Category: Reportage

Posted on

Seychelles submits written statement to the International Court of Justice

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: Seychelles submits written statement to the International Court of Justice

In June 2017, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Resolution, initiated by Mauritius, to refer the issue of sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, for an Advisory Opinion. The Resolution was adopted by a vote of 94 to 15, with 65 abstentions. Seychelles was one of the countries which supported this Resolution in respect of valuing the guidance that may emanate from this prestigious institution on this complex issue. 

Following this Resolution, all UN Member States were invited to submit written statements to the ICJ in a view to assisting the Court with its deliberations. On 28th February 2018, following Cabinet approval, the Government of Seychelles through the Department of Foreign Affairs submitted its written contributions to the ICJ. 

As noted by Ambassador Barry Faure, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, “Seychelles’ submission requests that the voices and unique perspectives of the Chagossian community in Seychelles be taken into account by the ICJ during its proceedings. As a people who have genuine connections and interests towards the Chagos Archipelago, and who have faced a myriad of indignities and difficulties in a dispute that has spanned over decades, their plight must be taken into account within any international deliberation on this matter.” 

The ICJ will be delivering its opinion in mid-2018. Although without binding effect, Advisory Opinions of the Court carries great legal weight and moral authority. They are often an instrument of preventive diplomacy and have peace-keeping virtues. Advisory opinions also, in their own way, contribute to the clarification and development of international law and thereby to the strengthening of peaceful relations between States. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Seychelles.

Media files

Download logo
Posted on

South African Companies to Showcase Products at Foodex Trade Fair in Japan

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: South African Companies to Showcase Products at Foodex Trade Fair in Japan

Twenty-eight South African companies will showcase their products and services at the Foodex Trade Fair in Chiba City, Japan from 6-9 March 2018. The companies received financial support from the Department of Trade and Industry’s (the dti) Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme (EMIA) to participate in the trade fair as part of the department’s commitment towards increasing trade and investment relations between South Africa and the Japan.

Foodex 2018 will display a full range of food and beverage products from around the world. The annual exhibition is Asia’s largest, dedicated to food and beverage sectors across Japan and the whole world.  Over the four days of the exhibition, thousands of buyers from food service, distribution, and trading companies attend. Some of the products to be showcased by South African exporters will include bottled wine, mixed herbs and spices, olive oils, canned fruit and vegetables, nuts, fruit juices, dried fruit, rooibos tea and sauces.

The fair affords South African exporters with an opportunity to promote a broader food and beverage sector with a view of establishing a more prominent market presence and reputation for South Africa’s agro-processing sector in the Japanese market.

According to the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Bulelani Magwanishe, the trade fair will expose South African companies to available trade and investment opportunities and highlight their products and services in order to gain access to the multi-billion-rand Asian food and beverage market. It will also be an excellent platform to promote existing and potential exporters to new customers in different sectors from around the world.

“Japan has a more diversified economy and has invested significantly in productive sectors which sustain their high levels of productivity as well as the development of new knowledge and technology. These present opportunities for South Africa and Japan to collaborate with a view to increasing trade and investment, capacity building, and exchange of expertise,” says Magwanishe.

He adds that South Africa’s participation in the trade fair will have a positive impact in terms of increasing export sales from the South African agro-processing industry, particularly the food and beverage sector. This is in alignment with the country’s industrialisation programme and the Integrated National Export Strategy.

Japan is among the largest economies in the world and traditionally one of South Africa’s key established trading partners in the world. Two-way trade between South Africa and Japan was valued at R93.2 billion in 2017, with a trade balance amounting to R17.8 billion in favour of South Africa. South Africa exported goods worth above R55.5 billion, whereas, it imported goods worth R37.7 billion.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Department of Trade and Industry, South Africa.

Media files

Download logo
Posted on

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) survey shows poor nutrition status among refugee children in South Sudan

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) survey shows poor nutrition status among refugee children in South Sudan

Over 24 thousand or 44% of refugee children under the age of 5 in South Sudan suffer from growth retardation or stunting, according to a nutrition survey findings published by UNHCR today.

