Author: Database of Press Releases related to Africa

BANGUI, Central African Republic, May 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) followed with interest the ex-Séléka discussions held in Ndele (North), which included the participation of various combatants and respective political leaders.

It notes with interest the organizational efforts of the ex-combatants and commends the discussions on the ex-Séléka’s participation in a disarmament process and the implementation of a political coordination.

MINUSCA takes this opportunity to remind all political actors of the importance of disarmament. It encourages the Government to meet with the leaders of all armed groups, in order to reach a political agreement preparatory to DDR.

MINUSCA will provide its full support to a DDR process and to a political dialogue which should follow thereafter, in accordance with the commitment of the international community to the stabilization of the Central African Republic.

MINUSCA also takes this occasion to remind all the parties that under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2149, MINUSCA is commited to “support the implementation of the transition process, including efforts in favour of the extension of State authority and preservation of territorial integrity.”

EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, May 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UNAMID Deputy Joint Special Representative (DJSR) Joseph Mutaboba travelled with Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) Chair Tijani Seisi on 12 May 2014 to Buram, South Darfur, to meet with members of the local community, hear their concerns, assess the security situation and discuss progress on the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

As part of the trip to Buram, where UNAMID has an operating base, the DJSR and the DRA Chair met with South Darfur Governor Adam Mahmoud Jar El-Nabi, the Nazir of Habaniya and Buram’s Commissioner. They inaugurated several DRA projects, including a technical school and the foundation for what will later become Buram Hospital’s Maternity Ward, and held discussions with local leaders, including members of native administration and tribal elders in the area.

In a speech delivered at the locality’s headquarters, DJSR Mutaboba welcomed the DRA’s work to restore harmony and peace in the area through implementing such projects, and highlighted the importance of the Government of Sudan, the DRA and UNAMID working together to rebuild communities and create a stable security environment for peace to flourish.

“UNAMID is ever willing to extend logistics and substantive support to all initiatives and efforts in accordance with our mandate and within our limited resources,” said the DJSR, who noted that the people of Darfur have suffered a decade of misery, with conflict and mutual mistrust blocking lasting and peaceful solutions. “Negotiations and dialogue are the best means to resolve disputes,” he said. “Many African nations have gone through similar conflicts, but peace has only come through dialogue.”

The DJSR urged all combatants to put down their arms and to heed President Bashir’s call for national dialogue. “Dialogue is the best opportunity to secure the future of Darfur and Sudan,” he said, noting that while UNAMID is mandated to support the DRA in the implementation of the DDPD, the pace of the Doha Document’s implementation has been slower than expected.

“It is imperative that the backlog in the implementation of the DDPD is taken care of as soon as possible,” he said. “UNAMID is willing and ready to support all DDPD-related activities.”

DRA Chair Seisi, also addressing those gathered at the locality’s headquarters, stressed the need for reconciliation. “People must embrace peace and social coexistence, and must forget their grievances,” he said, noting that weapons have been proliferating in Darfur, and threatening peace. “We call upon all armed movements to join the peace process,” urged the DRA Chair.

“The Darfur Regional Authority and the citizens of Darfur are partners for achieving peace and development,” the DRA Chair concluded. “We must concentrate on projects, in line with the DDPD, to meet people’s needs.”

Buram, a multi-ethnic locality situated approximately 50 kilometres from Sudan’s border with South Sudan and located at the intersection of several travel routes, not only is a hub of international trade, but also is an area where residents frequently have been caught in the conflict between armed movements and Government forces. With different tribes living in and around Buram, sporadic conflict related to competition over natural resources has emerged from time to time, but most residents have been living peacefully in recent months, thanks in part to local-level mediation initiatives supported by UNAMID.

MOGADISHU, Somalia, May 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, has condemned the attack in Baidoa today that resulted in the death of many civilians and injuries to many more.

“I am shocked and saddened by the attack in Baidoa today. I urge the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly. The United Nations will continue to support the Somali people and their Government as they strive for a peaceful and stable future.”

Mr Kay expressed his sincere condolences to the families and friends of all those killed in today’s attack and wished a swift recovery for those injured.

GENEVA, Switzerland, May 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -6 Church leaders, who were part of the negotiations between South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir and former vice president Riek Machar, now urge that the peace agreement come into immediate effect, ending a five-month conflict in the world’s newest country.

The peace agreement was signed by Kiir and Machar on Saturday, 10 May in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Yet the situation remains volatile until the truce actually takes effect on the ground.

