CAPE-TOWN, South-Africa, December 13, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Op-ed by Lindlyn Moma, Regional Advocacy Manager for WaterAid in Southern Africa (http://www.wateraid.org) Logo WaterAid: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/wateraid.jpg Photo Lindlyn Moma: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=769 (Lindlyn Moma is Regional Advocacy Manager for WaterAid in Southern Africa)Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=770 (Victoria Miandrisoja, 9, smiles with friends whilst washing in clean water from the tap installed at school, Ampanasana Public Primary school, Miandrivazo, Madagascar, 2012 (Credit: Anna Kari/WaterAid)Africa’s leaders have in their hands a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the international development agenda, not just for their continent but for the whole globe.The continent’s leaders are in the midst of…
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BERN, Switzerland, December 13, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Federal Council has approved a contribution of CHF 60 million for the 2014-2016 period for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM). Switzerland was one of the founders of the Geneva-based fund in 2002 and has been one of its key partners since the beginning. Malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis remain the leading causes of death in sub-Saharan Africa. These three diseases are among the most important factors hampering development.Three diseases – malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis – are among the most frequent causes of death worldwide, and especially…
ABUJA, Nigeria, December 13, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — ECOWAS is deploying 50 election observers to Mali for the country’s second-round Parliamentary polls on 15th December 2013 following an inconclusive first-round balloting on 24 November 2013.The regional Observation Mission will be headed by Prof. Amos Sawyer, former President of Liberia’s Interim Government of National Unity, who also led the 100-strong ECOWAS observers to the first round voting. He will be supported this time by Ambassador Leopold Ouedraogo, a Member of the ECOWAS Council of the Wise.Provisional results from the first-round elections which featured more than 1,140 candidates fielded by the…
RUEIL-MALMAISON, France, December 13, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Schneider Electric (http://www.schneider-electric.com) announces that five projects in its BipBop (1) access to energy program have been chosen to participate in the “Africa Forum – 100 innovations for sustainable development” taking place in Paris on 4 and 5 December 2013. This forum was initiated by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, prompted by the Deputy Minister responsible for Development, Pascal Canfin, in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD). Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/schneider_electric.jpgPhoto: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/mohammed_saad_president_africa_schneider_electric.jpg (Mohammed Saad, President Africa, Schneider Electric)The “Africa Forum – 100 innovations for sustainable development” aims to highlight innovative concrete…
NEW YORK, December 13, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to the Security Council briefing on peace and security in Africa, in New York today:Je vous remercie très profondément, Président Araud, d’avoir organisé cette séance. Nous sommes réunis ici pour honorer notre engagement à l’égard des populations du Sahel à un moment où les besoins sont immenses.Cette séance du Conseil de sécurité fait suite à la visite que j’ai effectuée au Mali, au Niger, au Burkina Faso et au Tchad le mois dernier avec la Présidente de la Commission de l’Union africaine, les Présidents…
BEIJING, China, December 13, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei announces at the regular press conference:At the invitation of Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Salah Eddine Mezouar and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Palestine, Israel, Algeria, Morocco and Saudi Arabia from December 17 to 26.
WASHINGTON, December 13, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — RemarksCatherine M. RussellAmbassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues National Democratic Institute (NDI) OfficesWashington, DCDecember 12, 2013Thank you Ken for opening up NDI to us today, and thank you Lorne for your kind introduction.I’d like to thank IRI and NDI for the work that you do every day — promoting democracy, supporting democratic institutions and practices, safeguarding elections, and promoting citizen participation. Your work is critical. It also showcases our bipartisan, mutual commitment to democracy, to peaceful democratic transitions and to the engagement of women and men in shaping the futures of their countries.I’d…
WASHINGTON, December 12, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Two U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and a small command and support team are on the ground in Uganda, preparing to conduct airlift operations in support of ongoing peacekeeping operations in the Central African Republic, Army Col. Steve Warren, a Defense Department spokesman, said today.The aircraft are expected to fly to Burundi tomorrow morning to transport a Burundian light infantry battalion to Bangui, Central African Republic, a Pentagon official said.A second small team of Air Force logisticians is on the ground in Burundi to prepare equipment for loading, and a…
TOKYO, Japan, December 12, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 1. Japan is deeply concerned about the further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic due to the clash that occurred on December 5 and at the same time strongly urges restraint by all the relevant parties.2. Japan welcomes and expects continuous efforts for peace and stability in the Central African Republic made by countries and organizations in the region, in particular the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of the Central African States (ECCAS). Moreover, Japan welcomes the support by French troops that assist the efforts…
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, December 12, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — All media are invited to the opening ceremony of the seventh meeting of the Implementation Follow–up Commission (IFC), established by the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), that will take place on Monday 16 December 2013, at 10:00 hours, at UNAMID Headquarters in El Fasher, North Darfur. The Chairperson of the IFC, His Excellency Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, the Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar, will brief the press on the outcome of meeting after its conclusion at approximately 12:30 hours. The Commission, chaired by the State of…
