“I am shocked and saddened by the attack in Baidoa today. I urge the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly. The United Nations will continue to support the Somali people and their Government as they strive for a peaceful and stable future.”

Mr Kay expressed his sincere condolences to the families and friends of all those killed in today's attack and wished a swift recovery for those injured.

As part of the trip to Buram, where UNAMID has an operating base, the DJSR and the DRA Chair met with South Darfur Governor Adam Mahmoud Jar El-Nabi, the Nazir of Habaniya and Buram's Commissioner. They inaugurated several DRA projects, including a technical school and the foundation for what will later become Buram Hospital's Maternity Ward, and held discussions with local leaders, including members of native administration and tribal elders in the area.

In a speech delivered at the locality's headquarters, DJSR Mutaboba welcomed the DRA's work to restore harmony and peace in the area through implementing such projects, and highlighted the importance of the Government of Sudan, the DRA and UNAMID working together to rebuild communities and create a stable security environment for peace to flourish.

“UNAMID is ever willing to extend logistics and substantive support to all initiatives and efforts in accordance with our mandate and within our limited resources,” said the DJSR, who noted that the people of Darfur have suffered a decade of misery, with conflict and mutual mistrust blocking lasting and peaceful solutions. “Negotiations and dialogue are the best means to resolve disputes,” he said. “Many African nations have gone through similar conflicts, but peace has only come through dialogue.”

The DJSR urged all combatants to put down their arms and to heed President Bashir's call for national dialogue. “Dialogue is the best opportunity to secure the future of Darfur and Sudan,” he said, noting that while UNAMID is mandated to support the DRA in the implementation of the DDPD, the pace of the Doha Document's implementation has been slower than expected.

“It is imperative that the backlog in the implementation of the DDPD is taken care of as soon as possible,” he said. “UNAMID is willing and ready to support all DDPD-related activities.”

DRA Chair Seisi, also addressing those gathered at the locality's headquarters, stressed the need for reconciliation. “People must embrace peace and social coexistence, and must forget their grievances,” he said, noting that weapons have been proliferating in Darfur, and threatening peace. “We call upon all armed movements to join the peace process,” urged the DRA Chair.

“The Darfur Regional Authority and the citizens of Darfur are partners for achieving peace and development,” the DRA Chair concluded. “We must concentrate on projects, in line with the DDPD, to meet people's needs.”

Buram, a multi-ethnic locality situated approximately 50 kilometres from Sudan's border with South Sudan and located at the intersection of several travel routes, not only is a hub of international trade, but also is an area where residents frequently have been caught in the conflict between armed movements and Government forces. With different tribes living in and around Buram, sporadic conflict related to competition over natural resources has emerged from time to time, but most residents have been living peacefully in recent months, thanks in part to local-level mediation initiatives supported by UNAMID.

It notes with interest the organizational efforts of the ex-combatants and commends the discussions on the ex-Séléka's participation in a disarmament process and the implementation of a political coordination.

MINUSCA takes this opportunity to remind all political actors of the importance of disarmament. It encourages the Government to meet with the leaders of all armed groups, in order to reach a political agreement preparatory to DDR.

MINUSCA will provide its full support to a DDR process and to a political dialogue which should follow thereafter, in accordance with the commitment of the international community to the stabilization of the Central African Republic.

MINUSCA also takes this occasion to remind all the parties that under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2149, MINUSCA is commited to “support the implementation of the transition process, including efforts in favour of the extension of State authority and preservation of territorial integrity.”

Thank you for inviting me to brief you. I thank the Security Council for its attention to the mounting crisis in South Sudan.

I visited the country last week to sound the alarm about the violence and the risk of catastrophic famine, and to press the leaders to step back from the destructive path they are on. I had a long and productive meeting with President Salva Kiir last Tuesday in Juba, and spoke by telephone to former Vice-President Riek Machar. My message to both leaders was clear: they must work together to heal the wounds they have opened. I am pleased that they responded positively to my appeal to reopen dialogue.

