ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, September 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 458th meeting held on 17 September 2014, adopted the following decision on the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) decision:Council1. Takes note of the briefing given by the Commission, the statements made by the representatives of Chad, Chair of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Republic of the Congo, Mediator of ECCAS in the Car crisis, the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU), as well as by those of France, Rwanda, the…
Author: apofeed
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, September 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Etihad Airways (http://www.etihad.com), the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will expand its African route network with the launch of a daily service to Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/etihad.pngDownload Etihad New Routes 2015 Map: http://www.apo-mail.org/Etihad-New-Routes-2015-map.PDFFlights between Abu Dhabi and Dar es Salaam, which commence on 1 December 2015, will be operated using Airbus A320 aircraft with 16 Business Class and 120 Economy Class seats.Dar es Salaam will be Etihad Airways’ 110th destination globally, and its 11th destination in Africa and the Indian Ocean.…
WASHINGTON, September 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Today marks the one-year anniversary of the horrific al-Shabaab terrorist attack at the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, which killed 67 innocent people and wounded some 200 others. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed or injured. The United States and Kenya stand together in the fight against al-Shabaab and like-minded terrorist groups. As a strong and enduring partner, we will continue to support the Kenyan people in their efforts to improve their security and confront terrorism. These cowardly acts of our adversaries will…
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, September 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) welcomes the court verdict convicting three individuals accused of attacking the private residence of female UNAMID Police Advisors in El Fasher. This is the first case in which an attack against UNAMID peacekeepers has been brought to trial and the perpetrators sentenced. The incident happened in the early hours of 10 April 2014, when the UNAMID personnel were attacked by a group of armed individuals. Two of the victims were robbed of their belongings at knife and gunpoint. One was sexually…
MONROVIA, Liberia, September 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A C-17 U.S. military aircraft arrived in Liberia Thursday with the first shipment of increased U.S. military equipment and personnel for the anti-Ebola fight, which was promised by President Barack Obama in a speech September 16 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.The cargo included a heavy duty forklift, a drill set and generator and a team of 7 military personnel, including engineers and airfield specialists. The personnel are here to quickly assess the payload and stability of the airport runways. The forklift will be used to…
GENEVA, Switzerland, September 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — An on-site mission to Zambia on 22-25 September led by the President of IPU´s Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians Juan Pablo Letelier will complete investigations on 18 cases involving opposition members of the National Assembly. The cases followed the rise to power of the Patriotic Front in 2011. IPU is concerned by incidents of alleged police harassment, including the arbitrary detention of parliamentarians and allegations that opposition MPs cannot fully exercise their right to freedom of assembly. In a resolution adopted in March 2014, IPU highlighted the cases of…
GENEVA, Switzerland, September 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A group of United Nations human rights experts* today urged the Government of Ethiopia to stop misusing anti-terrorism legislation to curb freedoms of expression and association in the country, amid reports that people continue to be detained arbitrarily. The experts’ call comes on the eve of the consideration by Ethiopia of a series of recommendations made earlier this year by members of the Human Rights Council in a process known as the Universal Periodic Review and which applies equally to all 193 UN Members States. These recommendations are aimed at improving…
GENEVA, Switzerland, September 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Eritrea, Sheila B. Keetharuth, will make an official visit to Italy from 22 to 26 September to collect first-hand information from Eritrean refugees and migrants on the human rights situation in Eritrea. Ms. Keetharuth has made several official requests to visit Eritrea since her appointment in November 2012, which have so far not been granted. She has repeatedly urged the Eritrean authorities to cooperate with her to address the country’s human rights challenges. “As I have so far been unable…
OTTAWA, Canada, September 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Minister Fast with Louis-Paul Motazé, Secretary General, Office of the Prime Minister of CameroonOnce in force, the Canada-Cameroon FIPA will offer greater protection for Canadian companies operating there September 18, 2014 – Toronto, Ontario – The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, meets Louis-Paul Motazé, Secretary General, Office of the Prime Minister of Cameroon, on the margins of the Canada-Africa Business Summit, where Minister Fast delivered a keynote address. The two ministers discussed growing investment ties between the two countries and the progress on their respective ratification processes to bring…
JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, September 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Increased Internet access will generate more consumer spend than any other media product or service in the next five years in the South African entertainment and media industry, according to a report issued by PwC today (http://www.pwc.com). South Africa’s entertainment and media market is expected to grow by 10.2% compounded annually (CAGR) from 2014 – 2018 to a value of R190.4bn. By far the largest segment will be the Internet. Combined revenues from Internet access and Internet advertising will account for an estimated R71.6bn in 2018, accounting for 37.6% of total…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, September 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 458th meeting held on 17 September 2014, had an exchange of views on recent political developments in Mozambique, on the basis of the briefing made by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Mozambique to the AU.Council welcomed the signing of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities between the Government of Mozambique and the Party of the Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO), on 5 September 2014. Council commended the Mozambican stakeholders for the spirit of responsibility and compromise they…
