Author: Database of Press Releases related to Africa

GENEVA, Switzerland, May 16, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Ethiopian community in Finland has donated over EUR 7,700 towards IOM’s relief efforts to help destitute Ethiopians expelled from Saudi Arabia.

The donation from the Finnish Ethiopian community follows similar initiatives by US-based Ethiopian associations and individuals who have also offered support for IOM’s humanitarian aid to returnees.

“This new contribution is a good example of solidarity among Ethiopians across the world and an indication of how the diaspora can spread the word across networks to help their nationals back home,” says IOM Chief of Mission in Addis Ababa Josiah Ogina.

By donating to IOM’s humanitarian relief operation in January 2014, the Global Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia said it hoped to send a message to the Ethiopian diaspora worldwide to encourage them to support Ethiopian nationals returning from Saudi Arabia.

The private donations will help needy Ethiopian returnees with vital medical assistance, food, transport, psycho-social aid, blankets and other essentials.

By early May 2014, a total of over 163,000 Ethiopian returnees had arrived home from Saudi Arabia and been processed at Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport. IOM assisted 153,126 or 93 per cent of the returnees.

A third of the returnees have been women. Five percent were children, including 521 unaccompanied minors, who were assisted by IOM. The vast majority of the returnees (84 per cent) were between the ages of 18 and 30.

GENEVA, Switzerland, May 16, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Representatives of the Togolese Government have completed a three-day study visit to Mali to share information on good practices related to the management of diasporas.

The visit, organized by IOM, was designed to share Mali’s experience in the management of its diaspora and to support Togolese government efforts to develop its migration policy and manage the Togolese Diaspora.

The Togolese delegation met with representatives of the General Delegation of Malians Abroad (DGME), the Information Center for the Management of Migration (CIGEM), the Co- Development programme (CODev) and the Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriate Nationals (TOKTEN) programme.

These institutions and programs have been established by the Malian Government and partners to meet the needs of Malians abroad and help them to maintain strong ties with their country of origin.

The Minister for Malians Abroad, Dr. Abdourahamane Sylla, noted that Malian migrants have significantly contributed to the development of the country, particularly through remittances, which, according to the World Bank, reached CFA 431 billion (USD 908 million) in 2012, exceeding official international aid.

According to the Minister, 80 per cent of remittances contribute to the stability and income of families and households left behind; 15 per cent to the construction or rehabilitation of local infrastructure (schools, health centers, water facilities and mosques); and 5 per cent to income generating projects.

He also highlighted the importance of the existence of Malian associations abroad to facilitate communication with the government. Malian migrants contribute not only to the development of the country, but also act as “ambassadors” of Mali abroad, he noted.

Although there are no recent statistics on the number of Malian migrants living abroad, the General Delegation of Malians Abroad estimates that there were around 4 million in 2005, of whom 96.5 per cent were located in other West African countries, 2.7 per cent in Europe, 0.7 per cent in Asia and 0.1 per cent in America.

According to Antoine Gbekobu, a representative of the Togolese Government: “The exchange of information with the Malian government will contribute significantly to the formulation of Togolese migration policy, including the creation of programmes for Togolese migrants aimed at capitalizing on the positive relationship between migration and development.”

The Togolese diaspora is estimated at 2 million people. Remittances to Togo in 2013 reached CFA 187 billion (USD 394 million approx.) or 10 per cent of Togolese GDP.

The meeting was supported by the IOM missions in Mali and Togo and funded by the IOM Development Fund (IDF).

GENEVA, Switzerland, May 16, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM has welcomed the launch of a newly created Diaspora Affairs Bureau within Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

This is a landmark achievement on the part of the Government of Ghana, which has formalized the engagement of the Ghanaian diaspora for effective migration management and national development planning.

There are an estimated three million Ghanaians living in the diaspora. The majority live in neighbouring African countries and the largest concentration of Ghanaian migrants outside the region are found in Germany, Italy, Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The Bureau builds upon the success of the Ministry’s Diaspora Support Unit (DSU), established in 2012 with the support of IOM’s International Development Fund (IDF). The IDF supports IOM Member States in their efforts to strengthen their migration management capacity.

The DSU was established as part of a national diaspora engagement project to provide a sustainable link between the Ghanaian diaspora and various government agencies to achieve development and investment goals.

The new Diaspora Affairs Bureau, which enjoys the direct support of Ghana’s President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, is responsible for national diaspora engagement and migration matters within the Ministry.

Proposed objectives include the creation of a diaspora database, engagement of diaspora for national development, awareness campaigns, research, and coordination with migration and development stakeholders. Key tasks will be completed by two support units, the Diaspora Support Unit and the Migration and Development Unit, within the Bureau.

