BUJUMBURA, Burundi, December 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Mr. Jaroslaw Wieczorek, visited Bujumbura from during December 4–17, 2014 to conduct discussions for the sixth review of the government’s economic and financial program supported by the IMF under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF).1The mission met with the Second Vice-President, Gervais Rufyikiri; the Minister of Finance, Tabu Abdallah Manirakiza; the Minister to the Office of the President Responsible for East African Community Affairs, Leontine Nzeyimana; the Minister of Energy and Mines, Côme Manirakiza; the Minister of the Civil Service, Labor and…
Author: apofeed
TOKYO, Japan, December 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 1. On December 16, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid of approximately 640,000 U.S. dollars (approximately 76.4 million Japanese yen) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in order to support the smooth implementation of the presidential by-election to be held on January 20, 2015 in the Republic of Zambia.2. With the passing of H.E. Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, former President of the Republic of Zambia on October 28 this year, the by-election is scheduled to take place. The Government of Zambia has requested emergency assistance from…
HARGEISA, Somaliland December 10, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — flydubai (http://www.flydubai.com) oo fadhigeedu yahay Dubai waxay shabakadeeda si ballaranayso ku dhawaqday duulimaad cusub. Duulimaadyada Hargeisa (Somaliland), Chennai (India), iyo Nejran (Saudi Arabia) waxay bilaawanaysa qaybteeda koowad 2015, taasi oo ay si ballarin doonta duulimaadyadeeda ilaa 89 goobood ku taala 46 waddan.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/flydubai.jpgPhoto 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1389(Sudhir Sreedharan, Madax ku xigeenka sare Commercial (GCC, Subcontinent, Africa)Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/141210f3.jpgPhoto 3: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/141210f2.jpgLaga bilaabo 05 Maarso 2015, flydubai waxay noqonaysa duulimaadka ugu horeeysa ka hawlgala Hargeisa, Somaliland iyado oo afar duulimaad asbuciiba ka socota Dubai. flydubai waxay sannadka 2014 ku ballarisay shabakadeeda Afrika ilaa 13 goobood…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM Tunisia has launched an awareness campaign to warn young people about the risks of irregular migration, as the country marks International Migrants Day on 18th December.The campaign “20 Youth, 20 Views on Migration” is part of a regional IOM project: “Solidarity with Children of Maghreb and Mashreq” (SALEMM), funded by the European Union, Switzerland, Italy, Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione Cariplo and the Municipality of Milan. The project selected 20 young Tunisians aged between 15 and 25 from Tunis, Sfax, Gabes and Sidi Bouzid and trained them in film making.…
COTONOU, Benin, December 16, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Board of Directors of the West African Development Bank (BOAD) (http://www.boad.org/) held its 95th ordinary meeting on 15 December 2014 in Cotonou, under the chairmanship of Mr. Christian Adovelande, President, Chairman of the Board of Directors.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/boad-1.jpgFollowing the adoption of the minutes of its 94th Board meeting held on 24 September 2014 in Lomé, the Board considered and approved the 2014-2018 financial outlook update as well as the 2015-2017 programme-budgeting.The financial outlook update sets out the volume of activities per sector, estimates the financial resources required to cover commitments, and…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 16, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The new United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Bahame Tom Mukirya Nyanduga, urged the Somali authorities and the international community to reinforce the country’s governance and safeguard its full transition to peace, stability and democracy. “The Federal Government of Somalia together with the international community need to allocate adequate resources to strengthen the rule of law institutions and ensure that the interim regional administrations benefit from the New Deal Compact,” Mr. Bahame Nyanduga said at the end of his first mission to the Federal Republic…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, December 15, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Anniversary of crisis in South sudan. We should reflect on human cost. Country’s leaders must end the conflict now. On the anniversary of the conflict in South Sudan, Minister for Africa James Duddridge said:“One year on from the start of the crisis in South sudan it is an important moment to reflect on the cost of the conflict and for South Sudan’s leaders to end the conflict once and for all. The crisis has been devastating for the people of South Sudan, with over 1.9 million people displaced from their homes,…
PORT-LOUIS, Mauritius, December 15, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ – AfrAsia Bank Limited (http://www.afrasiabank.com/en) today announced the addition of an important world-class strategic partner, National Bank of Canada, to its shareholding structure. This represents a major vote of confidence in its business model, financial standing and unique positioning in regional and international markets. National Bank of Canada will immediately acquire a 9.5% stake in AfrAsia Bank, with the aim of further increasing its shareholding in the near future.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/afrasia.jpgPhoto 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/james-benoit-afrasia-ceo-3.jpg (James Benoît, CEO of Afrasia Bank)Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/afrasia-bank-arnaud-lagesse-2.jpg (Arnaud Lagesse, Chairman of AfrAsia Bank)Photo 3: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/louis-vachon-president–ceo-national-bank-of-canada-3.jpg (Louis Vachon, President &…
KAMPALA, Uganda, December 15, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Vantage Capital (“Vantage”) (http://www.vantagecapital.co.za/), Africa’s leading mezzanine debt provider, today announced it has provided $10m of funding to Simba Properties Investment Company (“Simba Properties”), the property investment arm of Simba Group in Uganda which houses five prime property developments in Uganda, three of which are operating and two of which are under development.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/logo—vantage-capital-hi-res.jpgThe three operating properties, which are all located in the upmarket suburb of Kololo in Kampala, are:-Protea Hotel Kampala: a four star, 70 bed luxury hotel which has been operational since 2007 and has won World Luxury Hotel…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 15, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Monday highlighted the “dreadful” situation of civilians in South Sudan, who are victims of targeted killings, looting and violence, and have been surviving in increasingly desperate living conditions since the conflict broke out a year ago today. Zeid warned that there were deeply worrying indications that fighting would intensify now that the dry season had begun, and urged all parties to practice restraint, engage in meaningful dialogue and work to restore calm. “The people of South sudan are living in…
