VATICAN, Holy See, November 6, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “I offer a joyful welcome to you who have come from the ‘warm heart of Africa’, as you make your pilgrimage to Rome, ‘the warm heart of the Church’”; thus Pope Francis greets the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi in the written discourse he handed to them this morning as he received them in audience at the end of their five-yearly “ad Limina” visit. He also notes that the effectiveness of their pastoral and administrative efforts is the fruit of your faith as well as of the unity…
Author: apofeed
NEW YORK, November 6, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The new Permanent Representative of Comoros to the United Nations, Soilihi Mohamed Soilihi, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today.Prior to his appointment, he was Director General of the Office of Radio and Television of the Comoros, since 2010. From 2009 to 2010, he was Political Counselor of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also served as Chief of Staff of the Minister of Finance, from 2007 to 2009. A Special Delegate to Moroni City Hall from 2006 to 2007, he also held the position of Secretary General of…
VATICAN, Holy See, November 6, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — ”Os doy la bienvenida a vosotros que desde ”el cálido corazón de África” llegáis a Roma ”el cálido corazón de la Iglesia” saluda el Papa a los obispos de la Conferencia Episcopal de Malawi en el discurso que les ha entregado esta mañana al final de su quinquenal visita ad Limina. Francisco anota también que la eficacia de sus esfuerzos pastorales y administrativos es fruto de la fe, así como de la unidad y el espíritu fraternal que caracterizan esa conferencia episcopal.El Santo Padre expresa su aprecio ”por el admirable…
MAPUTO, Mozambique, November 6, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A staff team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Doris Ross, visited Mozambique during October 22-November 6, 2014 to hold discussions towards the completion of the third review under the three-year Policy Support Instrument (PSI) 1 approved in June 2013 (see Press Release No. 13/231). The team met with President-elect Filipe Nyusi, Finance Minister Manuel Chang, Planning and Development Minister Aiuba Cuereneia, Bank of Mozambique Governor Ernesto Gove, other line ministers, senior government officials, the private sector, civil society, and development partners. It also met with the presidential candidates…
JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, November 6, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — It’s been nothing but full speed ahead for South Africa’s first true low cost airline, FlySafair (https://www.flysafair.co.za), in recent weeks.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/flysafair.pngPhoto 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1529Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1530 The first flights launched were in mid-October between Cape Town and Johannesburg from just R499* (including taxes), followed swiftly by the launch of the Cape Town to Port Elizabeth route from R399* last week. The Cape Town to George route follows next week on 13th November with equally tempting fares starting at R399*.From the 3rd of December, FlySafair will launch their second base at Johannesburg O.R.…
NAIROBI, Kenya, November 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Leading African Activist to be Announced as Winner of Top Global Environmental Prize What: Announcing African Winner of Champions of the Earth 2014 When: Friday 7 November, 2014 10.30am – 11.30am Where: The Hilton Hotel, City Centre, Nairobi Who: Fatima Jibrell, Founder of ADESO and Champions of the Earth Winner Ibrahim Thiaw, UNEP Deputy Executive Director Paolo Toselli, European Union Fatima Jibrell, one of Africa’s leading environmental activists and founder of Adeso (formerly known as Horn Relief), is to become the first Somali to win a Champions of the Earth award.…
GENEVA, Switzerland, November 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The UN Committee against Torture is due to review Burundi on 11 and 12 November in sessions that will be webcast live. Burundi is one of the 156 States parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and is required to undergo regular examinations of its record before the Committee of 10 independent experts. The Committee will engage in a dialogue with the Burundian government delegation and also hear from NGOs. Public sessions: 10:00-12:00 on 11 November, 15:00-17:00 on 12 November Venue: Palais Wilson,…
TOKYO, Japan, November 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 1. Japan is concerned by the current situation in Burkina Faso from October 30 which evolved from the debate of the constitutional amendment.2. The Government of Japan calls for restraint from all the actors concerned and urges a peaceful resolution of the situation through the dialogue.
