JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, May 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO) (http://www.gemalto.com), the world leader in digital security, announces it has been chosen to provide the Algerian governmental agency “Hôtel des Monnaies de la Banque d’Algérie” with its Sealys eCover for ePassports and embedded eTravel software to support the country’s ambitious ePassport program, as well as to increase its production capacity. In this program Gemalto’s technology is reinforced by its advanced production and delivery capabilities that will ensure rapid deployment of ePassports whilst enhancing traveling experience for Algerian citizens. Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/gemalto.jpgPhoto 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/epassport.jpgPhoto 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1095 (A. Bouzbib, Senior…
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LONDON, United-Kingdom, May 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Secretary condemns the double bomb attack in the marketplace in Jos, Central Nigeria, which killed over 100 people. The Foreign Secretary said;“I condemn this cowardly, inhumane crime. My thoughts are with those who have been bereaved or injured. “This attack on the market was a transparent effort to create tension between different groups in a city well known for its diversity where people of different ethnicities and religions live alongside each other. It has resulted in death and tragedy for both Christians and Muslims alike.”“I welcome the restraint shown by…
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — After bombings on 21 May in the northern Nigerian city of Jos, in which more than one-hundred people have been killed, “heart-felt sorrow and condolences” have been expressed in a joint statement by Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan, chairman of the Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought (RABIIT).“We strongly condemn the recent bombings in Jos, Nigeria. The location and timing of the bombings clearly were designed to cause indiscriminate and widespread casualties among passers-by,…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamet Saleh Annadif has called on partners and the donor community to support the Puntland State in its priorities and development goals.Speaking during the Puntland Donor Roundtable Meeting, Ambassador Annadif noted that donor support is pivotal to the realization of Puntland’s immediate and long-term development needs, and creates an environment for sustainable peace and development in Somalia.The AU Special Representative, the first AMISOM leader to travel to Garowe to engage on Puntland development issues, reiterated…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, strongly condemns the abhorrent terrorist twin bombings which took place yesterday, 20 May 2014, in a market place in the central city of Jos in Nigeria, killing dozens of people and injuring many more. She expresses AU’s heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and to the people and Government of Nigeria, and wishes those wounded strength and speedy recovery.The Chairperson reiterates AU’s full support to the efforts of the Nigerian Government aimed at combating terrorism. In this…
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina-Faso, May 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Operational conclusions1. The 5th meeting of the Heads of Intelligence and Security Services (HISS) of the countries of the Sahelo-Saharan region took place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on 19 and 20 May 2014. The following countries participated in the meeting: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal. In addition to the Commission of the African Union (AU), the AU Mission for mali and the Sahel (MISAHEL), the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), the Committee of the Intelligence and Security Services…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, May 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, met a delegation from south west Somalia led by Madobe Nunow, and urged all parties in Baidoa to reach an inclusive agreement under the leadership of the Federal Government. Tensions in Baidoa remain as the leaders of rival political groups, Madobe Nunow and Mohamad Abdi Noor ‘Madeer’, pursue competing initiatives for either a six region or three region federal state in south west Somalia. “My meeting today was in support of the negotiations led by the Prime Minister of…
BERLIN, Germany, May 21, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Commenting on the donor conference for South sudan in Oslo, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued the following statement today (20 May):The donor conference for South sudan comes at a critical time. We must mobilise further funds in order to help people in South Sudan and avert a looming famine. To this end, we will provide a further six million euros.It is vital for people in the country to gain access to aid supplies and seeds quickly as the rainy season has started and they must now till their fields. I urgently…
WASHINGTON, May 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Media NoteWashington, DCMay 20, 2014The United States today announced nearly $300 million in humanitarian assistance to help the people of South sudan who have been placed at risk by the conflict that began last December. The additional funding was announced at the Humanitarian Pledging Conference for South sudan in Oslo, Norway where we joined more than 40 other countries in pledging support to help those displaced inside the country, as well as those who have fled to neighboring countries.We continue to stand with the people of South Sudan and are working to…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, May 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — FCO Minister Mark Simmonds condemns fighting in Mali, calls for peace talks to begin immediately and urges the release of all hostages.FCO Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, said;“I strongly condemn the attacks that took place in Kidal on Saturday that led to numerous fatalities, including civilians, and the taking of hostages. These deplorable acts threaten the fragile peace in mali and undermine efforts towards reconciliation, stability and development to a country deeply scarred by conflict. I urge hostage-takers to immediately release all hostages unhurt. “I call on all parties to show…
