BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, March 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, will today announce €81 million of new EU support to the Central African Republic (CAR) during a joint visit to the country with French Minister for Development, Pascal Canfin, and German Minister for Cooperation, Gerd Müller.The amount represents a significant boost in EU aid to the country and will help restore basic social services and livelihoods; particularly in the areas of education (for example, to help classes restart in schools which have been closed due to the conflict), health (to rehabilitate and reequip…
Author: apofeed
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union (AU) has today received a contribution worth $ USD 500,000 (five-hundred thousand dollars) from the Republic of Namibia to the Peace Fund to support the financing of the African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA). The Handover Ceremony took place at the African Union Headquarters, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and was presided over by the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui, and Mrs. Anne Mamakau Mutelo, Ambassador of the Republic of Namibia.Speaking during the ceremony, Ambassador Chergui, said, ‘’this ceremony marks…
WASHINGTON, March 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJen PsakiDepartment Spokesperson, Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCMarch 12, 2014The AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops working jointly with the Somali National Army have liberated several towns from al-Shabaab in Western Somalia. These efforts will help spread security and stability to all the Somali people, and accelerate the return of government institutions and services. Our focus will not wane on meeting Somalia’s continued humanitarian needs as the offensive continues.The United States supports AMISOM and the Somali people’s efforts to defeat al-Shabaab and bring greater peace to their country. We continue to…
NEW YORK, March 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — [AS DELIVERED] Madam President, Members of the Council Thank you for giving me the opportunity to brief the Council from Mogadishu today, and for your continued support to Somalia’s peace-building and state-building. I am on the ground in Mogadishu and not with you in New York due to the intensity of events at this moment. I hope you understand. Madam President The best hope for peace and stability in Somalia, the Horn of Africa and beyond remains a united, secure and federal Somalia. This is achievable. Somalia can reach its goal…
MONROVIA, Liberia, March 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Liberian President Ellen Sirleaf, along with Liberian Minister of Gender and Development Julia Duncan-Cassel, welcome land reform recommendations from Central and West Africa regional organization REFACOF (African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests) and Liberia’s Foundation for Community Initiatives (FCI). Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/rri.pngPhoto 1 (Liberian President Ellen Sirleaf): http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=893Photo 2 (Liberian President Ellen Sirleaf): http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=892 As honored guests at Liberia’s International Women’s Day Celebrations in Monrovia on Saturday, March 8, REFACOF and FCI presented a statement to President Sirleaf urging the President to include “clear safeguards and specifics on how women’s…
OSLO, Norway, March 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “The unreasonable and groundless accusations that have been made against the UN mission in South sudan the last few days are unacceptable. The UN represents the entire international community in its efforts to support South sudan on the path towards peace, reconciliation and economic and social development,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende. “Both before and since South Sudan became independent in 2011, the UN has been the most important international partner for the people of the country. The recent accusations against the UN are therefore unacceptable, and are undermining…
GENEVA, Switzerland, March 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement condemns the killing of Patrick Matede, a 36-year-old volunteer with the Central African Red Cross Society who was gunned down in Bangui on Sunday 9 March.A first aid worker for the past five years, Patrick was one of the first to start helping people when violence erupted in the capital in early December. On 8 March, just one day earlier, an employee of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was killed during an armed attack at a site where ICRC workers…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 423rd meeting held on 10 March 2014, adopted the following decision on the situation in Sudan: Council, 1. Takes note of the briefing made by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and the statement made by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of sudan. Council also takes note of the statements made by Rwanda, France, the United Kingdom and the United States of America in their capacity as members of United Nations (UN) Security Council, as well…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic-Car (MISCA), yesterday, completed the escort of another 120 vehicles into Bangui. Most of the vehicles were heavy-duty trucks transporting shipping containers loaded with commercial goods and humanitarian supplies from the Cameroon seaport of Douala into the Car. This brings to 1,205 the total number of vehicles MISCA has successfully escorted from the Cameroon border to the CAR capital, since the Mission was launched on 19 December 2013.MISCA Force Commander, Brigadier General Martin Tumenta, declared that MISCA troops have completely secured…
NEW YORK, March 11, 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 deeply concerned about the escalation of violence and its effect on civilians in Darfur. Since late February, fighting between rebel groups and local militia in South Darfur has left thousands of people homeless, with reports of looting and villages burnt. In North Darfur, over the past few days, thousands of people have fled inter-communal fighting and sought protection at the African Union–United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) camp in Saraf Umra. UNAMID is doing everything…
