GENEVA, Switzerland, January 30, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A group of United Nations human rights experts today urged the international community to rapidly provide all necessary funding and assistance to the Government of Malawi and humanitarian actors in response to some of the worst flooding in the country in living memory. Flooding has also affected Madagascar and Mozambique where international assistance is crucial to scale up responses. “The flooding has displaced large numbers of people and presents massive and complex challenges for Governments and their humanitarian allies in the short, medium and longer-term,” said UN Special Rapporteur on the…
Author: apofeed
WASHINGTON, January 30, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJen PsakiDepartment SpokespersonWashington, DCJanuary 29, 2015The United States is concerned by the Ethiopian Federal High Court’s January 28, 2015, decision to proceed with the trial of six bloggers and three independent journalists on charges under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation. The decision undermines a free and open media environment—critical elements for credible and democratic elections, which Ethiopia will hold in May 2015.We urge the Ethiopian government to ensure that the trial is fair, transparent, and in compliance with Ethiopia’s constitutional guarantees and international human rights obligations. We also urge the Ethiopian government to…
KIGALI, Rwanda, January 29, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement in Kigali today at the conclusion of her visit to Rwanda:“My visit to Rwanda—one of Africa’s economic success stories—has been extremely fruitful and informative. I am grateful for the warm welcome I received and for the time that was given to my visit. I wish to thank President Paul Kagame for meeting with me to discuss Rwanda’s achievements and its outlook. I also want to thank Finance Minister Claver Gatete and Governor John Rwangombwa of the…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, January 29, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, has welcomed the announcement of the nomination of a new Federal cabinet by the Prime Minister of Somalia on 27 January 2014. “This announcement is an important step towards the establishment of a new cabinet,” Special Representative Kay said. “Once approved by the Federal Parliament, the Federal Government will need to address urgently Somalia’s state and peacebuilding goals. Much remains to be done to complete Somalia’s Vision 2016. The Federal Parliament has an important and urgent role to play…
WASHINGTON, January 30, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJen PsakiDepartment SpokespersonWashington, DCJanuary 29, 2015The United States welcomes the announcement by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) of the start of military operations against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group that has inflicted immeasurable suffering on the civilian population of eastern DRC and Rwanda for over 20 years. The UN Security Council has mandated the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to protect civilians and, in support of the DRC authorities, to neutralize armed groups including the FDLR.…
NEW YORK, January 30, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Secretary-General condemns the terrorist attacks in North Sinai on 29 January, which killed dozens of people, including civilians, and injured scores of others. He conveys his condolences to the families of the victims and expresses his solidarity with the people of Egypt.
NEW YORK, January 29, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the deteriorating security situation in Darfur following reports of an escalation of hostilities between the Government of sudan and the Darfur armed movements in Central Darfur and the resulting displacement of civilians. The UN has confirmed that at least 36,000 civilians have been displaced in Darfur due to these hostilities. He condemns the reported aerial bombardment and destruction of villages in the Golo locality of Central Darfur State on 27 January. The Secretary-General urges the Government and the armed movements to exercise maximum restraint, without…
PRETORIA, South-Africa, January 27, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — President Jacob Zuma has, in terms of section 175(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, acting on the recommendation of Minister of Justice and Correctional Services and the concurrence of the Chief Justice, appointed three Judges to act as Judges of the Constitutional Court during various periods, due to the vacancy which occurred and vacation leave of one of the Judges of the Constitutional Court respectively, in order to ensure that there is an appropriate quorum at all times. The following Judges have been appointed:• The Honourable…
NEW YORK, January 28, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Haile Tilahun Gebremariam of Ethiopia as the Head of Mission of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). He succeeds Lieutenant-General Yohannes Gebremeskel Tesfamariam of Ethiopia who completed his assignment on 19 June 2014. The Secretary-General is grateful to Lieutenant-General Tesfamariam and former acting Head of Mission, Major-General Halefom Ejigu Moges, for their dedication and effective leadership of UNISFA. Following a long and distinguished career with the Ministry of Defence of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Mr. Gebremariam…
ROME, Italy, January 28, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Farmers in southern Malawi urgently need seeds and livestock after intense flooding destroyed their fields and homes, washing away animals and crops and threatening local food security.More than 170,000 people have had to leave their homes. Some 79 deaths have been confirmed so far, while 153 people are still missing in Nsanje district alone. An estimated 116,000 households have lost their crops and livestock.Malawi is regularly affected by droughts and floods. But the current heavy rains have come ahead of their usual schedule – repeatedly bursting the banks along the Shire…