Church leaders who were present at the signing of the peace agreement in Addis Ababa include Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul Yak of the Episcopal Church of Sudan and Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, former general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), ecumenical special envoy for South Sudan and Sudan and representative of the All Africa Conference of Churches.

In Addis Ababa, Archbishop Lukudu offered prayers for peace and observed that “all South Sudanese had been waiting for this day for the last five months”.

He said this agreement is an opportunity for peace which could not be missed. This is the time to correct the costly mistakes of the South Sudanese leaders, restoring brotherhood and sisterhood of the South Sudanese and ending the war now, for all of which churches and the ecumenical community have been advocating for the last two months, Archbishop Lukudu said.

With the agreement having been signed, the real work starts now, said Dr Kobia.

He urged that when both parties in the conflict have agreed upon common principals, they now must commit themselves to implement the peace agreement fully.

“We believe that they meant what they said,” Kobia added.

Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, called the recent developments in South Soudan negotiations “significant and meaningful” for the churches whose leaders, he said, have been “advocating for peace in the country through various means in the past months”.

“The South Sudanese leaders must fulfil their promise,” Tveit said.

“The agreement calls for an immediate cessation of conflict and formation of a transitional government, and is a rare opportunity for peace which must not be wasted,” he said.

Tveit went on to say that churches have been working for many months to revive the South Sudanese peace process.

“Outstanding and significant contributions from ecumenical organization representatives, and church-related specialized ministries working for humanitarian aid and development in South Sudan, show how they are accompanying local churches in solidarity, while they seek justice and peace,” he added.

“The ecumenical family will continue its efforts, both at local and international levels, working together to discern implementation of the peace agreement,” Tveit said.

Faith leaders were named in the agreement among key stakeholders in the peace process, in negotiation toward a transitional government, national unity and in the process of healing and reconciliation. Among those named, with full participatory status in the peace talks, are Bishop Enock Tombe Stephen, Bishop Isaiah Dau, Rev. Peter Tibi, Isaac Kenyi and Dr Nigussu Legesse, the WCC’s programme executive for advocacy for Africa.

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, May 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Tigo Tanzania (http://www.tigo.co.tz) announced today that it has created a “Tigo Business” unit to develop a series of products using high-speed fibre connections to support the needs of the country’s large corporate organisations as well as its small and medium-sized enterprises.

Logo Tigo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/tigo-1.jpg

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1065 (Tigo Tanzania General Manager, Diego Gutierrez)

The newly-established team plans to launch these new services from the third quarter of 2014 by deploying Tigo’s existing fibre network and expanding it. Local and international businesses will be able to benefit from Tigo’s own extensive fibre infrastructure, which supports its mobile network, and on which there is considerable capacity to support the high-speed connectivity now required by so many Tanzanian companies.

Tigo is part of the international telecommunications and media company Millicom, many of whose other operations offer such business-to-business services. In Tanzania, the fibre deployment is within the company’s overall investment plans.

The company is also exploring the potential for deploying cable services to consumers in relevant urban areas and expects a pilot service to be underway later in 2014.

Tigo’s General Manager Diego Gutierrez said “I am delighted that we now have this Unit to drive forward our fibre offer to Tanzanian businesses. Just as we have been innovating in our core mobile service for many years, we are now taking the next step by creating a high-speed opportunity that can help transform companies’ performance and support growth in the local economy.”

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Tigo Tanzania.

For further information visit: http://www.tigo.co.tz or contact:

John Wanyancha – Corporate Communications Manager

Mobile: 0658 123 089

john.wanyancha@tigo.co.tz

About Tigo:

Tigo (http://www.tigo.co.tz) started operations in 1994 as the first cellular network in Tanzania. It now covers 30 regions in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Tigo strives to be Tanzania’s most innovative mobile phone operator, offering services ranging from affordable mobile voice communications to high speed Internet access and mobile financial services through Tigo Pesa.

Tigo is part of Millicom which provides affordable, widely accessible and readily available cellular telephone services to more than 50 million customers in 13 emerging markets in Africa and Latin America.

The success of Tigo is based on the “Triple A” strategy, which stands for Affordability, Accessibility and Availability. We create a world where mobile services are affordable, accessible and available everywhere and to all. This guarantees that our subscribers experience the best services at the most affordable rates throughout all 30 regions in both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.

“SMILE, YOU’RE WITH TIGO”

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

When: Nairobi, Kenya from 12 – 15 May 2014

Kampala, Uganda from 15-17 May 2014

The African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan is expected to meet with South Sudanese citizens in Kenya and Uganda as well as the other pressure groups. This is in addition to meetings with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other actors that could assist it in its investigations.

