MOGADISHU, Somalia, June 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, welcomed the agreement today to establish a new interim regional administration in south west Somalia. Under the leadership of the Federal Government, supporters of two different state formation processes met in Mogadishu and agreed to establish a new Interim South West Administration, including the regions of Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle. “I welcome the agreement to establish a new Interim South West Administration in accordance with Somalia’s Provisional Constitution. I congratulate all parties for their commitment to finding a…
Author: apofeed
PRETORIA, South-Africa, June 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is travelling to Windhoek, Namibia on 23 June 2014, before going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, for the African Union Summit, and Nairobi, Kenya, for the closing session of the United Nations Environment Assembly.While in Namibia, the Secretary-General will meet with President Hifikepunye Pohamba and other government officials. He will also participate in the commissioning of the United Nations House in Windhoek, home to 12 UN agencies, funds and programmes.On 25 June, the Secretary-General will leave Namibia for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, for the 23rd Ordinary Session of…
HARARE, Zimbabwe, June 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On June 18, 2014, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation1 with Zimbabwe.In July 2013, Zimbabwe held its first general elections under the new constitution approved by referendum in March 2013 and ended the four-year coalition government. The new government has expressed its commitment to continue implementing the policies and reforms agreed with the Fund under the staff-monitored program (SMP) and to stay engaged with the international financial institutions. To achieve sustainable development and social equity, the government has launched a new five-year development…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, June 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Secretary appalled by an Egyptian court returning guilty verdicts against Egyptian and international journalists.Reacting to the verdict, Foreign Secretary William Hague said: “I am appalled by the guilty verdicts handed down today against Egyptian and international journalists in Egypt. Amongst those found guilty were two British journalists, Sue Turton and Dominic Kane, who were being tried in absentia. I am particularly concerned by unacceptable procedural shortcomings during the trial process, including that key prosecution evidence was not made available to the defence team. Freedom of the press is a cornerstone…
WASHINGTON, June 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — RemarksJohn KerrySecretary of StateCairo, EgyptJune 22, 2014FOREIGN Minister SHOUKRY: (Via interpreter) I would like to welcome U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in his current visit to Cairo. And this visit (inaudible) time. Egypt is taking steady steps to (inaudible) the implementation of the roadmap, and after having fulfilled the second election (inaudible) elections, and the assumption of power of President Fattah – Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after having won a majority that reflects the wide spectrum of voters. These elections (inaudible) closely followed by several international observers, including the United States, (inaudible).…
NAIROBI, Kenya, June 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press Briefing on Crisis in Central African Republic with MSF Head of Mission Sylvain Groulx WHO: Sylvain Groulx, outgoing MSF head of mission, Central African Republic WHAT: Off the record press briefing on crisis in Central African Republic; On the record interviews will follow as desired WHEN: 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 23, 2014 WHERE: MSF East Africa Unit office, Mayfair Centre, 4th floor; Ralph Bunche Road, Nairobi RSVP: Please confirm your attendance to Tim Shenk, interim MSF regional information officer, at msf-nairobi-press@msf.org or +254 722 513 981. After more than a…
WASHINGTON, June 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Media NoteOffice of the SpokespersonWashington, DCJune 21, 2014U.S. Special Representative for the Central African Republic W. Stuart Symington travelled to Bangui, Central African Republic, from June 17-21. Special Representative Symington’s visit to the Central African Republic reflects the U.S. government’s continued high-level commitment to restoring stability and security for the people of the Central African Republic, while promoting accountability, reconciliation, and democratic governance.During his stay in Bangui, Special Representative Symington consulted closely with officials from the transitional government and the Transitional National Council of the Central African Republic, the United Nations, the…
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, June 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, today was in Antananarivo, Madagascar, as Canada is following the transition of the new government, a critical step in the country’s return to constitutional order and greater democratic governance grounded in the rule of law.During a meeting with Madagascar’s Prime Minister Roger Kolo, Minister Fast underlined the sustained efforts needed to foster a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future for Madagascar.Minister Fast welcomed the commitment to move toward the signing and ratification of the Canada-Madagascar Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement. Canada and Madagascar…
NAIROBI, Kenya, June 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Over 1300 High Level Participants, Ministers, Chief Justices, Economists and Civil Society Leaders from Around the World Daily Press Events, Launches and SymposiaThe UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) – the highest-level UN body ever convened on the environment – gets into gear on Monday with a busy week of plenary sessions, press conferences and media roundtables. UNEA’s opening session will be an historic high-level event with the participation of numerous Ministers of Environment and Development. Hundreds of high-level government representatives and leaders from business, industry and civil society are also expected to…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, June 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, has condemned the killing of radio journalist Yusuf Keynan in the capital, Mogadishu, this morning. Mr. Keynan, who was working for Radio Mustaqbal and Radio Ergo at the time of his death, was killed when an explosive device attached to his vehicle detonated in the city’s Hamarweyne District. “I condemn the killing of another young, talented Somali journalist, and call on the Federal Government of Somalia to act swiftly to investigate this murder and bring the perpetrators to justice,” said…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, June 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Secretary William Hague expresses his concern at Egyptian Court’s confirmation of 183 death sentencesForeign Secretary William Hague said:“I am deeply concerned by reports that an Egyptian court has confirmed death sentences for 183 people. The United Kingdom opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. These sentences damage the reputation of Egypt’s judicial system and undermine international confidence in the prospects for political stability in Egypt. “I urge the Egyptian authorities to review these sentences and to ensure that human and legal rights are fully upheld…