The survey which was conducted among refugee children under 5 years old in 8 refugee camps and settlements across South Sudan in December 2017 revealed that 6.2 per cent or 3,391 out of the total of 54,172 refugee children under 5 years old were suffering from acute malnutrition. Although below the emergency threshold of 15%, 6.2% prevalence indicates poor nutrition status of refugee children. The survey also revealed that 48% or 26,000 of refugee children were suffering from anaemia.

Overall nutrition status of refugee children has improved as compared to previous years, however the number of children suffering from stunting, acute malnutrition and anaemia remains to be a matter of high concern.

“Both stunting and anaemia can have long-term negative consequences for children and affect children’s immune system as well as intellectual capacity and mental development,” UNHCR Representative in South Sudan Johann Siffointe said, adding that more efforts and resources need to be invested in preventive measures. 

In addition to the nutrition status of refugee children, the survey also looked into families’ coping mechanisms to offset lack of food. Over 80% of those polled during the survey stated resorting to negative coping strategies, including selling assets that would normally have not been sold, cash and food borrowings and reducing meal quantities and frequency.

Working closely with partners and other UN agencies, in particular, UNICEF and WFP, UNHCR is implementing a number of initiatives and programs that are called to address the problem of malnourished refugee children. In particular, UNHCR together with partners have been implementing Comprehensive Management of Acute Malnutrition for all identified malnourished children, Blanket Supplementary Feeding Program for children under 2 years old and pregnant and lactating women as a malnutrition preventive measure.

In addition to awareness raising sessions aimed at promoting early initiation of breastfeeding and appropriate infant and young children feeding practices, UNHCR and its partners have also embarked on the implementation of a strategy that addresses the problem of anemia and micronutrient deficiencies.

“The solution to the problem of malnutrition among refugee children in South Sudan requires a holistic approach and should include, among others, provision of adequate healthcare and water and sanitation services and expansion of livelihoods activities to allow refugees to attain food security at a household level,” UNHCR Representative in South Sudan emphasized.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Media files

Download logo
Posted on

World Food Programme Calls for More Investment in School Meals by West African Governments

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: World Food Programme Calls for More Investment in School Meals by West African Governments

The United Nations World Food Programme today (March 1, 2018) urged governments in West Africa to invest more money in school meal programmes so these can act as a catalyst for improved economic and social welfare communities across the region. The call was made on African Day of School Feeding which is being celebrated for the third year in a row.

WFP partners on school meals programmes with some 40 countries in Africa, providing more than nine million school children annually with daily meals in school. In some countries, WFP itself implements the school meals programme while in others it offers technical support to the government provider. In most countries, WFP offers a combination of both services.

“It is a win-win opportunity which governments must seize,” said Abdou Dieng, WFP Regional Director for West and Central Africa. “Children enjoy healthy meals that make it more likely that they will stay in school and learn for a better future while jobs are created and businesses develop.” 

Increasingly, school meals in Africa are of the home-grown variety. This means that the food for the meals is sourced from smallholder farmers within the community. The idea is that home-grown school meals provide local farmers and businesses with a predictable outlet for their products, leading to more stable incomes, more investment, higher productivity and the creation of jobs for youth and women in the communities concerned.

In Burkina Faso, for example, the introduction of yoghurt in school meals has had multiple benefits – a women’s group that collects milk locally has recently set up a processing plant for yoghurt that is now delivered to schools by young people on motorcycles.

Some governments in the region are showing a growing interest in investing more in national school meals programmes. The Government of Benin has allotted US$47 million to feed 400,000 children over the course of five years in partnership with WFP, using a home-grown school meals model.

“We applaud Benin for showing leadership in investing in its future generation. This is a standard that other governments in the region should follow,” Dieng said.

WFP’s regional school meals programme, which aims to assist about 2.7 million children this year, faces a US$60 million funding gap. Without proper financing, the programme will fall short, leave many vulnerable students hungry and at risk of dropping out of school. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

Media files

Download logo
Posted on

African broadband operators increase investment to meet soaring data demand

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: African broadband operators increase investment to meet soaring data demand

An urgent requirement for new investment into telecom and broadband infrastructure in Africa is driving a fresh flurry of mergers, acquisitions, IPOs, investment and financing activity, as the region’s key players jostle for position to meet the soaring demand for data across the continent, says global news provider, TMT Finance (www.TMTFinance.com).

