Category: APO-OPA

WASHINGTON, December 21, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS UNDER THE AFRICAN GROWTH AND
OPPORTUNITY ACT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

1. Section 506A(a)(1) of…

PARIS, France, December 21, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations (UN) Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution today authorizing the deployment of an African-led International Support Mission (AFISMA) to help recover the territory in Northern Mali currently under the control of armed groups.

FIDH and its member organization in Mali, AMDH, welcome the inclusion in the resolution of several mechanisms to protect human rights in Mali, echoing the recommendations presented by FIDH and AMDH during recent meetings with Security Council members and heads of UN bodies in New York. Although our organizations denounce the efforts by some UN Security Council members to remove key human rights instruments from the resolution, we strongly support the resolution’s calls for:

The responsibility for actually implementing the majority of these mechanisms however, falls on individual countries, regional bodies, and the UN Secretariat. The EU for its part has pledged to train the Malian armed forces, and the UN Secretary General has been charged with observing and reporting on the human rights situation in northern Mali.

FIDH President Souhayr Belhassen called on the UN Secretariat and members of the international community to swiftly fulfill their commitments to ensure the prevention of further human rights violations. “All parties – including the Malian transitional authorities, the UN, and regional groups such as the African Union and ECOWAS – must immediately implement human rights protection mechanisms in Mali. If mediation fails and a military intervention does take place without these protection mechanisms, we risk seeing more serious attacks against civilians and violations of human, creating greater animosity and mistrust between the North and South,” Souhayr Belhassen stated.

The UN Security Council resolution also emphasizes the importance of advancing a political process in parallel with the preparations for military action. Although the resolution urges the Malian authorities to finalize a roadmap for inclusive national dialogue and political transition including the holding of elections “as soon as technically possible,” our organizations remain concerned at the lack of progress towards inclusive political transition in Mali, as highlighted by the recent forced resignation of Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra. Attempts at political dialogue have also been marred by an unfair distribution of seats at the table for distinct political parties and civil society groups.

FIDH and AMDH call on the transitional authorities of Mali to establish conditions for a genuinely inclusive political dialogue, and to prepare for the holding of presidential and legislative elections in order to establish a credible and representative government in Mali.

GENEVA, Switzerland, December 21, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Although the situation in the Kivus has been relatively stable for the past few days, crime, mob justice and inter-community tension in certain areas are creating a climate of worry and fear. Thousands of residents and displaced people everywhere are living in dire conditions.

“The situation in which civilians in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo find themselves, which includes in particular their immediate need for security, must not be forgotten during the current talks,” said Franz Rauchenstein, who heads the ICRC’s delegation in the country. “These people, already hard hit by years of conflict and other violence, now face mounting uncertainty. They are entitled to respect and protection.”

“We consider it urgent that we continue to visit people detained in connection with the conflicts in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, that people injured in the fighting be withdrawn to safety and receive care, that displaced people and others in great need receive help, and that family members of unaccompanied children be found,” said Mr Rauchenstein.

Staff from the ICRC and volunteers from the Red Cross Society of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are currently in Sake, a town west of Goma, and also in Masisi-centre (North Kivu province) and in Minova (South Kivu). They are stepping up efforts to provide emergency food aid for nearly 90,000 people in all, and such essential items as kitchen utensils, clothing, blankets and tarpaulins for some of them. With the rainy season in full swing, it will not be easy to distribute large quantities of goods.

“This is the second time we have been displaced,” said Kahindo, a 16-year-old girl at a distribution of aid to more than 45,000 people organized on a school football pitch in Kimoka, a part of Sake. “The first time, we fled with our parents, but this time we were surprised by the fighting. Our parents had gone to the fields, where they were killed, and I ran away with my little brothers.”

ICRC delegates are on the ground talking to people who suffered violence over the past few weeks in order to be able to bring them aid. The delegates’ work also consists in collecting information on cases where people have been victims of violations of international humanitarian law. The ICRC shares its findings, here as elsewhere, exclusively and confidentially with the armed forces or groups concerned. Its ultimate aim is to persuade weapon bearers to change their behaviour towards civilians and others not taking part in hostilities.

