MOGADISHU, Somalia, May 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Gender Unit of the African Union Mission in collaboration with the Somali Ministry of Gender and Human Rights and the Ministry of Information today conducted an awareness workshop on the Somali Draft National Gender Policy and Gender Based Violence for Somali media practitioners Speaking on behalf of the African Union Special Representative for Somalia (SRCC) Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the Deputy SRCC, Mrs. Lydia Wanyoto Mutende in her opening remarks urged the participants to take this opportunity to identify challenges and translate them into strategies to report violence against women…
Author: apofeed
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM and UNHCR yesterday hosted a meeting with key stakeholders to discuss the national response to mixed migration challenges in Mozambique. The meeting was part of the preparations for the 2014 regional Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (MIDSA) conference, which will focus on mixed and irregular migration.At the meeting, which was funded by the US State Department’s Bureau of Population, Migration and Refugees (PRM), government, non-government and UN partners came together to assess the progress of implementation of the regional action plan developed by South African Development Community (SADC) member states…
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Invitation to Joint Government of Kenya-UNEP Press Briefing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and other High Level Representatives from over 193 UN Member and Observer States, UN Heads of Agencies, Business and Civil Society to attend Who: Ambassador Martin Kimani, Kenya’s Permanent Representative to UNEP Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director When: Thursday, 29 May 2014 at 9:30 am Where: Norfolk Hotel, Nairobi The First UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) will convene in Nairobi, Kenya, from 23 to 27 June 2014. This marks a historic milestone in UNEP’s 43-year history and…
KIGALI, Rwanda, May 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — An African Union (AU) led Eastern Africa Regional Internet Exchange Point (RIXP) and Regional Internet Carrier (RIC) Workshop was launched today in Kigali, Rwanda with the aim to foster stakeholder discussions on supporting National Internet Exchange Points and Internet Service Providers to grow and become Regional Internet Exchange Points (RIXP) and Regional Internet Carriers (RIC) in order to promote intra-Africa internet traffic to be exchanged within the continent.Organized by the Department of Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union Commission, in collaboration with the Inter-Governmental Authority (IGAD), East African Community, East…
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM will conduct a two-day diaspora engagement training for Lesotho government officials and partners from 27th to 28th May 2014 in Maseru, Lesotho. The training will be opened today by Lesotho Minister of Home Affairs Joang Molapo.The training is aimed at cultivating strong diaspora engagement and management knowledge for participants to ensure smooth implementation of a recently launched project: “Mobilizing Medical Diaspora Resources for Lesotho”. The project aims to attract and mobilize health professionals in South Africa, the UK and the US to fill critical labour shortages in Lesotho’s health sector.Lesotho,…
JUBA, South Sudan, May 27, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) cordially invites members of the media to a completion ceremony. Marking the completion of the China-donated Construction Work on the Protection of Civilians Site (PoC3) in Juba, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and UNMISS will assess the site and sign a Certificate of Completion. The handover ceremony will take place on: Date: Wednesday, 28 May 2014 Time: 16:00-17:00Venue: UN House, Juba PoC3 Agenda15:45 Arriving of Guests 16:00 Opening 16:05 Visit of the site by minibus 16:25 Signing of Certificate…
TOKYO, Japan, May 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 1. Japan welcomes the fact that the second round voting for the presidential election in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau took place on May 18 in a peaceful manner, with the participation of a large majority of the electorate.2. Japan expects that all parties concerned will respect the results of the election, and continue working for establishing peace and stability as well as democracy and fostering the development of the country, soon after a decision of the final result.
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, May 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Darfur Internal Dialogue and Consultation (DIDC) Implementation Committee was launched on 26 May 2014 in a ceremony hosted by the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) in El Fasher, North Darfur. The DIDC mechanism, stipulated in the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), is designed to consolidate peace in Darfur, promote confidence-building and encourage reconciliation as well as unity among the people of Darfur and sudan in general through popular consultation and dialogue. The DIDC is facilitated by the African Union, the State of Qatar and…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — SECOND FIELD MISSION OF THE African UNION COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON SOUTH SUDAN TO JUBA, SOUTH SUDANWhen& Where: 25thMay– 7th June2014, Juba Grand Hotel, South Sudan.The African Union Commission of Inquiry on South sudan is expected to meet with South Sudanese citizens as well as the other pressure groups. This is in addition to meetings with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other actors that could assist it in its investigations.Why: To fulfill the mandate of the South sudan Commission of Inquiry which is captured in the Communiqué of the PSC…
WASHINGTON, May 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementMarie HarfDeputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCMay 26, 2014The United States is closely monitoring the situation in Malawi following the tripartite elections. We join the African Union and the international community in calling for calm as the Malawi Election Commission works to tally the vote and to resolve any challenges or complaints. We urge all political leaders and their supporters to refrain from violence, and to resolve any disputes in a manner that adheres to Malawi’s laws and its constitution.
