Category: APO-OPA

GENEVA, Switzerland, August 6, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Early next week, the World Health Organization (WHO) will convene a panel of medical ethicists to explore the use of experimental treatment in the ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Currently there is no registered medicine or vaccine against the virus, but there are several experimental options under development.

The recent treatment of two health workers from Samaritan’s Purse with experimental medicine has raised questions about whether medicine that has never been tested and shown to be safe in people should be used in the outbreak and, given the extremely limited amount of medicine available, if it is used, who should receive it.

“We are in an unusual situation in this outbreak. We have a disease with a high fatality rate without any proven treatment or vaccine,” says Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, Assistant Director-General at the World Health Organization. “We need to ask the medical ethicists to give us guidance on what the responsible thing to do is.”

The gold standard for assessing new medicine involves a series of trials in humans, starting small to make sure the medicine is safe to use. Then, the studies are expanded to more people to see how effective it is, and how best to use it.

The guiding principal with use of any new medicine is ‘do no harm’. Safety is always the main concern.

MOGADISHU, Somalia, August 6, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, welcomed the addition of Himan and Heeb as a signatory to an agreement in principle to form a regional administration in central Somalia.

Parties to the agreement, initially signed by other stakeholders on 30 July, have agreed to work together towards the establishment of a new administration in central Somalia.

“I welcome the addition of Himan and Heeb as a signatory to this first step in the process of state formation in central Somalia,” SRSG Kay said. “I congratulate all three signatories and the Federal Government of Somalia on the important progress in the path towards peace- and state-building”.

“I urge parties to the agreement to engage in constructive consultation and reconciliation involving all stakeholders, ensuring that the interests of both emerging and existing administrations are protected,” he added. “As a witness to the agreement, the United Nations is committed to supporting its implementation and to Somalia’s overall peace- and state-building goals,” Mr. Kay said.

GENEVA, Switzerland, August 6, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Disease outbreak news 6 August 2014

Epidemiology and surveillance

Between 2 and 4 August 2014, a total of 108 new cases of Ebola virus disease (laboratory-confirmed, probable, and suspect cases) as well as 45 deaths were reported from Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

Health sector response

A mission briefing with representatives from Member States was held on 5 August at the World Health Organization (WHO). Information about the nature of Ebola virus disease (EVD) was highlighted. This was followed by outlining the essential components for control, including the need for national leadership, improved care and case management, identifying transmission chains and stopping disease spread, and preventing further outbreaks. Among the critical issues are: cross-border infections and travelers; partners reaching the limits of their capacity and ability to respond rapidly, safely, and effectively; and concerns about the socio-economic impact of continued transmission.

The Director-General also shared information from her recent meetings in Guinea with Member States of the Mano River Union – Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. She outlined that the response in West Africa would focus on three areas:

• Treatment of Guéckédou, Kenema, and Foya as a unified sector, which will include public health measures meant to reduce movement in and out of the area.

• Intensifying current measures in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

• Taking steps to reduce international spread to other countries in Africa and outside of the African Region.

The Sub-regional Ebola Operations Coordination Centre (SEOCC) in Conakry reported on 5 August that the following actions are underway in the four affected countries:

• In Guinea, new foci have emerged and case management facilities will be needed. Exit screening is currently being tested in Conakry, in partnership with the US CDC.

• In Liberia, security issues continue to be of concern, notwithstanding the commitment of the Government. Community resistance remains high.

• In Nigeria, the Government is focused on following up the contacts from the index case. Clinical support is urgently needed and a treatment centre is being set up for managing cases of EVD.

• In Sierra Leone, efforts are underway to map where treatment centres are most needed and getting those set up. A similar exercise is underway for laboratories.

The SEOCC is assisting countries with these and many other response measures.

On 6 August, WHO is convening an Emergency Committee of international experts to review the outbreak and advise the Director-General, in accordance with the International Health Regulations, whether the Ebola virus disease outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Experts will receive an epidemiological briefing and will determine whether the criteria for a PHEIC have been met. If the Emergency Committee agrees that this is a PHEIC, they will then advise the Director-General on temporary recommendations. A summary of the meeting will be made public and a press briefing will be held on Friday, 8 August.

Disease update

New cases and deaths attributable to EVD continue to be reported by the Ministries of Health in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Between 2 and 4 August 2014, 108 new cases (laboratory-confirmed, probable, and suspect cases) of EVD and 45 deaths were reported from the four countries as follows: Guinea, 10 new cases and 5 deaths; Liberia, 48 new cases and 27 deaths; Nigeria, 5 new cases and 0 death; and Sierra Leone, 45 new cases and 13 deaths.

As of 4 August 2014, the cumulative number of cases attributed to EVD in the four countries stands at 1 711, including 932 deaths. The distribution and classification of the cases are as follows: Guinea, 495 cases (351 confirmed, 133 probable, and 11 suspected), including 363 deaths; Liberia, 516 cases (143 confirmed, 252 probable, and 121 suspected), including 282 deaths; Nigeria, 9 cases (0 confirmed, 2 probable, and 7 suspected), including 1 death; and Sierra Leone, 691 cases (576 confirmed, 49 probable, and 66 suspected), including 286 deaths.

