GE (NYSE: GE) (www.GE.com) and Santa Clara University’s Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship have announced a partnership that focuses on training and mentoring social entrepreneurs working on maternal and child health innovations in sub-Saharan Africa. The program enables more women to experience better health by improving the quality, accessibility, and affordability of care.

The healthymagination Mother & Child program aims to help social enterprises addressing maternal and/or child health strengthen their business models, refine business plans, reinforce organizational development, manage talent, and learn how to scale sustainably. Enterprises that provide infrastructure services or facilities associated with needs from pregnancy to pediatric care are also eligible to apply. The program is being offered to 15-to-20 selected participants.

Selected social entrepreneurs from Nigeria Ghana, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, South Africa and Angola will be taken through a detailed training programme. Other countries where the social entrepreneurs who apply will be screened include Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Senegal. Participants will learn business fundamentals and how to improve strategic thinking. If selected they are expected to articulate a business plan that demonstrates impact, growth, and long-term financial sustainability.

The programme includes 6-month’s of online training during which participants will be matched with a Silicon Valley leader who will guide them on how to develop a scalable enterprise. The programme begins in July with an in-person event in Nairobi; and ends with an investor showcase in February 2017, also in Nairobi.

To be considered for the program, qualified leaders of social enterprises need to apply by May 18, 2016. Selected finalists will be announced after a formal review and interview process by a panel of judges from GE and Miller Center.

“This program supports GE’s long track record in developing innovations for emerging markets while increasing positive health outcomes,” said Sue Siegel, CEO, GE Ventures and healthymagination. “We are excited to join Miller Center to accelerate the growth of social enterprises and commercialize innovative ideas while serving as a resource for entrepreneurs working to improve access, affordability and quality of maternal and child health in sub-Saharan Africa.”

“We share GE’s healthymagination vision for innovating new ways to address global health challenges,” said Dr Thane Kreiner, Executive Director, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship. “The partnership between GE and Miller Center highlights the potential for social entrepreneurship to improve maternal and child health in a region of the world that has limited access to skilled health care providers.”

For more information on the program and application, visit http://www.scu.edu/mother-and-child

Media contacts: For GE: Kristin Schwarz, 646.682.5601 For Miller Center: Pat Haines, 408.551.7118

About GE GE (NYSE: GE) (www.GE.com) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.GE.com About GE’s healthymagination commitment GE’s healthymagination commitment is about better health for more people. We continuously develop and invest in innovations that deliver high-quality, more affordable healthcare to more people around the world. For more information about our healthymagination commitment, visit www.GEsustainability.com

About Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship Founded in 1997, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship is one of three Centers of Distinction at Santa Clara University. Miller Center accelerates global, innovation-based entrepreneurship in service to humanity. Its strategic focus is on poverty eradication through its three areas of work: The Global Social Benefit Institute (GSBI), Impact Capital and Education and Action Research. To learn more about Miller Center or any of its social entrepreneurship programs, visit www.scu.edu/MillerCenter

About Santa Clara University Santa Clara University, a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university located 40 miles south of San Francisco in California’s Silicon Valley, offers its more than 9,000 students rigorous undergraduate curricula in arts and sciences, business and engineering; master’s degrees in business, education, counseling psychology, pastoral ministry and theology; and law degrees and engineering Ph.D.’s. Distinguished nationally by one of the highest graduation rates among all U.S. master’s universities, California’s oldest operating higher-education institution demonstrates faith-inspired values of ethics and social justice. For more information, see www.scu.edu

© 2016 GSBI is a registered trademark of Santa Clara University. All rights reserved

Tanzania’s digital lifestyle telecom operator, Tigo (www.Tigo.co.tz), is now the leading mobile telephone company with the fastest and widest 4G LTE network in the Tanzania.

Tigo 4G has impacted positively on Tigo customers lifestyle enabling them to enjoy a faster internet connection. The Tigo 4G technology is five times faster than 3G technology.

From inception in April 2015 in Dar Es Salaam, Tigo 4G LTE has expanded to Arusha, Tanga, Dodoma, Morogoro, Moshi, Mwanza, Tabora, Musoma, Bukoba, Kigoma and Shinyanga and plans are underway to cover all major cities before the end of this year.

The Tigo 4G LTE network provides faster internet speed to surf and download content and in making uninterrupted Skype calls. The 4G LTE significantly enhances the customer experience in in high definition video streaming. With the current partnership with YouTube, Tigo customers can also enjoy free video streaming at night.

Tigo General Manager, Diego Gutierrez says “the expansion of 4G technology to all corners of the country is in line with our commitment to provide our customers with world class services that enable them to enjoy a fully digital lifestyle”.

“The countrywide expansion of 4G once again demonstrates not only Tigo’s leadership in delivering cutting edge technology and innovation in Tanzania but also emphasizes our commitment to increase access to the Internet to as many Tanzanians as possible,” says Gutierrez.

Diego Gutierrez assures customers that Tigo is currently embarking on a network modernization program which includes increasing capacity to all the 12 4G LTE covered cities as well as increasing considerably the 3G coverage countrywide and optimizing the 2G network.

Tigo customers have welcomed the Tigo 4G LTE technology which promises a stable mobile internet connection that eliminates the past frustrations of internet buffering, thus ensuring seamless and reliable data access.

“The Tigo 4G has come at the right time because I can now video-stream without the videos getting stuck; the network access has no breaks and the skype calls are much better and clearer”, says Isack Ernest, a Social Communications Consultant based in Dar es Salaam.

His comments are echoed by Hellen Elibariki, a Tour Guide based in Arusha. She says: “working in the tourism industry means I have local and international contacts that need fast and efficient communication. The Tigo 4G has really simplified my communication with my business contacts because now am able to transfer large data faster, conduct clearer, quality and seamless Skype calls and give my prospective clients, especially tourists, large amounts of up-to-the-minute information about our services, thus boosting our business”.