The Ghanaian diaspora, particularly associations and professionals, has welcomed the initiative, which is seen as a valuable source of information, particularly relating to business registration and information about investment opportunities.

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) will work with the Bureau to provide incentives (primarily tax exemptions) to increase the diaspora’s access to agriculture and energy investment opportunities.

“The creation of the Diaspora Affairs Bureau signals the strong commitment of the Government of Ghana to support effective migration management through diaspora dialogue. It also validates the importance of IOM/IDF projects in providing a platform for governments to achieve practical solutions to migration challenges,” says Dyane Epstein, IOM Ghana Chief of Mission.

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina-Faso, May 16, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Recently, U.S. Army Africa coordinated instruction for Burkina Faso Armed Forces personnel with the third phase of unit movement training.

Keeping in stride with USARAF’s guiding principle of helping African’s solve African problems, a two-man Africa Deployment Assistance Partnership Team – Ground or ADAPT-G as it is known, worked with 23 Burkinabe Armed Forces students as well as five student trainers chosen from a previous phase. A total of 56 Burkinabe students have participated in the ADAPT-G training.

ADAPT-G is a theater logistics engagement activity that helps build deployment capacity for African partner nations conducting peacekeeping, counterterrorism or humanitarian relief operations. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and aims to enhance African militaries ability to deploy in support various mission requirements.

The two-man team consisted of 1st Lt. Robert Hundemer and Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Wernholm from the 299th Brigade Support Battalion. The 299th BSB is part of USARAF’s Regionally Aligned Force — the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, located at Fort Riley, Kan.

Hundemer and Wernholm were joined by Capt. Theresa Giorno of USARAF’s G-4 Logistics Directorate who coordinates ADAPT-G training.

According to Giorno, previous ADAPT-G training with the Burkinabe forces consisted of a site survey, coordination of engagement locations, key leader meetings, unit movement officer training and train the trainer selection.

“This is the third and final phase of ADAPT ground training we have conducted with the Burkinabe forces,” Giorno said. “We focus on ground deployment training and some elements of air movement such as palletizing.”

Giorno is a native of Whitewater, Wis., and a U.S. Army Reserve officer on active duty with USARAF.

“The objective here is to assist the Burkinabe forces in creating unit movement officers and trainers using the resources they have available. Prior to the ADAPT-G training, the Burkinabe were using contractors to assist in deployments,” Giorno said. “Eventually, the Burkinabe forces would like to be able to create a logistics school that will be a regional hub used by other African partner nations,” Giorno said.

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country located in northeastern central Africa. It’s surrounded by six countries; Mali, Niger, Benin,Togo, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire also known as the Ivory Coast.

She said the training was successful in spite of challenges of language and time in between phases of instruction.

Providing any course of instruction has its own particular challenges. The Burkina Faso ADAPT-G engagement was no exception.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 16, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On 15 May 2014, the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) and the European Union Political and Security Committee (EU PSC) held their 7th Annual Joint Consultative Meeting in Brussels, as part of their regular dialogue in the framework of the Africa-EU partnership. The meeting was co-chaired by Ambassador Naimi S. H. Aziz (Tanzania), Chairperson of the AU PSC for the month of May 2014, and Ambassador Walter Stevens, Permanent Chair of the EU PSC, and brought together Ambassadors of all 28 EU Member States and 15 AUPSC Member States. Ambassador Smail Chergui, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Nick Westcott, Managing Director for Africa at the EEAS and Ambassador Gary Quince, EU Special Representative to the African Union also participated in the joint meeting.

The meeting took place just weeks after the EU-Africa Summit that was held in Brussels, on 2-3 April 2014. The 7th Annual Joint Consultative Meeting welcomed the renewed commitment of EU and African leaders made at the recent EU-Africa Summit to enhance cooperation between both continents in the area of peace and security. Both sides underscored their determination to further deepen the existing partnership that aims at promoting peace and security and at preventing crises and violent conflicts on both continents.

The discussions of the meeting focussed on cooperation to tackle the ongoing crises in South Sudan, the Horn of Africa, the Central African Republic, and the Sahel, as well as terrorism, human and drug trafficking, small arms and light weapons, Ukraine. The discussion also dwelt on cooperation as well as means and ways to strengthen African capacities in the area of peace and security.