ABUJA, Nigeria, December 12, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Five ECOWAS Member States involved in the Abidjan-Lagos road corridor project have agreed to contribute US$50 million in “seed money” to ensure speedy implementation of the 1028-km project.The Steering Committee agreed at its third ministerial session in Yamoussoukro on 10th December 2013, that the money would help fund preparatory activities and provide further evidence of commitment by the countries for public and private sector operators interested in investing in the project, a six-lane highway expected to carry some 75 per cent of goods transported in the region, linking most of its…
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, December 12, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union-United Nations Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, said he values and appreciates the three-day workshop on peace and security in Darfur, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the participation of two non-signatory movements, Sudan Liberation Army / Minni Minawi (SLA/MM) and the Justice and Equality Movement / Gibril Ibrahim (JEM/Gibril). Dr. Chambas said he welcomed the willingness of the participants to move forward into a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the conflict. “We are ready to continue engaging with all the non-signatory movements…
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, December 12, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Council has today decided that the conditions have been fulfilled for the complete resumption of the European Union’s cooperation with the Republic of Guinea under the aegis of the Tenth European Development Fund. The holding of parliamentary elections in the Republic of Guinea was the last milestone of the road map set out by the Council in July 20091concerning the conclusion of consultations with the Republic of Guinea under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. Following the military coup on 23 December 2008, the EU partially suspended development…
WASHINGTON, December 12, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Media NoteOffice of the SpokespersonWashington, DCDecember 11, 2013In an important symbol of our friendship and bilateral relationship with the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Under Secretary for Management Patrick F. Kennedy, and U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea Mark L. Asquino presided over the dedication of the new U.S. Embassy complex in Malabo today.The new multi-building complex provides embassy employees with a safe, secure, and modern workplace. Situated on a 12.5-acre site in the Malabo Dos section of the capital, the complex includes a chancery building, a service/utility building, an access…
MONROVIA, Liberia, December 12, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the second review under the three-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) for Liberia. The completion of the review enables the disbursement of an amount equivalent to SDR 7.382 million (about US$11.4 million), bringing the total disbursements under the arrangement to SDR 22.146 million (about US$34.2 million). In completing the review, the Board approved the waiver for the nonobservance of the performance criteria on the floor on revenue collection of the central government, the ceiling on Central Bank of…
DOHA, Qatar, December 11, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Doha GOALS 2013 will be remembered for the series of firsts that were delivered throughout the forum amongst them, the first ever Sports Ministers Summit and the launch of the first initiatives to benefit from the actions agreed at Doha GOALS last year. The second edition of the forum – the world’s leading platform focusing on sport as a driver for social change and economic progress – was attended by 1,500 participants from 70 countries, including 150 speakers and 30 sporting champions with star names including Michael Johnson, Boris Becker, Nadia…
WASHINGTON, December 11, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCDecember 11, 2013On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Kenya as you celebrate your Golden Jubilee on December 12.Jamhuri Day is a testament to the strength of the Kenyan people. The United States applauds Kenya for holding a peaceful national election this year and for implementing its new constitution.The devastating Nairobi airport fire and the tragic terrorist attack at the Westgate Mall tested the nation’s strength, but Kenyans united in the face of adversity to overcome these…
TUNIS, Tunisia, December 11, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A new economic brief(http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Publications/Economic%20Brief%20-%20The%20Search%20for%20Inclusive%20Growth%20in%20North%20Africa-%20A%20Comparative%20Approach.pdf) published by the African Development Bank (http://www.afdb.org) shows that the longstanding relationship between growth and distribution in economics has been revived in recent years with greater focus being placed on “inclusive growth”, which is capable of benefiting much wider segments of society.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/african-development-bank-2.pngThe extensive review of a broad set of development indicators over the past two decades and the establishment of a combined single score for measuring “inclusive growth” for individual countries shows that, in the decade prior to the Arab Spring, North Africa fared relatively well…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 11, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Since clashes erupted in Bangui on 5 December, the population has been seized with fear. The ICRC is calling for the work of medical and humanitarian personnel to be facilitated to enable them to meet the most urgent needs. “One of our main concerns is to ensure that the injured and the sick are able to obtain care. Most health-care facilities in Bangui are closed,” said Bonaventure Bazirutwabo, the ICRC’s health coordinator in the city. “In addition, because some medical staff do not feel secure enough to go to work, there…
NAIROBI, Kenya, December 11, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Development Bank (AfDB) (http://www.afdb.org) has today launched the Information Center for the Extractive Sector (ICES), a platform that promotes knowledge-based dialogue with the aim of promoting informed policies for the sector.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/african-development-bank-2.png AfDB Director for the Eastern Africa Resource Centre (EARC) Gabriel Negatu pointed out the timeliness of the information center, saying the opportunity to use the sector to accelerate national development and promote economic growth requires careful planning at this critical stage. According to government estimates, extractives currently contribute just one per cent to Kenya’s national income, and…