WASHINGTON, September 30, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
September 29, 2013
On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I offer warm wishes to the people of…
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, September 30, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On the morning of 29 September 2013, a UNAMID helicopter developed a technical fault while on a flight from Zalengei to Nertiti, in Central Darfur, soon after taking of…
WASHINGTON, September 30, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The World Bank Board of Directors today approved an IDA* credit of $US40 million to support Senegal’s efforts toboost the productivity of rice, mangoes, and other crops, create jobs for youth and female farmers and rehabilitate roads that linkisolated rural communities with markets in the country’s war-torn Casamance region.
“Senegal’s newly elected Government attaches high priority to resolving the long-standing conflict in Casamance,”saysVera Songwe, the World Bank Country Director for Senegal. “Today’s project goes a long way towards helping to bring peace to the region byboosting the local economy, creating much-needed jobs for vulnerable youth and women and improving access to agricultural markets.”
Today’s funds support Senegal’s Casamance Development Pole Project designed to create economic opportunities and support the reintegration of ex-combatants in Casamance region. The project’s first segment will support buildinginfrastructure and purchasing equipment to enable growers and others to collect, handle, process and transportlocal produce.It will support the Integrated Economic Platform of Bignona, an ongoing program helping to improve the region’s ability to manufacture and export value added products, such as jams and dried fruit,from local produce.
“Insufficient rain and a lack of access to fertilizers and seeds slowed the growth of Senegal’s agriculture sector and created a serious food crisis in 2011,”says Jamal Saghir, the World Bank Director for Sustainable Development with the Africa Region.“Today’s project will help boost the production of rice and other staples of the Senegalese dietfacilitate the export of produce from Casamance to other parts of the country and bring much-needed income to farm families.”
The project’s second componentwill link isolated rural communitieswith markets, production centers and cities. Specifically the project will fund spot improvements on about 350 km of unclassified roads and the rehabilitation and maintenance of about 200 km of selected rural roads.
The third part of today’s financing will support capacity building of key stakeholders, including the Agence Nationale pour la Relance des Activités Economiques et Sociales en Casamance (ANRAC),and their ability to carry out peace building processes and programs focused on the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration for ex-combatants.
“For the past 30 years the Casamance region has experienced Africa’s longest lived low-intensity conflict, which has stifled agriculture, trade and tourism, and killed and injured hundreds of people,”says DembaBalde. World Bank Task Team Leader for the project.“I look forward to helping the Senegal Government implement today’s project.”
* The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing loans (called “credits”) and grants for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 82 poorest countries, 40 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change for 2.5 billion people living on less than $2 a day. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 108 countries. Annual commitments have increased steadily and averaged about $15 billion over the last three years, with about 50 percent of commitments going to Africa.
LAGOS, Nigeria, September 30, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The showcase event for the African power industry opens in Lagos this week (2 October) , bringing together headline organisations from Africa and around the world offering related products and services for a booming regional energy sector.
Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/informa.jpg
Taking place until 4 October at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Power Nigeria (http://www.power-nigeria.com) will serve as a comprehensive platform for exhibitors to showcase their wares in the power generation, transmission and distribution, lighting and renewable energy, nuclear energy and water sectors.
Leading the way is the Oman-based manufacturer of power and distribution transformers, Voltamp Energy, which will present their latest range of power transformers extending up to 315 megawatts.
“We’re expanding our product portfolio to further enhance our brand name in the local and African regional power sector,” said Aasit Naik, General Manager of Central Marketing at Voltamp Energy. The power transformers market is growing strongly and Power Nigeria will provide a platform to benefit from this growth while providing an opportunity to diversify our product portfolio.”
The Bulgarian company International Power Supply will launch their new modular hybrid power system, Exeron, designed to combine power effectively from different sources of energy including sun, wind, diesel generator and grid.