According to Diego Gutierrez, Tigo will this year be investing over US$ 75 million on the network expansion and quality improvement by scaling up its 4G and 3G sites, fiber network as well as increasing the number of customer service outlets countrywide.

For further information visit:Tigo.co.tzor contact: John Wanyancha — Corporate Communications Manager Mobile: 0658 123 089.john.wanyancha@tigo.co.tz

About Tigo: Tigo Tanzania (Tigo.co.tz) is the leading innovative telecommunication company in the country, distinguished as a fully-fledged digital lifestyle brand. Offering a diverse product portfolio in voice, SMS, high-speed internet and mobile financial services, Tigo has pioneered innovations such as Facebook in Kiswahili, TigoPesa App for Android & iOS users, Tigo Music (Deezer) and East Africa’s first cross-border mobile money transfer with currency conversion. The Tigo 3G network guarantees the best services to its subscriber’s in all regions across the country, and we have recently launched the 4G network available in specific regions and soon to be available all over the country. In the past three years, the company has launched over 500 new network sites, which translates to over 2,000 network sites and plans to double its investment by 2017 in terms of coverage and additional capacity networks for deeper penetration in rural areas. With over 10 million registered subscribers to their network, Tigo directly and indirectly employs over 300,000 Tanzanians including an extended network of customer service representatives, mobile money merchants, sales agents and distributors. Tigo is the biggest commercial brand of Millicom, an international company developing the digital lifestyle in 11 countries with commercial operations in Africa and Latin America and corporate offices in Europe and the USA. With the certain knowledge that only constant innovation will keep them on top, Millicom keeps creating greater shareholder value; applying their concept of “demand more” is how they do business and retain their position as digital lifestyle leaders in some of the most unique and challenging markets.

Over 2,300 new businesses and 1,500 new jobs have been created in two years by Rwandan women entrepreneurs involved in Skilling for Change, a unique collaboration between the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women (http://www.CherieBlairFoundation.org), Accenture and CARE International.

The project launched in 2014 with the aim of supporting 15,000 rural Rwandan women to secure long-term economic independence by providing them with the skills, knowledge and tools they need to turn their micro enterprises into profitable and sustainable businesses. To date, it has provided financial literacy and investment readiness training to 16,146 women engaged in CARE International’s Village Savings and Loan Associations in the districts of Rulindo and Gicumbi. Through the project, 2,353 women have started new businesses, with over 1,535 new jobs being created

Rwanda has one of the fastest growing economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, and boasts one of the highest levels of financial inclusion in east Africa. But there are still significant gender gaps in economic activity. Research shows that in 2014, 28% of women had access to a bank account, compared to 38% of men — a gap of 10 percentage points. In 2015, this gap had increased to 15 percentage points, with 31% of women having access to a bank account, compared to 46% of men(1).

As the country’s economic development progresses, it is crucial that women are able to access the opportunities afforded by such growth. Skilling for Change aims to address the gender gap in economic activity and puts a special focus on empowering women to access financial services.

To date, Skilling for Change has linked 3,530 women to formal financial services, over 1,145 of whom have accessed a loan. The project has also collaborated with the Kenya Commercial Bank in Rwanda to roll out a range of products to enable women to access savings and loans via mobile phones. A number of women have also been trained to become mobile banking agents, so that they can process financial transactions for others in their local communities.

Cherie Blair, Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and wife of former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is participating in the World Economic Forum meeting in Kigali. She said, “Women entrepreneurs have the potential to shape Africa’s economic future. The success of my Foundation’s Skilling for Change project in Rwanda has shown that when women are given the skills and tools they need to flourish, entire communities and economies benefit. Unlocking the full potential of women entrepreneurs is crucial to driving growth across Africa, and, indeed, the world.”

Skilling for Change is supported by Accenture’s corporate citizenship initiative (http://www.apo.af/uFi1yo), Skills to Succeed, which is equipping more than three million people around the world with the skills to get a job or build a business.

Laurie Lee, CEO of CARE International, said, “Putting women at the centre of development efforts is a catalyst for fighting poverty. When women are empowered to make and control their own money, the impact on their own lives and the lives of their families can be nothing short of life-changing.”

(1) The World Economic Forum, Global Gender Gap Report: 2015: http://reports.weforum.org/global-gender-gap-report-2015/ 2014: http://reports.weforum.org/global-gender-gap-report-2014/

Images of the Skilling for Change project are available on request. For more information please contact:

Tallulah Perez-Sphar, Communications Manager, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women E: tperez@cherieblairfoundation.org T: +44 (0)20 7258 3139

Notes to Editor

Cherie Blair, Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and wife of former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is participating in the World Economic Forum meeting in Kigali, which is taking place between 11-13 May. She is speaking at a session titled, ‘New Solutions: Transformation of Financial Services’, on Thursday 12 May.

Please note: Laurie Lee from CARE International was not present at the World Economic Forum meeting in Kigali.

About the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women (http://www.apo.af/z3jJiS) provides women entrepreneurs in developing and emerging markets with the skills, technology, networks and access to financial services that they need to become successful small and growing business owners, so that they can contribute to their economies and have a stronger voice in their societies. Working in partnership with local and international non-profit organisations, the private and public sector, the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women develops projects with sustainable solutions to the challenges women entrepreneurs face through three programmes: Enterprise Development, Mentoring and Mobile Technology.

About CARE International CARE International (http://www.CareInternational.org.uk) fights poverty and injustice in more than 80 countries around the world to help the world’s poorest people find routes out of poverty. CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild their lives in the aftermath.

