EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, May 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — An African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur peacekeeper was killed and three others were injured on the morning of 24 May in Kabkabiya, North Darfur, while attending a mediation meeting between two disputing tribes. Following altercations between Fur people from Al Salam village and Arab militia from Al Hara village, a UNAMID team attended mediation meeting in an attempt to ease the tension. The Arab militia elements, nevertheless, became hostile towards UNAMID peacekeepers and started shooting at them, at which point the peacekeepers returned fire. As a result of…
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BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, May 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “Libya is at a highly critical stage in its transition which it can successfully face through a constructive political engagement based on nationally agreed principles in order to achieve the goals of the 17 February revolution: fostering the rule of law, the respect of human rights and the welfare of its citizens. Otherwise it could face the threat of chaos, fragmentation, violence and terrorism. The EU is deeply concerned by repeated acts of violence, and calls on all sides to refrain from the use of force and to address…
WASHINGTON, May 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — President Obama called South African President Jacob Zuma today to congratulate him on his re-election — the African National Congress’s fifth successful election in the post-Apartheid era. The presidents noted that they look forward to continuing to work together on bilateral and multilateral issues of importance, and to ensuring the upcoming U.S. – Africa Leaders Summit advances regional stability and economic growth.
NEW YORK, May 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “The Security Council welcomes the Secretary-General’s 3 April letter to the President of the Security Council (‘the letter’ — S/2014/243), identifying options for supporting the federal Government of Somalia to meet its obligations under the partial suspension of the arms embargo. The Security Council underlines that improved arms and ammunition management in Somalia is a fundamental component of greater peace and stability for both Somalia and the region. “The Security Council underscores the need for the federal Government of Somalia to show tangible progress in complying with the terms of the…
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM and the Government of Uganda have organized a two-day workshop in Kampala to discuss procedures, regulatory frameworks, systems and mechanisms for an improved border management system in Uganda.The workshop, which was part of a broader IOM border management project funded by the Government of Japan, brought together 15 Ugandan government officials involved in the development of a comprehensive border and migration management assessment.Speaking at the opening ceremony, Japanese Ambassador to Uganda Junzo Fujita underscored the need to improve border management in Uganda and the region. “Since the world has become…
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Music and dance are among the ancient forms of art that have flourished for many centuries in Africa. Music entertains, educates, soothes and unites. We all have that one song that moves us too deeply and leaves us almost in tears when we listen to it. That is the power of music, the right combination of lyrics, rhythm and instruments can inspire change and shape society. This makes music one of the perfect ingredients for social change in our communities.To mark Africa Day and celebrate African unity, IOM in South Africa…
DUBLIN, Ireland, May 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — ireland will provide an additional €2 million to support life-saving work in South Sudan, where an estimated five million people are in urgent need of assistance, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore TD has announced. Due to ongoing conflict in South Sudan, more than 1.2 million people have fled their homes. The Tánaiste said: “The grave humanitarian situation in South Sudan, which is affecting almost five million people, is truly shocking. Widespread killing of civilians and gross human rights violations are reported. Given the seriousness of the…
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — More than 315 cholera cases have been recorded in South sudan since the Ministry of Health (MoH) officially declared an outbreak in the capital, Juba, on 15 May 2014. In other locations around the country there are suspected cases, awaiting laboratory confirmation. Medical humanitarian aid organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) immediately responded, organising multiple donations of essential supplies to support MoH health facilities. In a race to help contain the outbreak, MSF’s emergency teams also began setting up a site for a cholera treatment center; prospecting further locations for other potential…
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM has completed a registration of a total of 28,968 internally displaced persons (IDPs) sheltering in two of South Sudan’s largest protection of civilian (PoC) sites in Juba – UN House and Tomping.Biometric technology was incorporated into the process for the first time in South sudan in a biometric pilot registration at the UN House site. IOM’s Displacement Tracking and Monitoring (DTM) unit conducted the registration over one week, covering 3,587 households representing 14,448 individuals in UN House and 4,314 households representing 14,520 individuals in Tomping.It gathered baseline information on the…
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, May 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On 20 May 2014, UNAMID Force Commander Lt. Gen. Paul Mella travelled to Khor Abeche, South Darfur, to assess the situation of the displaced Darfuris settling close to UNAMID’s base; following a 22 March displacement that led to approximately 3,000 people taking refuge inside UNAMID’s compound. To create a safe area in which the IDPs could live, a team of UNAMID engineers worked to construct new camp 70,000 square metres in size adjacent to the Mission’s base. The camp, now is almost completed, has a secure perimeter, watch towers,…