I welcome the ceasefire agreement signed in Addis Ababa on Friday and I commend the mediation role of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dessalegn of Ethiopia. I call on the international community to continue to support IGAD's efforts.

Since the crisis began five months ago, many thousands of South Sudanese have been killed, atrocities have been committed by both sides, more than a million people have been displaced, and nearly 5 million more need humanitarian assistance. If the conflict continues, half of South Sudan's 12 million people will either be displaced internally, refugees abroad, starving or dead by the year's end.

In Juba, I visited the Tomping protection of civilians site, which hosts some 20,000 people. I was moved by their welcome and appalled at the conditions they are having to endure, which are worse than in any of the many refugee camps I have visited around the world, including those in Syria. But, let me emphasize: our peacekeeping bases are not designed to accommodate such an influx — nor should they be. UNMISS (United Nations Mission in South Sudan) and the various UN agencies are now working to provide safer, more hygienic accommodation for the more than 80,000 people we are sheltering around the country.

The United Nations policy of opening our gates as an emergency option to protect innocent civilians is correct, unprecedented and not without considerable risk — to United Nations staff, to our relations with communities and to those we are trying to shelter. It is not a routine decision, nor one we took lightly, but one we were morally compelled to take. I am proud of the actions of our United Nations peacekeepers and civilian staff. Their quick response and courage has saved tens of thousands of lives.

But this is not a long-term solution. This is an entirely man-made calamity and it needs the engagement of all actors to change course.

I see five priorities.

First, the fighting must end immediately. People need to be able to go back to their land to plant and tend their crops in peace. Hunger and malnutrition are already wide-spread. If this planting window is missed, there will be a real risk of famine. That is why we are calling for 30 days of tranquillity backed by both sides. I am troubled by the accusations by both sides of breaches of the ceasefire already, and I urge maximum restraint by all parties.

Second, both sides must fulfil their commitment by allowing humanitarian access — by air, by road, and in particular, by barge along the Nile. Peacekeepers and aid workers are operating under increasingly difficult circumstances. Attacks on the United Nations and the humanitarian community are unacceptable. They must cease immediately, and all parties should respect international human rights and humanitarian law.

Third, the international community must support humanitarian action. The United Nations is launching a massive operation to help 3.2 million people, but we need resources. The humanitarian community is $781 million short of the $1.27 billion that we estimate is needed by the middle of this year. I urge all countries to support the forthcoming 20 May donor conference on South Sudan being hosted by Norway and the United Nations.

Fourth, there must be justice and accountability. The human rights report issued by UNMISS last Thursday underscores the level of atrocities committed by all sides. There are reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed. A special or hybrid tribunal with international involvement should be considered.

Fifth, the two leaders must recommit to inclusive nation-building that involves all political leaders and civil society. That means addressing the root causes of the conflict. They must cease a senseless power struggle and restore the sense of national unity that prevailed at the time of independence.

I commend the leadership of Prime Minister Dessalegn of Ethiopia as Chairman of IGAD, and also the efforts of United States Secretary of State John Kerry. Political dialogue is the only answer. Now the onus is on both South Sudanese leaders to accelerate the momentum for peace.

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LED lighting solutions improve energy performance in public spaces

“The spectacular lighting of Maqam Echahid demonstrates the incredible advances that are being made in the efficiency and beauty of LED illumination”, says Eric Heutinck, CEO, Philips Maghreb. “LED lighting innovations provide completely new opportunities to policy makers and governments to enhance city beautification and at the same time contribute to energy saving. We are extremely proud to see how Philips' lighting solutions are contributing to improving the attractiveness of this stunning independence monument while reducing energy consumption in Algiers”.

Shedding new light on Algeria's independence monument

Philips, the global leader in lighting, is placing LED technology at the service of one of the most important landmarks in Algeria. Located in Algiers and inaugurated in 1982 on the 20th anniversary of Algeria's independence, Maqam Echahid is by far the most popular attraction in the city, with thousands of tourists visiting it annually. The spectacular Philips LED lighting is likely to further improve the tourism value of the monument.

