ABUJA, Nigeria, December 12, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Five ECOWAS Member States involved in the Abidjan-Lagos road corridor project have agreed to contribute US$50 million in “seed money” to ensure speedy implementation of the 1028-km project.The Steering Committee agreed at its third ministerial session in Yamoussoukro on 10th December 2013, that the money would help fund preparatory activities and provide further evidence of commitment by the countries for public and private sector operators interested in investing in the project, a six-lane highway expected to carry some 75 per cent of goods transported in the region, linking most of its…
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EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, December 12, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union-United Nations Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, said he values and appreciates the three-day workshop on peace and security in Darfur, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the participation of two non-signatory movements, Sudan Liberation Army / Minni Minawi (SLA/MM) and the Justice and Equality Movement / Gibril Ibrahim (JEM/Gibril). Dr. Chambas said he welcomed the willingness of the participants to move forward into a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the conflict. “We are ready to continue engaging with all the non-signatory movements…
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, December 12, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Council has today decided that the conditions have been fulfilled for the complete resumption of the European Union’s cooperation with the Republic of Guinea under the aegis of the Tenth European Development Fund. The holding of parliamentary elections in the Republic of Guinea was the last milestone of the road map set out by the Council in July 20091concerning the conclusion of consultations with the Republic of Guinea under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. Following the military coup on 23 December 2008, the EU partially suspended development…
WASHINGTON, December 12, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Media NoteOffice of the SpokespersonWashington, DCDecember 11, 2013In an important symbol of our friendship and bilateral relationship with the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Under Secretary for Management Patrick F. Kennedy, and U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea Mark L. Asquino presided over the dedication of the new U.S. Embassy complex in Malabo today.The new multi-building complex provides embassy employees with a safe, secure, and modern workplace. Situated on a 12.5-acre site in the Malabo Dos section of the capital, the complex includes a chancery building, a service/utility building, an access…
MONROVIA, Liberia, December 12, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the second review under the three-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) for Liberia. The completion of the review enables the disbursement of an amount equivalent to SDR 7.382 million (about US$11.4 million), bringing the total disbursements under the arrangement to SDR 22.146 million (about US$34.2 million). In completing the review, the Board approved the waiver for the nonobservance of the performance criteria on the floor on revenue collection of the central government, the ceiling on Central Bank of…
DOHA, Qatar, December 11, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Doha GOALS 2013 will be remembered for the series of firsts that were delivered throughout the forum amongst them, the first ever Sports Ministers Summit and the launch of the first initiatives to benefit from the actions agreed at Doha GOALS last year. The second edition of the forum – the world’s leading platform focusing on sport as a driver for social change and economic progress – was attended by 1,500 participants from 70 countries, including 150 speakers and 30 sporting champions with star names including Michael Johnson, Boris Becker, Nadia…
WASHINGTON, December 11, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCDecember 11, 2013On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Kenya as you celebrate your Golden Jubilee on December 12.Jamhuri Day is a testament to the strength of the Kenyan people. The United States applauds Kenya for holding a peaceful national election this year and for implementing its new constitution.The devastating Nairobi airport fire and the tragic terrorist attack at the Westgate Mall tested the nation’s strength, but Kenyans united in the face of adversity to overcome these…
TUNIS, Tunisia, December 11, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A new economic brief(http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Publications/Economic%20Brief%20-%20The%20Search%20for%20Inclusive%20Growth%20in%20North%20Africa-%20A%20Comparative%20Approach.pdf) published by the African Development Bank (http://www.afdb.org) shows that the longstanding relationship between growth and distribution in economics has been revived in recent years with greater focus being placed on “inclusive growth”, which is capable of benefiting much wider segments of society.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/african-development-bank-2.pngThe extensive review of a broad set of development indicators over the past two decades and the establishment of a combined single score for measuring “inclusive growth” for individual countries shows that, in the decade prior to the Arab Spring, North Africa fared relatively well…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 11, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Since clashes erupted in Bangui on 5 December, the population has been seized with fear. The ICRC is calling for the work of medical and humanitarian personnel to be facilitated to enable them to meet the most urgent needs. “One of our main concerns is to ensure that the injured and the sick are able to obtain care. Most health-care facilities in Bangui are closed,” said Bonaventure Bazirutwabo, the ICRC’s health coordinator in the city. “In addition, because some medical staff do not feel secure enough to go to work, there…
NAIROBI, Kenya, December 11, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Development Bank (AfDB) (http://www.afdb.org) has today launched the Information Center for the Extractive Sector (ICES), a platform that promotes knowledge-based dialogue with the aim of promoting informed policies for the sector.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/african-development-bank-2.png AfDB Director for the Eastern Africa Resource Centre (EARC) Gabriel Negatu pointed out the timeliness of the information center, saying the opportunity to use the sector to accelerate national development and promote economic growth requires careful planning at this critical stage. According to government estimates, extractives currently contribute just one per cent to Kenya’s national income, and…