Author: Database of Press Releases related to Africa

WINDHOEK, Namibia, March 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — With a 35+ year track record in and on Africa, Global Pacific & Partners (http://www.glopac-partners.com) hosts it’s 20th Western Africa Oil, Gas/LNG & Energy 2014 Conference, at the Country Club, Windhoek, Namibia, over 15-16 April 2014, with the 10th Western Africa: Strategy Briefing taking place on the 14th April at same venue.

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Download the brochure: http://www.apo-mail.org/1403241.pdf

Download the Registration Form: http://www.apo-mail.org/140324r.pdf

About “Global Pacific & Partners: Clubs and Networks”: http://www.apo-mail.org/140324net.pdf

Emphasis on the Western Africa Oil/Gas Landscapes

The “Western Africa” arena covers a vast oil and gas exploration zone, one of the world’s richest and most promising for ventures- from Morocco to the Cape, including island states, with an enormous offshore zone and hydrocarbon potential, alongside prospective deep water blocks, ultra-deep opportunities only to date marginally explored, Exclusive Economic Zones, and promising pre-salt potential analogous to Brazil.

10th Western Africa Strategy Briefing, 14th April

The Strategy Briefing provides an unrivalled set of key insights on the Western Africa oil, gas and energy game, built on over 30 years of oil and gas research, to track shifting oil-gas/energy maps in Western Africa, providing seasoned insights.

Confirmed Senior-Level Presentations from:

• Ministry of Mines & Energy, Namibia

• Agence de Gestion et de Cooperation Entre la Guinee Bissau et le Senegal (AGC), Dakar

• SAOGA: South African Oil & Gas Alliance, Cape Town

• Serica Energy, London

• Chariot Oil & Gas, London

• Global New Ventures, Noble Energy, Houston

• PetroSA, Cape Town

• Regalis Petroleum, Namibia

• Sogenal Oil & Gas, Nigeria & Vice Chairman Petroleum Club, Lagos

• Sonagas G.E, Equatorial Guinea

• Panoro Energy, London

• Petroci, Abidjan

• ONHYM, Morocco

• Pancontinental Oil & Gas NL

• Petroguin EP,Guinea-Bissau

• Agencia Nacional do Petroleo de São Tomé e Príncipe (ANP-STP)

• Azonto Petroleum Ltd, Perth

• Ecobank Group, London

• Instinct Energy, Australia

• HRT Oil & Gas, Rio de Janeiro

• Ministry of Petroleum, Angola

• Africa Fortesa Corp, Houston

• Angola Legal Partner, Luanda

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Global Pacific & Partners.

Note for the press:

For further information, please contact

Global Pacific & Partners

Babette van Gessel

Tel: +31-70.324.6154

@: babette@glopac.com

Sonika Greyvenstein

Tel: +27-11.880.7052

@: Sonika@glopac.com

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ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 425th meeting, held on 24 March 2014, was briefed on the situation in Somalia by the Commissioner for Peace and Security and the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission (SRCC) for Somalia and Head of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Council was also briefed by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, as well as by the Representatives of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Ethiopia, in its capacity as the Chair of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Council further received the statements made by the Representatives of Rwanda, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and United States of America, as well as by Italy and the European Union.

Council recalled its communiqué PSC/PR/Comm.(CCCXCIX) adopted at its 399th meeting held on 10 October 2013, as well as UN Security Council resolution 2124 (2013), of 12 November 2013, which, inter alia, authorized an increase in the AMISOM force strength to 22,126 uniformed personnel, expanded the UN logistical support package, and requested the UN Support Office to AMISOM (UNSOA) to support the elements of Somali National Army (SNA) involved in joint operations with AMISOM as articulated in AMISOM’s CONOPOS. Council further recalled communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.(CDXIV) of 21 January 2014, endorsing the AMISOM revised CONOPS.

Council welcomed the steps taken by the Commission, with the active support of partners, including the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) and others, in the implementation of the relevant provisions of resolution 2124 (2013) and communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.(CDXIV).

In particular, Council commended the joint Somali National Army (SNA) and AMISOM military operations, which have resulted in the further recovery of key strategic locations from Al Shabaab. Council paid tribute to the AMISOM military and police component for their courage, and, once again, commended the Federal Government of Somalia, troop and police contributing countries (Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Uganda) for their continued commitment to the promotion of lasting peace, security, stability and reconciliation in Somalia.