Since 19 November, the ICRC has also:

● pressed ahead with efforts aimed at visiting persons arrested during the capture of Goma and still being held;

● performed operations at N’Dosho and Katindo hospitals in Goma on more than 130 people injured in the fighting;

● continued to provide supplies and financial support for hospital facilities in Bukavu to make it easier to provide care in South Kivu for casualties of the fighting;

● built latrines and showers, and restored to working order a water tank and water pipes in the Minova, Saïo and Nyamunyunyi camps housing displaced people in Bukavu;

● provided support for the activities of the Red Cross Society of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly for administering first aid to casualties and taking them to hospital;

● registered more than 350 children in Goma and Bukavu, and, working together with the Congolese Red Cross, reunited over 100 of them with their families.

DAKAR, Senegal, December 21, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The 2nd High Level Media Workshop on the African Union Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) started today in Dakar, Senegal, on the theme “Promoting the culture of Peace through Media”.

Representing the African Union (AU), Professor Abdoulaye Bathily, AU Special Envoy on the Mbororo issue, deplored the little resources African nations invest in peace and security efforts, and urged the media to act as spokespersons for the continent especially for peace and human security.

Highlighting the theme of the Workshop “Promoting the culture of peace through the media”, Prof. Bathily emphasized that the culture of peace should be imbibed sustainably “into societies, our spirit and our daily routine”. “This should be transmitted to the future generations in order to prevent conflicts” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Defence of Senegal, Col. Abdurahim Kebe encouraged the collaborative work between the AU and the media to actively promote a culture of peace in all African communities, as it will be sure to trickle down to mental practices.

The opening ceremony was also attended by Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, Chair of newly launched Panafrican Institute of Strategies (IPS). Speaking about the crisis in Mali and the African response to it, Mr Gadio stressed the need for a more unified political approach to conflicts on the continent. He pointed out the shortcomings of the initial tackle of the Mali crisis as a regional issue, rather than as a continental one.

Over the next three days, participants in the workshop, more than 60 media practitioners, will discuss the functioning of the AU in terms of peace and security, its peace and security architecture, and its different components in terms of crises prevention and resolution, notably the African Standby Force (ASF).

The workshop will also aim at providing participating journalists who specialize on issues of peace and security on the continent, with reliable information on the matter, thus increasing their understanding of the complexity of peace and security issues, as well as ameliorating the factual media coverage of the AU efforts in the area of peace and security.

Launched in November 2011, the APSA media workshop aims to reinforce dialogue between the AU and the Media by popularizing the many mechanisms of the APSA, Conflict Prevention and Early Warning practice. This second encounter will further give a platform for fruitful interaction between information and communication experts and practitioners of matters of peace and security.

This collaborative initiative between the Directorate of Information and Communication (DIC) and the AU Peace and Security Department (PSD) of the African Union (UA) brings together the leadership of various international Media and key AU officials and their partners in the field of Peace and Security.

MOGADISHU, Somalia, December 21, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — As the Somali Police Force marks the 69th anniversary of its formation the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mohamat Annadif, has reaffirmed AMISOM’s commitment to continuing to enhance the capacity of SPF to serve and protect the people of Somalia.

The SPF was founded in 1943 and the Force is now recovering and rebuilding having been held back by decades of armed conflict and civil war. AMISOM’s police component has been helping to reconstitute the force and to train and mentor its personnel. The component is also helping to equip the SPF through providing basic supplies to the police stations. It recently deployed 2 Formed Police Units. The FPUs continue to play a crucial role of ensuring improved security in the liberated areas through Public Order Management including joint patrols together with the Somali Police Force, provision of security to VIPs, individuals and properties.

Paying tribute to the men and women of the Force, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Annadif, reaffirmed the Mission’s commitment to enhance the capacity of SPF by training, mentoring, advising the SPF and ensuring the security of individuals and properties.

Amb Annadif said: “Without strong and enduring rule of law and public order there is no lasting peace. The Somali Police Force is playing and will continue to play an integral part in Somalia’s recovery. On this anniversary, I pay tribute to the efforts of the SPF in working to serve and protect every citizen and reaffirm AMISOM’s commitment to helping the SPF in the future”.

