SINGAPORE, Singapore, January 23, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Government of the Republic of Singapore and the Government of the Republic of The Gambia have established diplomatic relations with effect from 23 January 2015.
Author: apofeed
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, January 23, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region Said Djinnit visited Tanzania on 22-23 January and met the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Honorable Bernard Membe. The two officials reviewed the political and security situation in the Great Lakes region and discussed current challenges, in particular the urgent need to deal decisively with armed groups operating in eastern DRC, especially the Allied Democratic Forces(ADF) and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). In addition, they looked forward to holding the Great Lakes Private Sector…
LILONGWE, Malawi, January 23, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has started distribution of high-energy biscuits to people stranded by floodwaters in Nsanje district, one of the worst-affected by floods in southern Malawi. Some 77 metric tons of biscuits, enough to feed 77,000 people, were airlifted into Malawi from the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Dubai earlier this week. This ready-to-eat food is prioritized for the most vulnerable people, particularly children, who are displaced from their homes and have no access to food or cooking facilities. Reaching the worst-hit areas to assess needs has…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, January 23, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the European Union (EU), African Union Mission in Somalia, the United States and United Kingdom have expressed concerns over delays in the implementation of Vision 2016 due to the prolonged political crisis. At a meeting on 21 January with HE President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and HE Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, they urged Somalia’s leadership and its political institutions to ensure the appointment of a Cabinet that receives the consent of the Federal Parliament without any further delays. “We call on the…
PARIS, France, January 23, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A hospital operated by the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was directly targeted in an aerial bombing by the Sudanese Air Force (SAF) in the South Kordofan region of Sudan on January 20, forcing the suspension of medical activities. One MSF staff and one patient were injured and the property suffered damaged. “We condemn in the strongest terms the bombing of the Frandala hospital”, said Marc Van der Mullen, MSF head of mission. “With more than 100 patients present, we were very lucky not…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, January 22, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The new Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (DSRSG), Mr. Raisedon Zenenga, arrived in Mogadishu today to assume his duties with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).“I am very pleased to have this opportunity to return to Somalia and support the aspirations of the people of Somalia for a peaceful, stable and prosperous future. The challenges are tremendous, but we must work together to push forward the progress that the Somali people want to see. “Over the coming days I look forward to meeting with officials from…
NAIROBI, Kenya, January 22, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Burundian authorities imprisoned the director of the privately owned Radio Publique Africaine on Tuesday and charged him with complicity in murder, according to news reports. The arrest followed the station’s broadcast of an interview in which an unidentified guest said he was involved in the September murder of three Italian nuns, news reports said.Prosecutor Emmanuel Nkurikiye accused Bob Rugurika in courtof concealing the identity of an individual who in an interview with the station last week said he had been involved in the murders of three nuns in Kamenge, a town…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, January 22, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, condemned recent violence in Defow, central Somalia. There have been reports of dozens of casualties, including women and children. The SRSG appealed for calm, underlining the need to de-escalate the situation through peaceful dialogue and compromise. SRSG Kay said “We call on all parties to exercise restraint and respect the role of elders in finding a peaceful solution to the conflict.”SRSG Kay extended his sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who have suffered as a result…
TOKYO, Japan, January 21, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 1. On Tuesday, January 20, the Government of Japan decided to provide emergency relief goods worth 19 million yen (Tents, Blankets, etc.) to Republic of Malawi, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in response to the request from the Government of the Republic of Malawi following serious damage from the floods in the country.2. Due to the heavy rain continued about 2 weeks from the beginning of January, Southern part of Malawi is particularly suffering from floods caused by the overflow of Lake Malawi. According to the Government of the…
ROME, Italy, January 21, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — In Madagascar, the battle against an ongoing plague of locusts risks being lost as funds to continue operations to subdue widespread infestations of the crop-hungry insects run out, posing a serious food security challenge for 13 million people. Failure to carry through the joint 2013-16 FAO/government anti-locust programme would annul the more than $28.8 million mobilized so far and could trigger a food-security crisis in a huge part of the country Some $10.6 million is needed to complete the locust campaign, including monitoring and spraying operations going through the end of…
CAPE-TOWN, South-Africa, January 22, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — CEOs representing some of Africa’s most attractive mining companies will gather in Cape Town, South Africa, 9 – 12 February 2015 for the annual Investing in African Mining Indaba™ (https://www.miningindaba.com/?utm_source=APO&utm_medium=pressrelease4&utm_campaign=MI15), the world’s preferred destination for deal-making in African mining. More than 900 mining corporates are already confirmed to attend the event.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/MiningIndaba-1.png”For more than 20 years, Africa’s mining companies have played a pivotal role in the success and growth of the Mining, in fact it is viewed as an investment barometer that generates significant media interest and business news coverage globally,”…
VATICAN, Holy See, January 21, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Pope launched an appeal for prayer for “the victims of the events of recent days in beloved Niger”, adding, “Let us invoke from the Lord the gift of reconciliation and peace, so that religious feeling is not transformed into a cause of violence, oppression and destruction. I hope that a climate of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence may be reinstated as soon as possible, for the good of all”.