 

1. On cooperation in the area of Peace and Security

The EU PSC and AU PSC made explicit reference to the recent EU-Africa Summit that underlined both sides’ commitment to peace and security and to their common values and goals in pursuit of good governance, democracy, human rights and rule of law. They recognized the important results achieved so far, in particular in the context of African-led peacekeeping operations and by missions and operations deployed in Africa by the European Union. They welcomed the commitment, as expressed by African and European leaders at the summit, to further enhance and consolidate cooperation in the area of peace and security, including areas such as security sector reform, border management, peace building and post-conflict reconstruction and development. Both sides also underlined the need to address the root causes of conflict and the security-development nexus.

Recalling the recent EU- Africa Summit conclusions committing both organisations to enhance dialogue, to implement common approaches and to strengthen coordination between both PSCs, both sides agreed to increase the number of contacts, beyond current agreed PSC to PSC meetings. They also agreed to undertake a joint field mission as soon as possible, which will allow for an assessment of joint action and the coordination of efforts on the ground.

The EU PSC and AU PSC condemned terrorism in all its forms. They condemned in the strongest terms the abhorrent and cowardly acts of terrorism in Nigeria involving the abduction of more than 200 school girls. Both, the EU PSC and the AU PSC pledged full support to the Government of Nigeria in their efforts to combat terrorism and to secure the safe return of the school girls. They emphasized the need for greater regional and international cooperation to dismantle Boko Haram and its affiliates, as well as its sources of funding. They supported the intention of the UN Security Council to take appropriate measures. Both sides underscored the importance of protecting human rights, particularly in conflict situations. They also condemned sexual violence against women and the use of child soldiers.

Both parties recognised the urgent need to tackle the serious problem of organised transnational crime involving illicit trafficking and smuggling in human beings, drugs and weapons. In this regard, they recalled the conclusions of the Brussels Summit and the stand alone Declaration on Migration and Mobility and committed to cooperate closely in implementing the Action Plan that was agreed.

They also emphasised the importance of cooperating in tackling other threats to peace and security such as proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW). In this regard, they underscored their shared interest in combatting them. They also stressed the need for greater intelligence sharing.

2. On specific crises and country situations

South Sudan: The EU PSC and the AU PSC expressed great concern at the recent escalation of violence in the country and stressed the need to put an immediate end to the violence which has resulted in a serious humanitarian disaster. They agreed on the need to take necessary steps to encourage the leaders of South Sudan take action and they welcomed the recent meeting of President Kiir and Riek Machar under IGAD auspices aiming to find a way to de-escalate the crisis. In this regard they welcomed the 9May 2014 agreement reached in Addis Ababa under the auspices of IGAD Chairperson and urge the parties to fully implement all agreement that have been signed so far. They further commended IGAD for facilitating political dialogue aimed at finding a lasting solution and reiterate support of both organs to ensure the success of these efforts. Both PSCs urged swift deployment of the planned IGAD protection force and a revision of the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in order to protect civilians and monitor an effective ceasefire. They also urged the need to restore security in order to create space for a political solution. They condemned the human rights violations and called for investigation of those violations. In this context, both PSCs welcomed the visit of the AU Commission of Inquiry to South Sudan (and encouraged a close cooperation with UN bodies). They also underscored the need to strengthen humanitarian responses in favour of affected populations.

Horn of Africa: The members of the EU PSC and the AU PSC commended the AU and IGAD joint efforts in the Horn of Africa, supported by the international community. They underlined the crucial role of the AU High Level Implementation Panel and AU PSC on Sudan and South Sudan. They highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach in order to resolve the continuing armed conflicts, including through reconciliation and democratic processes in Sudan in the framework of the National Dialogue. They commended the crucial role of AMISOM in the efforts to restore stability in Somalia and ensure continued security in Mogadishu and the role of EU missions, in particular EUTM Somalia, EUCAP Nestor and EUNAVFOR Atalanta. Both sides reiterated their continued support to the Federal Government of Somalia in the implementation of its Roadmap leading to the successful organisation of elections that are scheduled for 2016. Both sides agreed on the need for coordinating efforts aimed at building the capacity of the Somali National Defence and Security Forces and a successful security sector reform in that country.

Central African Republic: The EU PSC and AU PSC expressed strong concern over the situation in the Central African Republic. They strongly condemned recent attacks of civilians in northern CAR by armed militia and groups that led to loss of human lives, including humanitarian workers. They called for an immediate cessation of violence and urged all armed groups to respect international humanitarian law and to respect civilians and humanitarian aid workers. Both sides called on the transitional authorities of CAR to continue the transition process, promoting political dialogue and national reconciliation, accountability for human rights violations until the elections scheduled to take place by February 2015. They also called for close coordination of efforts between the EU Mission to the Central African Republic (EUFOR RCA) and MISCA. They also underlined the serious humanitarian consequences and called for support from the international community in this regard.