He reaffirmed AMISOM’s commitment to supporting with the Somali Police Force. AMISOM Police from across the African Union have focussed on enhancing the capacity of the SPF in its efforts to restore the rule of law and public order in Somalia.

He said: “AMISOM has a strong and productive partnership with the Somali Police Force and we are committed to building on this good work. We shall continue to encourage Somali Police to serve and protect every citizen in a manner that will build public confidence. Our training and mentoring partnerships with the SPF are crucial to helping Somalia develop the security framework in which long lasting peace and stability can grow.”

The AMISOM police component currently has 363 police officers drawn from different African countries. AMISOM Police are also involved in mentoring and advisory support to the SPF on basic police duties, such as human rights observation, crime prevention strategies, community policing and search procedures. It has conducted training for nearly a third of the SPF’s 5000 officers including running a refresher course for middle level officers, training new recruits as well as running courses in traffic management and criminal investigation techniques.

WASHINGTON, December 21, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press Statement
Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 20, 2012

Today, the Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal fo…

EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, December 21, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — In its ongoing efforts to strengthening rule of law institutions in the region, the African Union – United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) sponsored on 20 December the launching of the Sudanese Police Women Network in El Fasher, North Darfur.

The establishment of the network will help addressing issues related to women and children and creating the basis of a unified force, which will be able to support and reinforce the actions of its members. Also, it will provide a platform for internal interaction and exchanging of ideas and strategies.

UNAMID through its female police network provided a number of skills-building activities, in areas of gender-based violence, human rights, rule of law and management, to enhance the local women police capacity and create enabling environment for women police to take a leading responsibility in providing support to local communities.

In a ceremony held at Al-Zubai Stadium, UNAMID Deputy Joint Special Representative Mohamed Yonis praised the initiative. “This Women Police Network is one of our greatest achievements and I call on all in Darfur to support its members. As in all countries of the world, the women are the backbone of society,” he said.

EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, December 21, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union – United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), in collaboration with UN agencies in the region, organized on 19 December a community dialogue on physical…

LONDON, United-Kingdom, December 21, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Kenya’s decision to place refugees and asylum seekers in camps away from urban centres is a discriminatory and unlawful restriction on freedom of movement, Amnesty International said.

“This restriction on freedom of movement is likely to lead to other serious human rights abuses in already overcrowded, insecure refugee camps,” said Kathryn Achilles, Amnesty International’s East Africa expert

Thousands of refugees and asylum-seekers from Somalia living in urban centres including the capital, Nairobi, will be required to move to the Dadaab refugee camp complex in north-eastern Kenya, while those from other countries will be required to move to the Kakuma camp.

The Dadaab complex in particular is already extremely overcrowded, even without the additional influx of refugees required to move from urban areas.

Overcrowding has placed a strain on the provision of essential services to asylum-seekers and refugees, including access to shelter, water and sanitation.

“The government cannot simply scapegoat refugees and asylum-seekers en masse for security incidents.

North eastern Kenya has suffered from recent insecurity, including attacks against people living in the Dadaab camps, and others living and working in the area.

“Targeting entire groups of people and blaming them in this way is unacceptable. It is not, and never can be, an appropriate response to security concerns.”

Amnesty International is calling on the Kenyan government to rescind the directive and it urged the authorities to resume registration and service provision in urban areas, as well as to those living in camps.

The move comes after weeks of discriminatory or arbitrary arrests of ethnic Somalis, particularly in the Eastleigh area of Nairobi, in the wake of grenade and other bomb attacks.

Hundreds of people have been arrested, with most subsequently released without charge. There were also numerous reports of harassment, ill-treatment and extortion by security forces, which Amnesty International called upon the government to investigate.

More than 500,000 Somali nationals are registered in Kenya as refugees, and they make up the vast majority of refugees and asylum-seekers there.

As a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention, Kenya is under an obligation to protect those seeking asylum on their territory .

Amnesty International acknowledges the responsibility Kenya has shouldered in hosting refugees, particularly those from Somalia, but the answer is not simply to force people to move to camps, or to restrict their freedom of movement.

Kenya must live up to its obligations under international law, and must have the support of the international community to do so, including through increased funding and resettlement programmes.

NEW YORK, December 21, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma announced today the appointment of Mr.Mohamed Ibn Chambas of Ghana as their J…