Why: To fulfill the mandate of the South Sudan Commission of Inquiry which is captured in the Communiqué of the PSC on 30 December 2013 and can be distilled as follows:

a) To investigate the human rights violations and other abuses committed during

the armed conflict in South Sudan;

b) To investigate the causes underlying the violations;

c) To make recommendations on the best ways and means to ensure accountability, reconciliation and healing among all South Sudanese communities with a view to deterring and preventing the occurrence of the violations in future; and

d) To make recommendations on how to move the country forward in terms of unity, cooperation and sustainable development;

e) To submit a report within a maximum period of three (3) months.

The Terms of Reference (ToR) of the South Sudan Commission of Inquiry are to:

a) Establish the immediate and remote causes of the conflict;

b) Investigate human rights violations and other abuses during the conflict by all parties from 15 December 2013;

c) Establish facts and circumstances that may have led to and that amount to such violations and of any crimes that may have been perpetrated;

d) Compile information based on these investigations and in so doing assist in identifying perpetrators of such violations and abuses with a view to ensuring accountability for those responsible;

e) Compile information on institutions and process or lack thereof that may have

aided or aggravated the conflict resulting in violations of human rights and other abuses;

f) To examine ways on how to move the country forward in terms of unity, cooperation and sustainable development;

g) Present a comprehensive written report on the overall situation South Sudan to the African Union Peace and Security Council within a period of three (3) months from the commencement of its activities.

h) Make recommendations based on the investigation on the following:

i. appropriate mechanisms to prevent a recurrence of the conflict;

ii. mechanisms to promote national healing and cohesiveness, particularly focusing on the need for all South Sudanese communities to live together in peace;

iii. modalities for nation building, specifically focused on building of a functional political order, democratic institutions and post conflict reconstruction;

iv. accountability mechanisms for gross violations of human rights and other egregious abuses to ensure that those responsible for such violations are held to account.

The Chairperson of the Commission, in consultation with the Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and other relevant AU structures, established a Commission to investigate the human rights violations and other abuses committed during the armed conflict in South Sudan and make recommendations on the best ways and means to ensure accountability, reconciliation and healing among all South Sudanese communities.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, congratulates the people of the Republic of South Africa for the successful and peaceful elections of 7 May 2014, and the South African President, H.E. Jacob Zuma, for his party’s victory in the elections.

The Chairperson of the AU Commission encourages the ruling party and the opposition parties to continue to work together in the spirit of reconciliation and unity in the interest of the diverse people of South Africa, in order to preserve peace and deepen the country’s 20 years of democracy and prosperity.

With a voter turnout of 73.4 per cent, Former Ghanaian President John Kufour, Head of the AU Election Observation Mission to South Africa, also commended South Africans for the peaceful and successful conduct of the elections. President Kufour said “South Africa has set the bar very high for their African peers.” He spoke to the media during the presentation of the Elections Observer Mission’s preliminary report.

Jacob Enoh Eben

Ag. Spokesperson of the Chairperson

MBABANE, Swaziland, May 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Mr. Jiro Honda visited the Kingdom of Swaziland during April 28‒May 12, 2014 to conduct the 2014 Article IV consultation with Swaziland. The mission met with the Prime Minister, Hon. Sibusiso Dlamini; Minister of Finance, Hon. Martin Dlamini; the Governor of the Central Bank of Swaziland, Mr. Majozi Sithole; other senior government officials, as well representatives of the private sector and development partners. The mission would like to express its gratitude to the authorities and their staffs for the highly professional, productive, and open discussions.

At the end of the mission, Mr. Honda issued the following statement:

“Swaziland’s economic growth has recovered since 2011 when it experienced a fiscal crisis following a significant reduction in revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). In 2013, economic activity is estimated to have grown by 2¾ percent. The recent surge in the SACU revenue helped to improve international reserve coverage to about four months of imports by March 2014. With a return of confidence in the economic outlook, commercial bank credit to the private sector has been growing, while the recent government bond auctions were oversubscribed. Inflation remained modest at 5.1 percent in March 2014.

“Swaziland’s challenges, however, remain significant. The recent fiscal crisis points the need to strengthen Swaziland’s resilience to shocks, while the economy has suffered from weak growth performance, which adversely affects social developments. Furthermore, there are risks to Swaziland’s economic prospects, in particular the uncertain global and regional economic outlook that could lower SACU revenues. Swaziland’s key economic policy challenges are to strengthen its resilience to exogenous shocks and achieve high, inclusive growth, while meeting critical social and development needs.