Lower energy consumption and breathtaking views of Maqam Echahid

Today LED lighting can deliver very high energy efficiency, long life, and excellent quality of light, design flexibility, controllability and colour – all of which are essential to creating tailor-made solutions that are configured to meet the local customer's expectations.

For the Maqam Echahid monument, Philips used a total of 9 luminaires, combining red, blue and green in each single luminaire which provides an endless spectrum of colors to highlight the features of this architectural masterpiece.

The advantages of the LED lighting installed at Maqam Echahid include:

⁻ The installed capacity of the lighting system is just 2.6 kW, compared to almost 10.8 kW previously, reducing energy consumption by 75%.

- Dynamic lighting that makes it possible to adjust the atmosphere of the site (change of intensity and color).

- A longer lifespan of the installation: around 100,000 hours compared to 12,000 hours with conventional lighting(1).

- A reduction in maintenance costs: LED luminaires require little maintenance.

Philips' strengthens Algeria's ambition to improve energy efficiency

Algeria has created a “green momentum” by launching an ambitious program to develop renewable energies and promote energy efficiency. Through combining initiatives and the acquisition of knowledge, Algeria is engaged in a new age of sustainable energy use.(2) Philips' innovative LED lighting solutions tie in greatly with Algeria's ambition to improve energy performance in public spaces.

The fifth pan-African Cairo to Cape Town roadshow

After the launch in Cairo, Algeria is the second stop on Philips' annual flagship Cairo to Cape Town roadshow (http://www.philips.com/africaroadshow) (from 14 April to 3 September 2014) which focuses on key challenges facing Africa today - the need for energy-efficient lighting and the revitalization of African healthcare infrastructure. Philips has committed to lighting up and illuminating one iconic monument in every city visited during the roadshow with the latest LED technology. As the number one LED lighting company in the world, Philips will now provide a stunning lighting makeover of historic, well-recognized monuments in African cities.

The Roadshow will make its way across seven countries and ten cities in Africa; next stop will be in Casablanca, Morocco on the 27th of May.

For more information please follow the Cairo to Cape Town roadshow on: http://www.philips.com/africaroadshow

(1) Subject to : lumen maintenance L50 at 25 degrees.

(2) Source: Portail des Energies Renouvelables en Algérie, 2011

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Royal Philips.

For further information, please contact:

Radhika Choksey

Philips Group Communications - Africa

Tel: +31 62525 9000

E-mail: radhika.choksey@philips.com

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (http://www.philips.com) (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2013 sales of EUR 23.3 billion and employs approximately 112,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at http://www.philips.com/newscenter.

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“Despite ongoing efforts to improve living conditions at PoC sites, heavy rains coupled with congestion, poor hygiene practices and overburdened sanitation facilities have created conditions ripe for waterborne diseases,” says David Derthick, IOM Chief of Mission in South Sudan.

IOM's Health Unit is responding to the threat by conducting Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaigns in PoC sites, in close cooperation with WHO, UNICEF and other health cluster partners.

The first campaign began on May 6th at the PoC site in Bor (Jonglei State), which hosts an estimated 3,600 IDPs. Some 2,862 IDPs were vaccinated. A second round will begin in Bor on May 20th.

“Access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation are at the forefront in preventing both endemic diarrheal diseases and cholera outbreaks, together with intensive health education campaigns conducted through community level volunteers,” says IOM South Sudan Migration Health Officer Haley West.

“Strengthening coordination mechanisms between WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) and Health cluster partners for harmonized and strong hygiene promotion is crucial. Cholera vaccination is a safe and effective additional tool that can be used under the right conditions to supplement existing cholera control measures,” she notes.

IOM is now also providing primary health care services for IDPs and host communities through clinics located in PoC sites in Malakal (Upper Nile State) and Bentiu (Unity State).

It has also extended mobile health services to the South Sudan-Sudan border area of Wunthou (Renk County, Upper Nile State), where an estimated 13,000 people are displaced.