STASBOURG, France, May 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A delegation of six MEPs will observe the Presidential elections in Egypt on 26 and 27 May. Headed by Robert GOEBBELS (S&D, LU) and composed exclusively of outgoing MEPs not seeking re-election, the delegation also consists of Filip KACZMAREK (EPP, PL), Jan BŘEZINA (EPP, CZ), Juan Andrés PERELLO RODRIGUEZ (S&D, ES), Isabelle DURANT (Greens/EFA, BE) and Susy DE MARTINI (ECR, IT).The delegation will be deployed as part of the long-term European Union Election Observation Mission. A joint press conference with the EU Chief Election Observer, MEP Mário DAVID (EPP, PT) is…
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is concerned about the humanitarian consequences of recent fighting in northern mali. Twenty people injured in clashes in Kidal and a further three injured in demonstrations in the city of Gao are being provided with care by an ICRC medical team at Gao Regional Hospital. “We’ve been informed that people left Kidal and other places because they were frightened by the fighting and by the possibility that it might spread. Some have already arrived in Gao,” said Christoph Luedi, head of the ICRC…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 1. At the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Malawi and the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), the African Union Commission deployed an African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) to the 20 May 2014, Tripartite elections in Malawi.2. The AUEOM comprised of 50 Observers, including 10 Long Term Observers (LTOs) and 40 Short Term Observers (STOs). The observers are drawn from the Pan-African Parliament, African Ambassadors to the African Union (AU), Election Management Bodies (EMBs), and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).3. On Election Day, the AUEOM observers were able to…
LUSAKA, Zambia, May 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IBM (NYSE:IBM) (http://www.ibm.com) today announced a collaboration with the Zambian Ministry of Health to provide citizens with improved access to 200 lifesaving drugs. Supported by the World Bank, the Department for International Development, UNICEF and London Business School, Zambia’s Medical Stores Limited (MSL) will deploy a new medical supply chain pilot project using sophisticated analytics and mobile technologies to better manage medicine inventory and delivery. Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/ibm.jpgPhoto: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1101 (A mother and child in Zambia. The Ministry of Health has tapped IBM to provide 2 190 clinics with easier access to 200…
JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, May 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The outstanding contributions that compliance professionals make every day to securing the future of business in Southern Africa will be celebrated and rewarded at the first-ever ‘Southern Africa Compliance Awards 2014′ (http://africancomplianceawards.com/south-africa) taking place in Johannesburg in November.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/saca.pngThe awards ceremony at La Toscana of Montecasino, on 19th November, is organised by C5 and will represent and reward professionals from across the compliance sector, recognising the very best individuals, teams and initiatives; highlighting the united efforts of this innovative and dynamic sector.The key highlight of twelve months’ worth of diligence, vision…
WASHINGTON, May 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — TestimonySarah SewallUnder Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights House Foreign Affairs CommitteeWashington, DCMay 21, 2014Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, and Members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me to discuss Nigeria’s struggle against Boko Haram, one of the most lethal terrorist groups in Africa today.Over a month ago, the world was shocked when Boko Haram kidnapped over 250 young women from a secondary school in Chibok. The United States swiftly joined the effort to help the Government of Nigeria safely recover the hostages.President Obama pledged our full support, and…
DAKAR, Senegal, May 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa, Mr. Said Djinnit, expresses his profo und outrage at, and condemns in the strongest terms, the double bombin! g attacks that occurred in a market in the city of Jos in Plateau State, Nigeria, on 20 May 2014, resulting in the deaths of more than one hundred persons and scores of others injured.Mr. Djinnit extends his solidarity and sympathy to the victims, their bereaved families as well as the government and the people of Nigeria. He urged that the perpetrators of these…
OTTAWA, Canada, May 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “Canada is deeply concerned by the alarming spate of terrorist incidents that has been unleashed in various parts of Nigeria.“Brutal acts of violence, such as today’s deadly attacks on two villages in northeast Nigeria and yesterday’s double bombing in the central city of Jos cannot go unpunished. Those responsible must be held accountable for their actions.“On behalf of all Canadians, I offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those killed and wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured.“Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms all forms…
JUBA, South Sudan, May 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Mission in South sudan (UNMISS) is concerned about a number of incidents that have recently occurred, disrupting the Mission’s operations and exposing its personnel to serious security risks. On 6 May, during a meeting between H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the President reiterated the Government’s commitment to cooperate fully with UNMISS, and indicated that he had conveyed clear instructions to this effect to all security institutions and State Governors in the country. The Mission deplores the fact that in the…
OTTAWA, Canada, May 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Canada’s leadership in improving maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) was again evident today as the Honourable Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights, on behalf of the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, announced Canada’s contribution to a project that will bring life-saving health services to remote communities of South sudan. The announcement was made at an event hosted by the Canadian Red Cross, which is implementing the project.Using primarily mobile health care clinics and community volunteers, this…