Both PSCs commended international engagement to stabilize the situation in the CAR, in particular AU efforts, through MISCA’s positive role in restoring a safe and secure environment and EU’s strong commitment, notably through financial support to MISCA and through the recent deployment of EUFOR RCA in Bangui. Both sides agreed to pursue close coordination with the UN in view of the establishment of MINUSCA by 15 September 2014, which should allow an effective transfer of MISCA troops into a UN peacekeeping operation. They highlighted the importance of international support to the new transitional authorities in CAR and encouraged them to finalise the revision of the transition Roadmap. Both sides welcomed dialogue and mediation activities to achieve a return to peace and stability. They recognized the essential role of the International Contact Group on CAR (ICG-CAR) in closely following up the situation in the country.

Sahel: Both sides recognised their shared interest in ensuring that terrorism is eliminated from the Sahel and they reiterated their commitment to help restore conditions for security and sustainable development. They underlined that international support to the Sahel region needs to be accompanied by sustained efforts to find a lasting solution to address the roots causes of the ongoing crises in the north of Mali and the wider region. They also underscored the importance of tackling all dimensions of drug trafficking, including source, transit and markets. They also underlined the growing challenges of migration and stressed the need to adequately address these challenges, including through capacity-building for border management. In this context, both PSCs commended EU engagement in the region through the capacity building missions EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) and EUCAP Sahel Niger, and the recently launched EUCAP Sahel Mali. They agreed to work on the implementation of specific actions in the field of border areas management in order to tackle the causes of instability in the Sahel. In that perspective and regarding the situation in Mali, EU PSC and the AU PSC strongly urged all Malian parties to begin credible and inclusive consultations open to all communities and to all non-terrorist armed groups of the north of Mali with the aim of achieving lasting peace. They underscored the importance of international coordination to ensure efficiency and mutual accountability, including greater support for the UN Mission and the AU Mission in the Sahel. In this respect, they also stressed the need for coordination, including with the G-5, in the implementation of the respective (EU and AU) strategies.

Gulf of Guinea: Both sides welcomed the adoption of a European Strategy for the Gulf of Guinea in support of the efforts of the countries of the region and the region itself reflecting the EU’s comprehensive approach and look forward to continue the dialogue on those issues. The two sides commend the efforts of the countries of the region and ECCAS/ECOWAS, following the Summit held in Yaoundé in 2013, whose conclusions were endorsed by the PSC at its 387th meeting held on 29 July 2013. They also underscored the need to accelerate the implementation of the African Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS).

Ukraine: Both PSCs were briefed on the latest developments in and around Ukraine. In this regard, both sides recalled the Declaration of the 4th EU – Africa Summit of 2-3 April 2014 of the Heads of State and Government reaffirming their commitment to peace and security on both our continents in conformity with the aims and principles of the United Nations Charter.

3. On enhancing African capacities in peace and security issues

Regarding capacity-building, the AU PSC and the EU PSC referred to the conclusions of the EU-Africa Summit that committed to enhanced dialogue and coordination between both continents in the area of peace and security and to further improve African capacities. In particular, the EU PSC and AU PSC confirmed their respective commitments to fully implement the African Peace and Security Architecture and to operationalize the African Standby Force (ASF) and its Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC). In this context, the European commitment to support these efforts, including through its approach to “enhance and enable”, was welcomed by the members of the AU PSC. The EUPSC and AU PSC recognised the African Capacity for Immediate Responses to Crises (ACIRC) as an interim measure within the framework of fully operationalizing the ASF and its RDC, as well as a tool to reinforce its Continental Early Warning System.

The meeting also welcomed the expressed intention by the EU to allocate increased funding to the African Peace Facility and to also allocate funds to other peace and security related aspects under other relevant instruments. It was agreed to discuss ways of enhancing the consultative process to prepare operations under these and other available instruments and to ensure proper coordination, coherence and efficiency of the capacity building activities to be conducted in the coming years. Both sides stressed the need for close cooperation with the United Nations and its agencies, with the relevant regional and sub-regional organisations, and with other international coordination mechanisms.

In line with the EU-Africa Summit Roadmap, both sides also agreed on the need to encourage the mobilization of additional African and international resources in order to improve the predictability and financial sustainability of African peace and security activities, notably African Peace Support Operations, and stressed the need to identify alternative sources of more funding.

