RABAT, Morocco, July 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today approved a new 24-month arrangement for Morocco under the Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL) in an amount equivalent to SDR 3.2351 billion (about US$5 billion, or 550 percent of Morocco’s quota at the IMF). The access under the arrangement in the first year will be equivalent to SDR 2.941 billion (about US$4.5 billion, 500 percent of quota), rising in the second year to a cumulative US$5.0 billion. Morocco’s first 2-year PLL arrangement was approved on August 2, 2012 (see Press Release…
Author: apofeed
BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of the Congo, July 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On July 21, 2014, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with the Republic of Congo.1Recent economic developments in the Republic of Congo have been favorable. Growth in the last 5 years has averaged about 5 percent per year, higher than in regional peers. Gross oil revenue averaged more than US$8 billion per year in 2012 and 2013, equivalent to about 60 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Substantial fiscal savings have been set aside by virtue of the ongoing run…
GENEVA, Switzerland, July 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — FIFA can today confirm the extension of sanctions imposed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the Italian Football Association (FIGC) in relation to match manipulation. On 28 May 2014, CAS banned Maltese player Kevin Sammut from all football-related activities for a period of ten years following proceedings conducted by UEFA disciplinary bodies in relation to the manipulation of a qualifying match for the UEFA European Football Championship in 2007.On 7 May 2014, the disciplinary committee of the FIGC banned Ghanaian player Mark Edusei from all football-related activities for…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, July 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) today accused the Somaliland authorities of waging a renewed campaign of intimidation against media after the police arrested two journalists. On Sunday, 27 July 2014, journalist Ahmed Adan Robleh, editor of Baligubadle Online Media (http://baligubadlemedia.com/) was arrested after officers at Hargeisa’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) summoned on 26 July. In a separate incident, Mohamed Aabi, director of Universal TV in Somaliland, was arrested Sunday evening (27 July) by the police. Robleh was accused of “misreporting” and “spreading false information” with regard to health of…
NEW YORK, July 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Arnauld Antoine Akodjènou of Benin as his Deputy Special Representative in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in mali (MINUSMA).Mr. Akodjènou succeeds Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal, who has been appointed as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa. The Secretary-General is grateful for Mr. Bathily’s dedicated service during his tenure in mali and for his leadership in a very challenging environment.Mr. Akodjènou, currently Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, July 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, extended his heartfelt greetings to all Somali people as they celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr.“As Somalia celebrates Eid-ul-Fitr I wish all Somalis and their families Eid Mubarak. Today is a time to celebrate the completion of the holy month of Ramadan and to remember those that are less fortunate than ourselves. I hope this spirit of reconciliation and harmony can contribute to peace across Somalia. Ciid Wanaagsan!” SRSG Kay said.
WASHINGTON, July 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE President TO THE Speaker OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESAND THE President PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE July 27, 2014 Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:) As I most recently reported on June 12, 2014, U.S. Armed Forces have been in Libya to support the security of U.S. personnel in that country. During the period July 25-26, due to ongoing violence resulting from clashes between Libyan militias in the immediate vicinity of the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, embassy personnel and the U.S. forces supporting their security were…
JUBA, South Sudan, July 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) cordially invites members of the media in South Sudan to attend a press briefing to update on UN Police’s (UNPOL) role under the new mission’s mandate; UN contributing Force Protection Unit efforts in managing IDPs in the protection of civilians site, and progress made by the South Sudan National Police Service with support of UNPOL. The briefing will be given by: Fred Yiga, United Nations Commissioner of Police for South Sudan Joseph Contreras, UNMISS Acting Spokesperson Date: Tuesday, 29 July 2014 Time:…
OTTAWA, Canada, July 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Senator Don Meredith, on behalf of the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today announced Canadian support for a new project to help increase job opportunities and promote entrepreneurship among young people in Nigeria.Senator Meredith made the announcement in an address to the inaugural national convention of the Akwa Cross Association of Canada. Akwa Cross is non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the preservation of the cultures in the Nigerian states of Akwa Ibom and Cross River. “The need for meaningful, sustainable employment, especially for youth, is a…
WASHINGTON, July 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — RemarksJohn KerrySecretary of StateCairo, EgyptJuly 25, 2014FOREIGN MINISTER SHOUKRY: (Via interpreter.) Good evening. You know that Egypt is – the serious military escalation in Gaza and what the Palestinian people have been exposed to in terms of destruction – broad destruction and killing of civilians that claimed up until now over 800 civilians and thousands of injured. We are working incessantly to end this crisis and to spare the Palestinian people of the dangers it has been exposed to, and to prevent further military escalation. And this has led to the proposal…
