Category: APO-OPA

LONDON, United-Kingdom, July 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The FCO has changed its travel advice to Kenya to advise against all but essential travel to Lamu County and those areas of Tana River County north of the Tana River itself. The travel advice for Mombasa remains the same.

Our travel advice for other parts of the country, beyond the coast, has not changed and the vast majority of the country falls outside our advice against all but essential travel.

Full travel advice to Kenya can be found on the FCO website.

The Travel Advice now reads:

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all but essential travel to

• areas within 60km of the Kenya-Somali border

• Kiwayu and coastal areas north of Pate Island

• Garissa District

• the Eastleigh area of Nairobi

• low income areas of Nairobi, including all township or slum areas

• Mombasa island and within 5km of the coast from Mtwapa creek in the north down to and including Tiwi in the south (this area does not include Diani or Moi international airport)

• Lamu County and those areas of Tana River County north of the Tana river itself.

If you are currently in an area to which we now advise against all but essential travel you should consider whether you have an essential reason to remain. If not, you should leave the area.

The UK has a responsibility to inform British citizens of the potential threats aimed at both Kenya and the international community. Our travel advice reflects solely our objective assessment of the security position. It is kept under constant review.

To counter the shared threat of terrorism, the UK is committed to working with the Kenyan authorities to strengthen their capacity to investigate, prosecute and detain terrorists; in line with international human rights standards.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, July 12, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Commissioner for Peace and Security, Amb Smail Chergui, today received the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, Mr Lee Kyung Soo to exchange views on AU-South Ko…

GABORONE, Botswana, July 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On July 3, 2014, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation 1 with Botswana and considered and endorsed the staff appraisal without a meeting.2

Botswana’s economy grew faster than expected reaching a real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of about 6 percent in 2013, which reflects the cyclical recovery of the mining sector along with the recovery in its major trading partners. However, the non-mineral sector slowed down, partly reflecting recurring power supply disruptions. Consumer price inflation decelerated significantly and stood at 4.4 percent at the end of March 2014—well within the Bank of Botswana’s (BoB) medium-term objective range of 3–6 percent. The deceleration in inflation largely reflects a base effect of fuel price increase in 2012 and the appreciation of the Pula against the rand.

Preliminary data suggest that the fiscal balance registered a small surplus in FY 2013/14. This outcome was supported by a further reining in current expenditure, higher mining revenue, and a one-off increase in the Bank of Botswana’s (BoB) profit transfer. Botswana’s current account recorded a surplus in 2013 compared to a deficit in 2012. The diamond sector contributed to the improvement of the current account balance, but imports continued to grow. As a result, the overall external position continues to be relatively strong with official reserve coverage standing at about 10 months of import cover at end-March 2014. Despite the recent deceleration, household borrowing grew at about 24 percent annually in January 2014, which was among the highest in the region. Banks’ nonperforming loans (NPLs), while rising, still remain low by international standards.

Staff projects Botswana’s real GDP growth to slow down to 4.4 percent in 2014 and subsequently stabilize at around 4 percent over the medium-term. The growth slowdown in 2014 is owing to the slowdown in diamond recovery and continued problems in the electricity and water supply which has affected the non-mineral sector. Headline inflation is likely to remain within the BoB’s medium-term objective range in 2014. The current account surplus is expected to stabilize at around 2 percent of GDP over the medium-term supported by the planned fiscal consolidation.

The main near-term risks relate to the uncertain external environment, such as the potential slowdown in emerging markets, which poses downside risks to mineral export demand. On the domestic front, the ongoing problems with power supply and continued high though decelerating growth in household borrowing are potential sources of vulnerabilities. A key medium-term risk relates to the sustainability of long-term growth as trend growth has softened in the last decade requiring the easing of structural bottlenecks and finding new growth drivers.

Executive Board Assessment

In concluding the 2014 Article IV consultation with Botswana, Executive Directors endorsed

staff’s appraisal, as follows:

Botswana’s economic performance has been remarkable thanks to the authorities’ good governance and prudent management of natural resources. However, in recent years, trend growth has softened in the midst of high unemployment and income inequality.

The mid-term review (MTR) of the 10th National Development Plan (NDP10) serves as the authorities’ blueprint for structural transformation. Staff welcomes the MTR of NDP 10, which reemphasizes the need to reduce the size of government relative to GDP so that the private sector can take the lead in generating economic growth.