Joseph d’Arrast, EMEA Editor, TMT Finance said: “The continent’s growth in the digital economy and the rising demand for data is helping to boost investor confidence in major broadband projects, of which there are many currently underway or in the pipeline. In response to this, many telcos, investors and specialised operators are looking to plough significant amounts of money into key projects, with a number of IPOs, new capex financing and M&A also in the pipeline,” he added.

To discuss the next wave of opportunities, chief executives and leading heads of finance and strategy from Africa’s key broadband infrastructure companies, private equity investors and telecom operators are meeting on a dedicated panel at TMT Finance Africa in Cape Town 2018 (www.TMTFinance.com/capetown) on March 15.

The TMT Broadband Infrastructure panel, which will discuss strategies for regional growth, includes: Nic Rudnick, CEO, Liquid Telecom; Brandon Doyle, CEO, Convergence Partners; Byron Clatterbuck, CEO, SEACOM; Brian Jakins, Managing Director of Africa, Intelsat; and Thomas Hintze, CEO, Wananchi Telecom; and will be chaired by Keith Webb, Investment Banking, Infrastructure Finance, Rand Merchant Bank.

Over 70 key speakers have been announced for the event, with CxOs and senior executives also confirmed from companies including Vodacom, Telkom BCX, MTN, Standard Bank, American Tower Corp, Millicom, Google, Econet Wireless, MainOne, Teraco, Alcatel Submarine Networks, DLA Piper, IFC World Bank, Rack Centre, Investec Asset Management, Citi and Credit Suisse.

Other key session themes announced include: Telecom Leadership Africa; Digital Africa; Mobile Tower Strategies; Mergers and Acquisitions; Private Equity Africa; Spectrum sharing; Regulation and Policy; Financing TMT; Investing in Mobile Data and Services; Mobile Payments and Banking, Fintech and M-Health; and Media and Convergence.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of TMT Finance.

For more information or to register go to www.TMTFinance.com/capetown

For sponsorship or speaking opportunities, contact Enquiries@TMTFinance.com.   

Media files

Download logo
Posted on

No processed meats in School Nutrition Programme

Source: South Africa News Agency

In light of the Listeriosis outbreak, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has assured parents that no processed meat products are used as part of the National School Nutrition Programme.

“The Department of Basic Education (DBE) would like to reassure parents, learners and members of the public that there are no processed meat products used as part of the National School Nutrition Programme,” the department said on Monday.

The department’s statement is in light of revelations announced by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi which pinpointed processed meats as the source of a deadly listeriosis outbreak.

Processed meat products such as polony, viennas, sausages and other processed cold meat products often consumed by children, were referred to as no go zones by the Health Minister.

“The food served to over nine million learners daily as part of the NSNP is safe and excludes these types of meat products,” said the department.

But the DBE is leaving nothing to chance, warning parents and the greater school community to remain vigilant as these food items often form part of packed lunches or are sold to learners by external food vendors outside of schools or at tuckshops.

Despite being preventable and treatable, the deadly disease has so far claimed 180 lives since its outbreak last year.  

In a bid to prevent any loss of lives, the DBE has issued a circular to all provincial education departments and schools on measures to take in order to prevent the spread of listeriosis.

Schools have been advised of the following:

  • Volunteer Food Handlers should maintain a high level of personal hygiene
  • Wash hands at all times.
  • Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
  • Ensure safe preparation, cooking, serving of meals and cleaning the cooking area.
  • Learners should wash any fruit bought from the school vendor before consuming it.