BERN, Switzerland, May 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Today in Brussels, Switzerland and the Seychelles signed a tax information exchange agreement (TIEA). Such agreements are concluded within the framework of Switzerland’s administrative assistance policy. In addition, the tax information exchange agreement with the Seychelles should make it possible for this developing country to expand the basis on which it collects taxes and contributes to strengthening Switzerland’s development cooperation.The agreement has to be approved by parliament and subjected to an optional referendum before it can enter into force. During the hearing procedure which followed the completion of negotiations, the cantons…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — As part of the closing events of year-long celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the OAU-AU, held Sunday 25th May 2014, the African Union Commission, hosted the Golden Jubilee lunch, at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.The luncheon, with a variety of a traditional African dishes and musical entertainment, was celebrated by members of the AU Permanent Representative Committee, the diplomatic community, AU Commission staff members and their families as well as other guests participating in the closing events. AU Commission Deputy Chairperson Mr Erastus Mwencha cut the anniversary…
PARIS, France, May 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — After the CTIC incubator in Senegal and the Ebène project in Mauritius, Orange (http://www.orange.com) announces the opening of the first start-up incubator in Niger. Orange Niger and its local partners* have helped to set-up CIPMEN, a small- and medium-sized business (SME) incubator designed to encourage the creation of new and innovative companies in the country.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/orange-logo.jpgIn sub-Saharan Africa, 85% of SMEs fail within the first two years, but 80% of companies that undergo an incubation process are still operating after five years. Supporting the creation of innovative businesses in NigerCIPMEN was…
OSLO, Norway, May 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende condemns the attack on the Federal Parliament in Mogadishu on 24 May in the strongest terms. Reports indicate that some of the parliamentarians were injured, and several police officers and African Union soldiers were killed in the attack. Several of the attackers were also reported to have been killed in the gunfire that broke out after a car bomb was detonated outside the parliament building. ‘I strongly condemn the attack on the parliament in Mogadishu. Somalia’s parliamentarians have the task of creating a peaceful, stable…
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Fifty people detained in connection with recent clashes in Kidal have been visited by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The detainees, 32 of whom are being held by the High Council for the Unity of Azawad and the 18 others by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, were registered by the ICRC. “Sleeping mats, hygiene products and other emergency relief items were distributed to the detainees,” said Christoph Luedi, head of the ICRC delegation in mali. “In addition, we arranged for those who had not yet…
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay will conduct her first official visit as the UN’s top human rights official to Morocco from 26 to 29 May 2014 at the invitation of His Majesty King Mohamed VI. In Rabat, Pillay will meet with His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Prime Minister, and Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Justice and Freedoms, Interior and the Inter-Ministerial Delegate for Human Rights. She will also meet with the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament, a number of women judges, the national human rights…
JUBA, South Sudan, May 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Country Team cordially invites members of the media in South Sudan to a technical press briefing on the cholera response in South Sudan.The briefing will be moderated by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Spokesperson with the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Children Fund (UNICEF), and a representative from the Ministry of Health giving an overview on Cholera engagement.The briefing will be held on: Date: Tuesday, 27 May Time: 11:30am Venue: United Nations Mission in South SudanJuba Conference Room, UNMISS Compound, Tongping
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, May 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — African Union-United Nations Joint Special Representative (JSR) for Darfur and Chief mediator, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, concluded a two-day visit to Geneva on 23 May, where he held several meetings at the United Nations Office and met with the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Mr Chambas started his visit by holding meetings with the African Union permanent representatives including a bilateral meeting with the Permanent representative of sudan to the UN in Geneva, Ms. Rahma Salih Elobied; where he briefed on the situation in Darfur as well as progress achieved…
BANGUI, Central African Republic, May 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union (AU) and partners have concluded a one (1) week assessment of the security sector in the Central African Republic (CAR). The assessment mission was led by the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission in the CAR, General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko, and comprised of security sector reform (SSR) experts from the AU, United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the African Security Sector Network (ASSN). The purpose of the assessment mission was to gather technical information…
BAMAKO, Mali, May 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — H.E. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), visited Kidal, in the north of Mali, this Friday, 23 May 2014, where he met with the armed movements of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), the High Council for the Unity of Azawad (HCUA) and the Arab Movement of Azawad (MAA). The meeting took place at Camp 2 of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in mali (MINUSMA).The discussions resulted in the armed movements accepting an immediate ceasefire across…