GENEVA, Switzerland, December 3, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Two weeks after a tropical cyclone struck the northeast coast of Puntland State of Somalia with unforeseen ferocity, the government estimates that over 35,000 people have been affected by the disaster and are at risk of destitution and hunger.About a hundred and fifty people have been reported dead or missing, thousands of head of sheep, goats, and camels have been killed – the basis for livelihood and survival of most of the local community – infrastructure lies in ruins, and fears of an outbreak of waterborne diseases are intensifying. “For three…
Author: apofeed
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 3, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Government of Ethiopia are working together to manage the influx of vulnerable Ethiopian migrants returning from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Ethiopia’s Bole International Airport receives an average of 7,000 migrants every day, as the Ethiopian government works around the clock to facilitate organized movement of its citizens from Saudi Arabia. Over 75,000 migrants have returned to Ethiopia since the operation began on 13 November 2013.Out of the migrants that have arrived to date, 47,479 are men, 25,000 are women and 3,391 are children.…
LIBREVILLE, Gabon, December 3, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The New York Forum AFRICA (NYFA) (http://www.ny-forum-africa.com) will again be held in Gabon’s capital Libreville in 2014, with the dates announced today as May 23-25. The theme for the Forum – the third to be held in the country – will be the Transformation of a Continent, and it will again be held under the High Patronage of His Excellency President Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Gabonese Republic.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/nyfa14.pngMore than 1,500 business and political leaders and eight heads of state attended last year’s NYFA, the world’s leading pan-African business summit.…
WASHINGTON, December 3, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Defense Department continues to work with nations in North Africa to promote security and increase stability in the region still feeling the effects of the Arab Spring, Amanda J. Dory, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for African affairs, told a Senate panel today.Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco are confronting instability and the U.S. military is working to build or strengthen their police and military forces, Dory told the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Near eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs. “Our strategic approach recognizes that developing strong and responsive…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 3, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The future of Senegalese football was at the core of the first-ever organisational review implemented within the scope of PERFORMANCE, the football management programme of FIFA, that concluded on Sunday, 1 December 2013, in Dakar.During the six-day mission a FIFA delegation undertook a thorough analysis of all structures of the Senegalese Football Federation and its key external stakeholders, including government, sponsors and broadcasters.“Through my work in Gabon, Mali and now in Senegal I have noticed that while Africa keeps on producing an impressive amount of talented players, there are still key…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 3, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Gulnara Shahinian, urged the Government of Ghana to consolidate the important steps it has taken with strong and sustainable implementation strategies with measurable impact on groups at risk as well as victims of slavery. “Further progress on eradicating the various forms of modern day slavery and exploitation in Ghana can only be achieved by addressing the root causes sustaining these practices, including poverty, regional disparities and the lack of access to livelihoods, education and health,” the expert said. A human rights-based…
TUNIS, Tunisia, December 3, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — At the request of the Tunisian authorities, a mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headed by Mr. Amine Mati visited Tunis from November 12-27, 2013 in the context of the first and second reviews of Tunisia’s economic and reform program supported by a 24-month stand-by arrangement approved by the IMF Executive Board on June 7, 2013. This arrangement supports Tunisia’s 2013-2015 program aimed at preserving fiscal and external buffers, promoting stronger and more inclusive growth, and protecting the most vulnerable in the population. At the end of the visit, Mr.…
KIGALI, Rwanda, December 3, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the seventh and final review under Rwanda’s Policy Support Instrument (PSI) and approved a new three-year PSI. In completing the review, the Board approved the authorities’ request for a waiver for non-observance of the continuous assessment criteria related to the ceiling on contracting non-concessional borrowing (NCB).The Executive Board took note of Rwanda’s cancellation of the current PSI, which was scheduled to expire in January 2014. The IMF’s framework for PSIs is designed for low-income countries that may not need financial…
NAIROBI, Kenya, December 3, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the sixth and final review of Kenya’s economic program supported by a three-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). The completion of the review enables the immediate disbursement of an amount equivalent to SDR 71.921 million (about US$110.2 million), which will bring total disbursements to the full arrangement amount of SDR 488.52 million (about US$748.4 million). . The Executive Board approved the Extended Credit Facility program for Kenya on January 31, 2011 (See Press release No. 11/22), which was…
OSLO, Norway, December 2, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Minister Brende concerned about new Egyptian protest law“I am concerned about the recent developments in Egypt. In Cairo, we have seen the use of force against demonstrators, the arrest of activists, and unreasonably harsh sentences. It is important that the authorities strengthen human rights in the ongoing work to form the new Egypt,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende. Norway shares the opinion of the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as international and Egyptian human rights organisations, all of which have expressed concern…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, December 2, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia Nicholas Kay paid tribute today to Somalia’s outgoing Prime Minister, Abdi Farah Shirdon Saaid, and noted the responsible role played by the Federal Parliament and the Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari in handling the “no confidence” motion. “It was important this unprecedented piece of parliamentary business was managed in accordance with the provisional constitution and the rules of procedure of the Parliament,” he said. “Somalia’s institutions are coming of age. The UN is here to support their development, and looks forward to working constructively…