Council called for renewed efforts to ensure that the logistical support especially with regard to vital life support, facilities and engineering, provided by UNSOA fully meets the operational needs of the Mission on the ground and the specific nature and tempo of the current operations against Al-Shabaab. Council also called on Member States and international partners to contribute to the Trust Fund established in pursuance of resolution 2124 (2013) to support the SNA in joint operations with AMISOM, and called for speedy operationalization of the Fund. Council further called on those AU Members States, which can do so, to avail appropriate helicopters to support the on-going operations of AMISOM.

Council condemned the continuing terrorist attacks perpetrated by Al Shabaab against innocent Somali civilians, the FGS and AMISOM. Council offered its condolences to the families of all the victims of these attacks and to their respective Governments.

Council encouraged the FGS to establish local administrations and provide security and other essential services to the populations in the areas recovered from Al Shabaab.

Council welcomed progress being recorded in the political process in Somalia and commended the efforts of the IGAD, through its Chair, Ethiopia, the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission for Somalia in supporting the FGS in its efforts towards peace and reconciliation and urged them to continue with their efforts.

Council further encouraged the FGS to develop a political roadmap which will facilitate reconciliation, federalism and the completion of the constitution making process that will pave the way for general elections in line with Vision 2016. Council urged AU Member States and the larger international community to provide the required financial support to the FGS in this regard.

CAPE-TOWN, South-Africa, March 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Symantec (http://www.symantec.com) today announced that it has established and opened a new Customer Management Centre (CMC) to provide a world-class experience for its customers across Europe, Middle East and Africa. Symantec will make it easier for customers and partners to interact with the company by bringing together a multi-function, centralized customer centre for sales and support with a focus on helping small businesses, governments and enterprise organizations.

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“Symantec makes the world a safer place by helping people, businesses, and countries protect and manage their information, so they can focus on achieving their goals. The ground-breaking initiative is a strategic investment that will extend the company’s scale to reach more customers than we have ever done before,” said Jason Ellis, vice president for EMEA Customer Management Centre, Symantec. “The launch of the CMC is another proof point to Symantec’s strategy of making it easier to do business with us, while also delivering a world-class customer experience solving more customer problems.”

The hub of the CMC activity is centered out of Dublin, Ireland with other strategic satellite operations located in UK, Lebanon, France and Russia to extend its reach across the broader Europe, Middle East and Africa region. The CMC currently supports multiple languages, including French, German, Spanish and Dutch among others.

The new centre will provide a Europe-wide sales and support function to provide customers and partners with a single place to call, making it easier for them to reach Symantec and solve their important challenges. The CMC is also responsible for delivering an enhanced partner support function, demonstrating Symantec’s continued commitment to developing improved collaboration with its channel. Through the establishment of the Customer Management Centre, Symantec created up to 200 new job opportunities in 2013 and will continue to fill the CMC with a highly skilled, multilingual team to play a central role in achieving Symantec’s mission of protecting and managing customers’ information.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Symantec Corporation.

Media contact:

Katie Beck

Katie_Beck@symantec.com

+971 55 300 61 22

About Symantec

Symantec Corporation (NASDAQ: SYMC) (http://www.symantec.com) is an information protection expert that helps people, businesses and governments seeking the freedom to unlock the opportunities technology brings – anytime, anywhere. Founded in April 1982, Symantec, a Fortune 500 company, operating one of the largest global data-intelligence networks, has provided leading security, backup and availability solutions for where vital information is stored, accessed and shared. The company’s more than 21,500 employees reside in more than 50 countries. Ninety-nine percent of Fortune 500 companies are Symantec customers. In fiscal 2013, it recorded revenues of $6.9 billion. To learn more go to http://www.symantec.com or connect with Symantec at: go.symantec.com/socialmedia.

Note to Editors: If you would like additional information on Symantec Corporation and its products, please visit the Symantec News Room at http://www.symantec.com/news. All prices noted are in U.S. dollars and are valid only in the United States.

Symantec, the Symantec Logo and the Checkmark logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

VIENNA, Austria, March 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “We condemn the death sentences in Egypt that became known today in the strongest terms. Together with our partners in the EU we are advocating the abolition of the death penalty wor…

MOGADISHU, Somalia, March 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) congratulates the Federal Government of Somalia on joining the countries that ratified International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98 on freedom of association and union rights.