For the fifth year in a row, MainOne (www.MainOne.net) continues to raise Africa’s digital profile and highlight its untapped potential at the recently concluded International Telecoms Week held in Chicago from May 8th to May 11th, 2016 (http://www.InternationalTelecomsWeek.com).

The Company hosted the Africa Panel Session attended by a mix of Africa’s leading wholesale carriers, mobile network operators and a host of global service providers and content distribution companies at the annual global gathering of telecommunications companies. It was an occasion for these industry leaders to share perspectives with a global audience on the recent developments in the region as well as opportunities and challenges being faced across the region towards the wide-spread proliferation of broadband services access. It was equally a gathering for discussing the needed impetus for getting the continent ready for the global information explosion already taking place in select parts of the continent, where Internet consumption by individuals is beginning to compare favorably with consumption patterns in advanced economies.

Focus areas of discussion included the need for the adoption of shared infrastructure models in order to reduce the cost of retail broadband services in comparison to reductions that have taken place in wholesale pricing over the years to within less than 5% of retail broadband prices. The expert panel strongly advocated the view that the adoption of new business and regulatory models for shared infrastructure would foster the pervasive digital explosion much needed on the African continent rather than depend on proprietary network infrastructure built by mobile companies with thin pipes to deliver voice services. Discussants also engaged on the need to support the growth of local content as a means for growing intra-continent traffic and eliminate cross-border barriers to the exchange of information. It was equally stressed that liberalization would continue to play a major role in the development of internet proliferation in Africa with countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa used as models of advances being made in connecting more people on the continent.

Speakers at the event included executives from a diverse set of players including MainOne, Google, PCCW Global, WIOCC, and Liquid Telecom, with an in-depth analyst presentation reviewing developments on the continent by Russell Southwood of Balancing Act Africa. Various participants highlighted infrastructure deployments such as MainOne’s metro fiber builds in Lagos, Nigeria; Liquid Telecom’s fiber backhaul across East and Southern Africa, and Google’s fiber last mile projects in Uganda and Ghana to demonstrate what can be achieved by with the availability of shared infrastructure offering uncapped and reliable bandwidth services.

MainOne has remained at the forefront of the broadband initiative in West Africa with investments in telecoms infrastructure across the region and sponsorships of major fora to advance broadband activities in the region such as the Africa Panel Session at the International Telecoms Week, a showcase that has become a must attend session for players across the continent.

In its 5+ years of operation, the company has established a strong reputation as the preferred provider of connectivity and data center solutions providing regional connectivity solutions and creating access for global content providers seeking direct access to subscribers on the sub-Continent. The company has continued to extend its network reach organically and through partnerships and has coverage in eight West African countries including Nigeria and Ghana.

Media Enquiries: MainOne Jumoke Akande marketing@mainone.net

About MainOne: “MainOne (www.MainOne.net) (also known as “Main One Cable” or “Main One”) is a leading provider of telecom services and network solutions for businesses in West Africa. Our world-class infrastructure enhances the productivity and profitability of our customers online. Since its launch in 2010, MainOne has developed a reputation for highly reliable services to become the preferred provider of wholesale Internet services to major telecom operators, ISPs, government agencies, large enterprise, and educational institutions in West Africa. MainOne’s world class submarine cable system running down the coast of West Africa, state of the art IP NGN network, growing regional and metro terrestrial fiber optic networks, and data center facilities enable broadband services for businesses needing solutions in West Africa. Our network is interconnected and peers with leading operators and internet exchanges worldwide to provide global reach to our customers.” Twitter: @MainOneService LinkedIn: MainOne facebook: MainOne www.MainOne.net

Parliament condemns the banning of the Mejlis, the representative body of ethnic Crimean Tatars, urges the immediate release of all protestors arrested in an April electoral reform demonstration in The Gambia, and calls for a thorough investigation into the transparency of the re-election of President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh in Djibouti, in three resolutions voted on Thursday.

Crimean Tatars

MEPs strongly condemn the decision of the so-called Supreme Court of Crimea on 26 April 2016 to ban the Mejlis, the legitimate and recognised representative body of ethnic Crimean Tatars. They demand the immediate reversal of this decision, which they say constitutes "systemic and targeted persecution of Crimean Tatars" and "is an attempt to expel them from Crimea, which is their historical motherland".

They urge the Russian Federation, which under international humanitarian law bears ultimate responsibility as the occupying state in Crimea, to uphold the legal order in Crimea, protect citizens from arbitrary judicial or administrative measures, and conduct independent international investigations of any violations of international law or human rights committed by the occupying forces and the so-called local authorities.

The resolution also reiterates Parliament’s severe condemnation of "the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula by the Russian Federation" on 20 February 2014, which it says was a "breach of international law", and also its "full commitment to the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders".

The Gambia

Parliament expresses its deepest concern about the rapidly-worsening security and human rights situation in The Gambia, deplores the attacks of 14 and 16 April 2016 against peaceful demonstrators, and calls for the immediate release of all protestors arrested during this demonstration for electoral reform ahead of presidential elections scheduled for December 2016. It also calls for swift and independent investigations into these events, and into the reported death in custody of opposition activist Solo Sandeng, a prominent leader in the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP).

Parliament firmly condemns the forced disappearances, arbitrary detention, torture, and other human rights violations targeting dissenting voices against the government of President Yahya Jammeh, such as journalists, human rights defenders, political opponents and critics, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

While the international community should actively monitor the December elections, the EU and its member states should consider freezing all non-humanitarian assistance to the government of The Gambia and imposing travel bans or other targeted sanctions on officials responsible for serious human rights abuses, adds the resolution.

Djibouti

MEPs call for a thorough investigation into the transparency of the April 2016 elections in Djibouti, which produced a landslide vote of 87.1% in favour of a fourth five-year term for President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh. The poll was criticised by opposition parties and rights groups as having been obtained by political repression.

