Statement by the spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the attack on the UN Compound in Mogadishu

 

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, June 19, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ – The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today:

“The High Representative is appalled by the attack on the United Nations compound in Mogadishu earlier today, and expresses her sincere condolences to the families of the victims. She strongly condemns any violence aimed at derailing stability in Somalia.

The High Representative considers it important that recent progress is sustained, and reiterates the EU’s full support for the people of Somalia, the Federal Government, the African Union and the UN in working to re-establish internal security and the rule of law.”

 

SOURCE 

European Council

 

 

Remarks by High Representative Catherine Ashton following her meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr

 

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, June 19, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ – Remarks by High Representative Catherine Ashton following her meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr

I want to say, first of all, what a pleasure it is to be back in Egypt and to have had the opportunity to meet with President Morsi and of course with Foreign Minister Amr and with some members of the opposition this morning.

We had interesting and important conversations as always, as we work with the government and the people of Egypt for the future. As ever, I want to wish this country every possible success.

I agree absolutely with the minister that we are supporting what has become known as Geneva II, the process of helping to find a political solution for Syria, which, in the end, is a solution that is going to be necessary if we are going to end the bloodshed, stop the fighting and bring peace.

I’ve been travelling in the region and I’ve seen the effects of so many people displaced from their homes. I pay tribute to all the countries, including Egypt, which have looked after people so well, but now we really do need to move forward.

And on the dam, we are following closely the situation. I was delighted that the Minister had good discussions with Ethiopia, and will continue to work to ensure that there is a good solution.

If you look at all of the different ways in which the European Union supports Egypt, there are different aspects of the support we give. First of all we put a lot of emphasis on supporting the poorest people in your population, and that money is coming through our projects and programmes.

We’ve also tried to encourage investment from industry, which is going to be so vital, and we try to encourage the growth of small and medium size businesses here, which is the backbone of any economy. Some of the money is of course linked to the IMF and linked to the way in which things are going to move forward.

We want to see this country moving forward to see the kind of developments that are going to be so necessary and to back it with our resources.

 

SOURCE 

European Council

G8 pledges strong support for AfDB infrastructure agenda

AfDB President Donald Kaberuka welcomed the G8 communiqué

TUNIS, Tunisia, June 19, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ – The Group of Eight most industrialized countries (G8) has expressed strong support for the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group’s priorities (http://www.afdb.org), especially its initiative on infrastructure and the African Legal Support Facility – which helps countries negotiate better contracts in the natural resources sector.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/african-development-bank-2.png

Photo Donald Kaberuka: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/donald-kaberuka-afdb-president.jpg

In a final communiqué after meeting in Northern Ireland, the G8 also called for strong replenishment of the African Development Fund – which supports a range of poverty reduction programmes, including infrastructure development and capacity building.

“The G8 urges multilateral development institutions to establish and prioritise, as part of ongoing work on International Development Association-17, African Development Fund 13 and European Development Fund-11 replenishments, more effective mechanisms for collaboration on project preparation, funding and risk mitigation for Africa’s regional infrastructure programmes, such as the Programme for Infrastructure Development (PIDA). The G8 recognises the work being done by the G20 on financing for infrastructure in Africa,” the G8 communiqué said.

“The G8 commits to explore and identify in advance of our next meeting the further steps it can take together or individually, in collaboration with the private sector, International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and other international organisations to facilitate institutional investment flows into bankable trade-related infrastructure projects in developing countries,” it said.

“We welcome the financial support provided to the African Development Bank’s African Legal Support Facility and the Facility for Fair Exploitation of Extractive Resources in Africa, and encourage other countries to commit to these facilities. In support of such initiatives, we will partner with resource rich developing countries, the private sector and civil society to strengthen capacity and increase transparency in the extractive sectors,” it concluded.

The African Legal Support Facility is a legal technical assistance facility that helps low income countries address a growing problem of litigation by vulture funds as well as a technical advisory facility that helps regional member countries to negotiate extractive resource contracts to create an appropriate, enabling environment with modern legal and regulatory frameworks for the extractive resources sector.

