PRETORIA, South-Africa, December 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On December, 3, 2014, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund concluded the Article IV consultation1 with South Africa.South Africa has made substantial progress in its first 20 years of democracy, achieving much improved living standards for its citizens. But growth has slowed in recent years, specifically relative to other emerging markets. Although weak trading partners’ growth contributed to the slowdown, increasingly binding structural constraints, such as protracted strikes and electricity constraints, have been important factors. Unemployment remains high at 25.5 percent.Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation declined to 5.9 percent…
Author: apofeed
HARGEISA, Somaliland, December 10, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Dubai-based flydubai (http://www.flydubai.com) announced the addition of three new routes to its growing network. Flights to Hargeisa (Somaliland), Chennai (India), and Nejran (Saudi Arabia) will commence in the first quarter of 2015, further expanding the carrier’s footprint to 89 destinations in 46 countries. Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/flydubai.jpgPhoto 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1389 (Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President Commercial (GCC, Subcontinent and Africa)Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/141210f3.jpg Photo 3: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/141210f2.jpg From 05 March 2015, flydubai will become the first carrier to operate to Hargeisa, Somaliland from Dubai with four weekly flights. flydubai has expanded its network in Africa in…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 9, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM, in collaboration with UNHCR, yesterday (8/12) began the voluntary repatriation of 94 Somali refugees from Kenya, 23 years after conflict and famine drove them from their homeland.The refugees, from the sprawling Dadaab refugee complex that hosts over 350,000 Somali refugees, travelled in two IOM buses with their possessions to the Dhobley way station in Afmadow District, Lower Juba, on the Somali-Kenya border.The repatriation process is the outcome of the tri-partite agreement signed between Kenya, Somalia and UNHCR in November 2013, agreeing a dignified and humane repatriation process for Somali refugees…
NAIROBI, Kenya, December 8, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — ReVision project is also looking into areas such as assistance and support to the defence, field operations and field presence, outreach, state co-operation and external relations, information management, and internal communication.The Registrar of the International Criminal Court, Herman Von Hebel spoke to Rosemary Tollo about proposed change for the better.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/eastafrican.png Q: You are undertaking a major reorganisation of the ICC Registry. Explain the need for change.A: Change is desperately needed in order to make a more effective and efficient Registry, especially in dealing with victims.Over the past 12 years of…
NEW YORK, December 8, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Rwandan government has taken great strides in bringing stability to the country since the 1994 genocide that claimed 800,000 lives, but moves to allow greater press freedom have been slow, the Committee to Protect Journalists found in a report released today.While government control of the media has loosened, many journalists remain fearful that regulations put in place to protect the media are not enough to stop the harassment and threats, and that a lack of investment is damaging their professional reputation.”An independent, critical press has a vital role to play…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, December 8, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia and Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Maman S. Sidikou welcomes the manner in which the Federal Parliament conducted its session to debate a motion for a vote of confidence in the Prime Minister of the Federal Government. The members of parliament passed a vote of no confidence in Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed effectively ending his tenure. Ambassador Sidikou notes with satisfaction that members of parliament conducted themselves in a manner dignifying of the revered institution of parliament.Ambassador Sidikou also…
JUBA, South Sudan, December 8, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Mission in South sudan (UNMISS) cordially invites members of the media to witness the destruction of weapons collected by UNMISS in Juba since December 15, 2013 from internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have sought refuge in UNMISS IDP protection sites. The event in Juba will be the first in a series of weapon and ammunition destruction exercises, with others scheduled to take place later this month in Malakal, Nasser, Bentiu, Wau and Bor. Juba deactivation phase will take place on: Date: 9 December 2014 Time: 10:00am Venue:…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM, in close collaboration with the Malian government’s Emergency Operations Center and the UN World Health Organization (WHO), has set up a Flow Monitoring Point (FMP) in Kourémalé – the main point of entry between mali and Guinea Conakry, to collect data on travelers and provide outreach to check the spread of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Mali.mali has been categorized by the WHO as a country at-risk, due to its long border and strong economic ties with Guinea, where the epidemic began. The first Ebola case in Mali was confirmed…
BANGUI, Central African Republic, December 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Following months of tensions in Central African Republic (CAR), the humanitarian challenges in the country are immense and growing every day. However, the efforts put in place to tackle them are far from being enough. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Central African Red Cross Society are calling for greater global support to help the vulnerable people of Car before it is too late. The situation in Central African Republic is dramatic. Because of the ongoing insecurity and lack of support, aid…
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, December 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Official delegates from Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique have concluded their annual review and planning meeting for the reaffirmation of their international boundaries. The annual meeting, which took place from 1 to 5 December 2014, in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania also witnessed a successful exchange of best practices between the participants from Great Lakes and West Africa.The three countries, which have been engaged with the African Union Border Programme (AUBP) since 2008, were each represented by five members from relevant ministries dedicated to border issues.Speaking during the Opening Session, the…