Fair elections, free from intimidation are important, say MEPs, repeating the EU’s call for the results from each polling station in both the 2013 and 2016 elections to be published. The electoral experts mission offered by the EU to monitor the elections was turned down by the Djibouti authorities, they note.

The resolution also condemns acts of rape allegedly committed by Djibouti soldiers, reported by NGOs and highlighted by Djibouti women who went on hunger strike in Paris and Brussels to demand an international inquiry. Finally, it condemns the lack of an independent press in Djibouti, and the monitoring and censorship of websites critical of the government.

You may have seen that WHO has just released a selection of their new recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of drug-resistant TB, including recommending the shortened DR-TB regimen (9-12 months, instead of 24 months). See this BBC story just released: http://www.bbc.com/news/health-36271084

The more comprehensive WHO TB Guidelines are slated to be released in June.

MSF is already implementing these guidelines in our projects in Swaziland and Uzbekistan, and have worked closely with our TB medical staff to develop our response to this news.

BELOW: Please find two response statements from MSF on the guidelines

Overall, MSF welcomes the WHO announcement to halve the cost and time for treating multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

For media wishing to illustrate this announcement with the lived experiences of DR-TB patients, please find a number of strong patient stories on MSF’s TB & Me blog, which is devoted to our patient’s voices.

You might be interested in these stories (search for names):

MSF spokespersons are available for media interviews:

Best regards,

Angela

BACKGROUND to WHO DR-TB guidelines:

The World Health Organization has just recommended that countries move toward shorter treatment regimens for some people with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), including people co-infected with HIV, children, and people with simple MDR-TB who have not been treated before or and have no known resistance to any of the drugs in the regimen. This recommendation comes following results from a number of large observation cohort studies using the shortened regimen.

Current DR-TB treatments usually run for 24 months and cause significant side effects; shortened regimens, which run as few as 9 months, lessen disruption of patients’ lives and are easier for patients to tolerate and adhere to. MSF began implementation of the shortened DR-TB treatment course in Uzbekistan in 2013 before expanding use of the regimen to Swaziland.

WHO is also recommending that people with confirmed rifampicin-resistant TB or multidrug-resistant TB be tested for extensively-drug-resistant (XDR) and pre-XDR-TB using rapid molecular tests as the initial test, so that they can be offered treatment that is appropriate for them as soon as possible.

MSF responds to the new WHO recommendations with the following two statements:

“The prospect of two years of TB treatment drives parents to hide their children from treatment, teenagers to abandon their ambitions, adults to decide between providing for their family or getting healthy and the elderly to wish for death. The fear of relentless suffering due to side effects manages to outweigh any hope of cure or returning to a normal life. But when I tell patients that it’s only nine months of treatment, they respond, ‘I can do that.’”

- Dr. David Lister, TB doctor for MSF in Uzbekistan and coordinator of the 9-Month Short Course Regimen study.

“WHO’s recommendation to move toward shorter treatment regimens for some people with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is a positive step and countries should waste no time in putting these recommendations into practice, where feasible and appropriate. Although this treatment isn’t suitable for all patients, MSF has seen positive outcomes using a nine-month regimen in Swaziland and Uzbekistan. Shorter regimens are easier for people to tolerate and more effective for some people with DR-TB, and significantly lower costs could enable TB programmes to scale up treatment for many more people.

“Ultimately, we can’t lose sight of the desperate need for completely new treatment regimens that work for all people with drug-resistant TB and that completely eliminate the old, toxic drugs still used in these shorter regimens, particularly the daily painful injections that people must endure.

“We also welcome WHO’s recommendation that people should be diagnosed for pre-XDR or XDR-TB using the latest rapid molecular tests that can detect resistance to key second-line drugs; this is essential to ensure people who can benefit from a shorter treatment regimen can be quickly identified and started on the treatment that’s right for them.

“The newly-recommended tests are only suitable for use in central or regional-level laboratories, so in the long run, in order to get the most number of people diagnosed and on the correct treatment, we need rapid molecular diagnostic tests that can detect drug resistance and can be used in more peripheral settings.

“These recommendations come ahead of expected new guidelines from WHO for the management of MDR-TB, but countries can already start to update their national treatment guidelines so people can benefit from the latest advances in MDR-TB care.”

- Dr. Philipp du Cros, Head of MSF’s Manson Unit and infectious disease specialist

INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

When: Monday 16 to Saturday 24 May 2016

Where: Medium Conference Hall - AU Headquarters, Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia

Who: Organised by the Department of Trade and Industry

Format The Inaugural Conference of the AU Specialized Technical Committee on Trade and Industry and Minerals is split into the meeting of Senior Officials and the Meeting of Ministers which is structured as stated below.

Meeting of Senior Officials from 16 — 22 may 2016

Senior Officials from the Ministries of Trade, Industry and Minerals will meet in a plenary session to consider the Rules of Procedure for the STC and other cross cutting issues. The Meeting will also meet in parallel sessions to consider specialised items as follows;

Parallel Session I: Senior Trade Officials to review and consider specialised reports;

Parallel Session II: Senior Industry Officials to review and consider specialised reports;

Parallel Session III: Senior Industry Officials to review and consider specialised reports;

Meeting of Ministers from 23 — 24 may 2016

The Ministerial Session of the Conference is scheduled for the 23rd — 24th May 2016 on the first day, Ministers will have an interactive Panel Discussion with strategic partners in an open session. Ministers will also consider the Report of the meeting of Senior Officials and other strategic reports in a closed session.

