EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, June 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — An international contractor working at UNAMID, Mr. Irfan Jaffery, abducted in El Fasher, North Darfur, on 11 March, was freed yesterday in Kabkabiya, after 94 days in captivity. The contractor, a national of India, was immediately taken to the Mission’s hospital in Elfasher for medical checks. Mr. Jaffery appears to be unharmed and in good health. He will be flown to Khartoum and back to his home country as soon as possible. The African Union – United Nations Joint Special Representative for Darfur, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, expressed the Mission’s…
Author: apofeed
GENEVA, Switzerland, June 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM in coordination with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is supporting the relocation of 2,500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the existing protection of civilians (PoC) site at the UN Mission in South sudan (UNMISS) in Malakal, Upper Nile State, to a new adjacent site that can accommodate up to 10,000 people in 1,065 tents.There are currently over 18,000 IDPs sheltering at the Malakal PoC – the third largest PoC in South sudan. IOM is responsible for planning and development work at the new site. It is also the camp coordination…
ROME, Italy, June 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Chile, China and Morocco are the latest in a growing list of countries to make great strides in combating undernourishment, such as the early achievement of the Millennium Development Goal 1 (MDG-1) – to halve the proportion of hungry people by 2015 – or the more stringent 1996 World Food Summit (WFS) target of halving the absolute number of hungry people by 2015.In 2013, FAO recognized 38 countries for achieving outstanding progress in fighting hunger.This year, FAO Director General, José Graziano da Silva, will award a diploma to China and Morocco…
WASHINGTON, June 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — RemarksJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCJune 12, 2014 The United States remains deeply concerned about the conviction and continued imprisonment of Ms. Meriam Yahya Ibrahim Ishag. Sudan’s journey has long been a struggle, and back when I was still a United States Senator, I traveled to the region many times to help find greater understanding and hope for a different kind of future. As Secretary, I remain deeply committed to the country and its people. That is one of the reasons we are all so concerned about the travails of Meriam Yahya Ibrahim…
KINSHASA, Dem. Rep. of Congo (DRC) June 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Martin Kobler, head of MONUSCO, is concerned by the clashes which took place on 11 June between Congolese and Rwandan armed forces in the border area of Kibumba. He calls on all sides to deescalate tensions and to refrain from any further acts of violence. He also deplored the loss of human lives during the incident. “I appeal for calm from both sides and urge them to take immediate steps to re-establish security in the border area. MONUSCO fully supports the initiative to call on the EJVM…
GENEVA, Switzerland, June 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A group of United Nations human rights experts today expressed serious concerns at the arrest, detention and prosecution of human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and the editor-in-chief of The Nation magazine Bheki Makhubu in Swaziland. “We condemn the repeated arrests, detention and trial of Mr. Maseko and Mr. Makhubu and are concerned that these may be directly related to their legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression,” the experts said, noting that the Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland recognises the rights to freedom of expression and the right…
NEW YORK, June 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms today’s car bomb attack on a United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in mali camp in Aguelhok, Mali, which killed four United Nations peacekeepers from Chad and injured six other UN peacekeepers. A number of soldiers from the Malian Armed Forces were also reportedly wounded in the attack.The Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the Governments and people of Chad and mali. He wishes a…
OTTAWA, Canada, June 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, and Patiendé Arthur Kafando, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Industry, Commerce and Handicrafts, today announced the conclusion of negotiations toward a foreign investment promotion and protection agreement (FIPA) between Canada and Burkina Faso. The announcement was made on the margins of the Conference of Montréal, in the presence of Luc Adolphe Tiao, Prime Minister of Burkina Faso.A FIPA is a treaty designed to protect Canadian investment abroad and promote foreign investment in Canada through reciprocal, legally binding provisions. By ensuring greater protection against discriminatory…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, June 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Hugh Robertson concerned by sentencing of activists in Egypt and calls on Egyptian government to implement rights contained in the constitution. Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East Hugh Robertson said: “I was very concerned to hear about the sentencing of Alaa Abdel Fattah and other activists in Cairo this morning. The defendants have been charged with offences relating to their participation in a peaceful protest which took place during my visit to Egypt in December. Egypt’s constitution rightly demands respect for freedom of expression and association and I call on…
GENEVA, Switzerland, June 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — To counter growing food insecurity, the ICRC and the South sudan Red Cross have provided food supplies for around 250,000 people since the beginning of the crisis. “The humanitarian situation is dire and could further deteriorate now that the rainy season has arrived. The rains disrupt the delivery of aid because roads become impassable and aircraft landing strips can turn to mud,” said François Moreillon, deputy head of the ICRC delegation in South sudan. “If security conditions in the country do not improve, and if access remains a problem, the food…