Meanwhile the UK-based training specialists The Faraday Centre will promote their newly built training facility in Lagos, providing training in high and low voltage for the land, marine and offshore industries.
An interesting highlight of the three-day event in Nigeria’s largest city is the free to attend technical seminars featuring renowned experts from around the world discussing the latest developments in the energy sector.
Radwan Halabi of the UAE-based National Fire Fighting Manufacturing Co (NAFFCO) will conduct the first session in the morning of the three-day seminar about certified firefighting systems and equipment. He will be joined by Zahidul Islam from BRB Cable Industries who will deliver a presentation about electric cables and wires.
IIIdar Ginayatullin from Mars Energo and Wale Raphael Yusuff from Clarke Energy will be among the final speakers at the seminar who will deliver presentations about test and calibration equipments and gas engines for captive power and independent power producers (IPP).
“The free-to-attend technical seminars will give visitors an opportunity to hear expert presentations about the energy sector, while the Power Nigeria exhibition is the best place to see the latest technology and intelligent energy solutions the industry has to offer,” said Anita Mathews, Director of Informa Energy Group, organisers of Power Nigeria.
Commenting on the Nigerian power sector, Mathews said: “The Nigerian power sector has been struggling to meet demand with a number of generation units in the power plants across the country operating much lower than their installed capacity.
“Investments have to be made in funding of all the regional power systems to develop the available resource potential for power generation to eventually cater to the country’s growing electricity demand. Power Nigeria provides the platform for stakeholders to take this forward.
Power Nigeria is supported by The Federal Ministry of Power, The Nigerian Association for Energy Economics, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and The Foundation for the Development of Africa. For further information please visit: http://www.power-nigeria.com.
Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of Informa plc.
For more information, please contact:
Gareth Wright or Sharrah Kapadia
Total Communications
Tel: + 971 4 4281502
Email: gareth@totalcompr.ae or sharrah@totalcompr.ae
LONDON, United-Kingdom, September 29, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — FCO confirms on present information that six British nationals have been killed in Nairobi.
An FCO spokesperson said:
“FCO can confirm a sixth British national has been identified amongst those killed in the tragedy in Nairobi. We are providing consular assistance.
“Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.
“We have no information at this time that any further British nationals have been killed although we cannot rule out the potential for further British casualties and we continue to stay in close contact with the Kenyan authorities as their investigations continue.”
NEW YORK, September 29, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Agreed Outcomes
1. On 28 September 2013, representatives of the Government of Sudan (GoS), the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN) and the African Union – United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) met in New York for the sixteenth (16th) Tripartite Coordination Mechanism (TCM) meeting on UNAMID.
2. The GoS delegation was led by Ambassador Rahmatalla Mohamed Osman, Under Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The AU delegation was led by Director for Peace and Security, Mr. El-Ghassim Wane. The UN delegation was led by the Under Secretary General for the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), Mr. Hervé Ladsous. The UNAMID delegation was led by the AUIUN Joint Special Representative, Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas.
3. In their opening remarks, all participants recognized the unique value of the Tripartite Coordination Mechanism which fosters continued cooperation between the Government of Sudan, the African Union, and the United Nations, in the identification and resolution of significant challenges related to UNAMID mandate implementation. The African Union and United Nations expressed appreciation to the Government of Sudan for its sustained engagement in the forum which has been paramount to its success.
4. The African Union and the United Nations commended the continued commitment of the Government of Sudan to reaching a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Darfur and welcomed the efforts of the African Union – United Nations Joint Chief Mediator, Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, for his recent engagement with the remaining non signatory movements aimed at revitalizing the Darfur peace process within the framework of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD). All participants reiterated their commitment to supporting a stable peace for Darfur on the basis of the DDPD.
5. Participants discussed the early recovery, reconstruction and development needs of Darfur and its significance for long term peace and stability in Darfur. It was agreed that the Darfur Development Strategy, which was endorsed by the international donor community in April 2013, was a solid framework through which the Government of Sudan, with the assistance of international development partners, could address the root causes of conflict, promote stability and generate much needed support for the peace process. In this regard, ways should be explored on how best UNAMID could contribute more towards early recovery and development.