Under current conditions the economy is broadly internally and externally balanced and the authorities’ near-term macroeconomic policy stance is appropriate. Overall external stability is, however, affected by the lack of export diversification, which leaves Botswana’s economy vulnerable to fluctuations in the international demand for diamonds.

Staff welcomes the authorities’ medium-term fiscal strategy. The emphasis on rebuilding the Pula Fund and improving the performance of state owned enterprises is well placed. Improving the quality of spending on health and education and making the social welfare programs better targeted are essential to reducing income inequality and making growth more inclusive.

Staff urges the government to articulate a clearer set of measures to reduce the wage bill relative to GDP and broaden the tax base. Despite the modest wage awards in recent years and the de facto hiring freeze, the wage bill continues to be high reflecting the impact of promotions, non-wage allowances and overtime. The authorities should avoid granting unwarranted preferential tax regimes for businesses.

Botswana’s exchange rate regime has served the country well. Staff encourages the authorities to continuously look for opportunities to further strengthen the operational aspects of the exchange rate framework and deepen the money and foreign currency markets.

The continued increase in household borrowing warrants close monitoring. Staff urges the authorities to use macro prudential tools to limit potential vulnerabilities in the financial system. Plans to establish a national credit bureau is also welcomed. Policies to enhance financial inclusion should focus on mitigating the underlying market failures in the financial system and reducing intermediation costs.

Returning to a period of strong growth would require policies to reinvigorate total factor productivity. These include improving the quality of public spending, most notably on education and the public investment program to ensure the transformation of diamond wealth into sustainable assets, reducing further the regulatory burden on firms, alleviating infrastructure bottlenecks and improving access to finance by small and medium sized enterprises.

Botswana: Selected Economic and Social Indicators, 2010–2014

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Prel. Proj.

(Annual percent change, unless otherwise indicated)

National income and prices

Real GDP 1

8.6 6.2 4.3 5.9 4.4

Mineral

22.7 -2.3 -7.0 10.6 1.4

Nonmineral 2

6.2 7.9 6.3 5.2 4.8

Consumer prices

7.4 9.2 7.4 4.1 5.4

Diamond production (millions of carats)

22.8 23.0 20.9 22.7 22.4

External sector

Exports of goods and services, f.o.b. (US$)

33.4 41.7 -9.2 28.2 5.5

Of which: diamonds

49.9 38.3 7.1 39.7 3.6

Imports of goods and services, f.o.b. (US$)

17.9 28.0 7.4 -5.7 15.3

Terms of trade

-6.1 0.4 4.2 6.2 0.2

Nominal effective exchange rate

4.6 -4.7 -7.8 -7.0 …

Real effective exchange rate

8.3 -0.8 -3.5 -4.1 …

(Percentage change with respect to M2)

Money and banking

Net foreign assets

-17.5 25.4 0.2 16.8 10.5

Net domestic assets

29.9 -21.0 7.3 -12.8 2.0

Broad money (M2)

12.4 4.3 7.4 4.0 12.5

Velocity (nonmineral GDP relative to M3)

1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.9

Credit to the private sector

6.1 11.8 13.9 9.6 10.9

(Percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)

Investment and savings 1

Gross investment (including change in inventories)

35.4 38.7 39.2 33.9 31.5

Gross savings

29.9 38.5 34.5 44.2 37.1

Central government finances 3

Total revenue and grants

32.4 36.3 36.5 35.5 35.2

Total expenditure and net lending

39.9 36.4 35.7 35.2 34.2

Overall balance (deficit –)

-7.5 -0.2 0.8 0.3 0.9

Non-mineral primary balance4

-25.9 -20.1 -13.2 -14.0 -12.3

Total central government debt

19.5 20.1 19.2 16.9 14.8

External sector

Current account balance

-5.4 -0.2 -4.6 10.4 5.7

Balance of payments

-7.0 3.3 -0.8 1.1 4.7

External public debt 5

19.7 20.7 19.8 17.4 14.7

(Millions of US$, unless otherwise indicated)

Gross official reserves (end of period)

7,883 8,386 8,270 8,429 9,200

Of which: Pula Fund

6,938 6,901

Months of imports of goods and services 6

11.8 11.1 11.2 9.9 10.3

Percent of GDP

57.3 52.2 52.3 52.5 52.4

Sources: Botswana authorities and IMF staff estimates and projections.

1/ Calendar year.

2/ Refers to the growth of value added of sectors other than mining, excluding statistical adjustments. The latter includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured (FISIM), taxes on products, and subsidies.