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, September 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — In response to an invitation by the Tunisian authorities, the European Union has deployed itsElection Observation Mission (EU EOM) to observe the upcoming elections in Tunisia.Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, appointed as Chief Observer Mrs Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroek, a Member of the European Parliament.“The EU has received an invitation by the Tunisian authorities”, said Chief Observer Annemie Neyts. “The EU deployed an Election Observation Mission to Tunisia in 2011 and has been invited again to observe the…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, September 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (DSRSG) for Somalia, Fatiha Serour, welcomed the start of a reconciliation conference in Kismayo as a positive step towards consolidating peace in the region and furthering Somalia’s state-building process.The conference, officially opened on 16 September by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, aims to build on the gains made at the signing of the Addis Ababa Agreement in August 2013 and at the Jubba Reconciliation Conference in Mogadishu in November 2013. “The people and leaders of the Interim Jubba Administration clearly desire peace, and this…
NEW YORK, September 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Sam Kahamba Kutesa was elected President of the United Nations General Assembly’s sixty-ninth session on 11 June (Press Release GA/11520). At the time of his election, he was serving as Uganda’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, a post he held since 2005.A lawyer, parliamentarian and businessman, Mr. Kutesa brings to the position wide-ranging experience in international affairs. During his tenure as Foreign Minister, Uganda hosted high-level meetings of key intergovernmental bodies such as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in 2007, the Council of Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)…
CAPE-TOWN, South-Africa, September 16, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — SkyVision Global Networks Ltd. (http://www.skyvision.net), a leading global communication provider, today announced its sponsorship of the upcoming AfricaCom 2014 Conference, November 11-13, Cape Town. In addition to sponsoring the show, SkyVision will further its presence by both presenting at AfricaCom and VSAT Africa conferences and actively participating in several key panel sessions.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/skyvision.jpg AfricaCom is deemed the largest, most professional tech event in Africa that welcomes senior decision-makers from across the digital ecosystem. AfricaCom 2014 will be attended by close to 10,000 participants, many of whom are leaders in Africa’s digital…
WASHINGTON, September 16, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Media NoteOffice of the SpokespersonWashington, DCSeptember 15, 2014The Counselor of the Department, Thomas A. Shannon, visited Mogadishu on September 14. He was joined by Special Representative for Somalia James P. McAnulty and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Steven J. Feldstein. In meetings with senior government officials and representatives of the international community, he reiterated the commitment of the United States to Somalia’s security and development. With President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed he discussed the latest military and political developments, including the successful strike…
WASHINGTON, September 15, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCSeptember 15, 2014I am pleased to announce that we are resuming operations at our embassy in Bangui. The people and leaders of the Central African Republic have made progress in ending the violence and putting their nation on a path toward peace and stability. But we all know that much work remains to be done.That’s why I asked David Brown to serve as Chargé d’Affaires and to work closely with the transitional government, as well as our international friends and partners, to advance a peaceful, democratic and…
DAKAR, Senegal, September 15, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Ten African journalists, including three in Kenya, two in Ethiopia, two in South Africa, one in Burkina Faso, one in Ghana, and one in Rwanda, have been selected as finalists in the 2014 APO Media Award (#APOMediaAward) (http://www.apo-opa.com/apo-media-award.php).Logo APO: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/apo-african-press-organization-small.pngPhotos of the finalists: http://bit.ly/1qOdGN1 APO Media Award celebrates brilliant and inspiring stories about Africa. Stories are judged on content, writing, analysis, creativity, human interest and community impact.2014 APO Media Award Finalists are:Aimable Twahirwa (@atwahirwa) – Rwanda “Tech Entrepreneur Encourages Rwanda’s Young Women to Venture into ICT” (http://bit.ly/1ogmYkJ) Andualem Sisay Gessesse (@andualemsisay…
LAGOS, Nigeria, September 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Well-known global business leader and chairman of Heirs Holdings Tony Elumelu says the group “has the ambition to generate at least a quarter of Nigeria’s power consumption needs in the next five years.” Heirs Holdings’ interests in the power sector include Transcorp Ughelli Power, a gas-fired, thermal power generating plant which was acquired under the privatisation of Nigeria’s power sector.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/wapic.jpgPhoto Tony Elumelu: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/elumelu.jpgMr Elumelu will deliver the keynote address at this year’s West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC) (http://www.wapicforum.com) in Lagos from 18-19 November. The 11th edition of this long…
PRETORIA, South-Africa, September 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Special Envoy Said Djinnit completed a two-day visit to South Africa, as part of his first tour of signatory countries of the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the DRC and the region. The Special Envoy met with Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and Minister of State Security, Mr. David Mahlobo.“South Africa is a crucial regional partner. South African troops in the United Nations Force Intervention Brigade in DRC play a vital role in maintaining stability in…