6. Participants expressed concern about the insecurity affecting some parts of Darfur and its consequences on the protection of civilians and the commencement of early recovery and development. In this connection, the African Union and United Nations underscored the importance of facilitating unfettered access and freedom of movement for UNAMID to execute its mandate.
7. Participants acknowledged the progress made at the 17 September 2013 technical level tripartite meeting towards resolving several outstanding operational issues, including with regard to UNAMID lifesaving air operations (CASEVAC/MEDEVAC flights). With respect to visas, while welcoming recent progress on this front and also acknowledging the Government of Sudan’s concerns related to increasing the recruitment of local personnel, the African Union and United Nations urged the Government of Sudan to facilitate the timely issuance of visas for personnel required for the Mission. Participants agreed to continue coordination between UNAMID and the Government of Sudan on these and other pending operational issues at the technical level.
8. Regarding the forward looking review of UNAMID’s progress towards mandate implementation, as called for by the Security Council under resolution 2113 (2013), participants observed that the review provides a welcome opportunity to enhance the effectiveness of UNAMID operations, including support to early recovery and development.
9. At the request of the African Union, the participants agreed that the next meeting would take place in January 2013 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the margins of the African Union Summit.
NEW YORK, September 29, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Communiqué of the sixth meeting of Sudan-South Sudan consultative forum, at United Nations headquarters, New York, 27 September 2013
1. The Sudan-South Sudan Consultative Forum (SSSCF), initially established as the Sudan Consultative Forum on 8 May 2010, held its sixth meeting at United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, on 27 September 2013. The meeting was co-chaired by the UN Deputy-Secretary-General, Mr. Jan Eliasson, and President Abdulsalami Abubakar of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel.
2. In addition to the AU and the UN, the following States and organizations participated in the meeting: (i) neighbouring countries of South Sudan and Sudan, namely Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia (currently also Chair of IGAD and of the AU), Libya and Uganda; (ii) the permanent members of the UN Security Council – UNSC — (China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America), as well as Rwanda and Togo as AU Member States on the UNSC; Australia, President of the UN Security Council for the month of September and Côte d’Ivoire, Chair of the African Union Peace and Security Council for the month of September (iv) Norway and Qatar; (v) Algeria, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Lithuania, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey; (vi) IGAD (Secretariat), the League of Arab States (Secretariat and Chair), the European Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the African Development Bank and the World Bank
3. The meeting was convened to review progress made in the implementation of the 27 September Cooperation Agreements between Sudan and South Sudan, to reaffirm international support to the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel facilitation and discuss the positions and proposals expressed in the 23 September AUPSC Summit Communiqué.
4. Participants heard presentations from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sudan, Mr. Ali Ahmed Karti, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of South Sudan, Mr. Benjamin Marial. Participants also received a briefing from H.E. President Thabo Mbeki on behalf of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), and Dr Teodros Adhanom, Foreign Minister of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the current Chair of IGAD and of the African Union. These were followed by an interactive discussion.
5. Participants commended President Omer Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan and President Salva Kiir of South Sudan for the outcomes of their Presidential summit held in Khartoum on 3 September and their agreement to resume indefinitely oil flows between the two countries. They commended the two Presidents for demonstrating constructive leadership and political will to implement all Cooperation agreements and address all outstanding issues without further delay.
6. Participants praised the AUHIP, the AU Commission and IGAD for facilitating the resolution of remaining disputes between the Parties, notably with respect to allegations of support to one another’s rebel groups and the exact determination of the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SBDZ) centerline. They acknowledged the contribution of the AU Border Programme to the ongoing efforts.
7. Participants commended the work of the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Sudan and South Sudan, UNISFA and other international partners for their support to the peace consolidation efforts led by the African Union.