The two organs agreed to hold their 8th Annual Joint Consultative meeting in Addis Ababa in May 2015, the date of which will be fixed through consultation between the two sides through their respective Chairs.

OTTAWA, Canada, May 16, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Andrew Bennett, Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom, today issued the following statement:

“Canada is shocked and appalled by the decision to impose a sentence of death for apostasy and of 100 lashes for ‘adultery’ in the trial of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, a Christian mother expecting her second child.

“Canada calls upon the Government of Sudan to protect freedom of religion, including the right to change one’s faith or beliefs and to practise one’s faith in peace, a freedom that is enshrined in Sudan’s interim constitution of 2005.

“We urge the Sudanese legal authorities to demonstrate justice and compassion in the expected appeal of Ms. Meriam’s case, in keeping with their international human rights obligations.”

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press Statement
Marie Harf
Deputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
May 15, 2014

We are deeply disturbed over the sentencing today of Meriam Yahya Ibrahim…

ABUJA, Nigeria, May 15, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Statement by Mr. Said Djinnit
I am concluding today a four day visit to Nigeria. My visit is as a follow up to a telephone conversation between the Secretary-General of the United Natio…

LONDON, United-Kingdom, May 15, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Mark Simmonds calls upon the Government of Sudan to respect the right to freedom of religion and international human rights laws.

Commenting after a pregnant Sudanese mother was sentenced to death for apostasy and to 100 lashes for adultery, Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, said today:

“I am truly appalled that a Sudanese court has sentenced Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag to death for apostasy. This barbaric sentence highlights the stark divide between the practices of the Sudanese courts and the country’s International Human Rights obligations.

“I urge the Government of Sudan to respect the right to freedom of religion or belief, including one’s right to follow the religion or belief of their choice, a right which is enshrined in international human rights law as well as in Sudan’s own 2005 Interim Constitution. The UK opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances and urges the Government of Sudan to join what is a clear global trend to abolition.”

BANGUI, Central African Republic, May 15, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved on May 14, 2014 financial assistance under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) in the amount equivalent to SDR 8.355 million (about US$12.9 million) for the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) in support of the authorities’s emergency economic recovery program. The financial assistance from the IMF will help the Transitional Authorities of the C.A.R. to implement a set of economic and structural policies and measures aimed at restoring progressively macroeconomic stability and strengthening the capacity of the C.A.R. government. The Executive Board’s approval of the RCF will also enable the authorities to engage in discussions with development partrners regarding further assistance. The Executive Board’s approval enables the immediate disbursement of the full amount, which is equivalent to 15 percent of C.A.R.’s quota in the IMF.

The Executive Board noted the authorities’ cancellation of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement for C.A.R.that was approved on June 25, 2012 (Press Release No. 12/237). The Executive Board can consider renewal of financing under the RCF before the end of the year, provided the C.A.R. meets the policy requirements for repeated use under the RCF, including the establishment of a track record of adequate macroeconomic policies for a period of normally six-months prior to a new request for financial assistance under the RCF. Timely provision of pledged financial and technical assistance is crucial to sustain the momentum for the recovery, strengthen the capacity of the C.A.R. government and exit from the emergency situation.

The RCF provides rapid concessional financial assistance with limited conditionality to low-income countries with an urgent balance of payments need. In this context, the economic policies of a member receiving RCF financing are expected to address the underlying balance of payments difficulties and support policy objectives including macroeconomic stability and poverty reduction. Financing under the RCF carries zero interest, has a grace period of 5 ½ years, and a final maturity of 10 years. The Fund reviews the level of interest rates for all concessional facilities every two years.

Following the Executive Board’s discussion of the C.A.R.’s request for financial assistance under the RCF, Naoyuki Shinohara, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, stated:

“The political and security crisis that followed the seizing of power by a rebel coalition in March 2013 has produced large-scale economic dislocation in the C.A.R. and exacerbated an already fragile situation. The new transition government is strongly committed to restoring security, mobilizing humanitarian assistance, reviving the economy, and rebuilding democratic institutions, but faces daunting challenges.

“With support under the Fund’s Rapid Credit Facility, the transition authorities aim to implement macroeconomic policies and structural reforms to restore macroeconomic stability, rebuild basic state functions, improve domestic revenue mobilization, return to normal budgetary procedures, clear domestic arrears, and ensure regular payments of salaries and pensions to civil servants. Transparent management of public resources including external support, better prioritization of spending, and improving treasury management will be critical for the success of the program. Preserving debt sustainability will also be important.

“The Fund will continue to play a key role in coordinating international efforts in the provision of much needed financial support and technical assistance to rebuild key financial functions of the government.”