DUBLIN, Ireland, November 4, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Government is to provide €2 million to aid agencies responding to the deepening crisis in South Sudan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, TD, and Minister of State for Development, Trade Promotion and North South Co-operation, Seán Sherlock, TD, have announced. Widespread violence against civilians in South sudan has forced almost two million people to flee their homes. Almost half a million of these have taken refuge in neighbouring countries, including Ethiopia, where President Michael D. Higgins, accompanied by Minister Sherlock, will visit refugee camps in Gambella today.…
OTTAWA, Canada, November 4, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — In response to recent developments in Burkina Faso, the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today announced that Canada will immediately suspend development assistance funding provided directly to the Government of Burkina Faso and its institutions.“Given the current climate, it is not possible to provide development assistance dollars directly to the Government of Burkina Faso and ensure they are spent effectively and as intended,” said Minister Paradis. “We stand with the people of Burkina Faso and urge those responsible to put the needs of the Burkina Faso…
MORONI, Comoros, November 4, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team led by Mr. Harry Trines, Mission Chief for Comoros, visited Moroni during October 20−November 4 to conduct discussions for the 2014 Article IV consultation. The mission met with President Dhoinine Ikililou and held discussions with Vice President and Minister of Finance Mohamed Ali Soilihi, Minister of Planning Alféine Soifiat Tadjiddine, Governor of the Central Bank Abdou Mohamed Chanfiou, Councilor to the President and Permanent Secretary of the Economic and Financial Reform Agency Chei Oubeidi, and other government officials, representatives of the private sector, unions,…
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, November 4, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Tanzania Women of Achievement has today launched the 2015 Tanzania Women of Achievement Awards (TWAA) (www.twa.or.tz) scheduled to take place on the 7th of March 2015 where now on its 4 season provide a wonderful opportunity to recognize and applaud women who are helping to reshape Tanzania for the better. Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/twaa.pngTanzania Women of Achievement President Ms. Irene Kiwia said “TWAA aim to celebrate the women’s achievements and beneficial impact on societies around them. We want to showcase those women who have made a real difference in key area…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, November 4, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union Commission has moved a step closer to the planned conduct of the AMANI AFRICA II Exercise and in effect the realization of the African Standby Force following the start of the Strategic Headquarters Training in Harare. The training, which comes at a pivotal moment in the exercise cycle aims to provide participants with a better understanding of Peace Support Operations planning and management and prepare them for the Main Exercise, which is scheduled for April 2015. This simulated exercise will play a significant role in evaluating the…
DUBLIN, Ireland, November 4, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — ireland has today cemented its strong relations with Ethiopia with the signing of three bilateral agreements.During the visit of President Michael D Higgins to Ethiopia, Minister for Development, Trade Promotion, and North South Cooperation, Seán Sherlock, TD, signed agreements on transport, double taxation, and development cooperation.Speaking from Addis Ababa, Minister Sherlock said:”The signing of these agreements further deepens our already excellent diplomatic relations.”The transport agreement will facilitate direct flights by Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa to Los Angeles, with a stopover in Dublin, beginning June 2015.”This is an important step in…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, November 3, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, has expressed deep concern over the political tensions between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, which puts at risk the country’s efforts to achieve critical political targets set out in Vision 2016. “The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia remains committed to fulfilling its mandate to assist Somalia to achieve federalism, a new constitution and elections by September 2016, as set out in the Provisional Federal Constitution and Vision 2016,” SRSG Kay said. “I call…
DAKAR, Sénégal, November 3, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 141 African human rights groups from 32 countries today issued an open letter expressing support for the efforts by Senegal and the African Union to prosecute crimes committed during the rule of former Chadian president Hisséne Habré.Habré, who is accused of thousands of political killings and systematic torture from 1982 to 1990, was indicted in July 2013 by the Extraordinary African Chambers created by Senegal and the African Union, and is now in pretrial detention. If the judges decide that a trial is warranted, the case is scheduled to begin in…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, October 31, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The 9th edition of the African Economic Conference (http://www.afdb.org/en/aec-2014) will take place in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, on November 1-3, 2014. The Chief Economist and Vice-President of the African Development Bank will host an online press conference during the last day of the African Economic Conference. He will report on the conference theme of Africa’s continuing challenge to harness knowledge and innovation in the service of its economic development. He will also outline new African development bank actions and advocacy on the response to the ebola virus. In addition he will present…
WASHINGTON, October 31, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Funding Opportunity AnnouncementBureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationOctober 30, 2014Funding Opportunity Number: PRM-PRMOAPAF-15-003-050218Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number: 19.517 – Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for AfricaAnnouncement issuance date: Thursday, October 30, 2014Proposal submission deadline: Friday, December 5, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) EST. Proposals submitted after this deadline cannot be considered.**ADVISORY: All applicants must submit proposals through the website Grants.gov NOT through GrantsSolutions.gov. Please note that if you apply on the GrantSolutions.gov site, your application will be disqualified. PRM strongly recommends submitting your proposal early to allow time to address any…
GENEVA, Switzerland, October 31, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — With the conflict in South Sudan prompting civilians to seek refuge in Ethiopia, and intercommunal violence generating internal displacement in different parts of the country, the ICRC and its partners have been moving quickly to bring aid to the people who need it most. During the first half of 2014, the ICRC and its partners within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the Ethiopian Red Cross Society, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the Swiss Red Cross) jointly provided emergency assistance to South Sudanese…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, October 31, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Peter Maurer, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), today concluded a three-day visit to Ethiopia, during which he held talks with African Union (AU) and Ethiopian leaders and with representatives of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society. The humanitarian situation in countries suffering the effects of armed conflict or other violence, such as South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Somalia, Libya and Mali, and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa were among the main topics of discussion. On the occasion of his third visit to the AU,…