NEW YORK, December 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed of Mauritania as his new Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), at the Under-Secretary-Level. In his role as Special Representative, Mr. Ould Cheikh Ahmed will work closely with the Special Envoy on Ebola, Dr. David Nabarro, and with the governments in the region and other partners. Mr. Ould Cheikh Ahmed succeeds Anthony Banbury of the United States, who will return to New York in early January 2015. The Secretary-General…
KINSHASA, Dem. Rep. of Congo (DRC) December 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A technical team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headed by Norbert Toé visited Kinshasa during December 3–10, 2014. The team reviewed recent economic developments and short-term prospects, updated the macroeconomic framework, and discussed possible themes for the 2015 Article IV Consultation with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). At the end of the mission, Mr. Toé issued the following statement:“Despite a challenging external and domestic environment, the DRC’s economy continues to show resilience with positive trends in key macroeconomic indicators. However, it remains highly dependent…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, December 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Merck (http://www.merckgroup.com), a leading company for innovative and top-quality, high-tech products in the pharmaceutical, chemical and life science sectors, today announced that Ethiopia will receive around 13 million praziquantel tablets in 2015. Merck supports the World Health Organization (WHO) to fight the parasitic worm disease schistosomiasis in Africa. Praziquantel is the most effective treatment for schistosomiasis. Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/merck_logo.jpgAccording to WHO, Ethiopia is one of the most endemic countries for schistosomiasis in the world. It is estimated that around 22 million people, which is more than 20% of the entire population,…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM this week conducted a training course, funded by the European Union (EU), for ten police officers from Puntland State in Somalia at the Africa Capacity Building Centre (ACBC) in Moshi in Tanzania. IOM is supporting the capacity building of the Puntland State and its civil society to address human trafficking. The training at the ACBC aims to increase the understanding of law enforcement personnel in human trafficking, often confused with smuggling, and improve their skills in case management, with a particular focus on child trafficking. Since 2013 when IOM started…
PARIS, France, December 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has been notified that four individuals, including three former MSF patients, have filed suit against five health organisations, including MSF, in Kenya. In particular, the former patients allege that they were either sterilised without their consent at third-party Kenyan health structures or felt pressured by staff at MSF’s former Mathare HIV care project to undergo surgical sterilisation to avoid losing access to medical treatment or nutritional support. “MSF takes these allegations extremely seriously and is reviewing them carefully,” said Dr. Alexandra Vandenbulcke, MSF’s…
KIGALI, Rwanda, December 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On December 8, 2014 the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund completed the second review of Rwanda’s economic performance under the program supported by the Policy Support Instrument (PSI)1 and also concluded the 2014 Article IV consultation2 with Rwanda.The PSI for Rwanda was approved on December 2, 2013 (see Press Release No.13/483).Following the Board discussion, Mr. Naoyuki Shinohara, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, made the following statement:“The Rwandan authorities are to be commended for their strong implementation of the economic program supported by the Policy Support Instrument, carried out…
KAMPALA, Uganda, December 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund today completed the third review of Uganda’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 Uganda was approved by the Executive Board on June 28, 2013 (see Press Release No: 13/239).Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was lower than expected at the time of the second PSI review in fiscal year (FY) 2013/14, reflecting under-execution of externally-financed public investment and adverse impact on exports of slower…
NEW YORK, December 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The members of the Security Council have taken note of Saturday’s parliamentary vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, and recent political instability in the country. The members of the Security Council recalled their visit to Somalia, and that of the Secretary-General, during which both underlined the vital importance of a united political leadership in Somalia. The members of the Security Council expressed their concern at the recent political instability in Somalia, and its impact on peace and stability. The members of the Security…
NEW YORK, December 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Mahamat Zene Cherif (Chad): On 8 December, the United Nations Security Council was briefed by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous, Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union and Special Representative to the African Union Haile Menkerios, and Acting UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) Force Commander Major-General Halefom Moges on the situation in sudan and South sudan under resolution 2046 (2012) and the situation in Abyei. The members of the Security Council welcomed the…
LIMA, Peru, December 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Ms. Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs of South Africa, on the margins of the United Nations Climate Change Conference.The Secretary-General welcomed that South Africa will be the Chair of the G77 and China in 2015, urging the country to continue its contributions towards reaching a meaningful, universal agreement.He spotlighted the leadership role of South Africa in working with developing and developing countries in the months before the next session of the Conference of Parties in Paris in 2015.