Objective: The overall objectives of the inaugural Conference of the AU Specialized Technical Committee on Trade and Industry and Minerals is to provide strategic advice to the Policy Organs of the African Union, ensure implementation of agreed programs and projects as well as establish synergies, linkages and complementarities in the areas of trade, industry and mining in line with AU Agenda 2063 and its Ten Year Implementation Plan.

More specifically, the AU Specialized Technical Committee on Trade and Industry and Mineral aims to attain the following objectives:

i. To review and adopt the Rules of Procedure of the Specialized Technical Committee on Trade and Industry and Mineral resources;

ii. To consider various strategic documents related to Trade, Industry and Mineral resources in Africa;

iii. To identify synergies, linkages and complementarities in on-going programmes in the areas of Trade, Industry and Mineral resources; and

iv. To operationalize a functional operational modalities for coordination mechanisms among the ministries of Trade, Industry and Minerals at Member State level.

Participants: Participants will include AU Ministers responsible for Trade, Industry and Minerals, and their relevant senior officials; Regional Economic Communities; and collaborating institutions as observers.

Context:

Recent developments in the global production systems in particular the internationalisation of production have implications for industrial, trade and integration policies in Africa. In the context of a developmental integration strategy, Africa can foster greater linkages between trade development and industrialisation through promoting the establishment of regional value chains in line with the objectives of Agenda 2063. It is in this context that the Commission is organising the inaugural session of the STC-TIM to be held under the overall theme, “Promoting Regional Integration through Trade and Industrialisation in Africa”.

Under the Ten Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063, the Department of Trade and Industry responsible for the implementation of two flagship projects, the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) and the preparation of the African Commodities Strategy. In addition to coordinating these projects, the Department is also expected to play a significant role in the Integrated High Speed Train project which is coordinated by the Department of Infrastructure and Energy. For optimal results the Commission should establish synergies, linkages and complementarities in the priority projects.

Journalists are invited to cover the official opening and closing ceremonies of the FIRST AU SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON TRADE, INDUSTRY AND MINERALS, on Monday 16 and Saturday 24 May 2016.

During his first visit to Sierra Leone, International Development Minister Nick Hurd stressed the UK’s commitment to helping Sierra Leone build a brighter future after Ebola and reaffirmed the importance of creating jobs, generating investment and putting young people at the centre of the country’s recovery.

Minister Hurd’s visit celebrates the longstanding historical ties between the UK and Sierra Leone, where he met President Koroma, Chief of Staff Sesay, Finance Minister Kargbo, Energy Minister Macauley and Health Minister Fofanah to further strengthen our relationship.

Minister Hurd participated in a ceremony at Hastings Logistics Base to mark the donation of the UK’s remaining Ebola Response assets and medical equipment to Sierra Leone to help build the country’s emergency response capacity. This signifies the next stage of the UK’s partnership with Sierra Leone, which helped defeat Ebola and is now strengthening the country’s health system to respond to future public emergencies.

The minister also held a high-level discussion with key business leaders to encourage investment into Sierra Leone and boost job opportunities — which are vital for the future success of Sierra Leone and its people.

Young people have a vital role to play in delivering a prosperous future for Sierra Leone. With 70% of Sierra Leoneons under the age of 35, the minister spent time with young people to discuss their aspirations for Sierra Leone and their own lives.

Nick Hurd said:

I am in Sierra Leone 6 months after the country was declared Ebola free to mark the partnership between Sierra Leone and the UK in tackling this deadly disease. The UK led the international response and stood alongside the people of Sierra Leone at this difficult time, now together we must look to the future: to creating jobs, improving education and generating investment to boost economic development. The UK is committed to this strong partnership to build a brighter future for generations to come in Sierra Leone.

During his visit to Freetown, Minister Hurd attended an ‘Energy Revolution’ event to witness how Sierra Leone is starting to ignite the solar market. He also signed the first of the UK’s Energy Africa campaign compact agreements with the government of Sierra Leone. This will outline how governments, businesses and civil society can work together to break down the barriers to the growth of solar energy and help accelerate energy access across Africa.

On signing the compact, Nick Hurd said:

It is unacceptable that today more than 600 million people across sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to electricity. In Sierra Leone alone, less than 10% of the population have electricity, and in rural areas where the majority of people live, it is practically non-existent.

Working in partnership with Sierra Leone, the Energy Africa campaign can help to change that. I am very proud to sign the first ever compact agreement on this campaign with the government of Sierra Leone to ignite the solar energy market - helping to power business, hospitals and homes, making sure the poorest people no matter where they live can access clean, reliable and affordable energy.

Since the launch of the Energy Africa campaign in October 2015 African support has continued to grow with countries across the continent pledging to join Africa’s solar energy revolution. The new compact is part of the UK’s Energy Africa campaign, with 10 nations including Sierra Leone already pledging their support to increase access to energy, crucial for a stronger recovery.

By joining forces with Energy Africa, Sierra Leone is rising to the sustainable energy challenge and will help bring forward universal energy access from 2080 to 2030.

Today, the first shipment of MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles from the United States arrived in the port of Alexandria for delivery to the Egyptian military. The heavily armored MRAP vehicles are specifically designed to protect soldiers from blasts from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), landmines, and from other types of attacks. Today’s delivery is the first batch of a total of 762 MRAP vehicles that the United States is transferring to Egypt. This new capability will be used to combat terrorism and promote stability in the region.

Originally designed to support United States military operations in Afghanistan, MRAPs provide enhanced levels of protection to soldiers, and are proven to save lives. The U.S. Embassy Senior Defense Official in Cairo, Major General Charles Hooper, stated, “The delivery of these MRAPs to Egypt provides a crucial capability needed during these times of regional instability and is part of the continuing strong relationship between the U.S. and Egypt.”