3/ Year beginning April 1.

4/ The non-mineral primary balance is computed as the difference between non-mineral revenue and expenditure (excluding interest receipts and interest payments), divided by non-mineral GDP.

5/ Includes publicly guaranteed debt.

6/ Based on imports of goods and services for the following year.

1 Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

2 Article IV consultations are concluded without a Board meeting when the following conditions apply: (i) there are no acute or significant risks, or general policy issues requiring Board discussion; (ii) policies or circumstances are unlikely to have significant regional or global impact; (iii) in the event a parallel program review is being completed, it is also being completed on a lapse-of-time basis; and (iv) the use of Fund resources is not under discussion or anticipated.

ROME, Italy, July 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Cereals are still at the core of what people eat, but diets are becoming higher in protein, fats and sugar in many parts of the world as incomes rise and urbanisation increases – Special focus on India

Agriculture has to provide not just more food for human consumption, but also raw material for industrial purposes, such as biofuels and animal feed.

The recent fall in prices of major crops is expected to continue over the next two years before stabilising at levels above the pre-2008 period, but markedly below recent peaks, according to the latest Agricultural Outlook produced by the OECD and FAO.

Demand for agricultural products is expected to remain firm while expanding at lower rates than in the past decade. Cereals are still at the core of what people eat, but diets are becoming higher in protein, fats and sugar in many parts of the world, as incomes rise and urbanisation increases.

The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2014-2023 says such changes, combined with a growing global population, will require substantial expansion of production over the coming decade. Led by Asia and Latin America, developing regions will account for more than 75percent of additional agricultural output over the next decade.

Presenting the report in Rome, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría said: “Agriculture markets are returning to more settled conditions after a period of unusually high prices. This has been helped by governments showing restraint in the use of trade measures. But we cannot be complacent. We must do more – on trade, on productivity, and to tackle poverty. Governments should provide social protection for the most vulnerable, and develop tools to help farmers manage risks and invest in agricultural productivity. Achieving gains in ways that are both inclusive and sustainable remains a formidable challenge.”

FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva said: “This year the Outlook’s message is more positive. Farmers reacted very rapidly to the high prices and increased their production so that now we also have more stocks available. We foresee that prices related to cereals will decrease for at least the next two years. The picture is different for meat and fish where we are facing growing demand. The good performance of the agricultural sector particularly in developing countries will contribute to the eradication of hunger and poverty.”

In a special focus on India, the Outlook projects sustained food production and consumption growth, led by value-added sectors like dairy production and aquaculture. Investment in production technology and infrastructure together with subsidies in a range of areas have contributed to strong output expansion over the past decade, the report says, and pressure on resources is expected to reduce production growth rates over the coming years.

While remaining largely vegetarian, Indian diets will diversify. As consumption of cereals, milk and dairy products, fish, pulses, fruit and vegetables grows, the intake of food nutrients will improve. India is currently home to the largest number of food-insecure people in the world.

The Agricultural Outlook says global cereal production is projected to be 15 percent higher by 2023 than in the 2011-13 period. The fastest production growth is expected to be oilseeds, at 26 percent over the next 10 years. The expansion of coarse grain and oilseed production will be driven by strong demand for biofuels, particularly in developed countries, and growing feed requirements in developing regions.

The expansion of food crop production will be more moderate over the coming decade, the report says, with wheat output growing by around 12 percent and rice by 14 percent, well below the growth rates of the previous decade. Sugar production is expected to increase by 20 percent over the coming decade, concentrated mainly in developing countries.

The Agricultural Outlook projects developments in a broad range of commodities over the coming decade:

Cereals: World prices of major grains will ease early in the outlook period, boosting world

trade. Stocks are projected to rise with rice inventories in Asia reaching record high levels.

Oilseeds: The global share of cropland planted to oilseeds continues to increase albeit at a

slower rate than in recent years as growing demand for vegetable oils pushes prices up.

Sugar: After weakening in late 2013, prices will recover, driven by strong global demand.

Exports from Brazil, the world’s dominant sugar exporter, will be influenced by the ethanol market.

Meat: Firm import demand from Asia, as well as herd rebuilding in North America support

prices which are expected to remain above the average levels of the previous decade, when adjusted for inflation. Beef prices are seen rising to record levels. Poultry should overtake pork to become the most consumed meat product over the next 10 years.

Dairy: Prices fall slightly from their current high levels due to sustained productivity gains

in the major producing countries and resumed growth in China. India overtakes the European Union to become the largest milk producer in the world, building considerable skimmed milk powder exports.

