GENEVA, Switzerland, January 30, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A group of United Nations human rights experts today urged the international community to rapidly provide all necessary funding and assistance to the Government of Malawi and humanitarian actors in response to some of the worst flooding in the country in living memory. Flooding has also affected Madagascar and Mozambique where international assistance is crucial to scale up responses. “The flooding has displaced large numbers of people and presents massive and complex challenges for Governments and their humanitarian allies in the short, medium and longer-term,” said UN Special Rapporteur on the…
Author: apofeed
WASHINGTON, January 30, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJen PsakiDepartment SpokespersonWashington, DCJanuary 29, 2015The United States is concerned by the Ethiopian Federal High Court’s January 28, 2015, decision to proceed with the trial of six bloggers and three independent journalists on charges under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation. The decision undermines a free and open media environment—critical elements for credible and democratic elections, which Ethiopia will hold in May 2015.We urge the Ethiopian government to ensure that the trial is fair, transparent, and in compliance with Ethiopia’s constitutional guarantees and international human rights obligations. We also urge the Ethiopian government to…
KIGALI, Rwanda, January 29, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement in Kigali today at the conclusion of her visit to Rwanda:“My visit to Rwanda—one of Africa’s economic success stories—has been extremely fruitful and informative. I am grateful for the warm welcome I received and for the time that was given to my visit. I wish to thank President Paul Kagame for meeting with me to discuss Rwanda’s achievements and its outlook. I also want to thank Finance Minister Claver Gatete and Governor John Rwangombwa of the…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, January 29, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, has welcomed the announcement of the nomination of a new Federal cabinet by the Prime Minister of Somalia on 27 January 2014. “This announcement is an important step towards the establishment of a new cabinet,” Special Representative Kay said. “Once approved by the Federal Parliament, the Federal Government will need to address urgently Somalia’s state and peacebuilding goals. Much remains to be done to complete Somalia’s Vision 2016. The Federal Parliament has an important and urgent role to play…
WASHINGTON, January 30, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJen PsakiDepartment SpokespersonWashington, DCJanuary 29, 2015The United States welcomes the announcement by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) of the start of military operations against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group that has inflicted immeasurable suffering on the civilian population of eastern DRC and Rwanda for over 20 years. The UN Security Council has mandated the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to protect civilians and, in support of the DRC authorities, to neutralize armed groups including the FDLR.…
NEW YORK, January 30, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Secretary-General condemns the terrorist attacks in North Sinai on 29 January, which killed dozens of people, including civilians, and injured scores of others. He conveys his condolences to the families of the victims and expresses his solidarity with the people of Egypt.
NEW YORK, January 29, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the deteriorating security situation in Darfur following reports of an escalation of hostilities between the Government of sudan and the Darfur armed movements in Central Darfur and the resulting displacement of civilians. The UN has confirmed that at least 36,000 civilians have been displaced in Darfur due to these hostilities. He condemns the reported aerial bombardment and destruction of villages in the Golo locality of Central Darfur State on 27 January. The Secretary-General urges the Government and the armed movements to exercise maximum restraint, without…
PRETORIA, South-Africa, January 27, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — President Jacob Zuma has, in terms of section 175(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, acting on the recommendation of Minister of Justice and Correctional Services and the concurrence of the Chief Justice, appointed three Judges to act as Judges of the Constitutional Court during various periods, due to the vacancy which occurred and vacation leave of one of the Judges of the Constitutional Court respectively, in order to ensure that there is an appropriate quorum at all times. The following Judges have been appointed:• The Honourable…
NEW YORK, January 28, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Haile Tilahun Gebremariam of Ethiopia as the Head of Mission of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). He succeeds Lieutenant-General Yohannes Gebremeskel Tesfamariam of Ethiopia who completed his assignment on 19 June 2014. The Secretary-General is grateful to Lieutenant-General Tesfamariam and former acting Head of Mission, Major-General Halefom Ejigu Moges, for their dedication and effective leadership of UNISFA. Following a long and distinguished career with the Ministry of Defence of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Mr. Gebremariam…
ROME, Italy, January 28, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Farmers in southern Malawi urgently need seeds and livestock after intense flooding destroyed their fields and homes, washing away animals and crops and threatening local food security.More than 170,000 people have had to leave their homes. Some 79 deaths have been confirmed so far, while 153 people are still missing in Nsanje district alone. An estimated 116,000 households have lost their crops and livestock.Malawi is regularly affected by droughts and floods. But the current heavy rains have come ahead of their usual schedule – repeatedly bursting the banks along the Shire…