WASHINGTON, June 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJen PsakiDepartment SpokespersonWashington, DCJune 20, 2014The United States strongly condemns the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) aerial bombardment in Southern Kordofan and reiterates its call upon the Government of sudan to halt this three-year campaign of armed violence against its own citizens.Increased military activity in Southern Korodfan since May has killed, wounded, and displaced civilians and damaged public and humanitarian infrastructure, including schools and medical facilities. Of specific concern is the June 16 bombing of the Medecins Sans Frontieres hospital in Farandalla, Southern Kordofan, which damaged the facility and wounded several civilians…
OTTAWA, Canada, June 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:“Canada condemns in the strongest terms the extensive bombing of civilian areas in South Kordofan and Blue Nile by the Sudanese armed forces and the government’s use of the Rapid Support Forces militia to target civilians throughout the country.“We are also alarmed by recent reports of aerial bombings against humanitarian actors providing much-needed assistance, including the June 16 aerial attack on a hospital run by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). Such activities amount to serious violations of international law and may…
NEW YORK, June 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Raising support for peacebuilding in South sudan – through education, cultural pluralism and freedom of expression, as well as strengthening the protection of children affected by the armed conflict, will be the focus of a joint visit by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative of the United Nations’ Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, and UNESCO Special Envoy Forest Whitaker, from 22 to 24 June. In line with her mandate to advocate for the protection of children, Special Representative Leila Zerrougui will stay in South sudan until 27…
BERN, Switzerland, June 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — During its meeting today, the Federal Council removed the restriction on access to files associated with capital and other export transactions with South Africa during the apartheid era. In 2003, the Federal Council used provisional archive regulations to restrict access to such files in the federal archives in order to prevent significant Swiss companies that were involved in apartheid class actions in the United States from being in a worse position procedurally than foreign companies.The Federal Council decree is based on extensive clarifications conducted by an interdepartmental working group under the…
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina-Faso, June 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, today wrapped up his first visit to Burkina Faso, where he set a new course for increased engagement between Canada and the sub-Saharan African nation by deepening commercial ties.During his two-day visit, Minister Fast launched an office of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum and announced the launch of negotiations toward a tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) with Burkina Faso. He also held productive discussions with Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister Luc Adolphe Tiao and Salif Kaboré, Minister of Mines and Energy.The…
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina-Faso, June 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, on behalf of the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today announced new funding to promote the integration of Burkinabè women into the local rice market by professionalizing women’s rice parboilers’ organizations.Rice parboiling refers to a processing technique that increases the value of rice in the local market. By supporting women rice parboilers’ organizations in five regions of Burkina Faso, Canada is contributing to create thousands of jobs for vulnerable women, and increase the income of thousands of families.“It…
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, June 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the first review of Sierra Leone’s economic program under a three-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) for Sierra Leone.1 The completion of the review enables the disbursement of an amount equivalent to SDR 8.89 million (about US$13.69 million), bringing the total disbursements under the arrangement to SDR 17.78 million (about US$27.39 million). The decision was taken without a formal Board meeting.2The Executive Board approved the ECF arrangement for Sierra Leone on October 21, 2013 for the equivalent…
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina-Faso, June 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, attends the opening of the second African office of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM). CIM’s first African branch is located in Dakar, Senegal. The opening of a second office allows Canada to further share best practices with the region and will make the knowledge and experience of Canadian miners, geologists and managers more available to their African counterparts. CIM is the sector’s leading Canadian professional organization, with over 14,600 members, 35 branches and 10 technical societies. Canada is the…
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina-Faso, June 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, today congratulated Windiga Energy Inc., a Canadian independent power producer, on signing a $50-million contract to build a solar power plant in Zina, Burkina Faso. The project will also include a community development segment involving electrification of a number of rural villages in the area.The contract comes as the governments of Canada and Burkina Faso conclude negotiations on a foreign investment promotion and protection agreement.Minister Fast is on a ten-day, four-country trade mission to boost Canada’s trade and investment ties in Burkina Faso,…