Category: APO-OPA

MOGADISHU, Somalia, March 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Somali National Army (SNA) backed by African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops this evening captured an Al-Shabaab stronghold, Buula Burde town in Hiraan region, bringing to six the number of towns liberated from Al- Qaeda –linked terrorists in the past two weeks, a top African Union official has said.

The African Union Special Representative for Somalia and Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif, said the capture of Buula Burde town was a major victory for the SNA and AMISOM forces and a boost for the peace restoration process in Somalia.

The joint operations between the Somali National Army and AMISOM which began this month have so far liberated the top 5 cities in the Bay and Bakool regions in Sector 3, namely Hudur, Rabdhure,Ted, Weel dheyn and Burdhubow.

“Buule Burde in Hiraan region in Sector 4 was a strategic town for the Al-Shabaab. It was their supply nerve centre and home to hundreds of the Al-Qaeda linked terrorists. The capture of this town by our heroic forces provides a major boost to our efforts to bring peace and stability to Somalia,” Ambassador Annadif said.

BANGUI, Central African Republic, March 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic – CAR (MISCA) welcomes continuing progress in rebuilding the Armed Forces of the country. The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission in CAR and Head of MISCA, General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko welcomes the efforts of the CAR Transition Authorities to reconstitute the country’s security forces and pledges the AU’s support in that regard.

“When MISCA officially took over on 19 December 2013, the security situation in the country was dire. MISCA, with the support of French Sangaris force, has done a commendable job in progressively restoring security in the CAR. We recognize that much remains to be done. Our ultimate goal is to hand over the security of this country to its own security forces and continue supporting them in stabilizing the CAR. That can only be achieved if the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) are reconstituted, well trained and equipped. We are pleased to note that the Transitional Authorities are moving in that direction”, the MISCA Head of Mission stated.

The Special Representative notes with satisfaction that, according to the CAR military authorities, nearly 70 percent of members of the FACA have reported back for work and that efforts are being exerted to encourage those who have not yet resumed their duties to do so. MISCA remains committed to working with Africa’s international partners in support of Security Sector Reform in the CAR, with a view to help this country rebuild and modernize its security forces.

YAOUNDE, Cameroon, March 14, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Government of Cameroon and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) jointly organized a high-level conference entitled “Financing the Future: Infrastructure Development in Central Africa” in Yaoundé, Cameroon on March 10, 2014

The conference brought together ministers, governors and more than 250 senior officials, academics, and representatives of financial institutions and civil society from across countries of the Economic Community of Central African States and beyond to discuss international experience and best practices to finance infrastructure development. The outcome of this conference will be presented at the high level Africa Rising conference organized by the government of Mozambique and the IMF in Maputo on May 29-30, 2014.

Participants agreed that investment in infrastructure can drive growth, raise productivity, and help reduce poverty, but also acknowledged that large infrastructure gaps remain in central Africa. The lack of infrastructure is a key obstacle to achieving faster growth because higher transportation, water, and power costs are estimated to reduce private sector productivity by almost half. Regional infrastructure projects and good coordination of national investment will also foster regional integration.

Upgrading infrastructures is, however, very costly and implies large financing needs. For Central African countries, scaling up investment without taking on excessive debt constitutes a crucial policy challenge.

The conference addressed several key issues: first, the need to optimize domestic resources, especially from natural resources, and streamline inefficient expenditures to free fiscal space for investment; second, the desirability of tapping private sector financing, including through private–public partnerships (PPP) while mitigating the fiscal risks tied to them; third, the prospects for innovative financing, the role of capital markets and sovereign bonds issuance and enhanced credit access. Each of these areas presents challenges and solutions that governments should address with the assistance of bilateral and multilateral partners.

While the wider choices of available financing options can open up opportunities for African countries, governments have to be savvy about how they finance the scaling up of their infrastructure investments. It is important to realize that non-concessional borrowing, in particular, should be reserved for investments that have a significant economic return so that the higher costs associated with such borrowing are covered.

Participants also widely acknowledged that to scale up investment while avoiding the pitfall of high indebtedness, countries need a good debt management strategy, while boosting the efficiency of public investment spending and developing their domestic revenues.

It was also agreed that the growth return to public infrastructure investment depends on a robust private sector response. It is therefore paramount to accompany infrastructure development with structural reforms that will promote a strong private investment climate. A large portfolio of bankable infrastructure projects will trigger—at the national as well as the international level—a broader contribution from, the sub-regional banking sector and the capital markets.

The Mozambique will bring together policymakers and others from Africa and beyond to discuss how to build upon the great progress Africa has seen in recent years, but also how to deal with the remaining challenges. It will also provide an opportunity for Central Africa to make its voice heard on infrastructure-related issues. .

