GENEVA, Switzerland, January 8, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Tanzania’s record on children’s rights will be reviewed by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on Thursday 15 January and Friday 16 January in sessions that will be webcast live. Tanzania is one of the 194 states that have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child and so is required to undergo regular examinations of its record before the Committee of 18 independent experts. Among the possible issues to be discussed by the CRC and the Tanzanian Government delegation are: social stigmatisation of pregnant…
Author: apofeed
WASHINGTON, January 8, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJen PsakiDepartment SpokespersonWashington, DCJanuary 7, 2015The United States welcomes the start of the UN Electoral Observation Mission to Burundi (MENUB) on January 1. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights as it once again becomes a stand-alone entity within the UN system.Although much has been accomplished in Burundi since the end of its civil war, much remains to be done. With national elections in Burundi beginning in May, MENUB has an important role to play in supporting a peaceful and inclusive…
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, January 8, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund completed today the first review of Tanzania’s economic performance under the program supported by the Policy Support Instrument (PSI)1 and granted a waiver for the non-observance of the continuous assessment criterion on the non-accumulation of external arrears.The PSI for Tanzania was approved by the Executive Board on July 16, 2014 (see Press Release No. 14/350). Tanzania’s program under the PSI supports the authorities’ medium-term objectives. These include: the maintenance of macroeconomic stability, the preservation of debt sustainability, and the promotion of…
MONROVIA, Liberia, January 7, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the new Head of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), arrives in Liberia today as part of his first tour of the three countries most affected by the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak. In each country, he will assess response efforts tostop the Ebola outbreak, and determine urgent UN priorities going forward. On his arrival, Ould Cheikh Ahmed met with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as well as UNMEER and UNMIL staff. He also discussed response efforts with the diplomatic community. Tomorrow, he travels to Grand Cape…
PARIS, France, January 6, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — France condemns the attack carried out on January 5 against a garrison in Nampala in Mali, which claimed the lives of several Malian soldiers, as well as the attack carried out on January 4 against the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in mali (MINUSMA) which injured several people. We extend our condolences to the victims’ families as well as to the Malian authorities. French air assets, notably including fighter planes, were immediately sent to the region to support the Malian forces in Nampala. Through Operation Barkhane, France remains resolutely committed…
WASHINGTON, January 6, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Application Deadline: January 27th 2015Applications must be emailed to JPOCoordinator@state.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the date indicated in order to be considered. Thank you.How to Apply: Please note that PRM-sponsored JPO positions are open to U.S. Citizens only.Applicants must submit a completed United Nations Personal History form (UN P-11) via email to JPOCoordinator@state.gov by the deadline noted above. The UN P-11 form is available for download from the UNHCR website at http://www.unhcr.org/recruit/p11new.doc. PRM will accept the UN P-11 form without a signature. If desired, you may also submit a…
NAIROBI, Kenya, January 6, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Somali security forces arrested five journalists in two separate cases over the weekend in the capital, Mogadishu, according to news reports. Three of them are still being held.On Saturday, security forces arrested three journalists from the independent radio station Radio Risaala and shut down the station, according to local journalists and news reports. The journalists-Director Mohamed Abdiwahab Abdullahi, Editor Mohamed Kafi Sheik Abukar, and reporter Mohamed Abdi Ali-were arrested in connection with a report Friday on a suspected Ebola patient living in the Lower Shabelle region of the country, the sources…
MAPUTO, Mozambique, January 6, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the third review of Mozambique’s economic performance under the program supported by the Policy Support Instrument (PSI).1 The Board’s decision was taken on a lapse of time basis.2The PSI for Mozambique was approved by the Executive Board on June 24, 2013 (see Press Release No. 13/231)Mozambique’s macroeconomic performance remains robust. Growth is forecast at 7.5 percent for 2014 with low inflation (12-month Maputo average through November was 2.4 percent) despite an expansionary and higher than programmed fiscal stance and reserve…
PARIS, France, January 5, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — France condemns the attack perpetrated on January 4 near Mogadishu airport, which claimed the lives of many Somali people. We express our condolences to the victims’ families and assure the Somali authorities and people of our solidarity. The perpetrators of this act must be brought to justice. France commends the efforts of the Somali police and armed forces, as well as those of the African Union Mission in Somalia, to restore peace and security. It stands alongside the Federal Government of Somalia in the fight against terrorism.
