GENEVA, Switzerland, April 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The UN Committee Against Torture is due to review Guinea for the first time on 6 and 7 May in sessions that will be webcast live. Guinea is one of the 155 States parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and is required to undergo regular examinations of its record before the Committee of 10 independent experts. The Committee will engage in a dialogue with the delegation from the Guinean government and also hear from NGOs. The public sessions, which will take place…
Author: apofeed
ABUJA, Nigeria, April 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On Thursday, May 8th 2014, the Africa Progress Panel (http://www.africaprogresspanel.org) will release its annual Africa Progress Report – Grain, Fish, Money – Financing Africa’s Green and Blue revolutions, at the World Economic Forum on Africa held in Abuja, Nigeria. Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/app.pngChaired by former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, last year’s report Equity in Extractives – Stewarding Africa’s Natural Resources for all, made headlines with its analysis of the oil, gas, and minerals industries in Africa. This year’s report will argue that Africa can and must unleash green and blue revolutions in its…
GENEVA, Switzerland, April 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Since violence erupted in South sudan in mid December, more than 95,000 people have fled to Gambella, in neighbouring Ethiopia, where they arrive exhausted, sick and in desperate need of support. The Ethiopian Red Cross Society, the ICRC, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Swiss Red Cross are working together to provide the refugees with better access to medical care and clean water, while also promoting good hygiene practices. “Families, many of them with very small children, walk for days, and sometimes weeks, to reach…
GENEVA, Switzerland, April 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Tuesday strongly condemned the shocking imposition of the death penalty on 683 individuals in Egypt yesterday after mass trials that she said clearly breached international human rights law. “It is outrageous that for the second time in two months, the Sixth Chamber of the Criminal Court in Al-Minya has imposed the death sentence on huge groups of defendants after perfunctory trials,” she said. “In defiance of worldwide pleas for Egypt to respect its human rights obligations after 529 people were sentenced to…
BERLIN, Germany, April 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Minister Steinmeier issued a statement today (28 April) on the death sentences handed down to 683 members of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt:The hundreds of death sentences handed down today go against everything that we understand by the principles of the rule of law.The Egyptian authorities are running the risk of further destabilising the country and cementing the division within politics and society in the run up to the presidential elections due to take place in May.We will communicate the Federal Government’s clear expectation to the Egyptian Ambassador in a…
WASHINGTON, April 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United States is deeply troubled by the continued use of mass trials and sentencing in Egypt, and particularly by today’s death sentence against 683 defendants. Today’s verdict, like the one last month, defies even the most basic standards of international justice. The Egyptian government has the responsibility to ensure that every citizen is afforded due process, including the right to a fair trial in which evidence is clearly presented, and access to an attorney. While judicial independence is a vital part of democracy, this verdict cannot be reconciled with Egypt’s obligations…
NEW YORK, April 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:The Secretary-General is alarmed by the news that another preliminary mass death sentence has been handed down today in Egypt, the first of which was on 24 March. Verdicts that clearly appear not to meet basic fair trial standards, particularly those which impose the death penalty, are likely to undermine prospects for long-term stability. As such, the Secretary-General is conscious of the regional and security implications of such sentences. Stability in Egypt is essential for the overall stability…
WINDHOEK, Namibia, April 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — In September 2014, Heads of State and Government of the African Union will meet at an extra ordinary session in Burkina Faso, to find ways to accelerate job creation on the continent, in particular for youth and women. Their meeting will take place ten years after 2004 Ouagadougou summit, which came up with the Ouagadougou Declaration and Plan of Action on Employment and Poverty Alleviation. That historic summit highlighted the need to place employment at the center of all national plans for social and economic development of Africa. The Heads of…
BERN, Switzerland, April 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Today, Switzerland and the European Union have signed an agreement on Switzerland’s participation in the European Union Training Mission in mali (EUTM Mali). The agreement will enable Switzerland to support EUTM mali with civilian expertise.The signing today of the agreement between Switzerland and the EU on Swiss participation in EUTM Mali paves the way for Switzerland to second a civilian expert to EUTM Mali. The secondment of this Swiss expert – a media analyst – is planned for this year and will complement Switzerland’s involvement in peacebuilding in Mali and support…
OSLO, Norway, April 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “It is shocking and unacceptable that an Egyptian court has once again pronounced a summary judgment – this time passing 683 death sentences. We are now witnessing a situation where Egyptian courts are seriously undermining the country’s reputation internationally,” commented Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende. On Monday 28 April, 683 people were condemned to death by a court in Minya, including the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Mohammed Badie. Nearly 600 were condemned in absentia. The death sentences are not yet final, as they have been referred to the Grand…