Confirmed, probable, and suspect cases and deaths from Ebola virus disease in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, as of 4 August 2014

New Confirmed Probable Suspect Totals

Guinea

Cases 10 351 133 11 495

Deaths 5 228 133 2 363

Liberia

Cases 48 143 252 121 516

Deaths 27 128 110 44 282

Nigeria

Cases 5 0 2 7 9

Deaths 0 0 1 0 1

Sierra Leone

Cases 45 576 49 66 691

Deaths 13 247 34 5 286

Totals

Cases 108 1 070 436 205 1 711

Deaths 45 603 278 51 932

1. New cases were reported between 2 and 4 August 2014.

The total number of cases is subject to change due to reclassification, retrospective investigation, consolidation of cases and laboratory data, and enhanced surveillance. Data reported in the Disease Outbreak News are based on best available information reported by Ministries of Health.

OSLO, Norway, August 6, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — ‘I am very concerned about the latest setback in the South Sudan peace talks. I urge both parties to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.

The parties to the conflict started new peace talks on Monday, overseen by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and supported by the Troika countries (Norway, the UK and the US). The talks also included representatives of civil society, other political parties and religious leaders. On Tuesday evening, the rebel group SPLM-IO, led by Riek Machar, withdrew from the negotiations, saying that they did not want any participants other than themselves and the Government to be involved.

‘These negotiations are intended to resolve the very serious conflict in South Sudan. The actions of Riek Machar and his group amount to a rejection of the clear position taken not only by IGAD but by the international community as a whole and the arrangements that have been made for the negotiations,’ said Mr Brende.

‘We condemn Riek Machar’s decision, and are also disappointed by the South Sudanese Government’s response. The people of South Sudan deserve better. The hostilities and the threat of famine make it essential for all parties to behave responsibly. Riek Machar will bear a large share of the responsibility if the talks break down altogether, and the international community will have to consider what the consequences should be for him and the rebel group he leads,’ said Mr Brende.

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, August 6, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The European Commission has launched the first phase of a new programme that will foster Africa’s integration process at continental level – the first ever EU programme in development and cooperation that covers Africa as a whole. The so-called Pan-African Programme will fund activities in a broad range of areas and offer new possibilities for the EU and Africa to work together. Today’s decision will launch projects for the period 2014-2017, with a total allocation of €415 million.

The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, said: “The challenges with which we are faced can no longer be tackled within national borders. This is as true in Europe as it is in Africa or elsewhere. This is why I have proposed to create a Pan-African programme to find solutions at regional and continental scale and support the process of African integration, where the African Union plays a critical role. The alliance between Africa and Europe is indispensable, today more than ever. This programme will make it even stronger”.

EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs commented: “The major innovation of this programme is that it allows the EU to link up the cooperation it has with Northern Africa, South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. It will also help us to achieve better policy coherence for development by building synergies between development cooperation and other EU policies.”

The Pan-African Programme, which was announced by President Barroso at the 4th Africa-EU summit in Brussels in April 2014, will amount to €845 million from 2014 to 2020. It will contribute, amongst others, to increased mobility on the African continent, better trade relations across regions and also better equip both continents for addressing trans-national and global challenges, such as migration and mobility, climate change or security. The first phase that was launched today will include projects ranging from sustainable agriculture, environment, and higher education to governance, infrastructure, migration, information and communication technology, as well as research and innovation.

Concrete projects will, for example, support election observation missions operated by the African Union in its member states or improve the governance of migration and mobility within Africa and between Africa and the EU. Some initiatives will benefit citizens directly, such as a student’s academic exchange programme or the harmonisation of academic curricula across a range of African universities facilitating the mobility of African students and academics.

Background

Africa’s continental integration has become a key priority for both the African Union and the EU. The Pan-African Programme will provide a major contribution to the EU-Africa Partnership, which the two continents established in 2007 to put their relations on a new footing and to establish a strategic partnership, responding to mutual interests and based upon a strong political relationship and close cooperation in key areas. The programme, which is financed from the EU budget will be a key instrument for the European Commission to implement, in close cooperation with African partners, the joint political priorities of the roadmap which was adopted by African and EU Heads of State and Government during the 4th EU-Africa summit in April this year.

KHARTOUM, Sudan, August 6, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UNAMID Joint Special Representative to hold press conference in Khartoum

11 August 2014, 11:00 am

UNDP Headquarters

Gama’a Street in Khartoum

The Joint Special Representative (JSR) of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Mohamed Ibn Chambas, will be holding a press conference on Monday, 11 August 2014, at 11:00 hours in the main conference room at UNDP Headquarters , on Gama’a Street in Khartoum.

JSR Chambas will brief the press on his latest report to the UN Security Council ahead of the expected extension of the Mission‘s mandate, as well as the current developments in relation to UNAMID’s activities and the Darfur peace process.

All media are invited to attend.

LONDON, United-Kingdom, August 6, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The FCO has helped more British Nationals to leave Libya as the security situation continues to get worse.

HMS Enterprise, a Royal Navy ship carrying out routine survey work …

DUBLIN, Ireland, August 6, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Minister of State for Development, Trade Promotion and North South Co-operation, Sean Sherlock, TD, today expressed his increasing concern at the continued spread of Ebola in West Africa and announced additional funding to help combat the disease.

Announcing the funding, Minister Sherlock said:

“The continued spread of Ebola is extremely worrying and is having a devastating impact on already vulnerable communities across Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.

