GENEVA, Switzerland, March 30, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Human Rights Council observed a minute of silence this afternoon in memory of Ambassador Yusuf Mohamed Ismail “Bari Bari”, Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Somalia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, who lost his life on Friday as a result of a terrorist attack in Mogadishu. Members of the Human Rights Council were shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the death of Ambassador Bari, who was a well-known figure in Geneva, widely respected and admired for his strong leadership and unwavering commitment…
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LUSAKA, Zambia, March 30, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Zambia Electricity Supply Commission (ZESCO) has awarded Aurecon (http://www.aurecongroup.com) a contract to provide engineering, design and construction supervision services for the USD200 million World Bank funded Lusaka Transmission and Distribution Rehabilitation Project.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/aurecon.jpgPhoto 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/150330au.jpgPhoto 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/150330a.jpgZambia’s capital, Lusaka, is regarded as the second fastest growing city in Africa. Its electricity demand has grown at 6% per annum over the previous 10 years, with demand now outstripping the installed capacity of the power system supplying the city.“We are excited to work with ZESCO to increase the capacity and improve the reliability…
VATICAN, Holy See, March 27, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Pope Francis has a constant concern for the situation of Christian families and other groups of victims who have been expelled from their homes and villages, particularly in the city of Mosul and the Nineveh plains, many of whom have taken refuge in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan. The Pope prays for them and hopes they can return and resume their lives in the lands and places where they have lived and built good relationships for hundreds of years.In this coming Holy Week, these families are sharing together with…
WASHINGTON, March 26, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Vice President Biden called the Chairperson of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel for sudan and South sudan and former President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki today to discuss Sudan. Vice President Biden thanked President Mbeki for his leadership and his efforts to bring the many Sudanese groups together, and the two discussed the importance of establishing one nation-wide approach to ending the conflicts in Sudan. Vice President Biden and President Mbeki discussed the urgent need for continued pressure on the Sudanese government and opposition leaders, as well as civil society groups,…
GENEVA, Switzerland, March 26, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The peace process in South sudan and efforts from churches towards reconciliation were the focus of a meeting between Ellen Margrethe Løj, special representative and head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, and Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC). The meeting was held on 25 March at the WCC headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.“I have had a very useful meeting with the staff members of the World Council of Churches, where we have discussed the absence of the peace agreement in South…
VICTORIA, Mahe, March 26, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff mission led by Marshall Mills visited Victoria from March 11-26, 2015 to conduct the 2015 Article IV consultation discussions and assess performance under the second review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement with Seychelles.1At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Mills issued the following statement:“The resilience of the Seychellois economy continues to strengthen, with an improvement in the external sector starting late last year. The strong fiscal position kept public debt on track to fall below 50 percent of GDP by 2018. Monetary policy…
GENEVA, Switzerland, March 26, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Attacks by the Islamist armed group Boko Haram killed more than 1,000 civilians in 2015, based on witness accounts and an analysis of media reports, Human Rights Watch said today. Boko Haram fighters have deliberately attacked villages and committed mass killings and abductions as their attacks have spread from northeast Nigeria into Cameroon, Chad, and Niger since February.Human Rights Watch interviews in late January with people who fled Yobe, Adamawa, and Borno states in northeastern Nigeria revealed horrific levels of brutality. Since mid-2014, Boko Haram fighters have seized control of scores…
BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of the Congo, March 25, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Dalia Hakura, visited Brazzaville during March 17-23, 2015. The mission reviewed recent macroeconomic developments and the near-term outlook, and sought the authorities’ input on the agenda for the 2015 Article IV consultation, planned for May 2015. The mission also took part in the joint BEAC/IMF regional conference on “Finance for All: Promoting Financial Inclusion in Central Africa,” chaired on the IMF side by African Department Deputy Director Anne-Marie Gulde-Wolf.At the end of the mission, Ms. Hakura made the…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, March 25, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Africa Minister James Duddridge appalled by abhorrent abduction of women and children in northern NigeriaFollowing reports of the further abductions from Damask, Northern Nigeria, the Minister for Africa, James Duddridge MP said:“I am appalled at reports that up to 500 young women and children have been abducted from the town of Damask in northern Nigeria. I condemn Boko Haram’s abhorrent practice of abduction in the strongest terms and call for all those taken to be released immediately. The UK stands with Nigeria and its people at this difficult time, and will…
SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt, March 25, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) (http://www.icd-idb.com), the private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IDB), and the Arab Investment Bank (AIB) signed a Shareholders Agreement to establish “Enmaa Leasing Company” a Sharia-compliant leasing company in Egypt. Enmaa Leasing have an authorized capital of 150 million Egyptian pounds and expect to commence its operations during the third quarter of 2015.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/icd.jpgAs a strategic partner in Enmaa Leasing Company, ICD will utilize its extensive experience in the leasing sector, which have accumulated over…