JUBA, South Sudan, April 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) condemns the unspeakable acts of violence in Bentiu, South Sudan, during and after a major battle on 15 April. Tens of thousands of people have had to flee to UNMISS camps for safety, where they now face life-threatening living conditions.Information given to the international medical humanitarian organisation describe gruesome targeted killings, including at Bentiu State Hospital, and indicate a disturbing trend of escalating violence and brutality in the country. MSF calls on all armed actors cease targeted killings, to ensure the behaviour and accountability of fighters…
GENEVA, Switzerland, April 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Sixteen civilians, including three national staff members with Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), were killed during an armed robbery on MSF hospital grounds in the northern town of Boguila, in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Saturday afternoon. MSF strongly condemns the unprovoked killing of unarmed civilians at a location clearly identified as an MSF health facility. “We are extremely shocked and saddened by the brutal violence used against our medical staff and the community,” said Stefano Argenziano, MSF Head of Mission in Car. “Our first priority is to treat…
YAOUNDE, Cameroon, April 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “Education Ministers have the very important responsibility to ensure quality education of the future leaders of the continent so that Africa can rise and occupy a dynamic force in the world arena” . This statement was made by Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga, Commissioner for Human Resources Science and Technology (HRST) of the AU, during the opening onFriday 25 April 2014 of the Sixth Ordinary Session of the Conference of Ministers of Education of the African Union (COMEDAF VI) holding in Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon, under the theme: “Educating for African Renaissance…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, April 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Journalists are invited to attend an open session of the Peace and Security Council (PSC), on ‘Unconstitutional Changes of Government and Popular Uprisings in Africa, Challenges and Lessons Learnt’, on Tuesday, 29 April 2014, 10:00 am, in the Mandela Hall at the AU New Conference Center (AUCC), in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Session will be open to all AU Member States, Partners and representatives of the diplomatic missions in Ethiopia, academicians, civil society, think-tanks and other relevant stakeholders. The objective of the open session is to provide an avenue for…
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, April 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On Saturday 26 April the master of a dhow spoke of his relief after 6 armed pirates, who had taken his vessel and crew hostage 14 days earlier, fled the scene after sightings of an EU Naval Force maritime patrol and reconnaissance (MPRA) aircraft.The master confirmed his ordeal to members of the Boarding Team from the EU Naval Force flagship, FGS Brandenburg, after the German warship had closed the sea area to investigate the dhow.The master stated that the pirates had forced him and his crew to sail to…
GENEVA, Switzerland, April 28, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Each year, thousands of migrants pass through Niger. Many of them travelling this route are in dire need of assistance. In Agadez, a centre run by the Red Cross Society of Niger and supported by the ICRC provides aid to the most vulnerable among them. “The plight of these migrants is of great concern. When they arrive in Agadez, they’re often physically and mentally exhausted,” said Jean-Nicolas Marti, head of the ICRC delegation in Niger. “They sometimes travel up to a thousand kilometres across the desert in cramped lorries and sweltering…
NEW YORK, April 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Laurence D. Wohlers of the United States as Deputy Special Representative (Political) for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).Mr. Wohlers has extensive experience in international affairs, specializing in conflict management, governance and cross-cultural communication. He has served in numerous diplomatic postings across Africa, Asia and Europe as well as in Washington, D.C., including as Minister Counsellor for Political Affairs at the United States Mission to the European Union in Brussels, from 2006 to 2008,…
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, April 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today concluded the third and final review of an arrangement under the Standby Credit Facility (SCF)1 with Tanzania. The SCF was approved in July 2012 (see Press Release No. 12/252). In February 2013, the authorities drew the full accumulated amount of US$114 million under the SCF arrangement through that date. No drawings have been made since then, and the authorities have indicated that they do not intend to make further drawings on the arrangement, which expires on April 30, 2014.The…
WASHINGTON, April 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCApril 25, 2014South Africa’s Freedom DayOn behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I extend warmest wishes to the people of the Republic of South Africa on your Freedom Day on April 27.This year’s celebration is especially poignant: it marks the 20th anniversary of your nation’s first democratic elections and follows the recent passing of the Rainbow Nation’s beloved son, Nelson Mandela.Madiba was a stranger to hate. He rejected recrimination in favor of reconciliation. On this 20th anniversary, we reflect on South Africa’s…
NEW YORK, April 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Aurélien Agbénonci of Benin as Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).Mr. Agbénonci will also serve as United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative. The Secretary-General expresses his sincere thanks to Mr. Georg Charpentier, who served as Deputy Special Representative, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative ad interim.The new Deputy Special Representative brings extensive experience with the United Nations system to the position, having worked…