“In light of these challenges and the need to safeguard the exchange rate peg, the mission encourages the authorities to maintain prudent fiscal policy (with a fiscal deficit less than 2 percent of GDP) over the medium-term, while protecting spending for critical social and development needs. Such a prudent fiscal policy stance would help build a sufficient international reserve buffer (five to seven months of imports) and maintain modest debt distress, and provide Swaziland with better protection for possible shocks. To help implement the prudent fiscal policy, the mission also encourages the authorities to enhance efforts for public sector reforms and public financial management reforms, while welcoming further efforts to enhance tax administration.

“The mission echoes the authorities’ concerns about weak growth performance. This weak performance has been largely associated with low private sector development (depressed private investment in particular). In this light, the mission encourages the authorities to proceed with wide-ranging structural reforms, including further improving business climate, facilitating financial intermediation, and pursuing land management reforms. To this end, the mission commends the Central Bank of Swaziland’s plan to formulate a Financial Sector Strategy, with technical assistance from the IMF and the World Bank.”

Hertfordshire, UK, May 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — SkyVision Global Networks Ltd. (http://www.skyvision.net), a leading global communications provider, today announced its ongoing commitment to strengthen the telecommunications market in Guinea, by launching the company’s new fibre and wireless based services, SkyVision SkyFibre.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/skyvision.jpg

A member of the “Guinéenne de la Large Bande” (GUILAB) consortium, SkyVision has invested in the establishment of an integrated fibre and wireless network across Conakry. Connected over the ACE submarine cable to its global IP/MPLS network, the SkyVision service enables customers to benefit from innovative data processing and telecom solutions. This results in quicker response times, improved communications with customers and suppliers, and increased productivity and profitability.

With the launch of the SkyVision SkyFibre service over its new network, the company immediately increased the bandwidth it provided to existing business customers. The new network will also allow SkyVision to serve new customers across Conakry and throughout Guinea, with its full range of VSAT services. The company portfolio includes Internet access, end to end VPN & private networks, as well as value-added services, such as network security, cloud services, voice, business continuity and hosting solutions.

SkyVision has a strong local presence in Guinea, specializing in delivering comprehensive telecommunications solutions to a range of customers including financial institutions, mining, and other large corporates. “SkyVision invests a great deal into its global infrastructure and is constantly expanding its reach. Our recent network infrastructure in Guinea, was specifically designed to support corporate as well as small business telecom and application bandwidth requirements.” said Mr. Dror Limor, SkyVision VP Sales.

“We will continue to customize our solutions to meet the specific needs of each of our customers, and provide them with true business grade service.” said Mr. Aboubacar Kourouma, SkyVision General Manager in Guinea.

SkyVision’s local presence across Africa is made possible through a comprehensive network of local partners and representatives and SkyVision subsidiaries in Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Uganda and Morocco. The company’s high-level of service and support includes 24/7 multilingual Technical Assistance Centres coupled with teams of local on-ground engineers to serve customers’ immediate needs.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of SkyVision Global Networks Ltd.

Contact:

Iris Tovim

Marketing Communications Manager

SkyVision Global Networks

+44 20 8387 1750

irist@skyvision.net

About SkyVision

SkyVision (http://www.skyvision.net) is a global communications service provider, offering comprehensive, integrated solutions to meet all corporate, government and telco market requirements. With an emphasis on its customers’ local or regional requirements, SkyVision offers superior network connectivity solutions. Known for its innovative approach, the company offers an extensive suite of both customized solutions and industry-standard services for end-to-end IP connectivity, managed from its international gateways and selected local hubs. SkyVision’s global-reaching network connects its customers to the Internet backbone with more than ten satellite platforms and a network of high-capacity fiber optic cables, via its gateways in Africa, Europe, North America and the Middle East as well as multiple points of presence (POPs) in Africa. SkyVision currently commands a satellite and fibre network IP connectivity spanning 100 countries. The company’s C-Band and Ku-Band VSAT network solutions draw on SkyVision’s extensive space segment inventory from leading satellite providers and its capacity is carefully tailored to customers’ individual needs for optimal cost-effectiveness. Visit www.skyvision.net.

BEIJING, China, May 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — In the morning of May 7, 2014, Premier Li Keqiang and President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria held talks in Abuja and then jointly met the press. They answered questions from the journal…