8. Participants expressed their concern for the deteriorating political environment in the Abyei area and the risk that unilateral actions by Misseriya and Ngok Dinka communities lead to security incidents costly in human lives. They called on the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) to resume its activities and provide the guidance and leadership necessary for the rapid and safe return of refugees and displaced persons, a peaceful 2013-2014 Misseriya migration, and maintain Abyei a weapons free area.
9. Participants took note with appreciation of the 23 September 2013 AUPSC Communiqué which inter alia welcomed the commitment of the two countries to expeditiously implement the 20 June 2011 Agreement on Temporary Arrangements for the Administration and Security of the Abyei Area and urged the two governments to establish the Abyei Area Referendum Commission and refrain from undertaking unilateral actions and encourages implementation of such commitments.
10. Participants strongly encouraged the Parties to urgently resume discussions over the 21 September 2012 AUHIP proposal and resolve the determination of the final status of Abyei through a mutually acceptable arrangement. Participants re-affirmed the right for Abyei residents to determine their political future, and the right of continued access for migratory populations.
11. Participants welcome the AUPSC decision to visit Abyei in October, and look forward to its assessment and recommendations.
12. Participants welcomed the convening of the Joint Security Committee in Juba from 24th to 26th September and strongly urged the Parties to agree on the coordinates of the SBDZ centerline and fully implement all border security arrangements, including the complete withdrawal of all forces from the SBDZ.
13. Participants also urged the Parties to complete expeditiously the negotiations related to the disputed and claimed border areas, and proceed with border demarcation. They welcomed the plan to convene a conference on the issue of soft border, under the auspices of the AU with other international partners, to be presided over by the two Vice-Presidents and including the Governors of the states of Sudan and South Sudan adjoining the common border, in order to expedite cooperation;
14. Participants welcomed the efforts of the AUHIP and the Chair of IGAD to assist the Parties to resolve the conflict in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States. They urged the Government of Sudan and SPLM-N to cease hostilities and engage in direct talks to end the conflict in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile on the basis of the 28 June 2011 Agreement.
15. Expressing grave concern regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States of Sudan, participants called on all parties to refrain from any acts of violence against civilians, to expedite safe and unhindered humanitarian access for the timely and full delivery of humanitarian aid to all civilians in urgent need of assistance in accordance with relevant provisions of international law, including international humanitarian law and the United Nations guiding principles of humanitarian assistance, and to fully respect international human rights law and international humanitarian law. In this regard, they emphasized that those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of international human rights law must be held accountable. Participants also called on all parties to urgently resolve all technical problems to allow the conduct of an anti-polio vaccination campaign for children;
16. Participants also urged the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to seek peaceful resolutions to internal armed conflicts in South Sudan, especially the on-going conflict in Jonglei State;
17. Participants agreed with the AUPSC Communiqué of 23 September that the guiding principles of democratic inclusiveness and unity in diversity should inform the goals and processes of nationally owned and led dialogue and constitution making in the two sovereign nations of South Sudan and Sudan in the coming year and reaffirmed their commitment to support the facilitation of the AUHIP to assist the two governments in managing these nationally owned and led processes and address their governance and democratic transformation challenges. Participants concurred that the peaceful resolution of internal conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan and democratic, inclusive and legitimate process of national consultation and constitution-building are complementary.
18. Participants also agreed with the AUPSC Communiqué of 23 September that, for the two nations of South Sudan and Sudan to achieve the agreed goal of two viable states living peacefully with one another and with the wider region, it will be necessary for both to embark upon sustainable development, poverty reduction, the provision of essential services, and economic integration. They also agreed that for these goals to be realized, the cooperation of international partners will be required, in particular for debt relief, the lifting of economic sanctions, and the provision of development assistance and cooperation. They thus welcomed the efforts of South Sudan and Sudan to engage in a joint outreach to international partners in order to achieve these interlinked goals;
19. Participants agreed to reconvene on the margins of the next AU Summit to review progress made in the implementation of the agreements, and encouraged the African Union to continue supporting their implementation.