The participants thanked the people of Cameroon for their hospitality, the Government for organizing the conference, and the President of the Republic, H.E Paul Biya, for his leadership.

The program of this conference and some of the speeches and presentations are available at:

http://www.imf.org/external/np/seminars/eng/2014/CMR/fra/index.htm

NEW YORK, March 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On 11 March 2014, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009) concerning Somalia and Eritrea approved the removal of the individual specified below from the List of individuals and entities subject to the travel ban, assets freeze and targeted arms embargo imposed by paragraphs 1, 3 and 7 of resolution 1844 (2008):

(12) Ali Ahmed Nur Jim’ale

AKA: Ahmed Ali Jim’ale

AKA: Ahmad Nur Ali Jim’ale

AKA: Sheikh Ahmed Jim’ale

AKA: Ahmad Ali Jim’ale

AKA: Shaykh Ahmed Nur Jim’ale

DOB: 1954

POB: Eilbur, Somalia

Nationality: Somalia

Alt. nationality: Djibouti

Passport: A0181988 (Somalia), exp. 23 January 2011

Location: Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti

Ali Ahmed Nur Jim’ale (Jim’ale) has served in leadership roles with the former Somali Council of Islamic Courts, also known as the Somali Islamic Courts Union, which was a radical-Islamist element. The most radical elements of the Somali Islamic Courts Union eventually formed the group known as al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab was listed for targeted sanctions in April 2010 by the United Nations Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 concerning Somalia and Eritrea (the “Somalia/Eritrea Sanctions Committee”). The Committee listed al-Shabaab for being an entity engaged in acts that directly or indirectly threaten the peace, security, or stability of Somalia, including but not limited to acts that pose a threat to Somali Transitional Federal Government.

According to the July 18, 2011 report of the Somalia/Eritrea Sanctions Committee’s Monitoring Group (S/2011/433), Jim’ale is identified as a prominent businessman and figure in the al-Shabaab charcoal-sugar trading cycle and benefitting from privileged relationships with al-Shabaab.

Jim’ale is identified as one of al-Shabaab’s chief financiers and is ideologically aligned with al-Shabaab. Jim’ale has provided key funding and political support for Hassan Dahir Aweys (“Aweys”), who was also listed by the Somalia/Eritrea Sanctions Committee. Former al-Shabaab Deputy Emir Muktar Robow reportedly continued to engage in political posturing within the al-Shabaab organization during the mid-2011. Robow engaged Aweys and Jim’ale in an effort to advance their shared objectives and consolidate their overall stance within the context of the al-Shabaab leadership rift.

As of fall 2007, Jim’ale established a front company in Djibouti for extremist activities called the Investors Group. The short term goal of the group was, through the funding of extremist activities and weapons purchases, to destabilize Somaliland. The group assisted in smuggling small arms from Eritrea through Djibouti into the 5th region of Ethiopia where extremists received the shipment. As of mid-2008, Jim’ale continued to operate the Investors Group.

As of late September 2010, Jim’ale established ZAAD, a mobile-to-mobile money transfer business and struck a deal with al-Shabaab to make money transfers more anonymous by eliminating the need to show identification.

As of late 2009, Jim’ale had a known hawala fund where he collected zakat, which was provided to al-Shabaab.

As of December 2011, unidentified donors from the Middle East were transferring money to Jim’ale, who in turn used financial intermediaries to send the money to al-Shabaab.

In 2009, Jim’ale worked with other like minded individuals to undermine the Somali TFG by not participating in Somali reconciliation efforts. As of late 2011, Jim’ale actively supported al-Shabaab by offering free communications, use of vehicles, food aid and political advisement and set up fundraisers for al-Shabaab through various business groups.

To obtain a fully updated version of the List of individuals and entities subject to the sanctions measures, Member States are encouraged to consult, on a regular basis, the Committee’s website at the following URL: http://www.un.org/sc/committees/751/pdf/1844_cons_list.pdf.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union (AU) has today received a contribution worth $ USD 500,000 (five-hundred thousand dollars) from the Republic of Namibia to the Peace Fund to support the financing of the African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA).

The Handover Ceremony took place at the African Union Headquarters, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and was presided over by the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui, and Mrs. Anne Mamakau Mutelo, Ambassador of the Republic of Namibia.

Speaking during the ceremony, Ambassador Chergui, said, ‘’this ceremony marks the step towards the realization of the vision by African leaders to further the spirit and value of solidarity between African countries in accordance with the motto «Africa helping Africa». He seize this occasion to salute and appreciate this important gesture of Namibia in support of peace and security in the continent.