WASHINGTON, January 28, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJen PsakiDepartment SpokespersonWashington, DCJanuary 27, 2015The United States welcomes reports of six journalists released on bail in Eritrea. We note with deep concern that the government continues to detain other journalists, reportedly as many as 17. We encourage the government to take immediate steps to release these additional detainees, all persons detained on the basis of their religious beliefs, members of the G-15, and all other political prisoners. The United States continues to urge that the Government of the State of Eritrea take comprehensive steps to respect human rights and avail…
GENEVA, Switzerland, January 26, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing and non-discrimination Leilani Farha on Monday called on the Government of Cabo Verde to prioritise measures to ensure the poorest members of society can have affordable, adequate housing. Ms. Farha, speaking at the end of an official visit to Cabo Verde, noted the positive steps taken by the Government to address the inadequate supply and inadequate conditions of housing in Cabo Verde. These include the adoption of several national level housing laws, policies and programmes, among them the national system for…
KAMPALA, Uganda, January 27, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Almost 150,000 refugees living in Uganda are receiving from today reduced rations from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) as a result of insufficient funding. The ration cut of 50 percent, which began today, came as WFP struggles to raise an additional US$30 million for its operations in Uganda for the next six months. Those affected are people who arrived in Uganda before July 2013 – nearly half of all refugees receiving WFP food assistance in Uganda. It does not include 138,000 refugees who fled South sudan since fighting broke…
NAIROBI, Kenya, January 27, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The first UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Defence & Security Trade Mission to Kenya takes place in Nairobi 28 – 29 January 2015. The Mission, the first of its kind to Kenya, brings a trade delegation of 17 leading UK companies from across the Defence & Security Sector, all seeking to do new business in Kenya.The British High Commissioner, Dr. Christian Turner, will be hosting a briefing for media at the Fairmont Norfolk Hotel Nairobi on Wednesday 28th January from 1715 – 1745. Dr. Turner will discuss UK/Kenya security co-operation across…
PRETORIA, South-Africa, January 27, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — His Excellency President Jacob Zuma will lead the South African delegation to the 24th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly (AU Summit) scheduled for 30-31 January 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.The 2015 AU Summit will be held under the theme “Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063”.In conjunction with exploring concrete ways to achieving women’s empowerment and gender equality in all spheres of life, the Summit will consider the adoption of Agenda 2063, a fifty-year continental trajectory. Furthermore, the Summit will also endeavour to address health related…
TOKYO, Japan, January 26, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 1. On, January 23rd, the Government of Japan decided to provide emergency relief goods worth 15 million yen (Tents, Plastic sheets, etc.) to the Republic of Mozambique, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in response to the request from the Government of the Republic of Mozambique following serious damage from flooding.2. In Mozambique, flooding has been triggered by torrential rain which started on January 8th this year. The disaster spread over several parts in the north central region of the country. UN reported, as of January 21st, 86 people lost…
LILONGWE, Malawi, January 26, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — With more rain expected in flood-stricken Malawi and camps for displaced people overwhelmed, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an emergency appeal for 2.6 million Swiss francs to help 42,000 desperate people.Heavy rains have ceased for now but are forecast to return and could continue for weeks. “The chance of more flooding remains high,” said Michael Charles, IFRC’s acting regional representative in southern Africa. “A dire situation could be exacerbated. Things could go from bad to worse.” Figures of how many people have been…
WASHINGTON, January 26, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJen PsakiDepartment SpokespersonWashington, DCJanuary 25, 2015The Government of the United States congratulates the people of the Republic of Zambia for conducting another democratic election. Facing significant logistical challenges, Zambians went to the polls to uphold their democratic traditions. We acknowledge the important work of the Electoral Commission of Zambia and its chair, as well as the domestic, regional, and international monitoring groups. We hope that any issues will be resolved in the same spirit and democratic tradition. We encourage the people of Zambia to move forward, as their national motto states,…
NEW YORK, January 26, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Secretary-General has been closely following the recent presidential election in Zambia. He congratulates the people, Government and political parties of Zambia, as well as the electoral authorities, for the peaceful manner in which the country organized its presidential election, despite difficult weather conditions. Zambia’s long record of peaceful transitions through proper democratic processes is an example in the region. The Secretary-General reaffirms the readiness of the United Nations to continue to work with the Government of Zambia to press ahead with its national priorities and to support the Government and…
PRETORIA, South-Africa, January 23, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UNHCR is concerned over the recent spate of violence and looting in Soweto that mainly affected foreigners, including refugees and asylum seekers.According to information provided by the South African Police Services, two people have lost their lives in the violence including a 14 year old South African boy who was allegedly shot by a shop owner and a 19 year old youth who was allegedly shot by police. Over 120 people have been arrested on various charges and over 80 shops have been looted. UNHCR commends the response made by the…