Members of the public have also been cautioned to practice the basic food hygiene principles as outlined in the World Health Organisation’s ‘Five Keys to Safer Food’ programme. The core ‘commandments’ of food hygiene are:

  • Keep clean: wash your hands before handling food and often during food preparation.
  • Separate raw and cooked: separate raw meat, poultry and seafood from other foods.
  • Cook thoroughly: cook foods thoroughly, especially meat, poultry, eggs and seafood.
  • Keep food at safe temperatures: refrigerate and reheat foods correctly.
  • Use safe water and raw materials: use safe water or make it safe by boiling; choose foods processed for safety such as pasteurised dairy products; wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, especially if eaten.

The DBE has also advised teachers and parents to report to the nearest health care facility if learners present signs of diarrhoea, headache, neck stiffness, confusion, loss of balance and flu like symptoms.

“In instances where children are involved it is better to be safe than sorry as this is a preventable and treatable disease.

“We urge parents to heed the advice from Health Minister Motsoaledi when preparing lunch boxes for their children to ensure that it contains no food items that may carry listeriosis,” said the DBE. – SAnews.gov.za

Posted on

DAFF supports probe into corruption

Source: South Africa News Agency

The Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) says it is determined to take a stand against corruption and will continue to support the police in their efforts to investigate such conduct amongst its fisheries control officers.

The department made the remarks following the allegations of corruption amongst the department’s fisheries’ control officers who are mainly based in the Overberg region.

The allegations had resulted in the arrest of nine fisheries control officials by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks. 

The department said that the arrest forms part of DAFF’s efforts in enhancing discipline and integrity amongst its workforce, by ensuring that reported allegations of corruption is dealt with through the relevant State systems.

“Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing, which abalone poaching is classified under, is a global challenge that threatens world food security and ecosystems, and South Africa is not exempted from this phenomenon,” the department said.

DAFF together with other law enforcement agencies through Operation Phakisa Oceans Economy initiative is dealing with IUU fishing.

“DAFF understands there is a need for organised international communities to work collaboratively in dealing with IUU fishing. As a result, DAFF has ensured that South Africa ratifies the United Nations’ FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization): Port State Measure agreement whose objective is to curb IUU fishing,” the department said.

The department also plays an integral role in enhancing collaborative efforts through relevant structures of Southern African Development Community and Interpol, in order to curb IUU fishing in the region. – SAnews.gov.za

Posted on

Africa’s facts at your fingertips! Ecobank’s African markets website goes live, profiling Francophone West Africa as the leader in intra-regional trade

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: Africa’s facts at your fingertips! Ecobank’s African markets website goes live, profiling Francophone West Africa as the leader in intra-regional trade

Francophone West Africa leads in intra-regional trade with trade hotspots around Dakar, Abidjan, Cotonou and Lomé, according to analysis by Ecobank’s (www.Ecobank.com) research team in its new website, AfricaFICC.

The team has updated Ecobank’s flagship Africa Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities Guidebook (FICC) and made it available as an online resource: https://Ecobank.com/AfricaFICC. The website provides key facts for businesses and investors on the economies of Sub-Saharan Africa and the key sectors of activity.

The first regional section of the website to go live is Francophone West Africa, one of the most diverse regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. Stretching from Senegal and Cape Verde in the West to Niger 2,000 miles away in the East, Francophone West Africa covers nine countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire (https://goo.gl/wq4F8f), Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. Together they make up the Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest-Africaine (UEMOA). The website gives a country-by-country analysis of each country, with an economic outlook, details on the FX, FI and banking sectors, and overview of the mineral, energy and soft commodity sectors, as well as key trade flows.

Data for Francophone West Africa show that, despite geographical differences, the region is one of the best integrated economic and monetary zones in Africa, bolstered by the shared currency (the CFA franc), the common legal system (OHADA) and the French language which has fostered economic integration and intra-regional trade.

Key factors to consider include:

  • The region’s economy is driven by agriculture, mining, hydrocarbons, trade and financial services, and is home to the world’s largest producer of cocoa (Côte d’Ivoire) and Africa’s largest regional producers of cotton and palm oil.
  • Abidjan, Dakar, Cotonou and Lomé are key trade hubs for trade, acting as conduits for the import and export of goods and services, both to the international market and to sub-regional markets.
  • Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal account for more than half the block’s GDP and trade flows, acting as vital lifelines for their landlocked neighbours, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Benin and Togo are also major re-export hubs for capital & consumer goods and food, with large informal volumes not being captured by official data.
  • Côte d’Ivoire has the largest banking sector in UEMOA, followed by Senegal. Both countries are emerging as the key Fintech innovation hubs in Francophone Africa.