This delivery of MRAPs is part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Excess Defense Articles grant program, in which the vehicles are transferred at no-cost to the Government of Egypt. This delivery is the most recent step taken by the U.S. government in support of Egypt’s fight against terrorism and is part of a broad range of military cooperation initiatives between the two countries.

Omar Al Bashir has arrived in Kampala to attend today’s inauguration ceremony for Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Our organisations urge the Government of Uganda to take all necessary measures to arrest Omar Al Bashir, Sudanese President and wanted International Criminal Court (ICC) fugitive, while he is present in the country. Bashir, who has eluded arrest since 2009, faces charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

“We are deeply concerned about declarations made today by President Museveni expressing his intention not to support or cooperate with the ICC. The situation is clear: Ugandan authorities should comply with their legal obligations under the Rome Statute, to which Uganda is a State Party, and arrest and surrender Al Bashir to the ICC.” declared our organisations.

Array

Reacting to claims made by Eskom CEO Brain Molefe during his State of the System briefing in Cape Town yesterday, that Renewable Energy is a ‘disappointment’, Greenpeace (www.Greenpeace.org) has said:

“Greenpeace condemns the anti-renewable energy propaganda coming from Eskom in the strongest possible terms, at a time when renewable energy projects have added more than 1800MW of installed capacity to the grid in just two and a half years (which equates to 4% of the total installed capacity). In fact, renewable energy is the only technology currently delivering new electricity capacity on time and on budget to South Africa’s constrained grid.

If Mr Molefe would like to discuss the use of outdated technology then Eskom need look no further than Eskom’s ailing, and hugely polluting, coal-fired fleet which the utility is looking to refurbish rather than decommission. This at a time when more than half the assets in the global coal industry are now held by companies that are either in bankruptcy proceedings or don't earn enough money to pay their interest bills, according to data compiled by Bloomberg[1].

As companies begin to divest from coal in the face of catastrophic climate change, the evidence that the global economy is moving away from their dependence on coal is clear. This brings to the fore the question of what vested interests are causing Eskom and the South African government to still focus on coal and nuclear energy as a means to power South Africa?

Eskom has disappointed South Africa with a recent history of unreliable supply, rapidly increasing costs and delays in construction of the two mega coal-fired power stations Medupi and Kusile. Coal has failed the people of this country, and instead of capitalising on cutting-edge renewable energy technology, Eskom has further disappointed the fledgling renewable energy industry in South Africa through their inability to plan ahead and timeously connect new renewable energy projects. Lastly, Eskom has disappointed business in South Africa as large-scale load shedding seriously damaged and constrained the economy.

The current position Eskom finds itself in whereby they are forced to buy electricity from Independent Power Producers talks directly the utility’s lack of ambition and marginal approach to investing in renewable energy project developments. If Eskom lacks the vision to build renewable energy projects themselves then other stakeholders most certainly will, as renewable energy is the power source of the future. In fact, a recent Ernst and Young study revealed that South Africa is the 11th most attractive country in the world for renewable energy investments[2].

Ultimately, it is time to kick start a thriving renewable energy market that will help remove the barriers to small-scale renewable energy investments and allow all South Africans to benefit from affordable renewable energy. The time for vested interests setting the agenda is over; it is time for people to take the power back into their own hands. Eskom has a choice to either join the energy of the future or be left behind struggling with an outdated, polluting and unreliable energy model that is taking South Africa nowhere slowly.”

Contact: Greenpeace Africa Pressdesk: +2711 482 4496 / +27716881274 / +2772 560 8700: akarnein@greenpeace.org, makiy@greenpeace.org

Notes to the Editor: 1. Available: http://www.afr.com/business/mining/coal/half-of-all-global-coal-assets-may-be-uneconomic-20160510-gos37u 2. Ernst and Young Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index:http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/EY-RECAI-47-May-2016/$FILE/EY-RECAI-47-May-2016.pdf

European Parliament Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), Elena Valenciano (S&D, ES) expresses her profound concern at Mr Halawa's arrest, the conditions of his detention and the continued postponement of his trial and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. DROI Chair made the following statement:

"As stated in the European Parliament's resolution of 17 December 2015, Mr Halawa is a prisoner of conscience, detained for having exercised his right to freedom of expression. He should be immediately and unconditionally released and the government of Egypt should honour its commitment to the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."

"I call on the European External Action Service to monitor closely the case of Halawa, take all necessary steps and measures to guarantee his fair trial and to raise his case at the highest level of its political dialogue with Egypt", she added.

In August 2013, Ibrahim Halawa who is an Irish citizen participated in peaceful protests in Cairo, which led to a violent crackdown by security forces in Cairo. On 17 August 2013, he was arrested and is still in jail 1000 days after, facing the death penalty despite being a juvenile at that time.

The African Development Bank (AfDB), the OECD Development Centre and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will release their joint African Economic Outlook 2016. This yearly report contains country notes with projections and analysis on macroeconomic, finance, trade, social and human development trends and statistics for all 54 African countries. For the first time, the statistical annex includes data on gender, comparing indicators from the three partner organisations. The report will be launched on the first day of the 51st AfDB Annual Meetings, which will take place from May 23-27, 2016 in Lusaka, Zambia.

With its special theme on Sustainable Cities and Structural Transformation, the 2016 edition of the African Economic Outlook analyses the diversity and specific features of the continent’s urbanisation process, how it is profoundly transforming African societies, and what opportunities it offers for structural transformation and sustainable growth.

The report will be launched by:

The new Chief Economist and Vice-President, AfDB Group Mario Pezzini, Director, OECD Development Centre Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, Assistant Administrator and Regional Director, UNDP Africa

In the honourable presence of:

Joan Clos, Executive Secretary, UN Habitat Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Director, Mo Ibrahim Foundation Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary, UNECA

Judith Rodin, President of The Rockefeller Foundation

The African Economic Outlook 2016 and 54 country notes will be available in English and French from 7 a.m. GMT for immediate release on the African Economic Outlook website http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/.