The ratification follows a successful campaign by the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) and its affiliated unions including NUSOJ that have pressed for a speedy ratification of ILO core conventions if Somalia is to demonstrate its commitment to protect fundamental union rights and freedom of association.

NUSOJ applauds the progressive leadership provided by the Prime Minister of Somalia Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed who ratified these conventions on 20 March 2014 at the ILO headquarters in Geneva.

“This development finally opens the door to the demand of NUSOJ and other union leaders for the full respect of freedom of association in Somalia, in law and in practice. We call on the federal government to do what is necessary to turn this ratification into reality,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.

NUSOJ has been complaining internal union interferences as well as intimidations and harassments of NUSOJ leaders and members for the exercise of legitimate trade union activities. Some officials in the federal government, using their public offices, stand accused for violations of freedom of association as set out in ILO Conventions.

“There is no social peace and no real democracy without free, representative and independent trade unions in Somalia. Respect for the rights of Somalia’s working men and women, including working journalists, and responding to their fundamental needs is essential for the construction of a democracy which respects fundamental rights, development and social justice,’ added Osman.

Failure to apply ILO conventions 87 and 98 in law and in practice as well as continued violations of trade union rights will force union leaders, activists and members to file complaint at the ILO since Somalia is part of governments that ratified these conventions.

OTTAWA, Canada, March 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Andrew Bennett, Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom, today issued the following statement:

“Canada condemns the terrible attack near Mombasa, Kenya, which has killed six people attending a church service.

“On behalf of all Canadians, I wish to offer sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who died. Our prayers and thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

“Canada stands with the Government of Kenya in its fight against terrorism and hopes it will bring those responsible for this crime to justice.

“Such violence, perpetrated against any faith community, must not be tolerated. Attacks on people who are seeking to practise their faith in peace and security are completely unacceptable and a clear violation of the right to religious freedom.”

TUNIS, Tunisia, March 25, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — At the request of the Tunisian authorities, a mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Mr. Amine Mati visited Tunis from March 6–24, 2014 to conduct the third review of Tunisia’s economic and reform program supported by a 24-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) approved by the IMF Executive Board on June 7, 2013 (See Press Release No. 13/202). The mission held productive discussions with senior government and central bank officials. It also met with representatives of the banking and private sectors, trade unions, political parties, the donor community, and civil society.

At the end of the visit, Mr. Mati issued the following statement:

“In view of the efforts made to preserve macroeconomic stability in the context of a challenging national and international environment, and the Tunisian authorities’ firm commitment to pursue the economic reforms needed to generate more inclusive growth, the IMF mission and the Tunisian authorities reached a staff-level agreement on the third review under the SBA. This agreement is subject to the approval of the IMF Executive Board, which is tentatively scheduled to discuss the review at end-April 2014. The completion of this review would allow for the disbursement of SDR 145 million (about US$225 million).

“The significant progress made at the political level opens the way for clearer prospects, which could help reduce investors’ ‘wait-and-see’ attitude. However, the economic situation remains very fragile, with a growth rate that is too low to meet the population’s high social aspirations.

“The recovery of the Tunisian economy remains timid, with a real growth rate estimated at 2.6 percent in 2013, driven mainly by public and private services, and which is expected to remain close to 2.8 percent in 2014. Headline inflation declined to 5.5 percent at end-February 2014, and should remain stable following a slower rise in food prices and the implementation of a prudent monetary policy. The current account deficit widened to 8.4 percent of GDP in 2013, as a result of weak exports of phosphates and low tourism revenues, coupled with weak external demand for Tunisian goods, which is expected to keep the deficit at 7.2 percent of GDP in 2014. On the fiscal front, the deficit improved markedly in 2013 to 4.5 percent of GDP (on a cash basis, excluding grants and privatization receipts), against 5 percent of GDP in 2012, but this is attributable mainly to the deferral to 2014 of the settlement of some payment orders issued in 2013, and to the significant under-execution of investment spending, linked to absorptive capacity constraints. For 2014, the deferral of expenditures will weigh on the budget deficit (on a cash basis), which will widen to 8 percent of GDP and will mainly be financed through external sources.

“Short-term risks to the outlook for the Tunisian economy remain significant, particularly in case of a lengthy political transition period, heightened security tensions, or a worsening of the economic outlook for Tunisia’s main trading partners. To address major challenges facing Tunisia, immediate action is needed to control fiscal and external deficits, reduce the banking sector’s increasing vulnerabilities, and generate more rapid and inclusive growth that can absorb unemployment and reduce social and economic disparities.