IOM's presence as the main health actor in these locations remains as the first line of defence against endemic diseases for thousands of vulnerable IDPs and their host communities.

The distribution focused on the recently relocated PK12 community: a Muslim and minority population that had come under attack in the capital, Bangui, and decided to relocate to northern CAR.

The IDPs are receiving emergency assistance through the combined efforts of IOM, InterSOS, UNICEF, Solidarity International and MSF-Spain, as they settle into their new surroundings.

In Moyen-Sido, near the Chad border, food provided by the UN World Food Programme was distributed to over 1,080 people (308 households). Some 60 km south in Kabo, three tons of food were distributed to 314 people (146 households). IOM facilitated the distribution in collaboration with InterSOS.

Each person received a one-month emergency supply of rice, beans, oil, salt and Super Cereal Plus. A second round of distribution will be organized in the coming weeks.

Some of the PK12 community are being temporarily housed in long communal tents: eight in Kabo and 18 in Moyen-Sido. Others are living with host families.

The UN Humanitarian Country Team is planning longer-term assistance in these sites that will address the needs of the entire community in both Kabo and Moyen-Sido.

IOM has constructed temporary site offices in Kabo and Moyen-Sido to receive and register protection cases and is hiring local staff to carry out further registrations. It will soon establish a sub-office in Moyen-Sido to continue to provide emergency aid.

Kabo is a mixed community of some 16,000 residents where Christians and Muslims continue to live together. When the PK12 convoy arrived, the Kabo community prepared a welcome meal. The mayor convened a meeting with local leaders and invited the PK12 community to make Kabo their home. He also offered land for the community to farm and emphasized that in Kabo, Muslims and Christians “are all brothers.”

In Moyen-Sido the community also warmly welcomed the convoy's arrival, as many families and friends were reunited. The population of Moyen-Sido is now composed of some 11,000 people, of whom roughly 4,000 to 5,000 are IDPs. There are another 20,000 IDPs across the border in Sido-Chad.

There are now approximately 567,000 IDPs in CAR. This includes 142,000 people in Bangui at 42 displacement sites.

The meeting, which began yesterday and includes senior immigration officials from Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon and Chad, aims to provide a platform for building formal policy and operational structures of cooperation and coordination between the Nigerian Immigration Service and its counterparts in neighbouring countries.

The initiative, part of the European Union (EU)-funded project “Promoting Better Management of Migration in Nigeria,” targets broad areas of collaboration, including data collection, intelligence gathering and sharing, combating organized crime, irregular migration, management of regular migration, human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, and security in border regions.

The Nigerian government recognizes that Nigeria is an important destination and sending country for migrants. It is also a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking, especially of women and children.

Nigeria's national borders are complex to manage. It shares an estimated 4,047 km border with Benin, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. These borders cut across communities, ethnic groups, and even families, with centuries of close economic, social and cultural ties, which do not respect borders.

The activities of terrorist groups like Boko Haram in Nigeria's north east and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in the Sahel region have increased international attention on the effects of irregular movements in Nigeria's north eastern border region. Document fraud through organized crime has also been widely reported.

The Abuja meeting will help the Nigerian Immigration Service to begin to build structures for widening its cooperation and collaboration with neighbouring immigration institutions, in the recognition that migration management is not just a national issue.

Recommendations include a strengthening of intelligence capacity at border control points through joint intelligence gathering and sharing with immigration officers from neighbouring countries. Increased cooperation will also be needed to cope with the challenges of documentation, streamlining entry and exit protocols, and the treatment of irregular migrants and trafficked and smuggled people.

Ghana has experienced strong and broadly inclusive growth over the past two decades, and its medium-term prospects are supported by rising energy production. The country has outperformed regional peers in reducing poverty, with robust democratic credentials and a highly-rated business climate attracting significant foreign direct investment (FDI) and supporting economic growth. Expanding energy production over the medium term has the potential to generate new opportunities to channel resources into productive investment.