“Many businesses and investors struggle to find good and reliable economic data about Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Dr. Edward George, Ecobank’s Head of Group Research.

“Our new Africa FICC website offers a one-stop shop, with all the key economic, currency, banking, commodity and trade data that those working or investing in Sub-Saharan Africa need at their fingertips,” he said.

“Ecobank understands regional and local business customs, regulations and country-specific risks better than any other bank in Africa because we operate on the ground in 33 markets. This data will help us and our clients in making investment and other financial decisions as part of our seamless service,” said Charles Daboiko, Group Head for Francophone West Africa.

Country guides for the other regions of Sub-Saharan Africa – Anglophone West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa & Southern Africa – will go live over the coming month.

Country guides from other regions of sub-Saharan Africa – English-speaking West Africa, Central Africa, Eastern Africa and Southern Africa – will be posted online in the coming months.

Watch out for updates on our Twitter account: @ecobankresearch

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ecobank.

Media contact: 
Sherelle Folkes 
Tel: +44 20 20 7638 6856 
Email: Sherelle@BrandCommsGroup.com 

Note to editors
The new Africa Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities (FICC) website can be found at https://AfricaFICC.ecobank.com
The Francophone Wests Africa information can be found at https://goo.gl/EgTPJ9.  

About Ecobank
Incorporated in Lomé, Togo in 1988, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (‘ETI’) (www.Ecobank.com) is the parent company of the leading independent pan-African banking group, Ecobank. It currently has a presence in 36 African countries, namely: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Democratic Republic), Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Group employs over 17,000 people in 40 different countries in over 1,200 branches and offices. Ecobank is a full-service bank providing wholesale, retail, investment and transaction banking services and products to governments, financial institutions, multinationals, international organisations, medium, small and micro businesses and individuals. Additional information on Ecobank can be found at www.Ecobank.com. 

Web:  www.Ecobank.com/group 
Twitter: @GroupEcobank  @EcobankResearch

Appendix 1: FICC facts and figures
Benin
• Benin is one of smallest countries in West Africa.
• It is West Africa’s third-largest cotton producer, with estimated output of 150,000 tonnes of cotton lint in 2016/17 – Benin’s most valuable export, worth US$187mn in 2016, with most exports going to India, Malaysia, Bangladesh and China for spinning and textiles.
• Benin is a major re-export hub, serving as a key informal conduit for capital and consumer goods going into and out of its eastern neighbour, Nigeria.

Burkina Faso
• Burkina Faso has recently emerged as West Africa’s third largest producer of gold (after Ghana and Mali), with estimated output of 45 tonnes in 2017 and is now its most valuable export, worth US$1.6bn in 2016. Thanks to major investment production of gold is expanding, along with other minerals such as zinc (169,000 tonnes produced in 2016) and lead (2,000 tonnes).
• Burkina Faso is West Africa’s leading cotton producer, with estimated output of 283,000 tonnes of cotton lint in 2016/17 which totalled US$423mn in 2016. It is also a significant producer of sesame (95,000 tonnes in 2017) and cashew nuts (86,000 tonnes), all exported raw to world markets.

Côte d’Ivoire 
• One of Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading soft commodity exporters, accounting for 14.2% of the total in 2016. Cocoa and cocoa products were the largest export, totalling US$5.7 bn.
• The world’s leading producer of cocoa, with record output of 2.01mn tonnes in 2016/17 (October-September), 42.8% of world output.
• Africa’s largest producer of natural rubber, with estimated output of 326,101 tonnes in 2015, most of which was exported to world markets.

Cape Verde
• An archipelago with the region’s smallest population of just over half a million people. 
• With limited land and water resources, Cape Verde does not produce agricultural commodities for export and the country remains heavily dependent on food imports to meet domestic needs.

