Category: APO-OPA

REYKJAVÍK, Iceland, June 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — African Union Commission Department of Infrastructure and Energy in collaboration with the Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA) organised the third Donors Collaboration Meeting for the Regional Geothermal Programme (RGP) as well as Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility (GRMF) which is managed by AUC through the department of Infrastructure and Energy. The meeting was hosted by ICEIDA in Reykjavik, Iceland on 26 May, 2014. The collaboration meeting which was followed by a two days’ workshop on geothermal development for decision makers in Africa was attended by experts from eight Eastern African Rift System(EARS) countries: Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda ,,and representatives of geothermal support programmes in eastern Africa: EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund (EU-AITF), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Federal Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), African Development Bank (AfDB), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Nordic Development Fund (NDF), World Bank (WB), Energy and Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) , Icelandic Geological Survey(ISOR), United Nations University Geothermal Training Program (UNU-GTP) and KfW.

The specific objectives of the donors collaboration meeting was to increase level of coordination among the donors working on geothermal development in Eastern Africa, increase level of coordination between donors and beneficiary countries and address issues facing donors and decision makers working on geothermal projects in Africa.

In his opening remarks, the Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs H. E. Mr. Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson warmly welcomed the participants to Iceland and expressed his pleasure that Iceland through its cooperation with the AUC was cohosting this event with the ICEIDA. He underscored the fact that while the international community was busy discussing the post 2015 Development Agenda in the face of severe consequences of global warming for many African countries he was proud to be a part of a gathering that can say to the world: we are doing something about it.

The AUC Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Dr. Elham M. A. Ibrahim in her remarks stated that participants were there today to take stock of the implementation process of the Regional Geothermal programme and to discuss ways for moving ahead and also for further collaboration amongst donors, developers and decision-makers. This opportunity would be used to stress that one of the major challenges in geothermal development in African countries is the lack of or low levels of technical capacity in many of the key areas including exploration, drilling, field development, etc. For the development of geothermal energy, it is important to have an integrated and multi-disciplinary team of experts and highly skilled professionals. We believe that the geothermal industry in Eastern Africa will benefit greatly from the establishment of a training facility or programme”.

The Donor’s Coordination Meeting was followed by a two days’ Workshop on Geothermal Development for Decision Makers in Eastern Africa and active donors in the region and it specifically addressed issues facing donors and decision makers working on geothermal projects. Lectures were given by leading experts in various geothermal fields and lecturers from the United Nations University in Iceland.

The workshop also included site visits to showcase the uses of geothermal energy in Iceland. This included a visit to the main geothermal power plant in Iceland, Geothermal Drying Facility and the Blue Lagoon all of which utilise geothermal energy.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, June 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Journalists are invited to participate in the celebration of the African Border Day, on Friday, 06 June 2014, from 0900 -1230 Hrs, in the Plenary Hall of the Old Conference Building of the AU Headquarters.

The Celebration of the Border Day aims at sensitizing all stakeholders including Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and academicians about the role and importance of borders in promoting peace, security and stability. It also aims to give greater visibility to the efforts of the AUBP towards the achievement of greater African unity and integration at the continental, regional and national level.

The Day will be celebrated in the presence of AU Member States, representatives of the diplomatic missions in Addis Ababa, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), partners, international organizations, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), as well as staff from the AUC.

The event will feature a release of Part II of the Documentary titled “African Borders; from barriers to bridges”, the launching of new Guidebooks on the Introduction of the newly adopted Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation as well as, a photo exhibition, showcasing “historical documents and, images from African borders”

Journalists are invited to participate in and cover the event on Friday, 6 June 2014

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, June 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union Commission (AUC), through its Department of Infrastructure and Energy, and Reykjavik Geothermal ehf signed a grant agreement for financial support totaling USD 5,594,821 to drill two reservoir confirmation wells at the Reykjavík Geothermal ehf owned Corbetti geothermal prospect located in Ethiopia. The grant which was signed in the presence of the Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs H. E. Mr.Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson aims also to alleviate infrastructure requirements needed for proper project implementation. The signing ceremony was held at the Grand Hotel in Reykjavík, Iceland on 26 May, 2014 in Donors’ Coordination meeting held by AUC to mobilize financial and technical support to the Regional Geothermal Programme as well as Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility (GRMF) .