GENEVA, Switzerland, June 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — MSF has been providing medical aid to South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia since January. Teams treat refugees when they arrive at transit centers and at Lietchuor camp. The organization set up an 85-bed hospital and a health center at Lietchuor and a 75-bed hospital at Itang. Antoine Foucher, MSF’s head of mission in Ethiopia, describes the urgency of the refugees’ situation in this Q. & A.: Are South Sudanese refugees still streaming into Ethiopia? Since the conflict in South sudan broke out in December, an average of 1,000 people have been…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, June 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, today announced the appointment of Mr. Dileita Mohamed Dileita of Djibouti as her Special Envoy for Libya.Mr Dileita served as Prime Minister of the Republic of Djibouti from 2001 to 2013 and President of the Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP) until 2012. Mr. Dileita has also previously served as Djibouti’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, the Organization of African Unity and Uganda. Mr Dileita is currently a serving member of the AU High-Level Panel for Egypt. The decision…
OSLO, Norway, June 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — ‘I am pleased that we can now see a positive development in South sudan. IGAD and the parties deserve recognition for having taken an important step towards a peaceful solution to the conflict. The further negotiations will not be easy, and the parties must demonstrate that they really are willing to fulfil what they have promised,’ said Foreign Minister Børge Brende. At a meeting of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on 10 June, President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar agreed on the framework for a political solution…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, June 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — An expert meeting started today at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to discuss Regional and National Statistical Capacities for Measuring Peace, Rule of Law and Governance: An agenda for the post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals Frame work.The meeting is a follow-up to the Global Thematic Consultation on Conflict, Violence and Disaster, and the Post-2015 Development Framework; organized to bring together policy makers and data specialists, mostly from Africa, to map up various on-going national, regional and international statistical initiatives, frameworks and strategies on Peace, rule of law…
DUBLIN, Ireland, June 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello TD has signed a Double Taxation Agreement with Botswana to increase two-way trade and investment. Minister Costello said: “Double Taxation Agreements are a critical piece of fiscal infrastructure for developing trading and investment opportunities between countries. This agreement will now allow for further trade and investment between ireland and Botswana, which in 2013 was worth almost €3.5 million.” The Minister was in Botswana as part of a three-day visit which also includes a trade-focused programme in South Africa. During his visit, Minister Costello met…
PRETORIA, South-Africa, June 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UNHCR is extremely concerned over the recent spate of violence in Mamelodi, affecting foreigners, including refugees and asylum-seekers. Since Saturday, 7 June, foreign-owned shops in this area were attacked and looted. It is believed that the unrest began with complaints from nationals about service delivery, then fueled by rumours that refugees had lashed out at nationals, led to groups of youths launching attacks on foreign-owned shops. One refugee has been killed, one is reported missing and dozens were reportedly wounded. An estimated 75 shops have been affected.The UNHCR supported outreach team…
GENEVA, Switzerland, June 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM Somalia and the NGO Agency for Peace and Development (APD) have distributed emergency hygiene kits to 1,000 households affected by the floods in Kismayo, Somalia. Each hygiene kit contained aqua tabs, jerry cans and soap.According to ICRC, approximately 1,539 people from 11 internally displaced settlements have been affected by the heavy flooding, which started on 24th May 2014.“Access to clean water is the basis for a healthy life and IOM’s mission is to promote, and in this case, directly engage in provision of hygiene kits to flood-affected vulnerable people in…
WASHINGTON, June 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — President Obama called Egyptian President Abdelfattah al-Sisi today to congratulate him on his inauguration and to convey his commitment to working together to advance the shared interests of both countries. The President reiterated the United States’ continuing support for the political, economic, and social aspirations of the Egyptian people, and respect for their universal rights. President al-Sisi expressed appreciation for the call and welcomed U.S. support for the new government. The two leaders affirmed their commitment to the strategic partnership between the United States and Egypt and agreed to stay in touch…
GENEVA, Switzerland, June 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Egypt’s new president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has reaffirmed his commitment to democracy today (10/6) during talks with IPU President Abdelwahad Radi in Cairo and called for greater support for his country and the region. During the hour-long meeting, President Sisi underlined his support for human rights and for efforts to ensure more women are involved in parliament and other political processes and decision-making. He also expressed appreciation for IPU’s work in Egypt to put in place a fully functioning and representative parliament. An agreement was signed between Egypt and IPU in…
WASHINGTON, June 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Media NoteOffice of the SpokespersonWashington, DCJune 9, 2014Counselor of the Department Thomas A. Shannon Jr. and Special Envoy to sudan and South sudan Donald E. Booth will attend the Heads of State Summit for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Tuesday, June 10, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The summit will follow a meeting between South Sudan President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar and will focus on the next steps toward ending the conflict in South Sudan. The summit is being held in advance of the resumption of IGAD-led negotiations…