“Today Ireland is providing an additional €120,000 to help contain the spread of the virus – this brings to €350,000 the total direct funding provided by Ireland in response to the outbreak in West Africa.

“This funding is being provided to Irish Aid partners Goal and World Vision Ireland, to support their community-based programmes which will raise awareness of the transmission and prevention of the disease and to assist in its containment.”

Minister Sherlock also called for a strong international response to the crisis:

“I call on the international community to further support these efforts in a coordinated manner through the allocation of more human and financial resources to support these countries.

“The Embassy of Ireland in Freetown is continuing to monitor and report on the situation and is engaged in extensive coordination efforts with other Governments and international partners including the UN, EU, and NGOs.”

WASHINGTON, August 6, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Below is a list of expected attendees at tonight’s White House Dinner on the occasion of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. Additional details about the Summit Dinner are available HERE.

THE PRESIDENT and MRS. OBAMA

His Excellency Mohamed Abdulaziz, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, State of Libya

His Excellency Jean-Paul Adam, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Seychelles

His Excellency Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Ms. Uzo Aduba, Actress, New York, NY

Ms. Nonyem Aduba

Ms. Mimi Alemayehou, Washington, DC

Mr. Papa Ndiaye

Her Excellency Amina Ali, Ambassador of the African Union Mission

His Excellency Abdalla Alteni, Prime Minister of the State of Libya

His Excellency Martin Andjaba, Ambassador of the Republic of Namibia

The Honorable Dennis Archer, Chairman and CEO, Dennis W. Archer PLLC, Detroit, MI

Mr. Dennis Archer, Jr.

The Honorable Caroline Atkinson, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics, National Security Council

Mr. Geoffrey Boyd Lamb

His Excellency Abdallah Baali, Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria

His Excellency Nassirou Bako Arifari, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, Francophonie and the Beninese Diaspora, Republic of Benin

His Excellency Oldemiro Marques Baloi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Republic of Mozambique

Mr. Ajay Banga, President and CEO, Mastercard, Purchase, NY

Mrs. Ritu Banga

The Honorable Karen Bass, United States Representative (California)

Ms. Kim Hurley

His Excellency Yipènè Djibril Bassrole, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation, Burkina Faso

His Excellency Kalidu Bayo, Minister of Presidential Affairs, Republic of The Gambia

His Excellency Mohamed Bazoum, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Nigerians Abroad, Republic of Niger

The Honorable Joyce Beatty, United States Representative (Ohio)

Mr. Otto Beatty Jr.

Reverend David Beckmann, President, Bread for the World, Washington, DC

Mrs. Janet Williams Beckmann

His Excellency Abdirahman Beileh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Investment, Federal Republic of Somalia

The Honorable Mr. William Bell, Birmingham, AL

Mrs. Sharon Bell

His Excellency Abdel-Ilah Benkiran, Head of Government of the Kingdom of Morocco

Mrs. Nabila Benkiran, Spouse of the Head of Government of the Kingdom of Morocco

Mr. Mayank Bhargava, Falls Church, VA

Ms. Namita Datta

Mr. Hunter Biden, Washington, DC

Mrs. Kathleen Biden

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Vice President of the United States

Dr. Jill Biden

His Excellency Paul Biya, President of the Republic of Cameroon

Mrs. Chantal Biya, First Lady of the Republic of Cameroon

The Honorable Tony Blinken, Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor, Office of the National Security Advisor

The Honorable Michael Bloomberg, Owner, Bloomberg, New York, NY

Ms. Diana Taylor

His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., Vice President of the Republic of Liberia

His Excellency Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Gabonese Republic

Mrs. Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, First Lady of the Gabonese Republic

The Honorable Dr. Arivn Boolell, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Republic of Mauritius

Mr. Joseph Brandt, New York, NY

Mrs. Carol Brandt

The Honorable Anita Breckenridge, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff

Mr. Russell Breckenridge

The Honorable Lonnie Bunch III, Director, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, DC

Ms. Roslyn Marable-Bunch

The Honorable William Burns, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of State

Ms. Lisa Ann Carty

The Honorable Sylvia Burwell, Secretary of Health and Human Services

Mr. Steve Burwell

Ms. Vanessa Bush, Editor in Chief, Essence, New York, NY

Ms. Tatsha Robertson

Ms. Kathy Calvin, President, UN Foundation, Washington, DC

Mr. John Calvin

The Honorable Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Mrs. Anne Carson

The Honorable President Jimmy Carter

The Honorable Dr. George Chaponda MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Republic of Malawi

His Excellency George Rebelo Chicoti, Minister of External Relations, Republic of Angola

The Honorable Donna Christensen, Delegate to the United States House of Representatives, United States Virgin Islands

Mrs. Rabiah George

The Honorable William Lacy Clay, Jr., United States Representative (Missouri)

Mr. William L. Clay III

Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Director, National Museum of African Art, Washington, DC

Mr. James Staton, Jr.