The GRMF has been established by the AUC, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund in cooperation with the German government owned development bank KfW. The objective of GRMF is to encourage public and private investors (project developers) to develop geothermal prospects for power generation in Eastern Africa by providing cost sharing grants for surface studies and drilling of reservoir confirmation wells. 50 million Euro (approx. 62 million USD) has been made available for such grants. An increase of the fund is planned.

The State Minister of Mines of Ethiopia, H.E. Ato Tewodros Gebregziabher Reda remarked that “we are very happy for Reykjavik Geothermal for the signing of a project which will be of great benefit to the people of Ethiopia”

The AUC Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Dr. Elham M. A. Ibrahim in her remarks expressed her gratitude towards this achievement in geothermal development which will in turn improve the quality of life of the people of Ethiopia. Thanking all stakeholders for their on-going support, she wished other eligible countries success in the coming application rounds.

Mr. Thorleifur Finnsson of Reykjavík Geothermal expressed his pride in the successful signing of the Corbetti project which will contribute an additional 20 MW to the Ethiopian power grid by end of 2015 as pilot project with expectation to extend to generate 300 MW when the Corbetti project completed.

GRMF provides financial support in form of a grant to winning applicants for surface studies and exploration drilling and testing programmes as follows:

 20% of approved allowable costs for infrastructure required for eligible surface studies or eligible drilling programmes (e.g. access, water, power)

 80% of approved allowable costs of Surface studies

 40% of approved allowed costs for the exploration drilling and testing programme (ex-cluding infrastructure costs)

 30% of the developer’s share of the approved allowance and expended costs for the drilling and testing programme in case of conti¬nuation of the project.

For detailed information about Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility (GRMF) please visit the GRMF website: http://www.grmf-eastafrica.org/

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, June 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The leadership of the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) are currently meeting today 4th June 2014 at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to update on issues of crucial importance with regard to the development agenda of the continent.

Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Donald Kaberuka, president of the African Development Bank and Mr. Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the RECs representatives will for two days exchange views on infrastructure development and cross-border transit including the integrated high-speed train network; the implementation of the Inga Dam Project; the Pan African E-network; agriculture, continental free trade area and aviation development in the continent, among others.

Other items on the agenda of the meeting include: the development of a commodity strategy that will result in Africa regaining the pricing of key commodities and the establishment of the virtual university by consolidating African initiatives and strategies on accelerated human capital development, science, technology and innovation while capitalizing on the digital revolution and global knowledge. Agenda 2063 will also be at the center of discussion during the meeting of the three continental organizations.

Meanwhile, the three organizations will tomorrow 5 June 2014, meet at the level of the committee of ministers, to follow up on the implementation of the Bahir Dar Ministerial retreat and discuss issues arising from the e-mail from the future of Dr. Dlamini Zuma.

Journalists are invited to cover the opening ceremony of the ministerial meeting tomorrow 5 June 2014 from 9:30 – 10:00 am in the Small Conference Hall 4, New AU Conference Center.

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, June 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Government authorities in Central African Republic and international peacekeepers should allow Muslim residents to seek protection in neighboring countries, Human Rights Watch said today. Many Muslim residents living in a few heavily guarded areas endure unsustainable, life-threatening conditions and say they want to leave.

The majority of the Muslims remaining in the western part of the country are ethnic Peuhl nomads living in small enclaves – such as in Boda, Carnot, and Yaloké – that are heavily guarded by African Union (MISCA) peacekeepers and French (Sangaris) troops. Because of persistent threats against the Peuhl, peacekeepers drastically restrict the residents’ movements.