The emergence of large fiscal and external imbalances since 2012, however, has created significant challenges. A swift return to macroeconomic stability in 2013 was thwarted by weaker external and domestic conditions. Reflecting lower gold and cocoa exports, the current account deficit exceeded 12 percent of GDP. While recently revised estimates point to an only moderate slowdown in growth to about 7 percent, the fiscal deficit target of 9 percent of GDP was missed by about 1 percentage point, despite significant policy efforts. Inflation also overshot the 9 +/- 2 percent target range, prompting a further tightening of monetary policy in early 2014.

Ghana' short-term economic outlook is subject to significant risks. Growth is projected to slow to 4¾ percent in 2014, as high interest rates and a weaker currency are compressing domestic demand. At the same time, the economy's continued large twin deficits, and high financing needs, leave it vulnerable to a deterioration of external conditions.

Executive Board Assessment2

Executive Directors commended Ghana's strong and broadly inclusive growth and declining poverty over the past two decades, and supported the government's transformation agenda, focused on economic diversification, social inclusion, and macroeconomic stability.

Directors, however, expressed concern over the emergence of significant short-term vulnerabilities stemming from high fiscal and external current account deficits. These imbalances make the country vulnerable to a deterioration of external conditions and are creating pressure on interest rates and the exchange rate. If unaddressed, they risk weakening economic growth and public debt sustainability. Directors emphasized that macroeconomic stability will need to be restored to preserve a positive medium-term outlook.

Directors commended the authorities' policy efforts and supported the fiscal measures in the 2014 budget. They noted however that achieving the 2014 fiscal deficit target will be challenging, in light of high interest rates, a depreciating currency, and a possible growth slowdown. Directors therefore urged the authorities to take additional short-term measures to reduce the fiscal and external imbalances.

Directors welcomed the government's recent policy documents outlining its homegrown medium-term reform and consolidation measures. They supported the government's intention to rationalize public spending, lower the wage bill, restructure the statutory funds, and enhance revenue mobilization and tax administration. They encouraged the authorities to translate their policy commitments quickly into specific and time-bound action plans to achieve significant and durable consolidation.

In light of current imbalances, Directors recommended a more ambitious medium-term consolidation path to stabilize public debt and debt service at sustainable levels. While the risk of debt distress remains moderate, Directors expressed concerns about the high debt service-to-revenue ratio. A stronger medium-term adjustment could set off a virtuous cycle of lower fiscal deficits and falling interest rates, creating space for social and infrastructure spending and crowding-in of private sector activity.

Directors welcomed the recent monetary policy tightening. They suggested that further tightening may be needed, in combination with fiscal consolidation, to steer inflation back into the target range. Directors stressed that the Bank of Ghana should limit its net credit to the government, strengthen liquidity management and the inflation forecasting framework, and continue to allow the exchange rate to adjust to prevent further erosion of the reserve buffer.

Directors emphasized that the new foreign exchange regulations will not be effective unless the underlying macroeconomic imbalances are resolved. In particular, they were concerned that the measures could have unintended adverse effects. They therefore welcomed the Bank of Ghana's decision to review the measures with the objective of mitigating any adverse implications and removing the associated exchange restrictions. They also commended the Bank of Ghana for its steps toward adopting a unified, market-based exchange rate.

Directors welcomed that the financial system is currently sound, adequately capitalized, and liquid. They stressed the need to monitor exposures closely, noting that a weaker macroeconomic outlook, rising interest rates, and currency depreciation expose the financial sector to credit and currency risks. Accordingly, Directors encouraged the authorities to strengthen their crisis prevention and management capabilities and welcomed recent actions to improve the bank supervision framework.

Ghana: Selected Economic and Financial Indicators, 2011-141

2011 2012 2013 2014

Act. Act. Est. Proj.