The pledge was made in response to the request by AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) at its 413th meeting held on 16 January 2014, for the AU Member States to mobilize adequate support for the MISCA to help resolve the multidimensional crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR). Namibia responded to this appeal during the Donors’ Conference held in Addis Ababa, on 1 February 2014.

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, March 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, will today announce €81 million of new EU support to the Central African Republic (CAR) during a joint visit to the country with French Minister for Development, Pascal Canfin, and German Minister for Cooperation, Gerd Müller.

The amount represents a significant boost in EU aid to the country and will help restore basic social services and livelihoods; particularly in the areas of education (for example, to help classes restart in schools which have been closed due to the conflict), health (to rehabilitate and reequip health centres), and food security and nutrition (to ensure agriculture continuity, for example, by providing seeds.)

Ahead of his arrival, Commissioner Piebalgs said: “The Central African Republic and its people are facing unprecedented challenges, and it is more important than ever that we act now to put in place the foundations for stability and future development.

“This is why we are determined to support the new Head of State in her will to restore security and bring peace back to the country. The problem of conflict is not solved, but we cannot afford to lose sight of our ambitions for long-term economic and social development and that starts with addressing people’s basic needs. Development is key to stability, which is why we continue to give it our full support”.

Schedule of Commissioner Piebalgs

During his visit to CAR, Commissioner Piebalgs will meet the new transitional Head of State, Ms Catherine Catherine Samba-Panza. He will also visit the National Authority for elections (NAE), where he will meet the members of the NAE and discuss plans for the preparation of elections.

The Commissioner will also visit health, food aid and cash for work programmes as well as the Palais de Justice and meet with civil society representatives , Erik Solheim Chairman of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will also take part in this joint mission.

Background

Today’s new funding is in line with the Commission’s LRRD approach (Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development). It comes in addition to €20m support to elections which was already announced earlier in 2014. Overall, an additional amount of €101m has been offered to the Central African Republic in 2014 as an immediate response to the crisis. This aid is part of the bridging facility between the 10th European Development Fund, or EDF (which runs from 2008-2013) and the 11th EDF (from 2014-2020.)

Between 2008 and 2013, around €225 million were allocated for the whole country through the EU’s different financial instruments (€160 million through the 10th European Development Fund, or EDF, and €65 million through the EU budget).

The Central African Republic is as large as France and Belgium put together. The current crisis is affecting the majority of the population (4.6 million, half of them children). More than 50% of the Central Africans are in dire need of aid. As of 31 January, there were more than 825,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in CAR. More than 245,000 Central Africans sought refuge in neighbouring countries in the course of last year. Lack of access makes it difficult to deliver the urgently-required assistance to those suffering the consequences of violence.

The EU has taken the lead in advocacy and funding on CAR among relief donors, as a key partner of the Central African Republic and the country’s main donor. Relations are bound by the Cotonou Agreement. The restoration of security remains the immediate priority in order to stabilise the country in support of the political process, and is at the heart of the development aid.

Commissioner Piebalgs’ announcement today comes just ahead of the 4th Africa-EU Summit, which will take place in Brussels on 2-3 April 2014.

The Brussels summit will be held under the theme “Investing in People, Prosperity and Peace”. It is expected to mark a further significant step forward for the partnership between the EU and Africa in these three areas.

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, March 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, will today announce €81 million of new EU support to the Central African Republic (CAR) during a joint visit to the country with French Minister for Development, Pascal Canfin, and German Minister for Cooperation, Gerd Müller.

The amount represents a significant boost in EU aid to the country and will help restore basic social services and livelihoods; particularly in the areas of education (for example, to help classes restart in schools which have been closed due to the conflict), health (to rehabilitate and reequip health centres), and food security and nutrition (to ensure agriculture continuity, for example, by providing seeds.)

Ahead of his arrival, Commissioner Piebalgs said: “The Central African Republic and its people are facing unprecedented challenges, and it is more important than ever that we act now to put in place the foundations for stability and future development.

“This is why we are determined to support the new Head of State in her will to restore security and bring peace back to the country. The problem of conflict is not solved, but we cannot afford to lose sight of our ambitions for long-term economic and social development and that starts with addressing people’s basic needs. Development is key to stability, which is why we continue to give it our full support”.

Schedule of Commissioner Piebalgs

During his visit to CAR, Commissioner Piebalgs will meet the new transitional Head of State, Ms Catherine Catherine Samba-Panza. He will also visit the National Authority for elections (NAE), where he will meet the members of the NAE and discuss plans for the preparation of elections.

The Commissioner will also visit health, food aid and cash for work programmes as well as the Palais de Justice and meet with civil society representatives , Erik Solheim Chairman of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will also take part in this joint mission.