THE HAGUE, Netherlands, December 2, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Court today formally handed over the Court’s landmark courthouse and the surrounding court complex to the Government of Sierra Leone, as it takes the final steps towards closure of the institution.In a colourful ceremony in front of the courthouse, Registrar Binta Mansaray handed an over-sized ceremonial key to Sierra Leone’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Franklyn Bai Kargbo.The courthouse saw the trials of leaders of the Civil Defence Forces, the Revolutionary United Front, and the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, as well as the initial appearance of former Liberian…
THE HAGUE, Netherlands, December 2, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Sixteen distinguished jurists today were sworn-in as Judges of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone, the institution which will succeed the Special Court which closes this month.Each Judge in turn subscribed to the solemn declaration to “without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, serve as a Judge of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone honestly, faithfully, impartially and conscientiously.” Their declarations were witnessed by Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Franklyn Bai Kargbo on behalf of the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, and by UN Under-Secretary-General for…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 2, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — With the end of fighting between the armed forces and M23 in Rutshuru, displaced people are returning home. The ICRC and the Red Cross Society of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are carrying on with their humanitarian work in the east of the country. “Recent events in Rutshuru should not cause us to overlook the fact that the humanitarian and security situation remains difficult in other territories in the east of the country,” said Alessandra Ménegon, head of the ICRC delegation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “The people…
NAIROBI, Kenya, December 2, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — African Ministers and Experts Spotlight Efforts to Incorporate Natural Wealth Accounting in Development PlanningWhat: Press conference on “Valuation and Accounting of Natural Capital for Green Economy (VANTAGE)” in Africa meeting When: Wednesday, 4 December 10:30 a.m. Where:Press Room, UN Compound, GigiriWho: Anne Waiguru, Cabinet Secretary at the Presidency, Ministry of Devolution and Planning, Kenya Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Partha Dasgupta, Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Cambridge Natural capital is a critical asset, especially for low-income countries where it makes up around 36 per cent of total…
BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of the Congo, December 2, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The BUILD Africa forum (http://www.buildafricaforum.com) is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with the African Development Bank Group’s Africa50 infrastructure fund.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/build.pngHeld under the High Patronage of Denis Sassou N’Guesso, President of the Republic of the Congo, the BUILD Africa Forum will address Africa’s infrastructure challenges by bringing leading public and private sector stakeholders to the table. The forum will take place on February 5-7, 2014, in Brazzaville, Congo.Working together, the BUILD Africa forum and Africa50, the AfDB’s single-A infrastructure delivery vehicle, will showcase innovative projects in Africa…
NAIROBI, Kenya, December 1, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) together with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Somalia and with the support of the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA) hosted the first Somalia specific United Nations Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination (UN-CMCoord) Course from 24 to 29 November 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya. The course aiming to improve the effectiveness of international relief operations in Somalia and promote effective humanitarian-military relationships, brought 23 participants from AMISOM (civilian, military and police components) and humanitarian organizations working in the operation…
WASHINGTON, December 1, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — RemarksJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCNovember 30, 2013On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I extend my deepest hope to the people of the Central African Republic that you may celebrate your independence on December 1 in peace and security.The United States stands with the courageous people of the Central African Republic as we work together and with regional and international partners to restore stability, protect human rights, promote national reconciliation, and re-establish constitutional governance in your country.We share a vision for your country’s future that includes security…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, December 1, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, has expressed his deep concern at the recent outbreak of violence in the northern region of Sool. “Violence cannot and will not resolve political issues. All those with a stake in the area must show calm and pursue reconciliation,” said SRSG Kay.SRSG Kay deplored the loss of life and offered his condolences to the families of those killed in recent clashes.”Political differences and competing claims should be solved by dialogue. Peace and stability are also critical to the Puntland election process”,…
GENEVA, Switzerland, November 29, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Working Group* of Experts on People of African Descent will undertake its first visit Brazil from 3 to 13 December 2013 to examine a wide range of issues concerning the human rights of people of African descent in the country. “In recent years, Brazil has attained many achievements in promoting equality. However, like many Latin American countries, it still faces challenges connected with the consequences of slavery, slave trade, and colonialism,” noted human rights expert Mireille Fanon-Mendes-France, a member of the Group’s visiting delegation. “This mission will provide…