“Conceding that many threatened Muslims in the Central African Republic need to leave the country temporarily is an option of last resort, but there are no other immediate solutions,” said Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director at Human Rights Watch. “Many Muslims in western Central African Republic have clearly and unequivocally expressed a desire to flee to neighboring countries, and they should be allowed to leave safely.”

Since September 2013, the predominantly Christian and animist anti-balaka militia has carried out widespread and systematic attacks against the Muslim minority in Central African Republic, resulting in thousands of deaths and the flight of hundreds of thousands of Muslims from their homes. The 2,000 French soldiers under Operation Sangaris and 6,000 African peacekeepers under the African Union’s MISCA mission have been unable to stop many of these attacks.

Anti-balaka fighters for six months have sought to avenge the brutal abuses by the mostly Muslim Seleka rebel coalition that overthrew the government of Francois Bozizé in March 2013. Entire districts of the capital, Bangui, have been completely cleansed of their Muslim populations. In many major towns in the west, where thousands of Muslims once lived, none remain.

In Yaloké, 490 Peuhl who fled the southwestern part of the country four months ago are being housed in three dilapidated government buildings on a hilltop in the center of town, protected by MISCA peacekeepers and local gendarmes. The anti-balaka frequently attacked the Peuhl as they fled the southwest, raiding thousands of head of their cattle. Many of the Peuhl have machete wounds from anti-balaka attacks.

The men in the group are not allowed to leave the camp, while local people routinely threaten and insult Peuhl women who venture a few meters outside to search for firewood and water. Many of the children and adults are suffering from respiratory diseases and malnutrition, and are forced to sleep in the open. During the last week of May 2014, when researchers from Human Rights Watch visited the Peuhl on several occasions, at least four children, including twin newborns, died because of the dire conditions in the camp.

Despite the Peuhl’s vulnerability, the captain commanding the local peacekeeping contingent from the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) openly threatened them in front of Human Rights Watch researchers, vowing to shoot anyone who tried to board a nearby convoy of commercial trucks that could have transported them to Cameroon.

After Human Rights Watch researchers protested, the captain said he was “only trying to scare [the Peuhl].” But he insisted that he would not allow them to board the trucks, saying that the country’s interim authorities firmly opposed any further departure of Muslims from the country.

Members of the Peuhl community trapped in Yaloké told Human Rights Watch that they were united in their desire to seek safety in Cameroon. They said they were being held in Yaloké against their will after local authorities had told them they would be allowed to go to Cameroon.

Human Rights Watch spoke with humanitarian, diplomatic, and government sources who said that the country’s interim authorities began to oppose the departure of Muslims after the United Nations and MISCA troops supported the April 27 evacuation of 1,300 trapped Muslims from the PK12 area of Bangui, the capital. Anti-balaka fighters attacked the convoy and killed two fleeing Muslims. The interim authorities then said that they had not approved the evacuation and insisted that there should be no more evacuations without government consent.

Human Rights Watch researchers also found dire conditions in the southwestern diamond-trading town of Boda, where an estimated 11,000 Muslims are trapped. Attacks on the Muslims continue, despite the presence of African peacekeepers and French troops. In Carnot, 800 to 900 Muslims are trapped at the local Catholic Church in deplorable conditions. Some have been there for three months. Anti-balaka forces attacked them as recently as May 24.

Although some international humanitarian organizations are operating in the capital, few are working in more rural areas, compounding the plight of the trapped Peuhl. An unknown number of Peuhl nomads are still in rural areas with their remaining cattle herds, trying to avoid the anti-balaka violence.

International law grants everyone the right “to leave any country, including his own” and to seek asylum abroad. The Central African Republic’s Muslim population also has the right to freedom of movement in the country. The restrictions the interim authorities placed on the voluntary movement of threatened Muslim communities are inconsistent with these international legal obligations, and point to the need for a more durable approach to ensuring the security of Muslim residents.