TOKYO, Japan, March 25, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On March 15, commencing at 10:40 a.m. for approximately 35 minutes, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a meeting with Ambassador Amina Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary (CS) of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Kenya, during her stay in Sendai to attend the UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. The overview of the meeting is as follows.1. Minister Kishida welcomed CS Amina to Japan, and stated that Japan and Kenya enjoy an amicable relationship including in the field of economy, and expressed his will to build…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, March 25, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Today, the Head of German Development Cooperation for Somalia, Ms Julia Kronberg, met with the Somali Minister of Interior, Abdirahman Mahamad Xusein, in order to discuss a project aiming at facilitating the voluntary return of refugees to Somalia.Germany provides 5 million Euros to the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to implement the project which will help to improve the livelihoods of returning refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the local population in selected host communities. On this occasion Ms Kronberg said: “The project underlines Germany’s renewed commitment to strengthen development…
GENEVA, Switzerland, March 25, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A UN human rights report released on Wednesday reveals a catalogue of violent attacks and threats against Libyan rights defenders, across Libya – and in some cases even after they are forced to leave the country. Attacks, including killings, abductions, torture and other ill-treatment, unlawful deprivation of liberty and death threats by phone and on social media since the escalation of fighting in May 2014 have been documented in the joint report by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the UN Human Rights Office. Armed groups across the country…
OTTAWA, Canada, March 24, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement:“As Nigeria prepares to hold presidential, legislative and state elections in the coming weeks, Canada urges Nigeria to take all necessary steps to ensure that the elections are peaceful, free, fair and credible.“Upholding democratic values is the collective responsibility of all political parties and state institutions, and includes promoting peaceful dialogue and rejecting violence in the event of a loss or disputed result. The professionalism and impartiality of security agencies during and after…
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, March 24, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Council has repealed the measures limiting the European Union’s cooperation with Guinea-Bissau. This comes in the wake of credible elections in 2014, the restoration of constitutional order and the country’s progress in putting into practice reform commitments made to the EU. As a consequence, the EU fully resumes cooperation with Guinea-Bissau.The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini said: “Guinea-Bissau has embarked on a new path of peace, reconciliation and development after the holding of elections and the restoration of the constitutional order in…
ROME, Italy, March 23, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Farmers in the Central African Republic are in urgent need of seeds and tools for the upcoming planting season in April to prevent further deterioration of the livelihoods of vulnerable populations in the conflict-stricken country, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today.Some 1.5 million people are currently food insecure in the country and this figure is likely to rise should immediate support not be provided. In addition, the significant food shortages across the country could worsen, population movements could result in increased tension, the return of displaced persons and…
WASHINGTON, March 20, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCMarch 20, 2015On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the citizens of Namibia as they celebrate 25 years of independence on March 21.Namibia’s pursuit of democratic principles and economic prosperity stands as an example to the region. As a friend and partner, the United States is proud of the work our two countries are doing to fight HIV/AIDS, promote education, and ensure environmental conservation. We will continue to seek new ways of partnering with Namibia to create peace and prosperity.As you celebrate the…
TOKYO, Japan, March 23, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 1. The Government of Japan is greatly shocked and outraged by the terrorist attack which caused the deaths and injuries including Japanese nationals on March 18th at the National Bardo Museum in Tunis, the capital of the Republic of Tunisia. The Government of Japan firmly condemns these despicable acts of terrorism. Japan is rendered speechless to think of how the families of the victims must be feeling.2. Japan stands with Tunisia at this difficult time. Japan prays for the victims and expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims.3.…
BUJUMBURA, Burundi, March 24, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the sixth review of Burundi’s economic performance under the program supported by an Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.1 The Board’s decision enables the immediate disbursement of SDR 5 million (about US$6.9 million), bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to SDR 30 million (about US$41.6 million).In completing the sixth review, the Board also approved the authorities’ request for an extension of the current ECF arrangement to end March 2016 and an augmentation of access by SDR 10 million (about US$13.9 million…
NAIROBI, Kenya, March 4, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Ministers and senior representatives from four East African countries have recently pledged their support in solving East Africa’s crippling power deficit.Hon. Joseph Njoroge, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Kenya, H.E. Hon Christopher Yaluma, Minister of Energy and Minerals, Zambia, H.E. Hon Minister James Musoni, Minister of Infrastructure, Rwanda and Maria Kiwanuka, Senior Advisor to H.E. The President and The President’s Office in Charge of Finance, Uganda will be joined by private power sector decision makers at the Powering East Africa meeting from 25-27th March in Nairobi (http://www.powering-eastafrica.com) to highlight the urgency…