His Excellency Blaise Compaoré, President of Burkina Faso

Mrs. Chantal Compaoré, First Lady of Burkina Faso

His Excellency Alpha Conde, President of the Republic of Guinea

Her Excellency Djene Kaba Conde, First Lady of the Republic of Guinea

The Honorable Maria Contreras-Sweet, Administrator, Small Business Administration

Mr. Raphael Sweet

The Honorable Christopher Coons, United States Senator (Delaware)

Mrs. Annie Coons

Ms. Helene Cooper, White House Correspondent, The New York Times, Alexandria, VA

Mr. Jonathan Karp

His Excellency Gabriel Arcanjo Ferreira da Costa, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe

The Honorable Elijah Cummings, United States Representative (Maryland)

Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings

Her Excellency Natalia Da Costa Umbelina Neto, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities, Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe

Mr. Aliko Dangote, President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Ltd., Washington, DC

Ms. Halima Aliko-Dangote

The Honorable Brian Deese, Deputy Director, Office of Management and Budget

Mrs. Kara Deese

His Excellency Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca, President of the Republic of Cabo Verde

Mrs. Lígia Arcângela Lubrino Dias Fonseca, First Lady of the Republic of Cabo Verde

The Honorable Bill de Blasio, Mayor, City of New York, NY

Ms. Chirlane McCray

Mr. Valentino Deng, Chicago, IL

Ms. Tiffanie De Bartolo

Ms. Grace Hightower DeNiro, New York, NY

Mr. Robert DeNiro

His Excellency Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Her Excellency Roman Tesfaye, First Lady of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

His Excellency Ikililou Dhoinine, President of the Union of the Comoros

Her Excellency Hadidja Abubakar Ikililou Dhoinine, Spouse of the President of the Union of Comoros

His Excellency Abdoulaye Diop, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and International Cooperation, Republic of Mali

The Honorable Shaun Donovan, Director, Office of Management and Budget

Ms. Liza Gilbert

His Excellency Daniel Kablan Duncan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire

The Honorable Donna Edwards, United States Representative (Maryland)

Ms. Selena Singleton

The Honorable Neil Eggleston, Assistant to the President and Counsel

Ms. Penda Hair

Mr. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Actor, New York, NY

Ms. Mmoma Ejifor

Mr. Michael Elliott, President and CEO, ONE, Washington, DC

Ms. Sipho Moyo

Mr. Tony Elumelu, Nigeria

Mr. Wiebe Boer

The Honorable Eliot Engel, United States Representative (New York)

Mrs. Patricia Engel

His Excellency Francois Fall, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Guineans Abroad, Republic of Guinea

The Honorable Katie Fallon, Assistant to the President and Director of Legislative Affairs

Mr. Brian Fallon, Jr.

Ms. Mbaye Fatimata, Washington, DC

Ms. Semhar Araia

The Honorable Chaka Fattah, United States Representative (Pennsylvania)

Mrs. Renee Chenault-Fattah

The Honorable Russ Feingold, Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, U.S. Department of State

Ms. Christine Ferdinand

The Honorable Dianne Feinstein, United States Senator (California)

Mr. Richard Blum

Mr. Jeffrey Fischer, Chairman, ADAS Group, LLC, Bethesda, MD

Mrs. Nicole Fischer

The Honorable Anthony Foxx, Secretary of Transportation

The Honorable Susan Kurland, Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, U.S. Department of Transportation

The Honorable William H. Frist, Former Senator (Tennessee)

Ms. Tracy Roberts

The Honorable Michael Froman, Ambassador, United States Trade Representative

Ms. Behnaz Kibria

The Honorable Chief Mgwagwa Gamedze, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Kingdom of Swaziland

Mr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Alphonse Fletcher University Professor, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Mr. Lawrence Bobo

Dr. Helene Gayle, CEO, CARE, Atlanta, GA

Mr. Stephen Keith

Mr. Michael Gerson, Op-ed Columnist, The Washington Post, Alexandria, VA

Mrs. Dawn Gerson

Mr. Daniel Glickman, Senior Fellow, Bipartisan Policy Center, Washington, DC

Mrs. Rhoda Glickman, Director of Government Relations, Corporation for National and Community Service, Washington, DC

His Excellency Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Republic of Togo

Mr. Jeff Gordon, Charlotte, NC

Ms. Ingrid Vandebosch

Mr. Peter Grauer, Chairman, Bloomberg, L.P., New York, NY

Ms. Meridith Webster, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Bloomberg L.P.

The Honorable Al Green, United States Representative (Texas)

Mr. George Nwanguma

His Excellency Armando Emilio Guebuza, President of the Republic of Mozambique

Dr. Maria da Luz Dai Guebuza, First Lady of the Republic of Mozambique

His Excellency Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti

Ms. Lulu Haangala, Charlottesville, VA

Ms. Martine Ekomo-Soignet

Her Excellency Mongi Hamdi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Republic of Tunisia

The Honorable Grant Harris, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council

Mrs. Jasmine Harris

Ms. Patricia Harris, Chief Executive Officer, Bloomberg Philanthropies, New York, NY

Mr. Mark Lebow

His Excellency El-Anrif Said Hassane, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Union of the Comoros

Mr. Christopher Helm, James Campbell Matthews Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence, Albany Law School, Albany, NY

Ms. Debra Toms-Helm

The Honorable Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Director, Peace Corps

Mr. Steven Charles Radelet

His Excellency Mohamed Lemine Heycen, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania

The Honorable Heather Higginbottom, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, U.S. Department of State

