GENEVA, Switzerland, April 29, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Deploring the violence in Burundi that has led to the reported deaths of several protesters in clashes with police in the past few days, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has urged all sides to exercise utmost restraint and avoid further bloodshed. IPU has been increasingly concerned by the growing violence following street protests against President Nkurunziza’s bid to stand for a third term and the deployment of armed police to respond to the demonstrations. The protests are the largest the country has reportedly witnessed since the end of the civil war in…
Author: apofeed
WASHINGTON, April 29, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJeff RathkeActing Deputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCApril 28, 2015We condemn the attacks by Boko Haram on Karamga Island in Lake Chad, which killed 48 Nigerien security forces and wounded another 37, with others still missing. We offer our condolences to the Government and people of Niger and to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives and who are missing.We condemn the violent actions of Boko Haram and its continued disregard for human life. Boko Haram has perpetrated countless unprovoked attacks on men, women, and…
BAMAKO, Mali, April 28, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — In light of the dangerous developments on the ground in Ménaka yesterday and in Timbuktu today, the SRSG and Head of MINUSMA, Mr. Mongi Hamdi, expresses his great concern regarding the peace process that was begun more than a year ago to resolve the Malian security crisis in a lasting and peaceful way. “Early this morning, near Timbuktu, MINUSMA vehicles were targeted outside the city by the CMA. There were no casualties. The CMA have indicated to us that this was an error on their part, and demand the departure of…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, April 28, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, is deeply concerned by the deadly incidents which took place on 23 and 24 April 2015 in Kass, South Darfur. Peacekeepers from the AU–United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) protecting water points were attacked by gunmen. The Chairperson of the Commission strongly condemns these attacks on UNAMID, which is deployed solely to assist in stabilizing the Darfur area, including through the provision of security to civilians. She deeply regrets the loss of life recorded during those…
WASHINGTON, April 28, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Colombo, Sri Lanka, on May 2 for his first trip to the country and the first visit by a Secretary of State since 2004. In Colombo, he will meet government leaders, civil society members, and other representatives from the country’s diverse communities to hear and express U.S. support for their vision for a more peaceful, stable, and prosperous future for its people. Secretary Kerry will also join his hosts for the celebration of the Buddhist holiday of Vesak. Secretary Kerry will also visit Nairobi,…
JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, April 28, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Vantage Capital (http://www.vantagecapital.co.za), Africa’s leading mezzanine debt provider, today announced that the DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (“DEG”) and four other European investors are contributing a total of approximately $60m to Vantage’s third fund. DEG’s commitment to Fund III is $20m. In addition the DEG is providing $15m to a co-investment with Vantage in Surfline Communications, the leading 4G LTE network operator in Ghana. Vantage invested $15m in Surfline from its second fund late last year.Logo Vantage Capital Group: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/vantage-logo.pngPhoto: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1914Gunnar Stork, Director Equity & Mezzanine for Africa and…
GENEVA, Switzerland, April 28, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Sudan’s record on tackling racial discrimination will face scrutiny by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) on Monday 4 May and Tuesday 5 May in meetings that will be webcast live. Sudan is one of the 177 States Parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and so is required to submit regular reports to the Committee, which is composed of 18 international independent experts. The Committee will engage in a dialogue with the Sudanese Government delegation on 4 May from 15:00…
NAIROBI, Kenya, April 28, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Zambia’s forest ecosystems contribute $1.3 billion, roughly 6.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), to the national economy, further highlighting the crucial role forests can play in the global transition to a green economy, according to a new UNEP study. Commissioned by the Government of Zambia, produced in partnership with the UN-REDD Programme, and released ahead of the High-Level Dialogue on Zambia’s Draft National REDD+ Strategy, Benefits of Forest Ecosystems in Zambia and the Role of REDD+ in a Green Economy Transformation takes a wider look at the value of…
NDJAMENA, Chad, April 28, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the first review of Chad’s economic performance under the program supported by an Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.1 It also approved the authorities’ request for an augmentation of access by SDR 26.64 million (40 percent of the country’s quota).Completion of the review enables the immediate disbursement of SDR 19.97 million (about US$27.7 million), including SDR 6.66 million (about US$9.2 million) from the augmentation. This brings total disbursements under the arrangement so far to SDR 33.28 million (about US$46.2 million).The Board…
GENEVA, Switzerland, April 27, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A drastic shortage in funding is jeopardizing free access to health care services being provided by the World Health Organization and partners in the Central African Republic for horehounds of thousands people. The WHO Representative to the Central African Republic, Dr Michel Yao, says the humanitarian crisis wracking the country has displaced approximately 200 000 people and put around 1.5 million people at risk. Increased effort and funding, he says, is needed to prevent the crisis in the Central African Republic being “forgotten crisis.”“This year we are really suffering in terms…