WASHINGTON, July 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCJuly 25, 2014South sudan now faces the worst food security crisis in the world. Violence has forced over 1.5 million people from their homes since mid-December, while more than 50,000 children under the age of five are at risk of dying from malnutrition this year. This is not a crisis caused by drought or flood: it is a calamity created by conflict. Unless the fighting ends and a peace agreement is concluded, the number of those at risk of starvation — now as many as 3.9 million…
GENEVA, Switzerland, July 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM is supporting the Government of Burundi in its efforts to increasingly engage with the Burundian diaspora in national development. A key initial IOM intervention is support for the Ministry of External Relations and International Cooperation in organizing the first Diaspora Week, which will take place in Bujumbura between 28 and 31 July.The first Diaspora Week aims at promoting skills transfers and investment opportunities, and will specifically consist of a multi-dimensional workshop that is intended to bring together key Burundian stakeholders to share experiences through debates, including on investment opportunities, discussions…
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Outgoing Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes region of Africa, Mrs. Mary Robinson, addressed the extraordinary Summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, between 19 and 24 July 2014, to address the question of youth unemployment, and to make recommendations on how to mitigate its effects on individual countries or on the region as whole, where over half of the population is made up of young people, and unemployment rate is around 34%. The summit resulted in the establishment…
WASHINGTON, July 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementMarie HarfDeputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCJuly 25, 2014The United States is deeply dismayed by the sentencing of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and magazine editor Bheki Makhubu to two years in jail without the option of parole for a contempt of court conviction for publishing an article critical of the High Court of Swaziland.Their already prolonged pretrial detention, conviction, and harsh sentence appear to be in conflict with Swaziland’s human rights obligations, particularly the right to freedom of expression, which is enshrined in Swaziland’s own constitution and the…
WASHINGTON, July 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementMarie HarfDeputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCJuly 25, 2014The United States applauds the agreement reached in Algiers on July 24 establishing a road map for talks between northern groups and the Government of Mali. We commend the Governments of Algeria, France, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, and Chad; the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA); the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC); the African Union; the European Union for their efforts in facilitating this agreement.The United States looks forward to…
WASHINGTON, July 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCJuly 25, 2014On behalf of President Obama and all Americans, I congratulate the people of Liberia as you observe 167 years of independence on July 26.Liberia and the United States share a special bond dating back to the first days of your republic. Centuries later, that bond is stronger than ever. We remain dedicated to working with you to consolidate peace and reconciliation, support economic development, and strengthen democratic institutions.Next month, President Obama will host 50 African heads of state – including your own president, Ellen Sirleaf…
OTTAWA, Canada, July 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Senator Don Meredith, on behalf of the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, will announce new funding for a project that aims to increase job opportunities and entrepreneurial capacities of youth in Nigeria.The announcement will take place during the national inaugural convention of the Akwacross Association of Canada.Date: Saturday, July 26, 2014Time: 2:30 p.m.Place: Delta Hotel 101 Lyon Street N. Ottawa, Ontario
VATICAN, Holy See, July 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has sent a telegram on behalf of Pope Francis to Archbishop Ghaleb Moussa Abdalla Bader of Algiers, Algeria, in response to yesterday’s tragic accident involving an Air Algerie aircraft above Mali, which claimed many lives. “His Holiness Pope Francis joins in prayer with the suffering of those who have lost loved ones”, he writes. “He wishes to convey his condolences and to assure them of his profound sympathy, and prays that the Lord may receive the souls of the departed and bring consolation and…
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, July 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On behalf of the European Union, we wish to convey our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the Air Algérie flight that crashed in Mali. We also wish to express our sympathy and solidarity to the governments of all affected nations, including to the French and Algerian Presidents.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, July 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, welcomes the successful conclusion of the first phase of the inclusive inter-Malian dialogue, marked by the signing, today, in Algiers, by all the Parties involved in the negotiation process, of a Consensual Roadmap and a Declaration of Cessation of Hostilities. She stresses that this successful outcome of the initial phase of the negotiations, which took place from 16 to 24 July 2014 and in which the AU was represented by its High Representative for mali and the…