GENEVA, Switzerland, March 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Following the Moroccan National Human Rights Council’s September 2013 thematic report on the situation of migrants and refugees in Morocco and King Mohammed VI’s strategic guidance to improve the situation of undocumented migrants in the country, the Moroccan government has been working on implementing the new policy, including the regularization of several categories of migrants. To ensure the sustainable integration of migrants allowed to stay, IOM, in collaboration with the Ministry of Moroccans Residing Abroad and Migration Affairs, and with support from the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), is organizing an international…
GENEVA, Switzerland, March 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM is continuing to assist thousands of people displaced by the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, while preparing for the challenges of the upcoming rainy season.The situation in South sudan remains fluid and unstable, with continued fighting and displacement throughout the country. The UN estimates that some 706,000 people have been displaced by violence in South sudan since the outbreak of the crisis in December. Of these, over 77,000 people have sought protection on UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) bases.The approach of the rainy season is a major humanitarian concern.…
GENEVA, Switzerland, March 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay expressed deep concern on Tuesday that civilians in South Darfur, Sudan, have been bearing the brunt of recent attacks. “There has been a disproportionate use of force by armed groups in areas in South Darfur that are not military targets. There must be an immediate halt to attacks on unarmed civilians,” she said. According to witnesses, these groups have attacked some 45 villages in the Um Gunya area, approximately 50 km south of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state, since the end…
KINSHASA, Dem. Rep. of Congo (DRC) March 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “I urge all FDLR rebels to immediately break away from their leaders who are being prosecuted by justice, otherwise they will be forcibly disarmed,” declared Martin Kobler, the Head of MONUSCO.MONUSCO calls on all FDLR members to surrender without delay and to join the Disarmament, Demobilization, Repatriation, Reinsertion and Reintegration (DDRRR) process.Martin Kobler welcomes the launch of FARDC operations against the FDLR and affiliated armed groups. He announced MONUSCO’s support and direct engagement alongside the Congolese army.“The operations aim to neutralize the FDLR and their allies. They…
GENEVA, Switzerland, March 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM today began to repatriate by road the first of thousands of Chadians who fled to Cameroon in January to escape fighting in the Central African Republic (CAR.)IOM yesterday (10/3) completed the registration of the first 1,000 Chadians scheduled to return home with IOM road convoys.The group, who have been stranded in Garoua Boulai, east Cameroon, with no shelter and little or no assistance for over two and a half months, are among some 7,000 Chadian and other migrants who fled the Car and are currently stranded in Cameroon.The movements from…
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KerrySecretary of StateWashington, DCMarch 11, 2014On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate all citizens of Mauritius as you celebrate the 46th year of your independence on March 12. The American people share your pride in the long-established democratic traditions that form the bedrock of our nations’ friendship. Mauritius has embraced the principles of democratic governance, economic reform, and social tolerance that serve as a model to others around the world. The United States appreciates Mauritius’ support for efforts to promote regional security and…
MORONI, Comoros, March 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) visited Moroni from February 25 to March 11 to review developments during the last quarter of 2013, assess the current situation, and lay the basis for discussions on a new program. The mission met with His Excellency Dr. Ikililou Dhoinine, President of the Union, and held discussions with Vice-President and Finance Minister Soilihi, Governor of the Central Bank of the Comoros (BCC) Chanfiou, Permanent Secretary of the Committee to Monitor Reforms Oubeidi, and other government and central bank officials, as well as representatives…
GENEVA, Switzerland, March 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has stated that the guilty verdict and prison sentence given to veteran Somali journalist, Mohamed Aweys Mudey, is unacceptable and appealed to Ethiopian authorities to quash his sentence and release him with immediate effect. According to IFJ affiliate, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Mudey has been sentenced to 27 years in prison under Ethiopia’s Anti-terror law. Ethiopian prosecutors reportedly accused him of having information on Al-Shabaab operations in Ethiopia and charged him for participating in terror activities. The NUSOJ says he did not…
VICTORIA, Mahé, March 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — An IMF staff mission led by Mr. Marshall Mills visited Victoria during February 26-March 11, reaching agreement with the Seychellois authorities on their request for a new 3-year arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility, in support of the economic and financial program of the government and Central Bank of Seychelles. Subject to IMF management approval, the staff-level agreement is expected to be submitted to the IMF Executive Board for its consideration by end-June 2014. Under the arrangement, Seychelles would be able to access up to SDR 11.5 million (about US$17.8 million),…
GENEVA, Switzerland, March 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM, in close collaboration with the Government of Somaliland and in partnership with UN agencies, has opened a new Digaale permanent settlement in Hargeisa, Somaliland, for 500 displaced (IDP) families who in the past lived in destitute temporary settlements.IOM is providing durable solutions for the IDPs through voluntary relocation, livelihoods, healthcare and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for some of the 85,000 vulnerable IDPs in Somaliland. Its Somaliland livelihoods and migration health programmes are funded by the government of Japan.Among others, IOM has partnered with a local NGO, Kaaba Micro-Finance…