Fisheries: Aquaculture production growth will be concentrated in Asia, and will remain one of the fastest-growing food sectors, surpassing capture fisheries for human consumption in 2014.

Biofuels: The consumption and production levels of biofuels are expected to increase by

more than 50 percent, led by sugar-based ethanol and biodiesel. The ethanol price increases in line with the crude oil price, while the biodiesel price more closely follows the path of vegetable oil prices.

Cotton: The expected release of accumulated global stocks will boost consumption, helped by lower prices which should then recover by 2023.

WASHINGTON, July 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
July 11, 2014

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I send my best wishes to the people of the Dem…

OTTAWA, Canada, July 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville – Wainwright, on behalf of the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, announced that Canada will support the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the Great Lakes region of Africa.

This announcement will help provide emergency relief—such as medical supplies, essential household items and psychosocial assistance—to people affected by conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as neighbouring countries. With this funding, the ICRC will also monitor and improve conditions facing people being held in detention centres throughout the region, particularly the most vulnerable, including women and children.

“The conflict in the DRC has had an impact on the entire Great Lakes region of Africa, displacing populations within the DRC and sending thousands of refugees into neighbouring countries that lack the resources to support them,” said MP Benoit. “I am pleased to announce our government’s support to the ICRC’s important work in the region. Canada’s contribution will help ensure that humanitarian assistance, including clean water, medical supplies and essential household items are provided to the most vulnerable.”

“Our government will continue to provide help to the millions of people who have been impacted by the ongoing insecurity affecting the Great Lakes region, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is now one of Canada’s development countries of focus,” said Minister Paradis. “Once again, our country’s compassion is demonstrated by its provision of humanitarian assistance to those in need.”

Quick Facts

• Conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo continues to destabilize the Great Lakes region and cause wide-scale population movements. More than 2.7 million people are currently displaced within the DRC.

• On June 27, Minister Paradis announced that Canada is reinforcing its commitment to eradicating global poverty by focusing 90 percent of its bilateral programming in 25 development countries of focus, including the Democratic Republic of Congo.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The decision of the Ugandan High Court published on July 9, 2014, endorsing the government closure of a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights workshop violates the right to freedom of assembly, Human Rights Watch said today. Justice Stephen Musota ruled against four LGBT rights activists who had sued the ethics and integrity minister, Simon Lokodo, for shutting down a February 2012 workshop.

The judge ruled that the workshop participants were “promoting” or “inciting” same-sex acts. “Carnal knowledge against the order of nature” is criminalized under Uganda’s Penal Code. Justice Musota rejected the activists’ argument that the purpose of the workshop was to develop human rights advocacy and leadership skills, finding that such objectives were simply a cover for promoting same-sex acts. The judge reasoned that human rights training on LGBT rights is itself a form of incitement to engage in prohibited same-sex practices. The plaintiffs are appealing the ruling to the Appeals Court.

“The deeply flawed High Court decision in this case sacrifices freedom of expression and assembly in the pursuit of a discriminatory political agenda,” said Neela Ghoshal, senior LGBT rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. “By the court’s logic, educating people about the law would incite them to commit crimes.”

At the time of the workshop, the Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014, which criminalizes the so-called “promotion of homosexuality,” was not yet in effect.

Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG), a group that works for the rights of lesbian and bisexual women and transgender people, held the workshop at a hotel in Entebbe, on February 12, 2012. Minister Lokodo personally participated in the raid with his police escort, confiscating materials and threatening to arrest participants.

In March 2012, the workshop organizer, Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, and three participants – Frank Mugisha, Pepe Julian Onziema, and Geoffrey Ogwaro – filed a civil lawsuit against Minister Lokodo and the attorney general, contending that closing down the workshop violated their constitutional rights. After a series of postponements, the High Court heard the case in December 2013.

The judgment, orally delivered on June 24 and published in full on July 9, relies on an affidavit by one alleged “ex-gay,” who said that the organizations were “training homosexual youths to safely engage in the same-sex practices by distributing condoms.” Justice Musota relies on this claim to support his judgment, finding that “[a]ll these activities amount to direct or indirect promotion of same-sex practices.”

“From the High Court judgment, it could be inferred that it is now illegal in Uganda to conduct HIV prevention activities, targeting men who have sex with men, including the distribution of condoms,” Ghoshal said. “Such an outrageous position should rightly scare anyone who cares about the prospects for public health in Uganda, and about issues as basic as saving lives.”

