WASHINGTON, April 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCApril 25, 2014On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I send best wishes to Sierra Leoneans as you celebrate 53 years of independence on April 27.We are all profoundly aware that Sierra Leone is becoming one of Africa’s greatest success stories. When I was Senator from Massachusetts, the suffering of Sierra Leone was not just an issue on the Foreign Relations Committee; it became personal because my state became a haven to so many Sierra Leoneans fleeing violence and grievous wounds. I…
Author: apofeed
WASHINGTON, April 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCApril 25, 2014On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the people of Togo as you celebrate your independence on April 27.Our two countries enjoy a strong partnership. The United States appreciates Togo’s efforts to promote regional peace, expand economic opportunity, and fight transnational crime.We look forward to continuing to work together in the years to come.
TUNIS, Tunisia, April 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the third review of Tunisia’s economic performance under a 24-month program supported by a Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). The completion of the review enables an immediate disbursement of SDR 145.08 million (about US$225 million), bringing total disbursements to SDR 573 million (about US$888.4 million).The two-year SBA in the amount of SDR 1.146 billion (about US$1.78 billion, or 400 percent of Tunisia’s quota at the IMF) was approved by the Executive Board on June 7, 2013 (See Press Release No. 13/202).In completing…
NAIROBI, Kenya, April 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Reforming Fossil Fuel Subsidies for an Inclusive Green Economy / Experts from UNEP, IMF, GIZ and Others Available for One-on-One InterviewsWhat: Workshop on Reforming Fossil Fuel Subsidies for an Inclusive Green Economy, 2014 When: Monday, 28 April 9:00 a.m. – Tuesday, 29 April 16:30 p.m.Where:Conference Room 3, UN Compound, GigiriWho: Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Benedict Clements, Division Chief, Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF Detlef Schreiber, Head of the Competence Centre for Environment, Resource Efficiency and Waste Management, German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) Laura Merrill, Senior Researcher, Global…
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, April 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Tigo Tanzania (http://www.tigo.co.tz) announced today a partnership with Facebook in which all its customers in the country will get free access to Facebook services in English and a new Kiswahili version through their mobile handsets. Logo Tigo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/tigo-1.jpgPhoto: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1020 (It’s thumps up by Tigo Tanzania General Manager, Diego Gutierrez (L), and Facebook representative, Nicola D’Elia, during the launch of a historic partnership between their two companies today in Dar es Salaam)It is the first time that Facebook will be free on any mobile network in East Africa, according to…
GENEVA, Switzerland, April 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The UN Committee Against Torture is due to review Sierra Leone’s record for the first time on 1 and 2 May in sessions that will be webcast live. Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone government delegation and also hear from NGOs. The public sessions, which will…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, April 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — FCO Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds welcomes results of the first democratic elections in Guinea-Bissau since the 2012 coup.On 23 April Guinea-Bissau announced the official results of the Presidential and legislative elections held on 13 April. The outcome of the Presidential election will now be decided by a second round of voting on 18 May. Following the election results, Mr Simmonds said:“I congratulate the people of Guinea-Bissau on the peaceful and orderly Presidential and legislative elections held on 13 April. The impressive turnout of over 85% demonstrates the importance of these…
BANJUL, Gambia, April 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Her Excellency (Mrs) Zineb Jammeh, First Lady, The Gambia, Her Excellency, Dr. Isatou Njie Saidy, Vice President,The Gambia, Her Excellency, Mrs Sia Koroma, First Lady, Republic of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency, Madame Marieme Faye Sall, First Lady, Republic of Senegal, Her Excellency, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, First Lady Ogun State, Nigeria, Ms. Almas Jiwani, President, UN Women (National Committee) Canada, Mr. Peter Metcalfe, President, Foundation for the Development of Africa (FDA) amongst other First Ladies from Africa join WAF 2014Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/waf.pngWatch the video: http://youtu.be/zYUkaL5QCPsWomen Advancement Forum – WAF (http://www.womenadvancementforum.com), Africa’s most attended…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, April 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Burundi President, His Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza, today, made a historic visit to Somalia to check on his forces serving under the African Union peacekeeping mission, as well as pay a courtesy call to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud.During his visit to Somalia, the Burundian President expressed optimism about Somalia’s future, and reaffirmed his Government commitment to work in partnership with the Somali Government to promote peace and security.“I am delighted to have visited Somalia at a crucial time for the Federal Government in their fight against Al Shabaab and terrorism.…
NEW YORK, April 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:The Secretary-General followed closely the recent presidential elections in Algeria. Upon the request of the Government of Algeria, he deployed a three-member panel of experts to the country to follow the electoral process and keep him abreast of the latest developments.The Secretary-General wishes to congratulate the people and the Government of Algeria for the overall peaceful manner in which the presidential elections were held. He encourages the Government of Algeria and all political parties in the country to…
OTTAWA, Canada, April 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Honourable Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights, today issued the following statement:“Canada deplores the atrocious targeted attacks against civilians committed in Bor and Bentiu, South Sudan, by the sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition. Early reports indicate that hundreds of people, including women and children, were killed in Bentiu alone. Of these, approximately 200 civilians were encouraged to shelter in a mosque by Opposition forces and then deliberately targeted and killed.“Canada condemns the perpetrators of these terrible attacks and calls on…