(Annual percent change ; unless otherwise specified)

National account and prices

GDP at constant prices

15.0 8.8 7.1 4.8

Real GDP (nonoil)

9.4 8.1 6.5 4.5

Real GDP per capita

12.1 6.1 4.5 2.2

GDP deflator

13.0 15.2 16.4 13.0

Consumer prices

Consumer price index (annual average)

8.7 9.2

2 11.7 13.0

Consumer price index (end of period)

8.6 8.8 13.5 12.3

Money and credit

Credit to the private sector

29.0 32.9 29.0 17.8

Broad money (M3, including foreign currency deposits)

29.3 24.3 19.1 21.2

Velocity (GDP/M2, end of period)

3.9 4.0 4.2 4.1

Base money

31.1 36.0 15.1 18.8

Banks' lending rate (weighted average; percent)

25.9 25.7 25.6 …

Policy rate (in percent, end of period)

12.5 15.0 16.0 …

(Percent of GDP)

External sector

Current account balance

(including official grants)

-9.1 -11.9 -12.3 -10.2

(excluding official grants)

-9.7 -12.5 -12.5 -10.5

External public debt (including IMF)

21.0 22.1 23.8 29.9

NPV of external debt outstanding

10.9 9.9 8.4 9.3

percent of exports of goods and services

28.8 24.4 25.0 24.0

Gross international reserves (mn. of US$)

5,383 5,349 5,632 4,738

Months of prospective Imp. of goods services

2.9 2.9 3.2 2.7

Total donor support (millions of US$)

1,477 1,132 940 1,110

percent of GDP

2.5 2.7 2.0 2.6

Central government budget

`

Revenue

19.1 18.6 16.7 19.5

Expenditure

23.1 30.2 26.8 28.9

Overall balance (financing basis)

-4.0 -11.7 -10.1 -9.4

Net domestic financing

3.3 9.2 6.7 6.7

Central government debt (gross)

43.7 50.0 53.2 59.4

Domestic debt

22.8 27.9 29.4 29.5

External debt

21.0 22.1 23.8 29.9

Central government debt (net)

39.9 47.9 48.2 57.3

Memorandum items:

Nominal GDP (millions of GHc)

59,816 74,959 93,461 110,676

GDP per capita (millions of U.S. dollars)

1,594 1,663 1,864 1,602

Sources: Ghanaian authorities; and IMF staff estimates and projections.

1 Including deferred wage payments and discrepancies.

1 Under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country's economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

2 At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chairman of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country's authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summings up can be found here: http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.

At the end of the mission, Ms. Ana Lucía Coronel, IMF mission chief and senior resident representative for Uganda issued the following statement:

“Performance under the authorities' program supported by the PSI was mixed. End-December targets for inflation and for monetary and external sector indicators were met, but the indicative target on tax revenues was not observed, and the ceiling on government's net domestic financing was missed by a small margin. Some important progress on structural reforms was achieved. In particular, the mission welcomes the public financial management reforms to improve governance and budget transparency and credibility, including upgrades to the information systems, and completion of the initial arrangements toward the introduction of the Treasury Single Account.

“Despite a slowdown in agriculture and unrest in South Sudan, growth continues to be robust, and is now projected to reach 5.7 percent in Fiscal Year (FY) 2013/14 and 6.1 percent in FY 2014/15, mainly supported by public investment. However, private sector growth is lagging behind. At 5.4 percent this year and 5.7 percent next year, inflation is projected to remain low and in line with the medium-term target of 5 percent. International reserves are expected to remain ample at a level equivalent to 4.0–4.2 months of imports, providing a strong buffer against shocks to the Ugandan economy. The external current account deficit is anticipated to widen next year, but would be fully financed by foreign loans, foreign direct investments, and some use of international reserves. Medium-term growth prospects are strong, helped by integration of the East African Community, infrastructure development, and oil production.

“This favorable economic outlook will require strong supportive policies. Restrained public consumption in the upcoming year, in particular, would create room for improved credit conditions, laying the ground for a rebound in private sector activity. In addition, the government's plans to embark on the large Karuma and Isimba hydropower projects to address the large infrastructure gap should start without further delay.