TOKYO, Japan, May 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On May 20, the Government of Japan decided to extend Emergency Grand Aid of 12 million US dollars (approximately 1,164 million Japanese yen), through World Food Program (WFP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Office for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), to support emergency response for internally displaced persons (IDPs) of South sudan in the area of food, water and sanitation, health and medical care and…
OSLO, Norway, May 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The international humanitarian pledging conference for South sudan has resulted in a doubling of the funds pledged by the international community for humanitarian efforts, from USD 600 million to over USD 1.2 billion. ‘I am delighted that Norway, by hosting this pledging conference, has helped to bring about a doubling of the funding for humanitarian efforts in South Sudan,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende. A full-scale humanitarian crisis has hit over five million people after armed conflict broke out in South sudan last December. The UN and humanitarian organisations…
OSLO, Norway, May 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The international donor community today raised more than US$600 million in pledges to scale up humanitarian response to the South sudan crisis at a conference hosted by Norway in collaboration with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). “These generous pledges will, once paid, translate into life-saving relief to the most vulnerable people in South sudan and to those who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. The UN and our humanitarian partners must now do our part and deliver,” said Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and…
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — With the crisis in South sudan now stretching into its sixth month, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is welcoming donor efforts arising from today’s donor pledging conference in Oslo. IFRC urges a similar commitment to not only those displaced within South Sudan, but to the tens of thousands who have fled to safety in neighbouring countries. “This is not going to be a short-term humanitarian crisis. The needs continue to increase, both within South sudan and across the region. However, the funds to support those…
OTTAWA, Canada, May 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — 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, will make an announcement on a maternal, newborn and child health project at an event hosted by the Canadian Red Cross. Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2014Time: 11 a.m.Place: Canadian Red Cross office100 1305-11th Avenue SWCalgary, AB
BERN, Switzerland, May 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Switzerland has allocated an additional CHF 4.5 million for the victims of the crisis in South sudan. This was announced on Tuesday at a conference of donor countries held in Oslo. Switzerland’s overall financial commitment to humanitarian aid for this country in the Horn of Africa will amount to CHF 18 million in 2014.The conference, held on Monday and Tuesday in the Norwegian capital under the auspices of the UN, has brought together a number of donor countries including Switzerland. The political crisis facing South sudan in recent months has forced…
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM Chad is urgently appealing for USD 500,000 to help some 5,000 Chadians who fled the crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) and are now stranded in Garoua Boulai and Kentzou on the Cameroon side of the CAR-Cameroon border.The Chadians, who are expected to join IOM road convoys to Chad between 24th May and 16th July 2014, have asked IOM to help them to escape desperate living conditions on the border and return home. IOM Cameroon is working with the Chadian embassy in Yaoundé to issue them with travel documents.IOM…
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Community leaders from Bangui’s 3rd arrondissement met this weekend to identify and prioritize infrastructure projects to revitalize their district. Much of the community’s public infrastructure was destroyed or abandoned when the civil war broke out in the Central African Republic (CAR) in December 2013.This was the first of several community meetings that will take place as part of an 18-month project funded by the European Union: “Community Stabilization and Retention of Mixed Communities.” The initiative aims to support mixed communities in Bangui and increase social cohesion and dialogue by facilitating the…
NEW YORK, May 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Secretary-General takes note of Malawi’s first tripartite elections, to be held on 20 May 2014, and urges all candidates, political parties, and state institutions to ensure that the polls are peaceful and inclusive. He appeals to the candidates, parties and state institution to adhere to the Lilongwe Peace Declaration of 10 May to ensure that the elections are free from violence. The Secretary-General is convinced that a successful process of presidential, parliamentary, and local council elections will be instrumental for the consolidation of democracy in Malawi. The Secretary-General commends the…
GENEVA, Switzerland, May 20, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM has begun an operation to allow 220 Ethiopian irregular migrants held in six Tanzanian prisons to return home.The project, carried out in close cooperation with the Tanzanian Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is funded by the United States and Japan and will be completed by the end of May.It follows a one-week joint verification mission by IOM, Ethiopian and Tanzanian officials to prisons holding Ethiopian irregular migrants in Tanzania’s Coastal, Iringa, Mbeya, Morogoro, Moshi and Tanga regions.“I left my country one year and a…