“The implementation of a tight monetary policy and a more flexible exchange rate policy are essential to preserve macroeconomic stability. Controlling the wage bill, realizing a tax reform that fosters transparency and equity, a better monitoring of the performance of public enterprises, as well as gradual replacement of energy subsidies by a better-targeted social safety net, will help create the necessary fiscal space to foster strong and more inclusive growth. Reducing the vulnerabilities of the Tunisian economy also requires a more rapid implementation of the banking sector reform and a renewed and determined effort to accelerate structural reforms critical to job creation, such as a new investment code, the competition law, the bankruptcy law, and trade facilitation measures.

“Protecting the most vulnerable in the population from the impact of reforms and fiscal consolidation continues to be a priority for the Tunisian authorities and the IMF. In this context, the mission noted the efforts made to put in place a unique social identification number as well as the authorities’ commitment to establish a program to support vulnerable households.

“The mission would like to thank the authorities and all those with whom they met for their warm welcome, excellent meeting arrangements, and frank and fruitful discussions.”

LONDON, United-Kingdom, March 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — William Hague concerned at 528 death sentences passed in Egypt & worried by reports of shortcomings in judicial process

Speaking today about an Egyptian court sentencing more than five hundred people to death, Foreign Secretary William Hague said:

“I am deeply concerned by the reports that 528 individuals were today sentenced to death by a court in Al Minya in Egypt.

“Reports that many of the accused were tried in their absence and that defendants may not have been adequately represented are also deeply worrying. We urge the Egyptian authorities to ensure full respect for defendants’ rights, and hope they will review this unacceptable sentence.

“It is the long-standing policy of Her Majesty’s Government to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle.”

MOGADISHU, Somalia, March 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, condemned the brutal killing of eight traditional elders yesterday in the Bay region of Somalia as well as the violence that erupted in Baidoa between supporters of different state formation initiatives.

The community elders were participating in a state formation conference in Baidoa after which they were according to the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) ambushed and killed by Al Shabaab.

“I condemn these cruel murders and express my heartfelt condolences to the families and communities of the elders” said SRSG Kay while calling at the same time for a full investigation into the attack and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice swiftly. “I remind all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and avoid provocative actions that could pose a security threat and lead to further instability” SRSG Kay noted.

Speaking to the African Union Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa earlier today, SRSG Kay called for an urgent response by the Federal Government to lead the peace-building process. “It is imperative that all stakeholders meet without delay to address the issues in Baidoa and support a peaceful state formation process under the leadership of the Federal Government.”

He welcomed the Government’s proposal to bring together urgently political and traditional leaders from all parties for immediate consultations. “UNSOM is committed to supporting the Government’s efforts and will work closely with its international partners, particularly the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and European Union (EU), to move forward the reconciliation and state formation process” he added.

NEW YORK, March 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — [AS DELIVERED]

Your Excellency, Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council,

Your Excellencies, members of the Council, Ambassadors, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen

Thank you very much indeed for inviting me to address the Council today and thank you for the African Union’s continued support to peace and stability in Somalia.

It is a moment, I would say full of promise and progress but not without challenges. It is a time today, in which we are all turning plans into actions. I would certainly like to pay sincere tribute to the brave men and women of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Without them, we would not be where we are today. It is important to underline that under Ambassador Annadif’s resolute leadership, AMISOM continues to be the single most important contributor to the security of Somalia, and a vital partner for the Federal Government and the United Nations in peace-building, state-building and stabilisation.

Mr. Chairperson,

2014 is a crucial year for Somalia. It is a year which will be challenging on both the political and security fronts, but also a year where we need to see progress.

As we meet and as Ambassador Annadif has explained, AMISOM and the Somali National Army are achieving significant military gains. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2124 made possible the most significant and geographically extensive military advance since AMISOM began; operation “Eagle” is a direct and visible outcome with remarkable successes so far and major towns now extended under state authority. I salute the courage and professionalism of the African Union and Somali forces. I also recognise the invaluable support provided by key partners, in particular the United States of America, the European Union and its member states and Turkey.