Ambassador Daniel Sepulveda

Mr. Paul Hinks, Board Chair, Corporate Council on Africa, Washington, DC

Ms. Julie Kurtzman

The Honorable Fred Hochberg, Chairman, Export-Import Bank

Mr. Thomas Healy, Chairman, J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, U.S. Department of State

The Honorable Dana Hyde, CEO, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Cabin John, MD

Mr. Jonathan Chambers

Dr. Mo Ibrahim, Washington, DC

The Honorable Johnny Isakson, United States Senator (Georgia)

Mr. Christopher Sullivan

His Excellency Idriss Deby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad

Ms. Hinda Deby Itno, First Lady of the Republic of Chad

The Honorable Fred Mandir Jachan-Omach, Minister of State for Finance, Republic of Uganda

The Honorable Sheila Jackson-Lee, United States Representative (Texas)

Dr. Elwyn Lee

Bishop T.D. Jakes, Dallas, TX

Ms. Regina Renee Freeman-Lewis

His Excellency Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, President of the Republic of The Gambia

Her Excellency Zineb Jammeh, First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia

The Honorable Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement

Mr. Ahmad Rashad

The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries, United States Representative (New York)

Mrs. Kennysandra Jeffries

The Honorable Broderick D. Johnson, Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary

The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson, United States Representative (Texas)

The Honorable Rodney Ellis, Senator, Texas State Senate

The Honorable Hank Johnson, United States Representative

Mr. Arthur Sidney

The Honorable Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security

Ms. Lorna Johnson, Beverly Hills, CA

Mr. Robert Black III

His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

His Excellency Joseph Kabila Kabange, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mr. Don Kaberuka, President, African Development Bank, Washington, DC

His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda

Ms. Ange Ingabire Kagame, Daughter of the President of the Republic of Rwanda

The Honorable Harry Kalaba, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Zambia

His Excellency Dr. Samura Kamara, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone

His Excellency Laurent Kavakure, Minister of External Relations and International Cooperation, Republic of Burundi

Mr. Meb Keflezighi, San Diego, CA

Ms. Yordanos Asgedom

His Excellency Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, President of the Republic of Mali

Mrs. Keïta Aminata Maiga, First Lady of the Republic of Mali

The Honorable Robin Kelly, United States House of Representative (Illinois)

Ms. Madeleine Horn

Mr. Muhtar Kent, President and CEO, Coca Cola Company, Atlanta, GA

His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya

The Honorable John Kerry, Secretary of State

Ms. Angelique Kidjo, Brooklyn, NY

Mr. Jean Hebrail

His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania

Her Excellency Salma Kikwete, First Lady of the United Republic of Tanzania

Dr. Jim Kim, President, World Bank, Washington, DC

Dr. Younsook Lim

His Excellency Charles Koffi Diby, Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire

Ms. Cina Anoka Lawson, Minister of Post and Digital Economy, Republic of Togo

Mr. Richard Leach, President and CEO, World Food Program USA, Washington, DC

Mrs. Susanne Leach

The Honorable Barbara Lee, United States Representative (California)

Mr. Craig Lee

Mr. Jack Leslie, Washington, DC

Ms. Caroline Pech

The Honorable Jack Lew, Secretary of the Treasury

The Honorable Elizabeth Littlefield, President, Overseas Private Investment Corporation

Mr. Matthew Arnold

His Excellency Mario Lopes da Rosa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau

Mrs. Paula Madison, Chicago, IL

Ms. LaFleur Paysour

His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana

Her Excellency Lordina Dramani Mahama, First Lady of the Republic of Ghana

His Excellency Issoufou Mahamadou, President of the Republic of Niger

His Excellency Ibrahim Roshdy Mahlab, Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt

Mr. Tshepo Mahloele, CEO, Harith General Partners, Washington, DC

Ms. Thenjiwe Vanda

Mr. Tracy Maitland, President, Advent Capital Management, New York, NY

Ms. Kimberley Hatchett

Mr. Darius Mans, Washington, DC

Mr. Stephen Cashin

Her Excellency Faida Maramuke MITIFU, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, President of the Republic of Tunisia

Mr. Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Chairman, Global Telecommunications Group, Washington, DC

Mrs. Tsitsi Masiyiwa

His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan

Bishop Vashti McKenzie, 10th Episcopal District of the AME Church, Dallas, TX

Mr. Stanley McKenzie

Mr. Doug McMillon, President and CEO, Wal-Mart, Bentonville, AR

Mrs. Shelley McMillon

The Honorable Gregory W. Meeks, United States Representative (New York)

Mrs. Simone-Marie Meeks

The Honorable Bernard K. Membe, MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, United Republic of Tanzania

The Honorable Robert Menendez, United States Senate (New Jersey)

Ms. Alicia Mucci

His Excellency James Alix Michel, President of the Republic of Seychelles

The Honorable Amina Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and International Trade, Republic of Kenya

His Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia

Mrs. Qamar Ali Omar, Spouse of the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia

His Excellency Agapito Mba Mokuy, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Republic of Equatorial Guinea

His Excellency Serge Mombouli, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Honorable Ernest Moniz, Secretary of Energy

Ms. Katya Frois-Moniz

The Honorable Gwen Moore, United States Representative (Wisconsin)

Ms. Brenda L. Moore

Mr. Marc Morial, President, National Urban League, Maplewood, NJ

Ms. Michelle Miller

Mr. Patrice Motsepe, Washington, DC

Ms. Precious Moloi-Motsepe

His Excellency Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, Minister of External Relations, Republic of Cameroon