MOGADISHU, Somalia, January 20, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the European Union (EU), African Union Mission in Somalia and the United Kingdom welcomed the launch of the selection process for the new Regional Assembly for the Interim Juba Administration (IJA), calling on the authorities to ensure that all communities represented. “We welcome the launch of the selection process for the Interim Juba Administration’s Regional Assembly. This is an important step towards peace and state-building for the people of the Juba regions, as well as all Somalis. We urge the IJA leadership to…
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, January 19, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Council has established the EU Military Advisory Mission in the Central African Republic (EUMAM RCA). It sets out to support the Central African authorities in preparing a reform of the security sector, especially with respect to the management of the Car armed forces (FACA). The new mission will follow the EU military operation in the Car (EUFOR RCA), which contributes to security in the capital Bangui until 15 March 2015.EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, said: “The European Union is fully committed to…
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, January 19, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On January 16, 2015, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation1 with Madagascar.Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. In a fragile environment, the uncertainty linked to political instability, weak institutions, and weak governance has been eroding the foundation for solid economic growth. Since the political crisis in 2009, economic growth has been slow and social services, including basic health care and primary education, have deteriorated. The government that assumed power in early 2014, following constitutional elections, has shown a commitment…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 19, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Africa Regional Technical Assistance Center for Eastern Africa—East AFRITAC (AFE) and The Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute for Eastern and Southern Africa (MEFMI) conducted a regional workshop on micro prudential stress testing from January 12–16, 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The workshop attracted participants from the bank supervision and financial stability units of central banks of Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.Solomon Desta, Director of the Bank Supervision Directorate of the National Bank of Ethiopia, emphasized that stress testing is an…
TOKYO, Japan, January 19, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Upon a kind invitation by H.E. Mr. Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, paid an official visit to Egypt on 16th, 17th January 2015.President El-Sisi welcomed the visit of Prime Minister Abe and hoped that this visit will be a landmark in the historical friendship between Japan and Egypt. Prime Minister Abe reiterated Japan’s willingness to deepen its cooperation with Egypt in all fields.Prime minister Abe, recalling the situation in the Middle East and showing strong solidarity with all people…
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, January 19, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Council adopted the following conclusions:”1. The European Union congratulates Tunisia in the wake of the legislative and presidential elections which mark an historic step in the country’s democratic transition. 2. It welcomes the democratic commitment and the sense of responsibility of the Tunisian people and of all the political leaders and civil society who have managed to preserve a spirit of dialogue conducive to ensuring the success of this process. The EU pays tribute to the Independent High Authority for the Elections (ISIE) which has excellently organised several…
PARIS, France, January 16, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On January 17, 2015, the Orange Africa Cup of Nations Equatorial Guinea 2015 will kick off in Malabo. The competition will take place over a three-week period in the cities of Bata, Malabo, Mongomo and Ebebiyín. This is familiar territory for the major African football event, since the country had already hosted the tournament with Gabon in 2012. Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/orange-logo.jpgPhoto 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1666Photo 2: http://oran.ge/1AYt1OzOrange (http://www.orange.com) is once again the title sponsor of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations, with participation by the teams of Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of…
OTTAWA, Canada, January 16, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today concluded his visit to Egypt, during which he met with Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church and Mohammed Ahmed El-Tayyib, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque.“Canada believes that a moderate, democratic and prosperous Egypt will be key to the success of the region, especially at a time of growing regional and security challenges,” said Baird.This is the second visit Minister Baird has made to Egypt within the last year, with the aim of advancing Canadian foreign policy interests…