“There is also a need to pay increased attention to revenue mobilization. Following the recent large shortfall in tax revenue and the risk of reductions in foreign aid, broadening the tax base and improving efficiency in tax administration are more critical than ever. The mission strongly encourages the government to take decisive action to increase tax revenue collections. This would involve reviewing existing tax laws and eliminating tax exemptions that have little benefit for production but undermine growth-enhancing spending and constrain vibrant private sector growth. Efforts should also center on strongly enforcing compliance by all taxpayers. The ongoing issuance of national identity cards should support the government's efforts to achieve the long-awaited plan to raise Ugandan tax revenue and bring it closer to regional standards.

“On the expenditure side, it will be essential to focus on areas that support growth and job creation. In particular, the mission urges the authorities to take steps to avoid incurring domestic arrears that weaken economic management by impairing budget planning, increasing costs for the government, and negatively affecting those who conduct business with the government. The mission encourages the economic authorities to resist all spending pressures that are not compatible with Uganda's economic priorities.

“Sound fiscal policies supported by robust revenues and predictable spending would help reduce the need for large borrowing in the domestic market to finance government operations, and effectively contain interest rate increases on government securities. These policies would also facilitate reductions in the BoU's policy rate, ultimately improving credit conditions in the economy. The mission encourages the BoU to keep up its good track record of preserving low and stable inflation, and to stand ready to adjust policies in reaction to domestic or external shocks.

“The mission looks forward to further strengthening of the legal and institutional framework for economic policies. Notably, parliamentary approval of the Public Financial Management Bill is a critical step in maintaining the reform momentum and further increasing gains in budget credibility and execution. Similarly, amendments to the BoU Act are important to strengthen the central bank independence granted in the constitution, and improve coordination between monetary and fiscal policies, a key requirement for modern central banks operating under inflation targeting.

“The IMF Executive Board is tentatively scheduled to consider the second review of the PSI-supported program by end-June 2014.”

Two journalists, Yusuf Abdi Gabobe, owner and chairman of Haatuf Media Network, and Ahmed Ali Igeh, Editor-in-chief of Haatuf newspaper were arrested by Somaliland police on 10 May 2014 inside Hargeisa Regional Court after the court ordered their imprisonment.

The Hargeisa court heard complaints by Somaliland's Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Hussein Abdi Duale and Somaliland's Minister of Interior, Ali Mohamed Waran Ade who both came to the court and personally spoke to make their case of how Haatuf newspaper wronged them. The two ministers accused Haatuf of spreading false information and making defamation to kill their reputation and the one of Somaliland presidency. The hearing continued for five hours. At the end of the hearing, the two journalists were chained and taken to detention centre.

Two lawyers defending the two journalists complained in the court about bias from the presiding judge whom they accused of siding with the prosecutor and Somaliland officials.

NUSOJ considers the arrest and treatment of Yusuf Abdi Gabobe and Ahmed Ali Igeh as unconstitutional and retrogressive for Somaliland's just rule of law and affront to freedom of expression.

“We find it uncalled for that journalists will be criminalised by writing about Somaliland officials. It is pure and simple harassment,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.

The arrest of Gabobe and Igeh is based on outmoded pieces of Somali Penal Code enacted during the military government to suppress dissent and promote authoritarian rule. The prosecutor reportedly refused to base his charges against journalists on Somaliland's press law.

NUSOJ deplores the use of criminal defamation law through Somali Penal Code, as it is a major obstacle to freedom of expression. This is in light of the fact that there is the option of civil defamation remedies.

The use of criminal defamation provision in penal code unnecessarily censures journalists in their work and induces self-censorship, thereby restricting the exercise of the right to freedom of expression.

“Our position is that the pursuit of criminal defamation is tantamount to criminalizing freedom of expression as guaranteed in the constitution of Somaliland and article 19 of universal declaration of human rights,” added Osman.

Archaic laws have no role to play in a democracy and we call upon Somali authorities to desist from implementing them and dragging the country to the military era, declared Osman.