His Excellency Mahamat Moussafaki. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Chad

His Majesty King Mswati III, Kingdom of Swaziland

Her Royal Highness Inkhosikati La Mbikiza, Spouse of the King of Swaziland

Ms. Wanja Muguongo, Executive Director, UHAI – East African Sexual Health and Rights Initiative, Washington, DC

Ms. Lorna Dias

Dr. Denis Mukwege, Washington, DC

Ms. Madeleine Kaboyi

The Honorable Cecilia Muñoz, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council

Mr. Amit A. Pandya

His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda

Mrs. Janet Musevini, First Lady of the Republic of Uganda

Her Excellency Louise Mushikiwabo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Republic of Rwanda

His Excellency Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi

Her Excellency Gertrude Hendrina Mutharika, First Lady of the Republic of Malawi

Ms. Wangechi Mutu, New York, NY

Dr. James Mwangi, Washington, DC

Mr. Morris Mbetsa Mwero, Notre Dame, IN

His Excellency Augustine Ngafuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Liberia

His Excellency Emmanuel Issozet Ngondet, Minister For Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Regional Integration, Gabonese Republic

His Excellency Cheikh Niang, Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal

The Honorable Sheila Nix, Deputy Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to Dr. Jill Biden

Mr. James Coughlin

Her Excellency Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Republic of South Africa

His Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza, President of the Republic of Burundi

Her Excellency Denise Bucumi, First Lady of the Republic of Burundi

The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton, Delegate to the United States House of Representatives, Washington, DC

Mr. Douglas Oberhelman, CEO, Caterpillar, Peoria, IL

Mrs. Diane Oberhelman

His Excellency Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea

Her Excellency Constancia Mangue De Obiang, First Lady of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea

His Excellency Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Mrs. Mariam Mint Ahmed Dit Tekber, Spouse of the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania

Mrs. Valerie Owens, Kennett Square, PA

Ms. Missy Owens

The Honorable Jennifer Palmieri, Assistant to the President and Director of Communications

Ms. Yolanda Parker, Founder & President, KMS Software, Los Angeles, CA

Mr. Kevin Parker

The Honorable Donald Payne, Jr., United States Representative (New Jersey)

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, United States House Democratic Leader (California)

Mr. Paul Pelosi

Mr. Michael Philipp, Chairman, Reykjavik Geothermal (RG), Amelia Island, FL

Mr. Mikael Andren

Mr. Macon Phillips III, Coordinator for the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State

Mrs. Emily Phillips

The Honorable John Podesta, Counselor to the President

Mrs. Mary Podesta

His Excellency Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba, President of the Republic of Namibia

Ms. Penehupifo Pohamba, First Lady of the Republic of Namibia

The Honorable Samantha Power, Permanent Representative of the U.S. to the United Nations

Mr. Cass Sunstein

Mr. John Prendergast, Co-Founder, Enough Project, Washington, DC

Mrs. Sia Sanneh

The Honorable Penny Pritzker, Secretary of Commerce

Mr. Stefan Selig

His Excellency Hery Rajaonarimampianina, President of the Republic of Madagascar

Mrs. Voahangy Rajaonarimampianina, Spouse of the President of the Republic of Madagascar

The Honorable Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, G.C.S.K., F.R.C.P., Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius

The Honorable Charles Rangel, United States Representative (New York)

Mrs. Alma Rangel

Her Excellency Arisoa Razafitrimo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Madagascar

The Honorable Ben Rhodes, Assistant to the President, Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications & Speechwriting

Ms. Ann Norris

His Excellency Awan Andrew Goul RIAK, Minister in the Office of the President, Republic of South Sudan

The Honorable Susan Rice, Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor

Mr. Ian Cameron

His Excellency Jose Luis Rocha, Ambassador of the Republic of Cabo Verde

General David Rodriguez, Commander, United States Africa Command

Mrs. Ginny Rodriguez

Mrs. Virginia Rometty, CEO and President, International Business Machines, Armonk, NY

Mr. Jack Rosen, Chairman, American Jewish Congress, New York, NY

Mrs. Phyllis Rosen

The Honorable Edward Randall Royce, United States Representative (California)

Mrs. Marie Royce

Mr. David Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, The Carlyle Group, Washington, DC

The Honorable Bobby Rush, United States Representative (Illinois)

Mrs. Carolyn Rush

Ms. April Ryan, Washington Bureau Chief, American Urban Radio Networks, Randallstown, MD

Mr. Gerald Lopes

The Honorable Aggrey Tisa Sabuni, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Republic of South Sudan

His Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal

Mrs. Marieme Sall, First Lady of the Republic of Senegal

His Excellency Denis Sassou N’Guesso, President of the Republic of Congo

Mr. Stephen Schwarzman, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Co-Founder, The Blackstone Group, New York, NY

Mr. Sean Klimczak

The Honorable Dr. Guy Scott, Vice President of the Republic of Zambia

Dr. Charlotte Harland Scott, Second Lady of the Republic of Zambia

His Excellency Eliachim Sebatane, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Lesotho

The Honorable Peter Selfridge, Chief of Protocol, U.S. Department of State

His Excellency Abdelmalek Sellal, Prime Minister of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria

Mrs. Farida Sellal, Spouse of the Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Algeria

His Excellency Dr. Abubacarr Senghore, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of The Gambia

Her Excellency Tebelelo Seretse, Ambassador of the Republic of Botswana

Ms. Isha Sesay, Anchor, CNN, Atlanta, GA

Mr. Leif Coorlim

The Honorable Terri Sewell, United States Representative (Alabama)

Mr. Jesse Wells, Jr.