Guinea-Bissau
• Guinea Bissau is Africa’s third largest producer of cashew nuts, with estimated output of 200,000 tonnes of raw cashews (RCN) in 2017, around 8% of world production.

Mali
• Mali is the third largest producer of gold in Sub-Saharan Africa, Gold, with an estimated output of 63 tonnes in 2016 and production set to rise, is Mali’s most valuable commodity export worth US$2bn in 2016, and and makes up a quarter of government revenues. The government hopes to raise total production to over 100 tonnes in the near term.
• Mali is West Africa’s second largest cotton producer after Burkina Faso. Run by a state monopoly, Mali’s cotton production has risen steadily since 2013/14, reaching a record 266,000 tonnes of cotton lint in 2016/17, worth US$266mn in exports. Output forecast to grow further to 300,000 tonnes in 2017/18, thereby making Mali Africa’s largest cotton grower; Malian cotton fibre trades at a slight premium to Burkinabè fibre, owing to its longer staple length and reliable deliveries. 
• In 2016 Mali exported US$228mn worth of live animals to neighbouring countries (mostly cows, sheep and goats)

Niger
• Niger is Africa’s largest producer of uranium, with estimated output of 2,904 tonnes in 2016, worth US$299mn, 93% of which is exported to France as fuel and the balance to the USA;
• Niger became an oil producer in 2011 when production started at the Agadem block: output has averaged 20,000 bpd; but production is set to rise following the award of a second oil licence in November 2013;
• Niger is a major re-exporter of food to neighbouring countries; in 2016 it exported US$134mn of rice, US$132mn of palm oil and US$31mn of pasta.

Senegal
• Senegal has the second largest banking sector in the UEMOA, after Côte d’Ivoire.
• Senegal’s banking sector is loan-driven, with loans and advances accounting for more than half of total assets and the wholesale lending activities – primarily to SMEs and local and multinational corporates – the main growth driver.
• Senegal’s mining sector is focused on gold, phosphates and cement production, with an estimated 10 tonnes of gold produced in 2016, all for export. New investment aims to increase annual production to more than 30 tonnes by 2022. 
• Estimated output of cement was 2.9 million tonnes in 2016, both for domestic consumption and for export to the sub-region, and output of phosphate rock was 473,000 tonnes in 2016; Senegal is a hub for processing this into phosphoric acid, the key ingredient in fertiliser.
• Senegal has a dynamic horticultural goods sector which is seeking to challenge the dominance of Kenya and Ethiopia for market share of the EU’s organic fruit and vegetable market.

Togo
• Togo is a major trade hub for the West African region. 
• Phosphate is Togo’s most valuable mineral export, representing up to 11% of foreign exchange earnings; a total of 846,091 tonnes was exported in 2016, most of which went to India and Canada
• Togo is a major exporter of cement (US$137mn in 2016), cotton (US$53mn) and phosphate rock (US$81mn), most of which is produced in Togo; it is also a re-exporter of imported goods including plastics (worth US$95mn), vehicles and machinery (US$76mn), cosmetics (US$49mn), with the majority going to neighbouring Ghana and Nigeria.

Media files

Download logo
Posted on

Rugby: Kenya finished seventh overall at the USA Sevens in Las Vegas, drawn in Pool C for Vancouver assignment

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: Rugby: Kenya finished seventh overall at the USA Sevens in Las Vegas, drawn in Pool C for Vancouver assignment

Kenya finished seventh overall at the USA Sevens after series of battling performances throughout the three days of competition at a tournament that served as the fifth round of the 2017/18 HSBC Sevens World Series.

Shujaa started their campaign on a losing note, going down 14-19 to France in their opening Pool A match on Saturday morning. It took the experience of Collins Injera to score two tries in the ensuing 19-12 win over Russia, a match that left the team needing a win over fancied Fiji to reach the cup quarterfinals. They pulled it off, the experienced trio of Injera, Willy Ambaka and Andrew Amonde each scoring in the 17-14 victory over Fiji. This result saw Shujaa earned the right to face eventual cup finalists Argentina in the cup quarters. They however fell to a 12-17 defeat.