AfDB President Donald Kaberuka welcomed the G8 communiqué, saying it reflected recognition of African priorities and an appetite for partnership between the G8 and African leaders.

“Africa seeks to trade her way out of poverty, but to do so she must deal with the issue of the cost of doing business, the risk of small fragmented markets through hard and soft infrastructure,” he said.

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Media contact

Magatte Wade, AfDB Head of External Relations and Communications: m.wade@afdb.org; +216 98 34 37 34.

About the African Development Bank Group

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) (http://www.afdb.org)  is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). With offices in 29 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 53 regional member states.

For more information: http://www.afdb.org

SOURCE

African Development Bank (AfDB)

 

Promesses d’aide au Mali (19 juin 2013)

 

PARIS, France, 19 juin 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ – La Conférence « Ensemble pour le renouveau du Mali » a réuni à Bruxelles 108 délégations ainsi que des représentants des collectivités locales, des sociétés civiles, des diasporas, des femmes et du secteur privé. Elle a permis de recueillir 3,285 milliards d’euros de promesses d’aide, provenant de 56 bailleurs bilatéraux et multilatéraux. Elle a également permis de dégager des pistes d’action décisives en matière de gouvernance, de décentralisation, de gestion des finances publiques et de relance économique notamment.

Le tableau des promesses d’aide au Mali résume par pays et organisations les promesses faites à Bruxelles.

La mise en œuvre immédiate de l’aide d’urgence ainsi que le respect des différents engagements quantitatifs et qualitatifs, formulés par le Mali et par ses partenaires, appellent un suivi rigoureux. Les conclusions des coprésidences ont placé au cœur de l’exercice les principes de transparence et de redevabilité mutuelle [1] et dessiné les contours des suites données à la conférence [2].

Dans ce cadre, les coprésidences élaborent actuellement les mécanismes de suivi de la conférence de Bruxelles qui s’exerceront à un niveau local et international. Leurs objectifs viseront à garantir la mise en œuvre des réformes de l’Etat malien impulsées par le Plan pour la relance durable du Mali (PRED) 2013-2014 et les conclusions des coprésidences, le respect des promesses d’aide des partenaires, leur engagement et leur décaissement dans un délai raisonnable et la coordination des réponses aux besoins du PRED. Le principe d’appropriation de ces mécanismes par les autorités maliennes sera au cœur du processus.

Pour ce qui la concerne, la France mobilise l’ensemble de ses instruments (aide humanitaire, aide budgétaire, aide-projet, assistance technique) pour obtenir rapidement des progrès concrets sur le terrain.

Dans le cadre d’un plan d’aide d’urgence visant à répondre aux besoins les plus pressants, la France mobilise d’ores et déjà 10 millions d’euros en crédits de sortie de crise et en aide humanitaire. L’AFD mettra en œuvre un portefeuille de projets pour un montant d’environ 210 millions d’euros qui prendra en compte le contexte de sortie de crise et les priorités géographiques et sectorielles fixées par les autorités maliennes. Par ailleurs, une aide budgétaire de 15 millions d’euros a été instruite pour 2013.

L’aide bilatérale de la France au Mali s’élèvera au total à 280 millions d’euros sur la période 2013-2014, faisant de notre pays le premier bailleur bilatéral.

L’utilisation de l’aide française sera rendu davantage transparente par la mise en place de publications internet accessibles à tous, permettant de connaître les avancées des projets financés. Dans un premier temps, la liste des tous les projets dont le montant est supérieur à 100 000 euros a déjà été publiée sur le site internet de l’ambassade de France au Mali.

[1] « La mise en œuvre du PRED requiert un suivi et une évaluation des programmes et des dépenses envisagés, à travers les documents budgétaires, de meilleurs statistiques et les instruments existants de coordination des bailleurs. La mobilisation de cette aide internationale est adossée au respect, par la partie malienne, de ses engagements, et notamment la mise en œuvre des réformes nécessaires en matière de gouvernance démocratique. Le gouvernement et les donateurs y contribueront en veillant à la transparence, la prévisibilité, la redevabilité, l’amélioration des procédures et l’alignement de l’aide ».