DELFT, The Netherlands, April 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The first class of five Rotary (http://www.rotary.org) sponsored scholars has graduated with Master of Science degrees in water education from the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education. The graduates now will apply their education to water and sanitation projects in their home countries of Argentina, Uganda, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Ghana.Photos (see captions below): https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9r5v2m62wfx6hli/74kxgXBLfKLogo Rotary: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/rotary.pngEstablished in 2011, the partnership between Rotary and UNESCO-IHE — the world’s largest graduate water education facility — addresses the global water and sanitation crisis by increasing the ranks of trained professionals critically needed to devise,…
NEW YORK, April 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The new Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, today presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.Beginning in November 2008 until his latest appointment, Mr. Hilale was Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva. He previously served as Secretary-General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Rabat from 2005 to 2008.He was Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva from 2001 to 2005, and Ambassador to Indonesia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand between 1996 and 2001. He also held several positions in the…
BERLIN, Germany, April 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Minister Steinmeier issued the following statement in Berlin today (23 April) before departing with France’s Foreign Minister Fabius on a joint trip to Moldova, Georgia, Tunisia and Paris:As the crisis in Ukraine continues, we are travelling to Moldova and Georgia to gain an impression of the situation on the ground. The deep concern with which our Eastern partners are watching the situation in neighbouring Ukraine is something we take very seriously.Germany and France are continuing to do all we can to help de escalate the conflict in Ukraine. We are…
ROME, Italy, April 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Countries need to shift to more sustainable food systems, stepping up action to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva told participants at the seventh Forum on Agriculture in the Kingdom of Morocco. “Everything we do needs to take climate change into consideration,” he stressed. “And the time is now. We cannot afford to wait.” “Climate change has the potential to reconfigure the planet’s food production scenario,” Graziano da Silva said, adding that it reintroduced “an element of uncertainty” after decades in which…
NAIROBI, Kenya, April 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Following the tragic death of a 13-year old Kenyan girl who underwent female genital mutilation (FGM) last Monday, an organization that helps FGM victims obtain restorative surgery to reverse FGM effects, is urging Kenyan Health Secretary James Macharia to open Kenya’s first clitoral repair hospital.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/clitoraid-1.pngPhoto: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/nadine-gary.jpg (Clitoraid Communications Director Nadine Gary)”FGM reversal surgery, which restores clitoral functioning, is a powerful deterrent to the barbaric, cruel and dangerous practice of female genital mutilation,” said Clitoraid (http://www.clitoraid.org) Communications Director Nadine Gary. “Why do something so unpleasant and painful when the results can…
PORT-LOUIS, Mauritius, April 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On April, 21, 2014, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation1 with Mauritius.A stable macroeconomic environment was maintained in 2013, despite difficult external developments. Real GDP growth was lower than expected at 3.2 percent in 2013, mainly on account of construction, sugar and tourism. With subdued international prices, inflationary pressures declined in 2013, despite the public sector wage increases, and year-on-year inflation fell to 3.5 percent. The unemployment rate was unchanged compared to 2012 at 8.0 percent. Credit to private sector growth remained robust.…
JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, April 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Today the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) (http://www.jse.co.za) revealed its new brand which demonstrates the bourse’s identity as a modern African marketplace that connects investors to growth opportunities globally.New logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/jse-1.pngPhoto JSE: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1011Photo 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1013 (eona Jacobs, Director of Issuer and Investor Relations at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1014 (Jeremy Sampson, Group Executive Chairman of Interbrand Sampson de Villiers)The JSE’s logo and colour palette moves to a bold black, white and green combination while the typography takes on a clean, digital feel. The revitalised brand follows on from an extensive…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, April 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, is deeply concerned at the continued deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in South sudan. In this respect, she strongly condemns the deliberate and criminal attack on civilians in Bentiu, Unity State, on 15 April 2014, where over 200 civilians were reportedly killed and more than 400 wounded while sheltering in a Mosque. This dastardly act was followed by another attack on civilians who were under the protection of peacekeepers in the United Nations Mission in…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, April 23, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union-led Regional Task Force (AU-RTF) troops in the Central African Republic (CAR), on 21 April 2014, captured a commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), Lt. Charles Okello, West of River Kotto, about 20km West of Bakuma in the South-eastern part of the country. During the battle in which Lt. Charles Okello was captured, the AU-RTF troops also rescued three women and seven children, and recovered one (01) sub-machine gun, three (03) hunters’ rifles, assorted ammunition and one (01) Walkie Talkie radio. The AU Forces are continuing to…