The interim authorities should allow Muslim residents freedom of movement and respect their right to seek safety abroad, Human Rights Watch said. The interim authorities, the United Nations, MISCA peacekeepers, and French Sangaris troops should also work together to assist the trapped Muslims, including by providing security against anti-balaka attacks to those who intend to leave to seek protection in neighboring countries. The interim authorities and the international community should make a firm commitment to create the conditions as soon as possible to allow Muslims to exert their right to return to their original locations.

“Muslim communities in the Central African Republic have faced persistent threats for six months, but the authorities haven’t yet developed a suitable response to their plight,” Bouckaert said. “Keeping desperate Muslims in tightly guarded enclaves in terrible conditions is no way to deal with their situation.”

For more Human Rights Watch reporting on the Central African Republic, please visit:

https://www.hrw.org/africa/central-african-republic

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — GeoPoll (http://research.geopoll.com), the world’s largest real-time mobile survey platform, today launched its Audience Measurement Service, which offers the first ever daily TV ratings in several African markets. The launch of this service comes just in time for the FIFA World Cup, when GeoPoll will publish game viewership data from African nations as locals cheer on their teams, and global brands spend considerably on advertising.

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

Photo 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1150 (James Eberhard GeoPoll Founder)

Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/1406051.jpg (Sample Survey on Television)

GeoPoll’s new service fills a crucial gap in market research in Africa, delivering next-day TV audience data starting in 5 countries, including Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. Until now, advertisers, brands and broadcasters looking to understand audiences in these growing markets have had to rely on months-old data, with little insight into the demographics and psychographics that determine ad campaigns or programming. GeoPoll’s metrics provide unprecedented access to this type of viewership data, and represent ratings from more than 300 million Africans. With this launch, GeoPoll becomes the largest TV audience measurement company in Africa.

“At GeoPoll, we’ve established a standard for delivering data insights in emerging economies, and with our new Audience Measurement Service, we’re offering a category first: overnight TV ratings from almost a third of the African population,” said James Eberhard, founder of GeoPoll and parent company Mobile Accord. “Advertisers, brands and broadcasters have been relying upon limited data, which can’t keep up with shifting target audiences and programming. Our overnight insights will give these groups a more accurate picture of consumer behaviors and preferences as they spend hundreds of millions of dollars to engage rapidly growing audiences.”

GeoPoll’s Audience Measurement Service gives advertisers and broadcasters a real-time, granular look at viewing habits through individual action. Leapfrogging more traditional ratings methodologies, which can be slow, limited and costly, GeoPoll taps its extensive mobile user network to deliver mobile surveys that measure television viewership in half-hour time blocks, uncovering unprecedented data that can inform better advertising and programming decisions.

All data is accessed through an easy-to-use interface which updates data overnight, 365 days a year, giving brands, advertisers and broadcasters the ability to easily understand and better serve their audiences. Features include:

• TV and Radio Audience Measurement (TAM and RAM) in half-hour time blocks and two hour time blocks respectively.

• Easily viewable statistics on ratings by channel, including ranking and timeline comparisons

• Ability to measure audience by location, demographics, and psychographics

Audience Measurement is the latest service from GeoPoll Knowledge, GeoPoll’s new subscription data program that supports a number of strategic sectors, including Finance, Food & Agriculture, and Telecommunications. All data is gathered from GeoPoll’s robust survey platform, which has the ability to directly access over 150 million mobile users in more than 20 countries and utilizes SMS, voice and web-based communications to reach respondents even in areas without internet connection.

GeoPoll’s Audience Measurement Service is currently up and running in 5 countries: Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda, and will continue to expand across Africa in the coming months. To learn more about GeoPoll Knowledge’s subscription services, including Media Measurement, visit http://research.geopoll.com.