The Honorable Rajiv J. Shah, Administrator, United States Agency for International Development

Mrs. Shivam Shah

The Honorable Wendy Sherman, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Mr. Bruce Stokes

The Honorable Phandu Tombola Skelemani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Botswana

The Honorable Chris Smith, United States Representative (New Jersey)

Mrs. Marie Smith

The Honorable Gayle Smith, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Development and Democracy, National Security Council

Mr. John Rice-Cameron

Mr. Arne Sorenson, President and CEO, J.W. Marriott International, Bethesda, MD

Mrs. Ruth Sorenson

The Honorable Margaret Spellings, President of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, Dallas, TX

Mr. Vance Wilson

Mr. Earl Stafford, CEO, Wentworth Group, McLean, VA

Mrs. Amanda Stafford

His Excellency Bockari Stevens, Ambassador of the Republic of Sierra Leone

Mr. Ritchie Tabachnick, President, Equipment & Controls Africa, Pittsburgh, PA

Ms. Laura Tabachnick

His Excellency Mohamed Mostafa Mohamed Tawfik, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt

The Honorable Tina Tchen, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady

Mr. Tewolde Tesfaye, Ethiopia

Mr. Kagnew Asfaw

Her Excellency Hanna Tetteh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Republic of Ghana

The Right Honorable Dr. Motsoahae Thomas Thabane, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho

The Honorable Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs

Mr. Lafayette Greenfield

Mr. Sim Tshabalala, Washington, DC

His Excellency José Mário Vaz, President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau

Her Excellency Rosa Teixeira Goudiaby Vaz, First Lady of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau

His Excellency Manuel Domingos Vicente, Vice President, Republic of Angola

The Honorable Tom Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Mrs. Christie Vilsack

The Honorable David Wade, Chief of Staff to the Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State

Ms. Elizabeth Alexander

The Honorable Aminu Bashir Wali, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Mr. DeWayne Wickham, Baltimore, MD

Ms. Zenita Wickham Hurley

The Honorable Frederica Wilson, United States Representative (Florida)

Dr. Roslyn Artis

Mr. Phill Wilson, CEO, Black AIDS Institute, Los Angeles, CA

Mr. Mark Schoofs

His Excellency Boni Yayi, President of the Republic of Benin

Ms. Melike Yetken, Director of African Affairs, National Security Council

Mr. Jeffrey Krilla

His Excellency Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Djibouti

The Honorable Leocadia Zak, Director, United States Trade and Development Agency

Mr. Kenneth W Hansen

Mr. Jeffrey Zients, Assistant to the President and Director of the National Economic Council

Mrs. Mary Zients

Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission

His Excellency Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa

Mrs. Nompumelelo Primrose Zuma, Spouse of the President of the Republic of South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, August 6, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — O Standard Bank Group (http://www.standardbank.com), o maior emprestador em ativos de África, renovou o seu compromisso com a iniciativa “Power Africa”, um projeto com múltiplos intervenientes promovido pelo presidente norte-americano, Barack Obama, que visa duplicar o acesso a energia em África, acelerando significativamente o investimento no setor durante os próximos 5 anos. O governo norte-americano alocou mais de 7 mil milhões de dólares em apoio financeiro ao projeto “Power Africa” por um período de 5 anos.

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1279

Fazer o download do Infographic “Gateways to West Africa”: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/140806.png

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/standardbank.png

“Power Africa” tem o objetivo de aumentar a capacidade de geração de uma energia elétrica mais limpa e mais eficiente em mais de 10 000 megawatts, ao mesmo tempo que procede à eletrificação de 20 milhões de novas habitações e estabelecimentos comerciais com soluções ligadas à rede, não ligadas à rede e mini-redes. Os seis parceiros iniciais: Etiópia, Gana, Quénia, Libéria, Nigéria e Tanzânia, definiram objetivos ambiciosos para aumentar a sua capacidade de geração de energia com o objetivo final de melhorar a segurança energética, diminuir a pobreza e fomentar o crescimento económico.

“Estamos a assistir ao crescimento de uma carteira de projetos energéticos por toda a África Subsariana.” afirmou Sim Tshabalala, Diretor Executivo do Standard Bank Group. “Em 2013 comprometemo-nos a providenciar o financiamento de, pelo menos, 150 milhões de dólares de dívida a curto prazo em todos os países participantes no “Power Africa”, sendo que, mais recentemente, esse valor ultrapassou os 400 milhões de dólares, principalmente no Quénia e na Nigéria, mas também com transações mais pequenas no Gana e na Tanzânia.”

O Standard Bank está a fazer uso da grande disponibilidade do seu balanço e a presença no terreno em 20 mercados por toda a África Subsariana para ajudar a financiar projetos ao abrigo da iniciativa “Power Africa”, ao mesmo tempo que lidera ativamente o processo de reforma de políticas necessário para facilitar o aumento do investimento do setor privado no setor energético de África. O banco espera que mais de 1000 milhões de dólares em projetos comerciais se concretizem nos 6 países parceiros do “Power Africa” até 2018, chegando mesmo aos 5 mil milhões de dólares, se for incluído o resto da África Subsariana.

