Africa

Kofi Annan launches the Africa Progress Panel (APP) Annual Report 2009 at World Economic Forum on Africa

Cape Town, South Africa, 10 June 2009 – Kofi Annan, speaking at the launch of the APP Annual Report 2009 on the opening day of the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town called on African leaders to turn the current global economic meltdown into an opportunity for the continent based on shared responsibility with their international partners.    » read more »

ExxonMobil and Vital Voices Launch Africa Businesswomen’s Network at World Economic Forum on Africa

June 10, 2009 -- CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) and Vital Voices Global Partnership3 today joined with local businesswomen’s organizations throughout Africa to announce the launch of the Africa Businesswomen’s Network (ABWN) at the World Economic Forum on Africa.    » read more »

Schwab Foundation announces the winners of the Africa Regional Social Entrepreneurs 2009 Award ahead of the World Economic Forum on Africa, Cape Town, South Africa, 10-12 June 2009

Cape Town, South Africa, 9 June 2009 – The Schwab Foundation has recognized three new social entrepreneurs with significant impact in the region as winners of the Africa Regional Social Entrepreneurs Award for 2009. David Kuria, Chief Executive Officer, Ecotact, Kenya; Patrick Schofield, Chief Executive Officer, Streetwires Artists Collective, South Africa; Mitchell J. Besser and Gene Falk, Co-Founders of mothers2mothers, active in Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland and Zambia, will join other leading social entrepreneurs at the World Economic Forum on Africa, on 10-12 June 2009.    » read more »

08/06/2009 -- Shell today agreed to settle a court case in New York related to allegations in connection with the Nigerian military government's execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and others in 1995, making a humanitarian gesture to set up a trust fund to benefit the Ogoni people.

At the same time, the plaintiffs have dismissed all claims made in the litigation against Shell Petroleum NV, Shell Transport and Trading Company Limited and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC).    » read more »

Opens access to Asia and Africa – potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives

June 5, 2009 -- London UK -- The World Health Organisation (WHO) has awarded global prequalification to GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals’ vaccine against rotavirus, Rotarix™.Additionally, the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) also recommended that rotavirus vaccination be included in all national immunisation programmes. Together, these WHO decisions open the door to making rotavirus vaccines available to children worldwide.    » read more »

27 May 2009 -- Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola (Sonangol) and BP Exploration (Angola) Limited today announced the 'Oberon' oil discovery in ultra-deepwater Block 31, offshore Angola.

This is the eighteenth discovery made by BP in Block 31 and is located in the southern portion of Block 31 about 335 kilometres northwest of Luanda and 4.3 kilometres to the north-east of the Dione discovery.

Oberon-1 was drilled in a water depth of 1624 metres and reached a total depth of 3622 metres TVD below sea level. The well test results confirmed the capacity of the reservoir to flow in excess of 5000 barrels/day under production conditions.    » read more »

Agreement sets stage for sustained development of critical infrastructure in Nigeria

26 May 2009 -- ABUJA, Nigeria--26 May 2009 -- General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), and the Federal Government of Nigeria today announced the signing of a landmark “company-to-country” agreement aimed at promoting collaboration between GE and Nigerian public and private sector organizations that are driving critical infrastructure projects across the country.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- Total announced last week that, within the framework of the EGAS 2008 international bid round organized by the Egyptian authorities, it has been awarded a 90% participation in and the operatorship of Block 4 (East El Burullus Offshore) in conjunction with partner ENEL (10%). This award is subject to approval by the competent authorities.

This block is located in the Mediterranean Sea, in the Nile Basin, and covers an area of 2,516 square kilometres, and is situated approximately 70 kilometres from the coast in water depths varying from 100 to 1,600 metres. The Nile basin is a prolific area where numerous gas discoveries have already been made.    » read more »

Zuma will address over 700 leaders from Africa and around the world who will gather from 10 to 12 June

Geneva, Switzerland, 25 May 2009 – Jacob Zuma, the new President of South Africa, will host the 19th World Economic Forum on Africa, which will be held in Cape Town from 10 to 12 June 2009. Over 700 of the most prominent leaders from Africa and other parts of the world will gather to deliberate under the theme Implications of the Global Economic Crisis for Africa.    » read more »

Bipartisan Legislation Would Help Protect Region from Attacks by the Lord's Resistance Army and Support Recovery in Northern Uganda

May 19, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) and U.S. Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA), Brad Miller (D-NC) and Ed Royce (R-CA) are introducing legislation today to help end the reign of terror conducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda and neighboring countries.    » read more »

Swaady Martin Newly-Appointed Regional Director for GE Transportation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Cape Town, South Africa (March 5, 2009) - GE Transportation, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), announced that in order to underscore its commitment to infrastructure development in Africa while accelerating the company’s growth in southern Africa and in the Republic of South Africa in particular, Swaady Martin has been appointed Regional Director.

GE Transportation has a long and successful history of operations and activities throughout Africa. The business was the first GE business active in South Africa in the 1890s and it has maintained its commitment to the rail industry in the region ever since.    » read more »

March 4, 2009 -- (The Hague) - Today's decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese president General Omar al-Bashir is a major step toward combating impunity associated with the horrific crimes in Darfur, said a coalition of 46 organizations from the Justice for Darfur campaign. President al-Bashir is wanted by the court for crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Justice for Darfur called on the international community to press Sudanese authorities to comply with their obligations to execute the warrant. The government of Sudan has failed to bring to justice any of those responsible for crimes under international law in Darfur, and has so far refused to cooperate with the ICC and to surrender any of the suspects.    » read more »

4 March 2009 -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al Bashir. The warrant details charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes, committed during the conflict in Darfur.

The arrest warrant is an unprecedented move in the history of a conflict that, since it started in 2003, has seen more than 300,000 killed, thousands raped, and millions forcibly displaced.

The decision, reached by the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC, was announced during a press conference held at the Court's seat in The Hague on Wednesday.

President al Bashir has been urged to surrender himself immediately to face trial.    » read more »

February 4, 2009 -- While al Qaeda is the primary terrorist/extremist threat in East Africa, the region suffers more broadly from a danger of radical Islamist groups and organizations that the United States and its allies must address to reshape the region's security environment, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today.

"The internal conflict and corruption enveloping weak African governments make it easy for terrorists to move, plan and organize," said Angel Rabasa, the report' author and a senior policy analyst at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. "The United States and its allies in the region need an effective, long-term solution to rid the area of the extremist and terrorist elements that reside there."    » read more »

Chihota, Zimbabwe -- 01 September 2008 -- In Zimbabwe, residents of Chihota - about 50 kilometers southeast of Harare - have expressed concern about authorities' seeming lack of interest in establishing solar energy projects in their area. They say politicians should avoid making empty promises while campaigning.

Instead, the residents want office-bearers to work with them to resolve the energy crisis. Chihota is one of the country's districts hardest hit by deforestation and environmental degradation. Only a few indigenous trees remain, while the vegetation includes mostly scattered thorn bushes and short grass. Erosion has set in and gulleys dot the landscape.    » read more »