WASHINGTON, July 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementMarie HarfDeputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCJuly 21, 2014The United States condemns the South Sudanese opposition forces’ ground attack on the positions of the South Sudanese army (SPLA) in Nasir, Upper Nile State, on July 20. We call on both parties to immediately end all such attacks and fully adhere to their May 9 and June 10 commitments to cease hostilities and begin the disengagement of forces to be monitored and verified by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development Monitoring and Verification Mechanism.The people of Nasir, as with civilians all…
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JUBA, South Sudan, July 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Media advisoryWhen & Where: 21st – 25 JULY 2014, Juba Grand Hotel, South Sudan.The African Union Commission of Inquiry on South sudan is expected to meet with South sudan government and South Sudanese citizens as well as Civil Society organization (COS) and other actors that could assist the pursuance of its mandate. Why: To fulfill the mandate of the South Sudan Commission of Inquiry which is captured in the Communiqué of the PSC on 30 December 2013 and can be distilled as follows: a. To investigate the human rights violations…
WASHINGTON, July 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementMarie HarfDeputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCJuly 21, 2014The United States is deeply concerned by the convictions of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and magazine editor Bheki Makhubu for contempt of court in the Kingdom of Swaziland. Their convictions for contempt of court for publishing an article critical of the High Court of Swaziland—and their ongoing prolonged detention—appear to undermine respect for Swaziland’s human rights obligations, particularly the right to freedom of expression, which is enshrined in Swaziland’s own constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, July 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, strongly condemns the attack carried out on 17 July 2014 against a Tunisian army post in the western part of the country, killing several soldiers. She also strongly condemns the killing of several Egyptian military personnel near the border with Libya and Sudan, on 19 July 2014.The Chairperson of the Commission conveys AU’s heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. She expresses AU’s full solidarity with the Governments and peoples of Tunisia and Egypt. The Chairperson…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, July 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, strongly condemns the attack that was carried out on 20 July 2014, in Nassir Town, in the Upper Nile State, by the SPLM/A (in Opposition), headed by Dr. Riek Machar.The attack is all the more reprehensible as it took place against the background of renewed efforts by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), with the support of the AU, the United Nations (UN) and other members of the international community, to move forward the peace process. The…
NEW YORK, July 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by today’s attack by SPLA [Sudan People’s Liberation Army] in Opposition forces under the command of Riek Machar on Nassir, Upper Nile State, South sudan. This is the first major attack since the Government and Mr. Machar recommitted to the Cessation of Hostilities agreement on 10 June 2014. It undermines ongoing intense regional and international political engagement towards a resumption of political negotiations and a peaceful resolution of the South sudan conflict.The Secretary-General…
JUBA, South Sudan, July 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The UN Mission in South sudan (UNMISS) is gravely concerned about an attack that took place today in Nassir Town, Upper Nile State. The attack was carried out by opposition forces comprised of a mixture of armed youths and defected SPLA soldiers (SPLA in Opposition) loyal to former Vice President, Mr. Riek Machar Teny. UNMISS notes that this attack represents the most serious resumption of hostilities since President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the former Vice President met in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on 9 May and recommitted to…
MBABANE, Swaziland, July 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On July 15, 2014, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation1 with Swaziland and considered and endorsed the staff appraisal without a meeting.2Swaziland’s economic performance has improved since the fiscal crisis of 2010–11, underpinned by the recovery of revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in 2013 is estimated at 2¾ percent, recovering from -½ percent in 2011. Business confidence has started to show signs of improvement, commercial bank credit to the private sector is growing strongly,…
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, July 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Three Sudanese humanitarian workers abducted in Kutum, North Darfur, on 18 June 2014, were freed today in the same locality after 32 days in captivity. Mustafa Abdalla Adarge, working with UNICEF, and Mohamed Abu Elgassem and Ahmed Elsayed, working with the international NGO Goal, were immediately taken to the Mission’s hospital in Kutum, for medical checks. They appear to be unharmed and in good condition. The African Union – United Nations Joint Special Representative for Darfur, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, expressed the Mission’s gratitude to the Government of Sudan, Sudan’s…
WASHINGTON, July 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJen PsakiDepartment SpokespersonWashington, DCJuly 18, 2014The United States is deeply concerned by the Ethiopian Federal High Court’s July 18 decision to press charges against six bloggers and three independent journalists under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation.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 ensure that the trial is open to public observation and free of political influence.We reiterate Secretary Kerry’s May 1 call on Ethiopia to refrain from using…
