WASHINGTON, January 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJen PsakiDepartment SpokespersonWashington, DCJanuary 18, 2014The United States welcomes the announcement of the final results of Madagascar’s presidential election. We commend the Malagasy electoral authorities for organizing a poll that reflects the will of the Malagasy people and are grateful to the United Nations for its support to the electoral process.The election of a new president represents an opportunity for Madagascar to make progress on strengthening democratic institutions, improving respect for human rights, combating corruption, and rebuilding its economy. We look forward to working productively with President-elect Rajaonarimampianina as Madagascar implements…
GENEVA, Switzerland, January 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Fresh intercommunal violence has flared in western and north-western parts of the Central African Republic. Since Friday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Central African Red Cross Society have been administering first aid and have taken 25 seriously injured people to hospital in the capital, Bangui. Much of the population, in danger of reprisals and with no-one to protect them, have fled their homes and are hiding in the bush. The ICRC is extremely concerned about their welfare. “The ICRC calls on the authorities and on the…
DUBLIN, Ireland, January 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Minister for Trade and Development Joe Costello T.D., has underlined the need for stronger international action to end the humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic. The Minister was speaking before a High-Level meeting on the crisis taking place in Brussels on Monday morning which brings together representatives from EU member states, neighbouring countries, the UN and NGOs. Minister Costello said: “I recently announced funding of €2 million to the UN to support its efforts to provide the most vulnerable in the Central African Republic with food, water, shelter, healthcare and…
WASHINGTON, January 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — RemarksJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCJanuary 17, 2014Egypt’s turbulent experiment in participatory democracy the last three years has reminded us all that it’s not one vote that determines a democracy, it’s all the steps that follow. It’s a challenging transition that demands compromise, vigilance, and constant tending. The draft Egyptian constitution passed a public referendum this week, but it’s what comes next that will shape Egypt’s political, economic and social framework for generations.As Egypt’s transition proceeds, the United States urges the interim Egyptian government to fully implement those rights and freedoms that are…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, reiterates her serious concern about the on-going situation in South Sudan. She deplores the senseless killing of innocent civilians and the humanitarian tragedy unfolding on the ground. Thousands of civilians continue to lose their lives while attempting to flee for safety, as was the unfortunate case of over 200 people who drowned in the White Nile while fleeing from the fighting.The Chairperson of the Commission urges the Government of South Sudan and the armed opposition to…
LILONGWE, Malawi, January 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the third and fourth reviews of Malawi’s economic performance under a program supported by the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The Board’s decision enables the immediate disbursement of an amount equivalent to SDR 13.01 million (about US$ 20million), bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to an amount equivalent to SDR52.06 million (about US$79.8 million).In completing the reviews, the Board granted waivers for the nonobservance of the continuous performance criterion on new nonconcessional external debt with a maturity of more than…
GENEVA, Switzerland, January 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A former Eritrean Defence Minister has urged IPU and the international community to do its utmost for 11 fellow MPs imprisoned without charges in Eritrea in 2001. At a hearing before IPU’s Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, Mesfin Hagos, one of 15 politicians who had written an open letter to Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki in 2001, feared the worst for the 11 MPs, known as the G-11. Hagos and three others had avoided arrest following the publication of the letter calling for the Eritrean parliament to be able to…