RABAT, Morocco, May 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Opening remarks by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay at a press conference in Rabat, Morocco, 29 May 2014Good morning and thank you for joining us here today. As you know, this is my first official visit to Morocco as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. I would like to thank His Majesty King Mohamed VI for his invitation and for all the courtesies and hospitality that I have enjoyed over the past three days. I have had an audience with His Majesty the King and met with…
Author: apofeed
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Please find below short updates from Médecins Sans Frontières/ Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the Central African Republic, where new clashes broke out in Bangui yesterday, from Sierra Leone, where our teams are helping the Ministry of Health respond to Ebola, and from South Sudan, where we have opened a 100-bed cholera treatment centre. We have a range of spokespeople available for interviews in the field, plus photos of our activity in the Central African Republic and in South SudanThe Central African RepublicNew clashes in Bangui: MSF receives 9 new wounded…
CASABLANCA, Morocco, May 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — • Philips continues to be a strategic partner in supporting Morocco’s ambitions to save energy with breakthrough energy-efficient LED lighting innovations• 21st century LED Technology to highlight city icon Royal Philips (AEX: PHIA, NYSE: PHG) (http://www.philips.com), the global leader in lighting, today unveiled a stunning lighting makeover of the historic, Wilaya building in Casablanca, as part of its fifth consecutive pan-African Cairo to Cape Town roadshow (http://www.philipsafricaroadshow.com). Philips has installed its latest range of LED luminaires providing a palette of 16 million colours that can create an inspiring lighting show and…
OTTAWA, Canada, May 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:“Canada continues to be deeply concerned, especially following the birth of her baby in prison yesterday, with the well-being of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, the Sudanese Christian mother of two sentenced to 100 lashes for adultery and to death for apostasy.“This case calls into question the Government of Sudan’s commitment to upholding its human rights obligations.“Canada has raised this matter directly with the Government of sudan and continues to actively call upon it to respect the right to freedom of religion, including…
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — People in Kidal and those who had to flee the city to escape clashes between the Malian armed forces and armed groups are facing a number of serious problems. The ICRC and the mali Red Cross are striving to help them. Kidal’s water supply was suddenly cut off after the generators that had been running well pumps were damaged. In addition, thousands of people who found refuge in the city of Gao, about 350 kilometres south of Kidal, now find themselves in desperate straits. “Restoring the water supply in Kidal is…
OTTAWA, Canada, May 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, today participated in Africa Day celebrations in Ottawa and invited Canadian business representatives, especially from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to expand, to join a trade mission to South Africa and Tanzania from June 22 to 27, 2014.Minister Fast also announced the entry into force of a foreign investment protection agreement (FIPA) with Benin this month. By ensuring greater protection against discriminatory and arbitrary practices and by enhancing the predictability of a market’s policy framework, a FIPA provides businesses with greater confidence…
BERLIN, Germany, May 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Christoph Strässer, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid and Member of the German Bundestag, issued the following statement today (27 May 2014) on the sentencing to death of the Sudanese woman Meriam Yehya Ibrahim:I am very concerned about the death sentence imposed on Meriam Yehya Ibrahim and am personally committed to working to save Ms Ibrahim’s life. The Federal Republic of Germany has already appealed to the Sudanese Government in Khartoum together with the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States and has urged it to…
MAPUTO, Mozambique, May 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Government of Mozambique will host a high-level conference on Africa Rising: Building to the Future in Maputo, Mozambique, on May 29-30 that will bring together policymakers, the private sector, and civil society from sub-Saharan Africa and beyond to discuss the challenges facing the region as it builds upon the strong economic gains made since the 2008 global economic crisis.“The gains of the last decade, during which many countries in sub-Saharan Africa saw sustained high rates of economic growth and an impressive reduction in poverty,…
WASHINGTON, May 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJen PsakiDepartment SpokespersonWashington, DCMay 27, 2014In light of Madagascar’s successful 2013 elections, and the installation of a new government earlier this year, the United States has lifted all remaining restrictions on direct assistance to the Government of Madagascar.As the African Union has lifted its suspension of Madagascar’s membership, and we have lifted all remaining restrictions on direct assistance to Madagascar, the United States has invited Madagascar President Rajaonarimampianina to the U.S. – Africa Leaders Summit.We remain one of Madagascar’s largest humanitarian partners, providing more than $55 million in food security and…
WASHINGTON, May 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJen PsakiDepartment SpokespersonWashington, DCMay 27, 2014The United States condemns in the strongest terms the May 24 terrorist attack by al-Shabaab at Place Menelik in Djibouti City. We extend our condolences to the families and loved ones of the Turkish national killed and all of those injured by this reprehensible attack. As President Obama conveyed to President Guelleh during their meeting at the White House earlier this month, Djibouti is a close partner of the United States. We will continue to stand with Djibouti and our other international partners in their efforts…