[2] « Les autorités maliennes et la communauté internationale conviennent d’assurer un suivi de haut niveau de la conférence de Bruxelles, par des réunions des représentants des capitales et des sièges, organisées alternativement à Bamako et à l’extérieur du Mali et prévoyant une implication des acteurs non gouvernementaux ».

 

SOURCE 

France – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

 

Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the signing of a preliminary peace agreement in Mali

 

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, June 19, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ – The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission issued the following statement today:

“I welcome the signing in Ouagadougou, by the Malian authorities and northern Mali’s nonterrorist armed groups, of a preliminary peace agreement in preparation for the presidential election and inclusive peace talks in Mali.

This agreement is of historic significance. It is a crucial step in the process of building peace through dialogue.

I pay tribute to the determination of the statesmen and the groups’ representatives who have reached this agreement. I would also like to express my gratitude for the mediation provided by President Compaoré and the other international actors involved alongside him.

The European Union has lent its full support to these negotiations. It will remain at the side of all Malians to facilitate the implementation of the agreement in all its dimensions”.

 

SOURCE 

European Council

 

 

IFC Expands Access to Finance for Microenterprises in Tanzania

 

WASHINGTON, June 19, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ – IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today announced a loan of $3 million denominated in Tanzanian shillings to support the expansion of access to microfinance in Tanzania. The investment in FINCA Tanzania—a microfinance institution—will support FINCA as it expands its financial services to women, youth and rural areas in the country.

 

IFC estimates that only 12 percent of working adults in Sub-Saharan Africa have access to banking services, compared to 22 percent in South Asia and close to 50 percent in Latin America and Eastern Europe. In Tanzania, 83% of adults do not have access to a formal financial institution.

 

IFC provides local currency finance to protect local businesses from foreign exchange risk. The IFC loan to FINCA Tanzania is sourced through the shilling/US dollar swap market. The swap was arranged in partnership with Barclays Bank and NBC Bank, and in collaboration with the Bank of Tanzania.

 

With operations in 21 countries and one million clients globally, FINCA provides financial services to low-income entrepreneurs, helping them create jobs, build assets and improve their standard of living. Eighty percent of FINCA’s clients are women. In Tanzania, the company has over 72,000 borrowers and five hundred employees.

 

“In 2013 FINCA Tanzania became the first microfinance institution in the country to transform from a non-regulated organization to an entity regulated by the Bank of Tanzania,” said Tom Kocsis, CEO of FINCA Tanzania.

“This change in status and the IFC investment will make it possible for even more Tanzanians living in rural areas to have access to formalized banking services.”

 

IFC’s Advisory services team will also work closely with FINCA to help the company further increase lending to underserved populations.

 

Oumar Seydi, IFC Director for East and Southern Africa, said, “The impact of the global financial crisis on East African financial markets has made it difficult for many financial institutions to raise capital for their lending operations. This challenge is even greater for micro and small enterprises. IFC is supporting FINCA to help scale up Tanzania’s microfinance industry and improve access to finance for businesses, so that they can create jobs and shared prosperity in Tanzania.”

 

IFC is a leading investor in microfinance in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a fast-growing, well-performing portfolio of equity, debt and advisory projects. IFC’s portfolio includes 24 microfinance clients across 12 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, which have reached over 1.5 million microenterprises and low-income households.

 

SOURCE 

International Finance Corporation (IFC) – The World Bank

 

UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia statement on Mogadishu UN attack

 

MOGADISHU, Somalia, June 19, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ – The UN Special Representative for the Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, condemned the violent attack on the United Nations Common Compound in Mogadishu.

 

At about 11:30 this morning, a pickup truck rigged with explosives was detonated outside the gate of the UN compound, and attackers then entered on foot. Gunfire and further explosions followed, as staff took refuge in secure areas.

 

“I am truly shocked and horrified by what took place in Mogadishu today. The United Nations Common Compound houses UN personnel working on humanitarian and development issues for the Somali people. This was an act of blatant terrorism and a desperate attempt to knock Somalia off its path of recovery and peace building.”

 

“Thankfully, the vast majority of our staff are unhurt. I would like to express my gratitude to the Somali government and people for the support and concern they have shared with us. We also owe our thanks to the Somali forces and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) who stepped in quickly and effectively to protect dozens of UN personnel, Somali and international.”