NUSOJ is particularly concerned about the threats to freedom of expression in cyberspace and strongly urges the local authorities and telecommunication companies not to set a very bad precedent in light of these developments. Somaliland ordered three telecommunication companies to block access to news sites of Haatuf newspaper and its sister newspaper Somaliland Times, which are currently inaccessible in Somaliland.

On 7 April 2014, a shutdown order against the independent daily newspaper Haatuf was implemented by Somaliland police after being issued by Marodi Jeeh Regional Court in Hargeisa. Some hundred police forces came to the headquarters of the newspaper and ordered journalists and media workers to vacate. Police still occupy the premises of the newspaper.

Arresting journalists, shutting down independent media houses and blocking access to news sites will only tarnish the image of Somaliland authorities and ruin the benefits of dialogue. Only dialogue between authorities and the media would provide a more enabling environment for media freedom, freedom of expression and ultimately citizen empowerment.

Following the abduction of over 200 school girls in northern Nigeria on 14 April, Foreign Office Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds will visit Abuja on 14 May for high-level meetings with Nigerian authorities to explore what further assistance and advice the UK can provide in support of Nigeria's efforts to secure the girls' release and to deal with the threat posed by the extremist group Boko Haram.

The UK team of experts, in Abuja since 9 May, is co-operating closely with the Government of Nigeria and other international partners to provide assistance to Nigeria in dealing with this abduction and addressing longer term challenges.

Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds said:

"This is an horrific and heartbreaking situation and the UK wants to do all it can to offer support to the Nigerian efforts to secure the release of the kidnapped girls. We condemn the actions of Boko Haram and all that they stand for. Yesterday's callous and shocking video of some of the missing school girls will only make it harder for their families to deal with this agonising ordeal. This shows exactly why the UK and others have sent teams to help the Nigerians in their efforts to find them and bring them home.

“Continuing murders and abductions of school children, particularly girls in Nigeria by Boko Haram are a stark reminder of the threat faced by women and girls in conflict prone areas. Young children are being denied universal freedoms such as an education. They are being denied opportunity and the ability to live their lives as they choose. Girls are being threatened with sexual violence in forced marriages. This underlines the importance of the FCO's Summit in London next month on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.

“I look forward to discussing further ways that the UK and international partners can work with Nigeria in helping them secure the girls' release, as well as how we can assist with economic and developmental solutions to address Boko Haram in the longer term.”

Andrew Pocock, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, said:

“The abductions have been traumatic for the Nigerian people. Britain, as a friend of Nigeria, is working urgently to help the Nigerian authorities in their efforts to find the girls and tackle longer term challenges in the north, such as education and stability.”

Brigadier Ivan Jones said:

“The Nigerian military have welcomed our arrival and we are working together closely to build the information picture and establish where else we can co-operate.

“No one should underestimate the scale and complexity of this incident and environment. But it is clear that there are areas where we can have a real impact on their capability, building on the close co-operation and training that already exists.”

Boko Haram's brutal attack on the school in Chibok in Borno state in northern Nigeria on 14 April and the group's kidnapping of over 200 girls from the school has attracted a great deal of attention both in Nigeria and in the rest of the world. The girls have still not been found, and a further 11 girls were kidnapped in the same state on 6 May. Of the 60 million children worldwide who do not currently attend school, over 10 million are in Nigeria, and more than half of this number are girls.

‘I am deeply concerned about the situation of the abducted girls in Nigeria. The Government condemns Boko Haram's brutal abduction of the schoolgirls in the strongest possible terms. My thoughts are with the girls and their families,' said Mr Brende.

Norway is playing a leading role in the field of education at the global level, and girls' education is one of the Government's development policy priorities.

Ahead of his arrival in Mali, Commissioner Piebalgs said: "This event shows that the international community continues to stand side by side with the Malian people one year after. A lot of progress has already been made in recent months in the areas of development and governance. But much remains to be done to ensure that Malians can prosper in a safe and democratic society. The EU was one of the first to mobilise support in the recent crisis and the government can count on us to continue to provide help with rapid and concrete reforms.”