“O Standard Bank fará todos os possíveis por providenciar ou subscrever, pelo menos, metade da dívida necessária para estes projetos”, disse Tshabalala. “Como tal, o nosso compromisso para com “Power Africa” é ajudar a financiar mais 600 milhões de dólares de dívida nos países do “Power Africa” até 2018, elevando o total da nossa participação, desde que aderimos à iniciativa há 1 ano, a 1000 milhões de dólares mais outros 2 mil milhões de dólares para a restante África Subsariana durante o mesmo período.”

O Ghana Power Compact (GPC – Pacto Energético do Gana) é a maior transação com o governo norte-americano até à data sob a égide do “Power Africa”. O GPC tem uma abordagem dos desafios energéticos do Gana transversal a todo o sistema e envolve 6 projetos que se estendem por três áreas: distribuição, geração e acesso.

O GPC também apoia os esforços do Gana em mitigar as alterações climáticas através do financiamento de iniciativas que visam a eficiência energética e melhorar o clima de investimento em energias renováveis. No centro do GPC está um compromisso sério do governo do Gana em alterar as leis e regulamentos necessários para transformar o setor energético e colocá-lo no caminho da rentabilidade e sustentabilidade.

O Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) investirá perto de 498 milhões de dólares durante os próximos 5 anos para apoiar a transformação do setor energético do Gana, ajudando o país a fornecer uma fonte de energia segura e fiável a habitações e empresas. O governo do Gana irá contribuir com mais 37 milhões de dólares, elevando o total do investimento a 535 milhões de dólares. Prevê-se que o investimento inicial estimule, pelo menos, 4,6 mil milhões de dólares em investimento adicional no setor energético por parte do setor privado e na atividade de empresas norte-americanas nos próximos anos.

“O Gana tem uma das economias mais dinâmicas e estimulantes de África e o GPC terá um contributo significativo para colocar o país numa trajetória de crescimento económico duradouro e sustentável”, afirmou Tshabalala. “O Standard Bank tirará partido da sua presença no Gana e no resto do continente para continuar a apoiar a iniciativa “Power Africa”, bem como outros projetos energéticos em todo o continente.”

Distribuído pela APO (African Press Organization) em nome da Standard Bank.

Contacto para meios de comunicação social

Kate Johns

Departamento de Comunicação do Grupo | Relações com a Comunicação Social para África

Tel.: +27 11 721 8406 | Telemóvel: +27 82 805 0210

kate.johns@standardbank.co.za | www.standardbank.co.za www.standardbank.com

O Standard Bank Group (http://www.standardbank.com), que exerce a sua atividade sob a marca comercial Stanbic, é o maior banco africano em termos de ativos e ganhos. A nossa estratégia é construir a principal organização de serviços financeiros focada em África, tirando o máximo partido de todas as nossas vantagens competitivas. O nosso objetivo é concentrarmo-nos em proporcionar aos acionistas um valor sustentável superior, através da satisfação das necessidades dos nossos clientes com operações no terreno de primeira categoria em países selecionados de África. Iremos também fazer a ponte entre outros mercados emergentes selecionados e África, e entre eles, aplicando à escala global o nosso conhecimento especializado do setor, em especial, dos recursos naturais. Operamos em 20 países no continente Africano, incluindo a África do Sul.

O Standard Bank tem 151 anos de história na África do Sul e começou a construir uma rede de sucursais fora da África do Sul no início da década de 90. Mais recentemente, o Standard Bank realizou importantes aquisições no continente africano no Quénia e na Nigéria. África é a nossa prioridade e continuaremos a desenvolver bancos no terreno de primeira categoria.

Os quase 49 000 funcionários do grupo em todas as regiões oferecem uma gama completa de serviços bancários para particulares e empresas, banca corporativa e de investimentos e gestão de património. A divisão de banca corporativa e de investimentos do Standard Bank oferece aos seus clientes serviços de “banking”, “trading”, investimento, gestão de risco e aconselhamento para fazer a ligação entre mercados emergentes selecionados e África, e entre eles. Tem ofertas importantes em indústria mineira e metais; petróleo, gás e energias renováveis; energia e infraestruturas; agroindústrias; telecomunicações e média; e instituições financeiras.

A rúbrica de receitas normalizada para 2013 foi de 17,2 mil milhões de rands (cerca de 1,8 mil milhões de dólares) e o total de ativos foi de 1 694 mil milhões de rands (cerca de 162 mil milhões de dólares). A capitalização de mercado do Standard Bank a 31 de dezembro de 2013 era de 209,4 mil milhões de rands (cerca de 20 mil milhões de dólares).

O maior acionista do grupo é o Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), o maior banco do mundo, com 20,1% das ações. Além disso, o Standard Bank Group e o ICBC partilham uma parceria estratégica que facilita o comércio e o fluxo de negócios entre África, China e mercados emergentes selecionados.

Para mais informações, visite http://www.standardbank.com

Ou se estiver relacionado com negócios CIB:

Para mais informações, visite http://www.standardbank.com/cib