NEW YORK, September 29, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Human Rights Deepak Obhrai delivers an address at a high-level meeting on the Sahel, on the margins of the 68th Session of …
OTTAWA, Canada, September 29, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights, today issued the following statement:
“Canada is deeply concerned by continuing reports of violence that has led to the loss of life and property damage in Sudan.
“Canada condemns the ongoing use of violence to suppress peaceful protest. The rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are cornerstone democratic principles. There are reports of live ammunition fired on protesters, arrests of political opposition members and increased media censorship; such actions are unacceptable.
“Canada calls on the Sudanese government and local authorities to respect protesters’ human rights. Canada urges all parties to refrain from violence and allow peaceful expression to take place.
“Canada remains committed to the cause of achieving stability and security across Sudan and South Sudan.”
OTTAWA, Canada, September 29, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Check Against Delivery
Canada is concerned by the ongoing needs of vulnerable populations in the Sahel region, who face chronic hunger and malnutrition, and by the security situation, which is compounding an already complex situation in the region.
Last year’s food and nutrition crisis, which affected more than 18 million people throughout the Sahel, is still fresh in our minds.
Canada was one of the key providers of assistance in the Sahel region during the food and nutrition crisis, providing $65.4 million to partners addressing critical food, nutrition and livelihood support needs.
Poverty reduction remains the objective of Canada’s development assistance in the region, which directly contributes to improving peace and security.
In this context, we will continue to work with other donors as well as with our humanitarian and development partners in order to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable, particularly women and children, in the Sahel region.
As we speak, states across the Sahel are facing many common challenges to stability and peace.
Where governments are unable to exercise their authority, criminal networks and ideologically driven transnational groups, some with connections to al Qaeda, foment instability. While African economies are among the fastest growing in the world, demographic and economic pressures, as well as ethnic and class rifts, are deepening in many states of the Sahel.
Canada is encouraged by the initial success of MINUSMA [the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali] in the implementation of its mandate, particularly on the political and security fronts, alongside France’s Operation Serval. This UN mission is playing a key role in the stabilization of Mali and, by extension, contributes positively to security in the Sahel region.
As per its mandate, MINUSMA contributed to creating the conditions for the holding of successful presidential elections and has made progress in restoring the capacity of the Malian security forces.
The inauguration of Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta as the new president of Mali in September was another important step in Mali’s return to democracy, and the Malian people can take pride in their commitment to democratic values. It also marked an important step toward reconciliation, strengthened democratic governance and the protection of human rights for all Malians.
However, while the armed groups that triggered the Malian crisis are no longer operating freely in northern Mali, the threat posed by them must not be underestimated as they seek new safe havens in neighbouring countries and could have the potential to destabilize the region one more time.
Canada has also been strongly engaged in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel.
Canada, through the Global Peace and Security Fund, has disbursed approximately $400 million in security programming in the Sahel and North Africa, largely in support of UN peacekeeping operations in Sudan and South Sudan.
Since 2010, the Canadian Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Program has provided $24 million in funding for training, equipment, and technical and legal assistance to Sahel states so that they can prevent and respond to terrorist activity. Canada is also proud to co-chair, with Algeria, the Global Counterterrorism Forum Sahel Working Group, which is strengthening the civilian capacities of Sahel countries to combat terrorism.
During a recent visit to Algeria, our minister of foreign affairs, John Baird, announced $1.2 million in new funding toward counterterrorism initiatives aimed at strengthening border security and judicial systems in North Africa and the Sahel. These initiatives will be implemented by experienced partners such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Civil Aviation Organization.
As the development challenges and security threat in the Sahel evolve, Canada will continue to support Sahelian countries.
Thank you.
