TUNIS, Tunisia, November 29, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Africa has made significant progress in fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In the past seven years, AIDS-related deaths declined by 32%.The number of people contracting the HIV infection declined by 25% in the past 10 years. The rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV has also declined from 35% in 2001 to 26% in 2010. Ten years ago, we had fewer than 50,000 people on ARV treatment; today we have over 6 million receiving treatment. A few years ago, Senegal and Uganda were the only success stories for their outstanding results and containment…
Author: apofeed
KHARTOUM, Sudan, November 29, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Ali Al-Za’tari, strongly condemns the killing of two Sudanese Ministry of Health staff, a vaccinator and a driver, who were part of a team vaccinating vulnerable children against measles in West Darfur. “My deepest condolences go to the family and friends of those killed,” said Mr Al-Za’tari. “I call on all parties to ensure the protection of all personnel working to deliver assistance to populations in need throughout Sudan,” he said. UNICEF and the World Health Organization are helping to ensure that…
YAOUNDE, Cameroon, November 29, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Combating terrorism and illicit trafficking were the focus of an international audience who gathered recently in Cameroon. The U.S. Africa Center for Stratetic Studies (ACSS) co-hosted a symposium on regional counter-terrorism cooperation and the fight against illicit trafficking in Yaoundé on Wednesday, November 20, 2013, in partnership with the ACSS Community Chapter in Cameroon and the U.S. Embassy.The event took place at the Yaoundé International War College (Ecole supérieure internationale de guerre de Yaoundé [ESIG]). The more than 100 participants included Africa Center community members from the Cameroon Armed Forces, the…
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, November 28, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On 27 November 2013, the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and the Government of Sudan (GoS) police held a strategic workshop in Khartoum on the memorandum of understanding they signed in August 2013. The event, which was aimed at strengthening cooperation, was attended by some 100 police officers from both institutions including GoS police directors-general from the five states of Darfur. In his opening remarks, UNAMID Deputy Joint Special Representative Joseph Mutaboba explained that UNAMID Police was assisting in building the capacity of the GoS police in…
TOKYO, Japan, November 28, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 1. On October 14, the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security, which was established by the initiative of the Government of Japan, decided to extend assistance totaling 3,082,750 US dollars (approximately 253 million yen) to a project entitled “Empowering and Rebuilding Communities with Multi-Sectoral Initiatives in Post-Conflict Chad for a Sustainable Change”.2. The project is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This project aims at contributing to human security of the conflict–affected populations through improving…
NAIROBI, Kenya, November 28, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat wishes to invite journalists to a Press Briefing to discuss an upcoming conference on a New Urban Agenda for Africa to be held in Nairobi between 4 -6 December 2013.Press Briefing Monday 2 December 2013Venue: The Norfolk Hotel, (Fairmont), Nairobi South Ball Room Date and time: Monday 2 December 2013, 11 a.m.Strengthening Partnership for a New Africa Urban Agenda ConferenceVenue: United Nations Gigiri, Conference room 2 Date: 4 -6 December 2013.BackgroundThe three –day conference will advocate for strengthening partnerships for a new Africa Urban…
TUNIS, Tunisia, November 28, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — With African Development Bank (AfDB) (http://www.afdb.org) support, six African nations – Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Mali and Mozambique – made it through a global competition run by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) to provide dedicated funding to engage the private sector in effective climate solutions. The seven project concepts endorsed for full project development in Africa focus on forests in Burkina Faso, DRC and Ghana, renewable energy in Kenya and Mali, and climate resilience in Mozambique.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/african-development-bank-2.pngThe multilateral development banks (MDBs) ran the four-month competition to provide…
DUBLIN, Ireland, November 28, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — His Excellency, the Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda presented its Letters of Credence to the President at Áras an Uachtaráin today.H.E. Mr. Williams B.N. Nkurunziza, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda, was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Leonia Nkuruh.Mr. Fergus O’Dowd, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, represented the Government at the ceremony.The following were also present: Mr. Loughlin Quinn, Deputy Secretary-General to the President; Mr. Fergal Mythen, Assistant Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs…
GENEVA, Switzerland, November 28, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Four in five refugees in the camps at Dadaab do not want to return to Somalia given the current climate of insecurity, finds an MSF assessment An agreement to begin the voluntary repatriation of Somalis from Kenya could potentially be a positive step, but must not happen at the expense of providing aid to refugees, says the international medical organisation Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders. The agreement, signed on 10 November by the UN, Kenya and Somalia, outlines the practical and legal procedures for the voluntary return of hundreds of thousands…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, November 28, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui, on 27 November 2013, received the European Union (EU) Director for East and Southern Africa and African Caribbean and Pacific Coordination (ACP), Ms Francesca Mosca.The meeting offered both parties an opportunity to discuss EU support to the AU’s efforts to promote peace, security and stability in Africa, and Commissioner Chergui renewed the expression of the AU’s appreciation for the EU’s sustained support.In light of the possible reduction of EU financial support to the AU in the area of…