The judgment notes as justification for closing down the workshop that article 43 of Uganda’s constitution and article 27 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights permit limitations on the rights to freedom of expression and of assembly in the public interest or on grounds of “morality.” However, it ignores the requirement for such limitations to be necessary, proportionate and non-discriminatory.

Limitations to protect “morals” are also permitted under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Uganda is a state party. But the UN Human Rights Committee, which interprets the covenant, has advised governments that, “limitations … for the purpose of protecting morals must be based on principles not deriving exclusively from a single tradition. Any such limitations must be understood in the light of universality of human rights and the principle of non-discrimination.”

Human Rights Watch has documented that the Ugandan government is deploying hostile rhetoric and an array of tactics to intimidate and obstruct the work of nongovernmental organizations on sensitive issues such as governance, human rights, land, oil, and the rights of LGBT people. Tactics include not only closing meetings, but also forcing representatives of independent groups to issue apologies, suspensions of activities, as well as occasional physical violence, threats, harassment, and heavy-handed bureaucratic interference in the registration and operation of nongovernmental groups.

“The court’s judgment is yet another blow to activism and advocacy, essential elements of any human-rights-respecting democracy,” Ghoshal said. “Uganda’s international partners should speak up about the threats to LGBT and other nongovernmental groups, particularly the ongoing escalation in government hostility toward freedom of expression and association.”

For more Human Rights Watch reporting on Uganda, please see:

http://www.hrw.org/africa/uganda

For more Human Rights Watch reporting on LGBT rights, please see:

http://www.hrw.org/topic/lgbt-rights

GENEVA, Switzerland, July 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM Somalia, in coordination with the Somali immigration department, has conducted its first family reunification from the south central region of the country.

The operation reunited a mother and her three children who had been living in Mogadishu for 12 years with their husband and father in Slovenia.

In the past, all family reunification and resettlement for Somalis living in the south central region used to involve a long and dangerous journey to the Kenyan border, Dadaab refugee camp and Nairobi.

IOM organized Nimca Abdi and her children’s “fit-to-travel” medical exams, travel documents, flight bookings, tickets and airport assistance in Mogadishu.

It also contacted her husband in Slovenia and provided pre-departure information on transit assistance and exit visa arrangements.

Mrs. Abdi and her family transited Istanbul, where IOM provided them with accommodation, meals and airport assistance. The following day they left for Slovenia, where IOM reunited the family.

To date, IOM has conducted some 300 family reunification and resettlements from other parts of Somalia, including Puntland and Somaliland.

GENEVA, Switzerland, July 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM Somalia, in coordination with the Somali immigration department, has conducted its first family reunification from the south central region of the country.

The operation reunited a mother and her three children who had been living in Mogadishu for 12 years with their husband and father in Slovenia.

In the past, all family reunification and resettlement for Somalis living in the south central region used to involve a long and dangerous journey to the Kenyan border, Dadaab refugee camp and Nairobi.

IOM organized Nimca Abdi and her children’s “fit-to-travel” medical exams, travel documents, flight bookings, tickets and airport assistance in Mogadishu.

It also contacted her husband in Slovenia and provided pre-departure information on transit assistance and exit visa arrangements.

Mrs. Abdi and her family transited Istanbul, where IOM provided them with accommodation, meals and airport assistance. The following day they left for Slovenia, where IOM reunited the family.

To date, IOM has conducted some 300 family reunification and resettlements from other parts of Somalia, including Puntland and Somaliland.

GENEVA, Switzerland, July 11, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM Somalia, in coordination with the Somali immigration department, has conducted its first family reunification from the south central region of the country.

The operation reunited a mother and her three children who had been living in Mogadishu for 12 years with their husband and father in Slovenia.

In the past, all family reunification and resettlement for Somalis living in the south central region used to involve a long and dangerous journey to the Kenyan border, Dadaab refugee camp and Nairobi.

IOM organized Nimca Abdi and her children’s “fit-to-travel” medical exams, travel documents, flight bookings, tickets and airport assistance in Mogadishu.

It also contacted her husband in Slovenia and provided pre-departure information on transit assistance and exit visa arrangements.

Mrs. Abdi and her family transited Istanbul, where IOM provided them with accommodation, meals and airport assistance. The following day they left for Slovenia, where IOM reunited the family.

To date, IOM has conducted some 300 family reunification and resettlements from other parts of Somalia, including Puntland and Somaliland.