The presentation will be webcast live (www.afdb.org/am). Join the debate on Twitter: #AEO2016 and #AfDBAM2016.

Requests to receive the African Economic Outlook 2016 under embargo should be sent by e-mail to bochra.kriout@oecd.org. Journalists requesting an electronic version in advance of the release time agree to respect OECD embargo conditions.

Please note: The OECD's embargo rules prohibit any broadcast, news wire service or Internet transmission of text or information about this report before the stated release time. They also prohibit any communication of the contents of the report or any comment on its forecasts or conclusions to any outside party whatsoever before the stated release time. News organisations receiving OECD material under embargo have been informed that if they breach the OECD's embargo rules they will automatically be excluded in the future from receiving embargoed information.

INTRODUCTION

At the invitation of the Government of the Union of The Comoros, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini -Zuma ​​deployed an election experts mission on the 7th May 2016 to the re-run of presidential and gubernatorial elections in 13 polling stations in the autonomous Island of Anjouan of the Union of The Comoros held on 11th May 2016. The Mission is led by H.E. Barrister Mr. Bartholomew KERE, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Burkina Faso. The Mission comprising a team of twenty (20) experts from 15 African countries was supported by experts from the AUC and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA). The Mission's mandate is conduct an independent, impartial and objective assessment of the 11th May 12016 polls .The evaluation was based on the provisions of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance adopted in 2007 and entered into force in 2012; the OAU/AU Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa 2002; the AU Guidelines for Election Observation and Monitoring Missions of the 2002, relevant international instruments governing election observation, as well as the legal framework for the presidential and governorship elections in the Autonomous Islands in the Union of The Comoros .

II. OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY OF THE MISSION

In fulfilling its mandate as stipulated under the AU instruments governing democratic elections in Africa, the objective of the AUEOM is to make an independent, impartial and objective assessment of the re-run elections that the Constitutional Court ordered to be conducted. The Mission deployed a short-term methodology for this election. Thus, the observers of the Mission were able to follow both the voting procedures, tallying, counting of the ballots and display of results at each of the polling stations in accordance with Article 150 the Electoral Code. The Mission had consultations with key stakeholders including: government authorities, the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI), the Constitutional Court and the Civil Society. The Mission also held discussions with representatives of United Nations Development Program, (UNDP), the Diplomatic Corps in the Union of The Comoros and presidential candidates. During the consultative meetings with some candidates’ representatives and Civil Society Organizations, the AUEOM noted the desire of the latter to see that the CENI publishes the results from the 13 polling stations. The Mission will continue to meet with stakeholders and monitor post-election developments until its departure from the country. In order to prepare the observers for deployment, the AUEOM held a briefing and orientation on the 10th May 2016. This session allowed the observers to be informed on the specific context of the elections of 11th May 2016. The AUEOM deployed 13 observers who were stationed in all the 13 polling stations where re-run elections were held. This statement presents the Mission’s preliminary findings up until the close of polls and based on data gathered through direct observations and consultation with relevant stakeholders.

III. BACKGROUND OF 11th MAY 2016 VOTES

The re-run presidential and gubernatorial elections of the 11th May 2016 in the Island of Anjouan, was a result of the Decision No. 021 / E / G / NDZ / DC of the Constitutional Court of 30th April 2016 that ruled that fresh elections be conducted in 13 polling stations on the island of Anjouan. The registered voters in these polling stations were unable to vote on 10th April 2016 due to some challenges. Although the re-run elections were conducted in 13 polling stations, it mainly has a significant impact on the outcome of the presidential election results. The same reason explained why political tensions have been high and exceptional security measures were put in place during the re-run elections.

IV. PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS

Opening of the polling stations

77% of polling stations opened late, between 15 and 30 minutes. The delays were mainly due to the late setting up of the polling stations because the election materials were not delivered on time and some organizational adjustments between staff of polling stations and CENI delegates.

Electoral Materials

In all the 13 polling stations, election materials were available in sufficient quantities throughout the voting period.

Election Staff

In the 13 polling stations, all the election officials were present at the opening of polls with 33% of the staff being women. In all the polling stations, election staff interacted well with both voters and candidates agents. However, there were some misunderstandings reported in some polling stations, especially in Mrijou 2, Mjimandra 2 and Nyamboirmo 2. Despite these misunderstandings, the Mission noted that the polling staff showed a good professionalism in conducting the voting and counting procedures as provided for in Articles 118 and 131 of the Electoral Code.

D. Voting Procedures

Voting was conducted peacefully without any interference. No major incidents were observed. The voting procedures as provided for in the electoral law were generally followed. Voters who required special assistance including people with disabilities were provided with such support. However, the Mission observed some misunderstandings among polling staff and candidates' representatives in some polling stations at Bimbini 2, Bongouani 2 and Nyamboimro 2.

Array

The Mission noted the presence of the candidates’/party agents in all the polling stations (11/13were for presidential candidate Mohammed Ali Soilih, 13/13 were for presidential candidate Azali Assoumani, 7/13 for candidate Mouigni Baraka, 13/13 for candidate Abdou Abdou Salami and12/13 for candidate Anissi Chamsidine). The candidates’ agents were vigilant throughout on the Election Day and interacted professionally with the election officials, with some minor exceptions where actions of some of them seemed untimely. The Mission met with some observers who also deployed during the re-run elections including the Indian Ocean Commission, the Platform of Women and Youth for peaceful elections in the Union of The Comoros, Elections Observatory of the Union of The Comoros and the Comorian Federation of Civil Society.