Playing in the fifth place semifinal against Australia, Shujaa gave as good as they got, finally exiting the tournament following a 26-21 sudden death defeat after the two sides had been tied 21-21 at the close of regulation time.

The team has meanwhile been grouped with USA Sevens bronze medal winners Fiji, France and Spain in Pool C as the pools for the Canada Sevens in Vancouver were announced following the conclusion of the USA Sevens in Las Vegas.

USA, who won their home tournament with a 28-0 cup final shut out of Argentina will play in Pool A and will face Australia, hosts Canada and Uruguay. In Pool B Las Vegas runners-up Argentina face England, who last year secured a Cup victory in Vancouver, Wales and Samoa.

Series leader South Africa will face second place New Zealand, Scotland and Russia.The Canada Sevens is the sixth round of the 2017/18 HSBC Sevens World Series and will be played on 10th and 11 March at the BC Place in Vancouver.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kenya Rugby Union (KRU).

Media contact :
Rugby@APO-opa.org

Posted on

CIBAFI Submitted Comments to the AAOIFI on its Exposure Draft on Governance Standard for Islamic Financial Institutions (GSIFI) No. 10: “Shariah Compliance and Fiduciary Ratings for Islamic Financial Institutions”

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English – Report:

Headline: CIBAFI Submitted Comments to the AAOIFI on its Exposure Draft on Governance Standard for Islamic Financial Institutions (GSIFI) No. 10: “Shariah Compliance and Fiduciary Ratings for Islamic Financial Institutions”

Aligned with its role as advocate of the Islamic Financial Services Industry (IFSI), the General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI) (www.CIBAFI.org), the global umbrella of Islamic financial institutions, announced that it has provided its comments to the Accounting & Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) on its Exposure Draft (ED) on Governance Standard for Islamic Financial Institutions (GSIFI) No. 10: “Shariah Compliance and Fiduciary Ratings for Islamic Financial Institutions”.

In its submission, CIBAFI thanked the AAOIFI for giving the opportunity to the Islamic financial services industry stakeholders to comment on its GSIFI No. 10 before its issuance and provided comments comprising key points as well as detailed analysis.

Fundamentally, CIBAFI members raised some concerns on the purpose of the ED and potential parties that would be interested in it. Hence it was not explicitly clear how far customers and other counterparties would understand and use ratings of this kind, therefore whether they would have any commercial value. On the other hand, any regulator with a sufficient interest in Shariah governance to consider mandating such a rating would be more likely to impose Shariah governance requirements on firms and supervise them directly. It is therefore unclear how Shariah compliance ratings would fit into the Shariah governance structure in different jurisdictions. This in turn raises the question of what purpose a standard in this area would serve for the Islamic finance industry.

On a separate note, CIBAFI recommended for more time to be spent on having discussions and views with different stakeholders from different jurisdictions, and involvement perhaps of few rating agencies in the process to avoid any biased views and opinions.

In its submission to the AAOIFI, CIBAFI expressed its appreciation of the work that the AAOIFI does to maintain sound practices of the IFSI. Full comments to the AAOIFI are available on CIBAFI website www.CIBAFI.org

In addition to policy and regulatory advocacy, CIBAFI continues to support the IFSI through various activities and initiatives. These include providing industry stakeholders with a platform to discuss emerging issues, representing the industry at major global financial events, and sharing knowledge through specialised research and publications, and comprehensive professional development programmes. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI).

For more information about CIBAFI, please visit www.CIBAFI.org 
Tel: +973 17357300  Email: Media@CIBAFI.org

About the General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI)
CIBAFI (www.CIBAFI.org) is an international organization established in 2001 and Headquartered in the Kingdom of Bahrain. CIBAFI is affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).  CIBAFI represents the Islamic financial services industry globally, defending and promoting its role, consolidating co-operation among its members, and with other institutions with similar interests and objectives. With over 120 members from more than 32 jurisdictions, representing market players, international intergovernmental organizations and professional firms, and industry associations.