I would like to underline that the UN is doing everything possible to support the renewed operations and I welcome the meetings which are now happening with UNSOA and the senior leadership in AMISOM to address what have been somehow standing issues. But I can underline that supplies of food, fuel, water are being delivered by the UN Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA) in all sectors. Casualty, medical evacuations in some considerable number are happening. I underline also and echo Ambassador’s Annadif appeal for military helicopters for the mission, for AMISOM, and again the UN and UNSOA stand ready with the budget for 12 helicopters if they were to be provided by member states. UNSOA and UNSOM have been supporting the training of Somali National Army troops and pre-deployment training of AMISOM forces. This includes training in human rights and humanitarian law, in accordance with the Secretary-General’s Human Rights Due Diligence Policy.

I think we should not forget the absolute ambition and complexity of the operation that AMISOM is undertaking. This is an operation that has started with a massive ‘Relief in Place’ as the new sectors are created and forces move. It now has six contingents, as Ambassador Annadif said, contributing on the military side and they are now undertaking difficult, demanding operations simultaneously in at least five different sectors. This is a scale and complexity of operation that would challenge many organisations and I think we should pay tribute both to the African Union success and also the UN/UNSOA success in supporting this operation so effectively to date. But more can be done and more improvement in communication and liaison between the organisations, I am sure will help resolve any outstanding issues.

Mr. Chairperson,

Military operations alone will not achieve sustainable peace and it is therefore vital that military operations are accompanied with stabilisation efforts. The Government of Somalia has already taken the lead on this and provided the framework for the stabilisation, including the establishment of interim local administrations. UNSOM has been working closely with AMISOM, IGAD and other partners to support this – and will be providing technical support and advice to the newly established interim local administrations. I have recently allocated $3 million from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund to be used for the immediate responses in this context.

AMISOM, UNSOM/UNSOA and the Federal Government need to continue to harmonise their work in order to deliver the greatest impact to the people of Somalia. In particular, it will be critical to coordinate our efforts during the operations to ensure human rights and humanitarian principles are upheld. In this regard, I look forward to the swift establishment of the Civilian Causality tracking mechanism, as well as the endorsement of the Protection of Civilians strategy.

Furthermore, on the political process, which again Ambassador Annadif has explained very clearly, the best hope for peace and stability in Somalia remains a united, secure and federal Somalia. This is achievable and I believe that Somalia can reach its goal of an agreed constitution, a nation-wide electoral process and improved security by 2016. In order to achieve this, the targets which the Federal Government has set out in its Vision 2016 framework should be our guiding framework as the international community. Progress on the creation of a federal Somalia has its challenges as we have seen recently in Baidoa where two rival camps advocating for a six- and three-region state respectively have yet to come to the negotiating table. I will continue to work closely with key partners, principally the African Union, IGAD and the European Union, to support a Federal Government-led process with respect to its commitment for the formation of a three-region state. I condemn the violence and killing yesterday in and outside Baidoa and I call for restraint and an urgent response by the Federal Government to lead the peacebuilding process.

In the south of Somalia, implementation of the Addis Ababa agreement of 28th of August has been mixed. I strongly support IGAD’s role as guarantor of the agreement and IGAD’s special envoy Ambassador Affey’s initiative to accelerate full implementation of the technical, security and political elements.

Elsewhere and further to the north, I am also concerned by the military tensions between Puntland and Somaliland in the Sool and Sanaag regions. I call for maximum caution and avoidance of confrontation.

Mr. Chairperson,

I am pleased that AMISOM in conjunction with the Federal Government have increased their security operations in the city of Mogadishu and that the Government has developed a new security strategy for Mogadishu. We are, as Ambassador Annadif says, beginning to see the positive results of that.

Mr. Chairperson,

Finally, we need to keep in mind that the military offensive is sparking humanitarian needs, which need to be addressed as a matter of urgency. Most of the humanitarian needs so far have been the result of population movements. Humanitarian access due to the volatile security situation remains a challenge. Humanitarian partners are working to determine urgent needs and how best to respond.

Mr. Chairperson,

The military gains should be followed by sustainable peace- and state- building results. I firmly believe this can be achieved and that both the UN and the African Union have a great role to play. Only together can we can help the Federal Government deliver to the Somalis what they most need: improved security, rule of law, education, health, jobs, economic development. Let us remember that Somalia is at a turning point of a long road. It needs now more than ever our collective efforts in order to move forward. Together, I am sure, by 2016, we will achieve much of which we now dream.

I thank you very much.