GENEVA, Switzerland, July 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM Uganda has launched a report: “HIV Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices and Population Size Estimates of Fisher Folk in Six Districts in Uganda.”In Uganda, some 130,000 people live in fishing communities and estimates suggest that HIV infection rates in these communities are almost 3-4 times higher than the national average for adults.“Most of the fishermen are not aware of the risks of HIV. It is a dangerous disease and we have lost many people here,” explained Joshua Nununule, a fisherman from Kasensero fish landing site.Covering 42 fishing communities from six Ugandan…
NEW YORK, July 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — We are deeply concerned about reports of alarming levels of violence in Bambari and elsewhere in the Central African Republic, including several cases in which armed groups deliberately targeted camps sheltering people who have fled their homes. In one recent incident, armed groups attacked a religious site hosting 10,000 displaced people in Bambari on 7 July, killing at least 26 people and injuring 35. This followed weeks of escalating violence in and around Bambari. Hospitals in the area were overwhelmed with people who need treatment for gunshot and machete wounds. We…
BANGUI, Central African Republic, July 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU) and Head of the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA), General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko, continues to closely monitor the evolution of the investigation being carried out following reports by Human Rights Watch that MISCA soldiers were involved in the forced disappearance of civilians in the locality of Boali, 80 kms of Bangui, on 24 March 2014. He reiterates the determination of MISCA to shed light on the allegations, in line with…
GENEVA, Switzerland, July 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM’s 6th return intention survey of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Bangui, Central African Republic indicates a continuing decrease in the number of people intending to return home and a continuing struggle to meet daily needs.The return intention survey was based on interviews with 601 IDPs carried out at 31 displacement sites from 17-19 June. The survey has been conducted on a monthly basis since January 2014 to track the needs and return intentions of IDPs in Bangui.Compared with the previous survey, IDPs indicated that in order to return home, their…
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Hundreds trained in cost-saving sustainable land management, rainwater harvesting and dryland agriculture in major China-Africa initiative Who: Chen Linhao, Deputy Director General, Department of International Cooperation, Chinese Ministry of Science and TechnologyMounkaila Goumandakoye, Director, Regional Office for Africa, UNEPPhilip Gichuki, Managing Director, Nairobi Water and Sewage CompanySimon N. Nguluu, Deputy Director, KARI Katumani Research Centre When: Tuesday, 22 July, 11:00 – 13:00 EATWhere: Conference Room 6, UN Compound, NairobiBy 2030 it is estimated that between 75 and 250 million Africans will be living in areas of high water stress, resulting in…
MAPUTO, Mozambique, July 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Movitel, SA (http://movitel.co.mz/en) – a joint venture between Vietnamese telecommunications group Viettel (http://www.vietteltelecom.vn) and Mozambique’s SPI company – has just dramatically won the “Best Mobile Innovation Award” in the Mobile Innovations Awards 2014, becoming the first and the only operator in Africa to win 3 prestigious international awards in 3 consecutive years.Logo Viettel: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/viettel.jpgLogo Movitel: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/movitel.jpgPhoto: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/140717-1.jpgMovitel, SA – a joint venture between Vietnamese telecommunications group Viettel and Mozambique’s SPI company – has just dramatically won the Judges’Award: “Best Mobile Innovation Award”. This is the most notable prize among the 18…
GENEVA, Switzerland, July 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human right to water and sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque, will visit Kenya from 22 to 29 July 2014 to assess the country’s achievements and challenges in realizing the human rights to water and sanitation. “I will look at disparities in access to sanitation and water between urban and rural areas, with a particular focus on sanitation,” said the independent expert charged by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor, report and advise on the realization of the human rights to water and sanitation worldwide. “During…
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, July 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today approved a new three-year Policy Support Instrument (PSI) for Tanzania.1 The IMF recently concluded the final review of the country’s economic performance under a Standby Credit Facility (SCF) arrangement (See Press Release 14/182), together with the Article IV consultation with Tanzania on April 25, 2014 (See Press Release No. 14/227). The SCF expired on April 30, 2014.The PSI for Tanzania aims to support the authorities’ medium-term objectives. These include: the maintenance of macroeconomic stability, the preservation of debt sustainability,…
ACCRA, Ghana, July 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — • 21st century LED Technology beautifies city icon as part of the Cairo to Cape Town Roadshow• The Ghanaian “Black Star Monument” is latest in line-up of historic city monuments lit by Philips in AfricaRoyal Philips (AEX: PHIA, NYSE: PHG) (http://www.philips.com/africaroadshow), the global leader in lighting, has unveiled the spectacular illumination of Ghana’s iconic Black Star Monument with its latest LED lighting technology, boosting the beautification of the city of Accra and cutting energy consumption by 80% as compared to the existing conventional lighting. Philips is showcasing its LED lighting solutions…
NEW YORK, July 17, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Checked against delivery I have just briefed the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in sudan and South Sudan, which continues to deteriorate for hundreds of thousands of people in both countries. It is more than two years since the Council adopted resolution 2046 in May 2012, expressing deep concern at the humanitarian impact of fighting between the Government of sudan and the SPLM-North in South Kordofan and Blue Nile. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people in South Kordofan and Blue Nile continue to be affected by war, and no progress…