VATICAN, Holy See, December 6, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Holy Father sent a telegram of condolence to Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa, on the death of Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela yesterday.In the text, the Pope extended his condolences to the Mandela family, members of government, and all South Africans. Pope Francis recalled “the steadfast commitment shown by Nelson Mandela in promoting the human dignity of all the nation’s citizens and in forging a new South Africa built on the firm foundations of non-violence, reconciliation, and truth.”“I pray,” the message continues, “that the late president’s example…
Author: apofeed
PARIS, France, December 6, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — FIDH and its 178 member organisations throughout the world, including Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) in South Africa, pay tribute to Nelson Mandela and express their sincere condolences to his wife and children and to the entire nation of South Africa.Mandela was a man who tirelessly dedicated his life to fighting arbitrariness and injustice. He was imprisoned for 27 years for his resolute fight against racism and segregation and was a symbol of courage and self-sacrifice in the face of oppressive regimes. His isolation allowed those upholding apartheid to preserve a…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, December 6, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Secretary announces UK air transport assistance to France for Central African Republic. On 5th December, with strong UK support, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2127 authorising the deployment of the African-led International Support Mission to CAR (MISCA), and the deployment of French forces to give assistance. The Mission will contribute to the protection of civilians, the restoration of public order, and the stabilisation of CAR at a critical moment. Foreign Secretary William Hague said: “The UN Security Council made an important decision yesterday to authorise African Union and…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 6, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A UN report has called for investigations into serious human rights abuses committed by traditional hunters called Dozos between March 2009 and May 2013 in Côte d’Ivoire. The report, released today by the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) in cooperation with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for human rights (OHCHR), documents serious human rights abuses committed by Dozos while undertaking security activities, These include violations of the right to life, including extrajudicial killings and summary executions, illegal arrest and detentions, looting and extortions. The investigations carried out…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 6, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The International Organization for Migration (IOM) expects to resettle an estimated 1,500 Congolese refugees to the United States from Rwanda in 2014.Nyiramahoro Tuyisenge is one of the approximately 600 Congolese refugees who have finished undergoing IOM’s pre-departure health assessment in preparation for their resettlement to the United States.It has been 17 years since threats from the militia in her village in the Democratic Republic of Congo sent her running into neighbouring Rwanda. The situation in her rural village has never stabilized and life at the camp has been tough, especially for…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 6, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM is appealing for USD 13.1 million to address the needs of a projected 120,000 returning Ethiopian migrants from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.The numbers of the returning migrants is increasing rapidly and there is an urgent need to provide round the clock assistance. As of Thursday 5 December, over 100,000 migrants had been received by the Government of Ethiopia. Out of these, IOM provided direct assistance to over 90,000 individuals. The arrivals continue at over 7,000 migrants per day.The funds will help to maintain and increase the assistance that IOM…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, December 6, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — FCO Minister Robertson met travel industry representatives to emphasise the continuing threat of terrorist kidnap in Sahel and North Africa.Mr Hugh Robertson said: “Despite the success of military intervention in Mali, there remains a very real threat of kidnap to westerners in areas of the Sahel and North Africa.“Our travel advice provides a detailed assessment of the threat in individual countries. This allows individuals to make informed decisions about where they travel. “The British Government takes the threat to British nationals overseas extremely seriously. The Prime Minister has made the security…
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, December 6, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — As the political and humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) has progressively deteriorated for more than a year now, the European Commission has continued to mobilise its development aid to help people and improve their security. On 5 December 2013 the Poliitical and Security Committee of the EU endorsed a request from the African Union (dated 21 November 2013) addressed to the European Union for funding of €50 million for the African-led International Support Mission in the CAR (AFISM-CAR). “The AFISM-CAR will contribute to the stabilization of…
VIENNA, Austria, December 6, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger expressed his deep grief about Nelson Mandela’s death. “The world has lost a statesman of epochal dimensions and one of its most charismatic personalities”. As a political prisoner of the Apartheid regime, Mandela was the face of the fight against suppression for decades. When he was released after 26 years of imprisonment, he became the face of the peaceful turnaround of South Africa from the Apartheid state to the free, democratic Rainbow Nation.” “The miracle of South Africa illustrated that a peaceful solution of…
NEW YORK, December 6, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — It is with very great sadness that I have heard the news of the death of Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa.His extraordinary wisdom, selflessness and compassion not only held South Africa together following the collapse of apartheid, preventing potentially immense displacement, but made him a true global symbol for the oppressed and persecuted, and an example to all of us.For a world in which conflicts force millions from their homes every year, the death of such an outstanding champion of peace should give us all pause for thought.…