NAIROBI, Kenya, November 28, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) (http://www.unitar.org) launched a new regional Finance and Investment Training Programme at Kenya School of Monetary Studies (Nairobi, Kenya). The Programme is intended to strengthen the economic, financial and technical cooperation between Arab States and African nations who are non-members of the Arab League. Photo 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=756 (Representatives of Kenya Treasury, Kenya School of Monetary Studies, BADEA and UNITAR during Closing Session)Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=755 (Course Director Dr. Yenkong Ngangjoh Hodu and Comonwealth eBanking…
GENEVA, Switzerland, November 28, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — In Mali, despite a certain political normalization, the armed conflict that has been under way for almost two years makes access to health care difficult for people living in the north. The ICRC is helping them by maintaining its support for certain health facilities. “Access to health care is still a critical issue for people in the north of Mali,” said Christoph Luedi, head of the ICRC delegation in Mali. “Conflict continues to have an effect on the functioning of health facilities, which struggle mightily to meet people’s needs without outside…
TUNIS, Tunisia, November 28, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Development Bank’s (AfDB) (http://www.afdb.org) work in clean energy financing received some welcome recognition last week from Asian Development Bank President (ADB) Takehiko Nakao. The ADB President commended the African Development Bank for its commitment to promoting clean energy investments during the 6th annual meeting of the Asia Solar Energy Forum (ASEF) on Solar Energy Technology Trends and Opportunities held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from November 20-23.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/african-development-bank-2.pngSpecifically, Nakao recognized the African Development Bank for its investment in the solar energy field. He also emphasized that Africa has better solar energy…
ABUJA, Nigeria, November 28, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A capacity building workshop for experts from the ECOWAS Commission, its Member States and other stakeholders is underway in Abuja on the Establishment of a Trade and Environment Knowledge Management Platform. The three-day meeting, which opened on Monday 25th November 2013, seeks to enhance knowledge and strengthen the capacities of the trade and environment experts to generate and share information that will boost negotiations as well as formulate coherent Trade and Environment policies. In his opening address, ECOWAS Commissioner for Trade, Customs, Industry, Mines and Free Movement, Mr. Ahmed Hamid said…
WASHINGTON, November 28, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCNovember 27, 2013On behalf of the American people, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Mauritania on the 53rd anniversary of independence on November 28.Mauritania and the United States work closely to advance regional peace and security. We are especially proud of our cooperation through the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership.The United States fully supports Mauritania’s democratic and economic development. We look forward to finding new opportunities to promote human rights and expand trade and investment.I wish all Mauritanians a safe and festive 53rd anniversary…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, November 28, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Secretary meets Moroccan Foreign Minister and reaffirms the strength of relations on 800th anniversary of first diplomatic contactThe Foreign Secretary William Hague today met the newly appointed Moroccan Foreign Minister, Mr Salaheddine Mezouar. Speaking after the meeting, William Hague said:“I was delighted to welcome my Moroccan counterpart Mr Salaheddine Mezouar today, at a time when Britain and Morocco are celebrating 800 years of diplomatic ties.“We discussed regional issues including Iran, Syria and Libya, and agreed to keep in close touch on these issues.“I thanked Mr Mezouar for Morocco’s support during…
ABUJA, Nigeria, November 27, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Participants at the just-concluded 4th Annual Forum of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) have declared that the domestic electricity markets of Member States must be liberalized to enable the speedy development of the regional market. The 160-plus forum participants, including regulators, operators and consumers in the electricity sector, also advised that in carrying out the reforms, key stakeholders should take cognizance of the factor of time, and be able to strike the right balance between the interests of political actors, investors and consumers. This year’s two-day Forum with the…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, November 27, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union (AU), Ambassador Smail Chergui, met today with the Ambassador of the United States of America to the African Union, H.E Reuben E. Brigety. The meeting provided them with an opportunity to exchange views on the USA’s long-standing support to the African Union and its willingness to enhance its partnership. The US Ambassador reaffirmed his government’s recognition of the leadership role of the AU on the African continent. They agreed on the need for a comprehensive approach to peace and security,…
TOKYO, Japan, November 27, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 1. Japan welcomes that the first round of presidential election took place in a peaceful manner in the Republic of Madagascar on October 25 (Fri). Japan highly commends that the count of votes and the announcement of the provisional results of the first round (on November 8) by the Malagasy Independent National Electoral Commission of the Transition (CENI-T) and the announcement of its final results (on November 22) by the Malagasy Special Electoral Court (CES) were conducted within the scheduled timetable respectively.2. Japan has conducted the election observation activities on the…
GENEVA, Switzerland, November 27, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — MSF renews call to the international community, especially UN agencies, to increase its response to the ongoing crisisA further wave of mass displacement in the town of Bouca, northeastern Central African Republic (CAR), following fresh clashes between reported anti-balaka elements and ex-Séléka forces, the second time in two months in this area, once again highlights the need for urgent humanitarian action in CAR said Médécins Sans Frontières (MSF) today.“The fighting in Bouca is indicative of how horrific violence is engulfing the Central African Republic” said Sylvain Groulx, MSF Head of Mission…