Background

Today’s new funding is in line with the Commission’s LRRD approach (Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development). It comes in addition to €20m support to elections which was already announced earlier in 2014. Overall, an additional amount of €101m has been offered to the Central African Republic in 2014 as an immediate response to the crisis. This aid is part of the bridging facility between the 10th European Development Fund, or EDF (which runs from 2008-2013) and the 11th EDF (from 2014-2020.)

Between 2008 and 2013, around €225 million were allocated for the whole country through the EU’s different financial instruments (€160 million through the 10th European Development Fund, or EDF, and €65 million through the EU budget).

The Central African Republic is as large as France and Belgium put together. The current crisis is affecting the majority of the population (4.6 million, half of them children). More than 50% of the Central Africans are in dire need of aid. As of 31 January, there were more than 825,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in CAR. More than 245,000 Central Africans sought refuge in neighbouring countries in the course of last year. Lack of access makes it difficult to deliver the urgently-required assistance to those suffering the consequences of violence.

The EU has taken the lead in advocacy and funding on CAR among relief donors, as a key partner of the Central African Republic and the country’s main donor. Relations are bound by the Cotonou Agreement. The restoration of security remains the immediate priority in order to stabilise the country in support of the political process, and is at the heart of the development aid.

Commissioner Piebalgs’ announcement today comes just ahead of the 4th Africa-EU Summit, which will take place in Brussels on 2-3 April 2014.

The Brussels summit will be held under the theme “Investing in People, Prosperity and Peace”. It is expected to mark a further significant step forward for the partnership between the EU and Africa in these three areas.

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, March 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Arab Education Forum and the Istikshaf coalition, with support from the European Union, will organize the second conference on “Advocating Mobility Around the Mediterranean” from 15 – 17 March 2014, hosted by the Greater Amman Municipality at Gallery 1 hall, Ras el Ein, Amman – Jordan. The Conference aims to be a venue for sharing experiences in the Euro-Arab region on the impact of mobility for learning, allowing artists, social entrepreneurs, and youth to discuss with stakeholders their experiences of mobility and how it impacted their professional and personal journey.

The conference will bring together more than 50 researchers, activists, practitioners, policy makers, and other stakeholders from Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Netherlands, Switzerland, Comoros, Greece, Nigeria, Tunisia, Spain, UK, USA, and Syria to share their experiences, stories, research, and knowledge. It will address the many challenges and obstacles youth, artists, and activists face today in their quest for mobility and will propose practical solutions at various levels (governmental, parliamentary, civil society), and in respect of the diversity of the situations in the region.

The event will result in a mapping of associations and local authorities participating in promoting mobility, and in practical recommendations to be followed in the year 2014 – 2015 by the regional mobility network.

The Istikshaf program was launched in December 2010 by the Arab Education Forum – Safar program and the Roberto Cimetta Fund and other partners from the Arab world to develop a platform to support artistic mobility around the Mediterranean. After three years, the program grew to become a platform for support and advocacy for freedom of movement and a wide arching coalition based on grassroots work and research. Current coalition members in Jordan include: Tamasi collective, Al Balad Theatre, The King Abdullah Fund for Development, Ruwwad at Tanmiya, Amman Municipality, Tammey association for development, Ethar Journeys, Ranger association, Anna Lindh Foundation – Jordan, Debate Foundation, Ahel, Amawi Takrouri associated, and the Roberto Cimetta Fund.

GENEVA, Switzerland, March 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Eritrea, Sheila B. Keetharuth, will undertake an official visit to Germany and Switzerland from 17 to 28 March 2014 to collect first-hand information from Eritrean refugees and migrants on the human rights situation in Eritrea.

Since her appointment in November 2012, the Special Rapporteur has made several requests to visit Eritrea, which have so far not been granted. She has repeatedly urged the Eritrean authorities to collaborate with her mandate with a view to addressing its human rights challenges.

“Due to lack of access to Eritrea, I have been engaging with Eritrean refugees and migrants outside of their home country, and all others concerned by human rights in Eritrea, including those who consider themselves to be victims of alleged human rights violations, human rights defenders and other civil society actors,” Ms. Keetharuth said.

During her mission, the Special Rapporteur will interview Eritrean refugees and migrants about the situation of human rights in Eritrea to corroborate allegations of widespread and systematic violations of human rights in Eritrea contained in reports she has received from a variety of interlocutors.

The Special Rapporteur expressed her appreciation that Germany and Switzerland have agreed to provide her with access to interview the Eritrean refugees and migrants residing in those two countries.

The result of her findings, which will be strictly limited to the situation inside Eritrea, will be reflected in her second report to the Human Rights Council in June 2014.

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press Statement
Jen Psaki
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
March 12, 2014

The AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops working jointly with the Somali Nat…