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

Contact information:

Dan O’Mahony or Iz Conroy

(+1) 415-625-8555

GeoPoll@LaunchSquad.com

About GeoPoll

GeoPoll (http://research.geopoll.com) is the world’s largest real-time mobile survey platform, reaching a growing network of more than 150 million users in 20 countries worldwide on a deeply granular level and at unprecedented scale. Through partnerships with telecom providers and a multimodal platform powered by text, voice and web-based communications, GeoPoll enables companies and organizations to gather quick, accurate and in-depth insights on anything from preferences on consumer goods to election transparency and access to basic government services. GeoPoll is powered by Mobile Accord, the creators of the mGive mobile donation platform and experts in powering mobile insights across the globe.

GENEVA, Switzerland, June 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) condemns in the strongest possible terms the murder of its staff member Michael Greub. The 42-year-old Swiss national, head of t…

DAKAR, Senegal, June 4, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa, Mr. Said Djinnit, met today in Abidjan with the President of Cote d’Ivoire, Mr. Alassane Ouattara.

M…

GABORONE, Botswana, June 4, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The SADC Consultative meeting on CFTA/BIAT kicked off today. The meeting is organized by the AUC in collaboration with SADC Secretariat and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The objectives of the two days meeting is to facilitate consultations and dialogue between SADC Member states on the CFTA.

In her opening remark H.E Mrs. Fatima Haram Acyl, Commissioner for Trade and Industry, highlighted that “there is a consensus on functional regional FTAs which provides a strong basis for the implementation of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), it is for this reason that we see a lot of value in supporting the implementation of SADC FTA and in the tripartite initiative of COMESA-EAC-SADC to establish FTA by 2014”. In Addition she affirmed that “the successful implementation of BIAT/CFTA initiative requires the participation of multiple stakeholders. These include the private sector, civil society, parliamentarians and academia among others.”

The meeting was also assumed by the director of SADC secretariat, Ms. Boitumelo Gofhamodimo who stated that “……BIAT action plan is aimed at addressing challenges constraining intra-African trade through programmes and activities grouped under seven clusters covering trade policy, trade facilitation, productive capacity, trade-related infrastructure, trade finance, trade information and factor market integration”, the Director said “this should resonate well with the aspirations of SADC Member states who are keen to put up coherent programmes to address problems arising out of an increasingly competitive global market environment”. In addition she said” in preparation for CFTA negotiations there are a number of lessons that can be drawn from the tripartite experience”.

Addressing the opening ceremony, the Permanent Secretary of Trade and Industry in Botswana, Mrs. Banny Molosiwa welcomed all the delegates to Gaborone to attend this critical meeting. “The meeting comes at an opportune time as it will allow us, as SADC, to introspect and to make meaningful contributions towards the Action Plan for boosting Intra-African Trade”. In addition, she said “…….Most of the SADC Members are part of the Tripartite negotiations whose main objective is to strengthen and deepen economic integration of the southern and East African regions…..therefore, full implementation of the SADC Free Trade Area, as well as meaningful progress at the Tripartite level should be the stepping stones towards conclusion of the CFTA”, In her conclusion, the Permanent Secretary of Botswana Ministry of Trade encouraged the involvement and participation of the private sectors in the process of the implementation of the CFTA. For full speech please consult our website http://ti.au.int

SADC Member States, SADC Secretariat, UNECA, Association of SADC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASCCI) and the Botswana Confederation of Commerce and Manpower development participated in this meeting.

For further information please consult our website; http://ti.au.int

OTTAWA, Canada, June 4, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement on the release of the official results of Egypt’s presidential election, which confirmed Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as president-elect:

“We congratulate President-elect el-Sisi on the results of the election. As we all know, difficult challenges face the president-elect in leading Egypt toward a more democratic, inclusive, secure and prosperous future, but such a future is in the interests of all Egyptian citizens. We continue to stand with Egypt in its efforts to confront terrorism, including in the Sinai Peninsula, where Egyptian security personnel are confronting a dangerous insurgency.

“Canada remains committed to supporting Egypt in making a peaceful and meaningful transition to democracy, based on respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.

“This transition represents an important opportunity for Egypt, one that can provide the Egyptian people with the stability and prosperity they desire.”