F. Security

The Mission noted that there was heavy deployment of security forces at the entrances of the polling centers. It noted that the security conducted themselves professionally through checking voters in a peaceful and orderly manner. No acts of intimidation or intrusion in the conduct of voting were observed.

G. Participation

The mission noted a high voter turnout at all polling stations. According to data collected by the AUEOM observers at the close of polls, the overall voter turnout was 68.80%. The Mission also noted with satisfaction the high participation of women.

H. Closing and counting of votes

The closing and counting were conducted in accordance with the requirements of Articles 131 and 132 of the Electoral Code. The voters present at the polling station before closing time were all allowed to cast their votes. Counting procedures were conducted by members of the polling stations, assisted by the inspectors without any interruptions.

I. Results Management.

In all polling stations, copies of the duly signed result forms were given to candidates agents. However, the pasting of electoral results for the general public's attention has not been systematic in all the polling stations.

V. CONCLUSIONS

Following its observations, the AUEOM noted that the 11th May 2016 re-run elections in the autonomous Island of Anjouan in the Union of The Comoros, was conducted in a peaceful and calm environment. The Mission congratulates people of the Union of The Comoros for the good conduct of the re-run elections which was inclusive, free and transparent and was a reflection of the will of the people. The AUEOM congratulates the people of the Island of Anjouan for their contributions to the proper conduct of 11th May 2016 re-run elections. It particularly applauds the Comorian Civil Society for their central role in maintaining an atmosphere of peace that has prevailed s throughout the process. The AUEOM also welcomes the progress of CENI since the elections of 2015, particularly regarding the steady progress of the electoral staff in mastery of the conduct of elections. The AUEOM finally urges all election stakeholders to consolidate their efforts to promote peace and social cohesion as shown by the maturity of the Comorian people during the conduct of the re-run elections.

Done at Anjouan, 12th May 2016

By H.E. Barthélémy KERE

Head of Mission

As concrete follow up to the 18 April Foreign Affairs Council, EU Ambassadors in the Political Security Committee agreed yesterday to extend the mandate of Operation Sophia by one year with continued emphasis on its core mandate of disrupting the business model of human smugglers and traffickers.

It was also decided to add two further supporting tasks to the operation; capacity building and training of, and information sharing with, the Libyan Coastguard and Navy based on a request by the legitimate Libyan authorities taking into account the need for Libyan ownership, and contributing to information sharing, as well as implementation of the UN arms embargo on the High Seas off the coast of Libya on the basis of a new UNSC Resolution. This will now require political endorsement by the Council. The Operational Commander has been requested to urgently start operational planning on these two additional tasks, and preparatory work, including on planning, will continue in the coming days. These developments are very welcome given the urgency of the situation in Libya. I will have the opportunity to discuss this further with the Libyan Prime Minister in Vienna on Monday at the Libya conference convened by the United States and Italy.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Associate Administrator, Tegegnework Gettu landed in Juba, South Sudan today. During his visit, he met with leaders of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) and development partners. His visit coincides with the successful formation of the TGoNU on 29 April following the signing of a peace agreement in August 2015.

“I would like to commend the government of South Sudan for their commitment to the Peace Agreement,” said Mr. Gettu on arrival. “UNDP, in close cooperation with other agencies, will continue to support the Transitional Government of National Unity to effectively implement the Peace Agreement and lay the foundation for a peaceful transition to democratic governance, sustainable development, and inclusive growth.” He also encouraged early recovery and reconstruction efforts to complement humanitarian assistance.

Mr. Gettu held discussions with senior government officials, including H.E First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, H.E Vice President, James Wani Igga, and Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, David Deng Athorbei.

Mr. Gettu also met with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, Ellen Margrethe Løj to discuss the collaborative efforts made between UNMISS and UNDP to strengthen the nation’s state-building process.

“Through the Global Focal Point arrangement, UNMISS and UNDP are providing a united front for overall UN assistanceto strengthen the rule of law in South Sudan,” said Ms. Løj. “We are working together to improve the areas of police, justice and corrections within the context of the Peace Agreement.”

Mr. Gettu also has a consultation meeting with key donors, including Norway, United States, UK, and Japan, to discuss areas of cooperation between UNDP and international development partners.

Mr. Gettu discussed the need to complement humanitarian efforts with sustainable development interventions with the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in South Sudan, Eugene Owusu.

“The formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity provides ample opportunities for collaborative and transformative engagements to put South Sudan back on the sustainable recovery, peace and development path,” said Mr. Owusu. “At UNDP we strongly believe in the role that development can play in supporting early peace, stability and recovery. The Associate Administrator’s visit emphasizes our commitment to integrating our vision of a stable and prosperous South Sudan with the work of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, agencies, and partners.”

Press room - Justus Lipsius building

19 May 2016 at 13:30

by General Mikhail Kostarakos, Chairman of the European Union Military Committee and Brigadier General Dominique Laugel, Mission Commander for the European Union Military Advisory Mission CAR

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has published its findings on the countries it examined during its latest session from 25 April to 13 May: Spain, Oman, Rwanda, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Namibia. The findings contain positive aspects of how the respective State is implementing the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), highlight main matters of concern and make recommendations.

The reports, officially known as concluding observations, can be found here: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1072&Lang=en

CERD’s next session will be from 2 August to 26 August when members are due to review Greece, Lebanon, Pakistan, Paraguay, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. More information here: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1073&Lang=en

The UN Committee against Torture has published its findings from its latest session from 18 April to 13 May when it reviewed France, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Philippines and Israel. The findings cover positive aspects of how the respective State is implementing the Convention against Torture, Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and also main matters of concern and recommendations.

The reports*, officially termed concluding observations, can be found here: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1011&Lang=en

The Committee will next meet from 25 July to 12 August when it will review Burundi, Honduras, Kuwait and Mongolia. More information here: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1084&Lang=en