WASHINGTON, May 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCMay 27, 2014On behalf of the government and the people of the United States, I send my best wishes to the government and people of Ethiopia as you celebrate your national day on May 28.It was a great pleasure to return to Addis Ababa earlier this month and see first-hand examples of the longstanding partnership between the United States and Ethiopia.During a visit to Gandhi Memorial Hospital and a conversation with the doctors, nurses and patients there, I was moved and proud to see results of our…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, May 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “The Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the European Union and the United Nations reiterate their strong condemnation for the attack of 24th May on the Somali Federal Parliament by Al-Shabaab. We commend the response of Somali security forces and AMISOM. We express our sincere condolences to the families of the victims. We remain committed to supporting Somalia’s people break out of decades of conflict and insecurity in accordance with our respective mandates. This attack shows the need to redouble all our efforts towards peace and state building in Somalia. We…
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — An urgent call for protection of human rights, peace and security in the Middle East and South sudan was recently issued by the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCCUSA) at its first Christian Unity Gathering from 18 to 20 May in Washington, D.C.While the NCCUSA, which represents member churches of the World Council of Churches (WCC), expressed solidarity with all communities affected by violence, it said, “We are particularly saddened when this violence impacts our sisters and brothers in Christian communities around the world.”Conveying concern over conflicts…
NEW YORK, May 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Secretary-General welcomes the adoption by the Security Council today of Resolution 2155 (2014) on South Sudan, which reprioritises the mandate of the UN Mission in South sudan (UNMISS) towards the protection of civilians, human rights monitoring and support for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and increases the Mission’s troop strength to 12,500 as requested in his last report on South sudan. The Secretary-General welcomes the deployment within UNMISS of an Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) task force to support protection of civilians and the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (MVM) established…
BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of the Congo, May 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team led by Ms. Dalia Hakura, Mission Chief to the Republic of Congo, visited Brazzaville during May13-26, 2014 to conduct discussions for the Article IV consultations.1 The mission met with the State Minister of Economy, Finance, Planning, Public Portfolio and Integration, Mr. Gilbert Ondongo, Minister at the Presidency in Charge of Territory Planning and Large Projects, Mr. Jean-Jacques Bouya, Deputy Minister in Charge of Planning and Integration, Mr. Raphael Mokoko, Special Advisor to the President, Mr. Denis Gokana, National Director of the…
WASHINGTON, May 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCMay 27, 2014On behalf of the American people, I welcome the opportunity to send my warmest wishes to the people of Eritrea on the 23rd anniversary of your independence which took place May 24. Know that the government and people of the United States stand beside you in your continued search for the promise of a free, prosperous, and democratic Eritrea.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma is in Algiers, Algeria, to participate in the 17th Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). The meeting that opened on Monday 26 May will end on 29May 2014.Dr. Dlamini Zumawill deliver a statement as part of the discussions of the regional groups during the opening ceremony. Other speakers will include the President of Algeria, H.E Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the President of the UN General Assembly, the UN Secretary General and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic…
BANGUI, Central African Republic, May 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — We have just completed a three-day joint mission to the Central African Republic, 24-26 May 2014, where we saw firsthand the impact of the current crisis on women and girls and the efforts underway to protect the population and advance peace and stability.We came here to meet with the different actors and stakeholders, and to support women’s full participation and leadership in efforts for conflict resolution, peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and reconciliation and recovery. We had an opportunity to discuss the situation with the Transition Head of State, Catherine Samba-Panza.…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIAWHAT: Within the framework of the ECOWAS Day celebration in Addis Ababa, the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) will, in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), hold a press conference to mark the Day. Theme: The role of regional Economic Communities in Fast Tracking the actualization of the African Economic Community/African Agenda 2063. WHEN: Thursday, 29 May 2014 – Opening session at 10:00am – Press conference at 2:00pmWHERE: AU Headquarters, medium conference hall. WHO: The press conference will be addressed by:- The…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — MEDIA ADVISORYWHAT: Town Hall meeting on Ending Child Marriage in Africa. The meeting will take place ahead of the launching of the Continental Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa, an initiative of the AUC Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini ZumaWhen: 28th May 2014 at 09:00 to 13:00Where: Medium Conference Room, AUC Conference Centre. WHY: Recognizing that efforts to end child marriage require a collaborative approach, the African Union Commission will use the Town Hall meeting as a starting point to catalyse commitment, involvement and collaboration of a diverse network of…