LONDON, United-Kingdom, December 30, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — ICS Financial Systems Limited (ICSFS) (http://www.icsfs.com), the global software and services provider for banks and financial institutions, partnered with new banks through expansion of its operations in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. This project was awarded to ICSFS by Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank), which is one of the largest banks in Africa. Guaranty Trust Bank recently acquired Fina Bank, an East African Bank, which was subsequently rebranded and became a subsidiary of GTBank Plc. Logo ICSFS: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/ics.jpgLogo GTBank: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/gtank.pngPhoto 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1652 (Mr. Robert Hazboun, Managing Director at ICSFS)Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1653 (Mr.…
LIBREVILLE, Gabon, December 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The 4th edition of the New York Forum AFRICA(http://www.ny-forum-africa.com), the only pan-African economic forum to be held in Africa in 2015, will bring together more than 1500 business and political leaders on May 29-31 2015 in Libreville, Gabon. Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/nyfa15.pngThe theme for NYFA 2015, organized under the High Patronage of His Excellency Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Gabonese Republic, is Invest in the Energy Continent. It will focus on the new dynamism in the continent, its entrepreneurs, economic and investment opportunities, the growing energy sector, jobs creation, as well as…
MONROVIA, Liberia, December 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — PCI Media Impact and Vulcan Productions announced on December 22, in collaboration with UNICEF, an expansion of radio and video programming of the West African multimedia project #ISurvivedEbola (https://www.facebook.com/ISurvivedEbola.org?ref=br_tf) across Liberia and Sierra Leone. Call-in radio broadcasts that provide life-saving health information about Ebola prevention and transmission will reach more than a million listeners in Liberia, across both the UN Mission in Liberia radio station and the national Liberian Broadcasting Service. As part of the initiative, #ISurvivedEbola has also expanded its Ebola survivor video programming, currently available in Liberia, to reflect…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — As thousands of Mozambican migrant workers return from South Africa for the holiday season, IOM and partner agencies at the Ressano Garcia border post are this week encouraging returnees to get tested for HIV and TB at temporary clinics to be set up in their communities of origin in early 2015. From 5-10th January the US-based Elizabeth Glazier Paediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) will set up testing stations in three districts of Gaza Province, with assistance from IOM and South Africa-based TEBA Development, which has offices in southern Mozambique working with migrant…
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, December 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The “Sahel” label covers a fluid space that defies classical geographic description and is characterised by the constant movement of people and goods, as well as the instability and violence that has marked recent years. Understanding this mobility and cross-border activity is vital for efforts to stabilise and develop the region.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/swac-oecd.jpgA new Atlas produced by the Sahel and West Africa Club of the OECD ((http://www.oecd.org/csao) offers a different way of reading the Sahara-Sahel by analysing these transnational and regional flows. The Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel: Geography, Economics and…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein today welcomed the conviction and sentencing of Lieutenant Colonel Bedi Mobuli Engangela for committing crimes against humanity between 2005 and 2007 in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Engangela, better known as ‘Colonel 106′ after the battalion he commanded, was on Monday sentenced to life in prison for murder, rape, sexual slavery, torture, abduction, and “imprisonment and other forms of grave deprivation of physical liberty.” “Such a high-profile conviction of a senior officer will, I hope, bring some measure of…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM, with support from Japan, and in collaboration with the regional authorities of Puntland, including the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and the Port Authority, has conducted its first ever training for the fishing community in Bosaso. The training aimed to help improve the livelihoods of people working in the sector and encourage economic diversification.Located on the Somali coast, Bosaso is one of the main port cities in Puntland and has an active fishing community. But the sector remains under developed due to a lack of proper infrastructure and skills.…
WASHINGTON, December 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCDecember 18, 2014On behalf of the American people, I congratulate the people of Mauritius on the peaceful transition of power that resulted from the successful elections held on December 10. Mauritius’ series of free, fair, democratic, and peaceful elections stand as a model for the rest of the world. Prime Minister Jugnauth returns to lead Mauritius with a wealth of experience, and the U.S. government looks forward to working with him and his cabinet of ministers and continuing our valued partnership with Mauritius.
LUSAKA, Zambia, December 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Tsidi Tsikata visited Zambia during December 4-18 to hold discussions for the 2014 Article IV consultation.At the end of the mission, Mr. Tsikata issued the following statement:“The Zambian economy continues to register strong growth. Non-mining growth has remained close to 7 percent, but technical outages at some mines led to a decline in copper production that is projected to reduce overall real GDP growth to about 5½ percent in 2014. The exchange rate depreciated sharply in the first half of the year. A…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, December 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 477th meeting, held on 18 December 2014, adopted the following decision on the mandate of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel on sudan and South sudan (AUHIP):Council, 1. Takes note of the briefing provided by the Commission on the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan and South Sudan; 2. Recalls the mandate given by Council to the AUHIP through communiqué PSC/AHG/COMM.1(CCVII) adopted at its 207th meeting held on 29 October 2009, to assist the Sudanese parties in…
LILONGWE, Malawi, December 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Oral Williams, visited Lilongwe December 10–17, 2014 to finalize discussions for the fifth and sixth reviews under Malawi’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.1At the end of the mission, Mr. Williams issued the following statement:“The mission and the Malawian authorities reached staff-level agreement on policies that could be supported under the ECF. To this end, policies geared toward bringing inflation down to single digits and increasing reserve coverage over the duration of the program were central to discussions. These encompassed measures to…