 

We are verifying reports of casualties. There are certainly some injured and most likely worse.

 

Our Mogadishu colleagues are shaken but the United Nations remains determined to stand by the people of Somalia. My deepest sympathies and thoughts are with the friends and families of all those injured and affected.

 

SOURCE 

UNITED NATIONS

 

 

Bundesregierung begrüßt Einigung in Mali

 

BERLIN, Germany, June 19, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ – Zur Einigung auf ein Rahmenabkommen zwischen der malischen Regierung und den Tuareg-Rebellen am gestrigen Dienstag (18.06.) in Ouagadougou sagte Staatsministerin Cornelia Pieper heute (19.06.):

 

“Deutschland begrüßt die Einigung der malischen Regierung und der Tuareg-Rebellen auf ein Rahmenabkommen, welches den Weg für die bevorstehenden Präsidentschaftswahlen auch im Norden Malis ebnet. Dies ist ein entscheidender Schritt im innermalischen Friedensprozess.

 

Mit der Anerkennung der Einheit und territorialen Integrität Malis durch alle Parteien und der Rückkehr der malischen Armee und Verwaltung in den Norden wird auch der Wiederaufbau des Landes vorangebracht.

 

Vor Mali liegt jetzt noch viel Arbeit, um zu einer gleichmäßigen Entwicklung des gesamten Landes zu kommen und eine nachhaltige Versöhnung zu erreichen.”

 

Die Präsidentschaftswahlen in Mali können nun am 28.07. durchgeführt werden, eine Stichwahl würde am 11.08. abgehalten. Nach den Wahlen soll dann eine abschließende Einigung zwischen der malischen Regierung und den Tuareg im Norden des Landes gefunden werden.

 

SOURCE 

Germany – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

 

South Sudan: Humanitarian situation in some areas a cause for concern

 

GENEVA, Switzerland, June 19, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ – Ongoing violence in parts of South Sudan, in particular in Jonglei, has forced thousands of people to flee their homes. In recent months, ahead of the rainy season, the ICRC has distributed aid and provided health care for people suffering the effects of the violence.

“We are worried about the humanitarian situation in Jonglei state, where continuing violence has forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes,” said Adrian Zimmermann, deputy head of the ICRC delegation in South Sudan. Jonglei is a vast territory, a large part of which is not accessible by road between June and November because of the rain, so it can be extremely difficult to reach people.

“People need medical care, food, clean water and seed. We are doing the best we can to provide these basic necessities despite the seasonal logistical constraints,” said Mr Zimmermann. The ICRC has a rapid-response surgical team in the country, and emergency surgical care has also been provided by a surgical team seconded by the Canadian Red Cross.

“Although needs, both in terms of assistance and protection, can be readily identified, the problem of access to the vast majority of the civilian population in large tracts of Jonglei state remains a source of concern,” said Mr Zimmermann. The ICRC, like other humanitarian organizations on the ground, has repeatedly sought to meet people’s needs, but for a variety of reasons relating to security and logistics has not always been able to do so.

Since January, ICRC surgical teams have been sent to Nasir, in Upper Nile state, and to Pibor, Bor and twice to Walgak, in Jonglei state, to perform emergency surgery. The ICRC has also treated wounded people from Jonglei in the Malakal Teaching Hospital in Upper Nile state. In the last four months, over 150 wounded patients have been treated throughout the country by the ICRC. Over 320 surgical emergencies have been handled at Malakal Teaching Hospital. The ICRC has been providing hospitals in Pibor, Bor and in the capital Juba, as well as Malakal Teaching Hospital, with consumables and other supplies for treating the wounded and the sick.

Distributions of food and other essential items

In March, the ICRC provided fishing equipment for around 12,000 people suffering the effects of the violence in Pibor and Gumuruk, in Jonglei state, and for about 2,500 households in Upper Nile state and in Western Bahr el Ghazal at the border with Sudan. In addition, ICRC water engineers repaired eight hand pumps in Pibor which provide clean water for over 4,000 people.

At the end of May, ICRC staff delivered over 80,000 kg of food and other items to Pieri and Waat, in Jonglei state, which have suffered from regular cattle raiding. Over 4,000 displaced people were given sorghum, beans, salt, sugar and oil to help tide them over for the next month. Items such as kitchen tools, mosquito nets, tarpaulins, blankets and soap were also distributed. These distributions were organized in close cooperation with community elders, who provided lists of the neediest people to the ICRC and informed the population ahead of time that the deliveries would take place. One woman said: “Thanks to the food we received the trees can have some rest now.” She was referring to the fact that the lack of food had been so severe in recent weeks that many people had been forced to eat leaves.

Further aid distributions took place regularly in various parts of Upper Nile state and Western Bahr el Ghazal near the Sudanese border. Food was provided for over 15,000 people, household essentials for around 20,000 people and seed for around 50,000 people. In the Shilluk Kingdom of Upper Nile state, around 30,000 people who had been forced to flee their villages owing to armed violence were given sorghum, oil, beans, sugar, salt and seed with the support of volunteers from the South Sudan Red Cross. These distributions took place by boat.

More than 1,800 detainees visited

Under a memorandum of understanding signed in November 2012 with the Ministry of the Interior, the ICRC has been granted access to all civilian places of detention in the country to assess conditions and treatment. Within the last four months, ICRC delegates have visited more than 1,800 detainees in the state prisons of Juba, Malakal, Bentiu, Bor and Yambio.

“The aim of the visits is to bring about improvements in the conditions of detention and the treatment of the detainees. The ICRC shares the findings of its visits confidentially with the authorities and makes recommendations,” explained Agnès Coutou, who coordinates the ICRC’s detainee-related activities in the country. The ICRC is also prepared to help the detaining authorities comply with international standards, in particular those relating to health services and sanitary facilities. On the basis of its mandate under the Geneva Conventions, the ICRC has served as a neutral intermediary in the repatriation of five prisoners of war from Sudan to South Sudan since the beginning of this year. Other detainees have been visited in military places of detention. The ICRC delegation continues to discuss a memorandum of understanding on detainee-related matters with the Ministry of Defence.

Within the past four months, the Juba Physical Rehabilitation Reference Centre run by the Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare with the support of the ICRC has admitted 514 physically disabled patients, including 355 amputees. In addition to manufacturing prostheses and orthoses, the centre provides physiotherapy and other services.

Links with South Sudan Red Cross strengthened

Cooperation between the ICRC and the South Sudan Red Cross has been strengthened by a partnership framework agreement signed on 14 June. The agreement lays the long-term foundation for joint programmes such as those that help restore contact between family members separated from one another.

In 2012, the ICRC and the South Sudan Red Cross succeeded in reuniting 12 unaccompanied minors with their families within South Sudan and a further 20 with their families in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The ICRC and the South Sudan Red Cross have also worked together to set up emergency action teams comprising volunteers capable of providing first aid for the wounded or sick in emergencies. Since the beginning of the year, emergency action teams have been organized in Maban, Nasir, Mayom, Tonj South, Gok Machar and Nyamlel.

 

SOURCE 

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

 

 

SECRETARY-GENERAL HAILS SIGNING OF MALI PEACE AGREEMENT PROVIDING FOR IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE

 

NEW YORK, June 19, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ – The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

 

The Secretary-General welcomes the signing of an agreement between the Government of Mali, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad and the High Council for the Unity of Azawad on 18 June in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The agreement provides for an immediate ceasefire, paves the way for the holding of presidential elections nationwide and commits the parties to discussing sustainable peace in Mali through an inclusive dialogue that will take place after the election.

 

The Secretary-General is encouraged by the parties’ commitment to national reconciliation and the resolution of differences through dialogue. He urges them to begin implementation of the agreement at once.

 

The Secretary-General is grateful to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for its mediation efforts, led by President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso and President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, with the support of the African Union and the United Nations. He reiterates that the United Nations stands ready to support the implementation of the agreement through the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and other members of the United Nations system, in cooperation with the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA), the African Union and ECOWAS.

 

SOURCE 

United Nations – Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General