diplomacy&development

A first mass, in the strictest family intimacy, will be concelebrated Monday at 9.30 am at the Cathedral Saint-Louis des Invalides in Paris, by Mgr Jean-Yves Riocreux, bishop of Basse-Terre and friend of the couple Chirac, Bishop Francis Bestion , Bishop of Tulle, and Bishop Antoine de Romanet, Bishop of the Diocese of the Armies. At noon, it is a solemn mass, presided by the Archbishop of Paris, Mgr Michel Aupetit, in the presence of President Emmanuel Macron and many foreign heads of state, which will be celebrated at the Saint-Sulpice church. Monday, September 30, two masses will be celebrated successively for the rest of the soul of Jacques Chirac. At 9:30, it is in the family intimacy, in the cathedral Saint-Louis des Invalides, that a first mass for the former President of the Republic will be celebrated. It will be presided over by Mgr. Jean-Yves Riocreux, bishop of Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe), a friend of the Chirac couple "since 1971", this one says.  It is ...

While his funeral should be held on Monday, at the National Day of Mourning, at the Montparnasse Cemetery, a popular tribute will be given him the day before.     It was around noon on Thursday, September 26, 2019 that we learned of the death of Jacques Chirac, at the age of 86 years. By all means - social networks, televisions, radios ... - countless tributes were made throughout the day, and this by the entire political class, culminating in a speech by Emmanuel Macron. The head of state hailed "a great French loving our land, our history and our culture".     The death of Jacques Chirac will cause several official ceremonies. Emmanuel Macron has decreed for Monday, September 30 a day of national mourning, during which will be held a solemn ceremony in the church of Saint-Sulpice, in the presence of several heads of states, says Europe 1.  Before that, Sunday, a homage to the Invalides, still in Paris, will be returned to the...

Bulgaria's Kristalina Georgieva on Wednesday officially became the second woman to be appointed managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), this was announced by t he Washington institution's board of directors .  Kristalina Georgieva arrives with the primary objective of helping member countries cope with the economic downturn. "I'm taking up my new duties by being aware of the big challenges ahead. Global economic growth continues to disappoint, trade tensions persist, and the burden of debt is mounting in many countries, "said Kristalina Georgieva, quoted in a statement. "In this context, my immediate priority at the head of the IMF will be to help member countries minimize the risk of crises and be ready to face the economic slowdown," she added. His term of office will start on 1 October for a period of five years. She said. I am honored to be the Managing Director of IMF. I look forward to joining the IMF's committed staf...

In a Joint Statement on the occasion of the visit of the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic to the Democratic Republic of Congo, France and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) maintain long-standing, friendship-based relations , trust, cultural and linguistic proximity.  On the occasion of the visit of the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic to Kinshasa, the two parties agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation.  On the one hand, France and the DRC want to implement a partnership to support common priorities: education, health and safety.  On the other hand, France and the DRC reaffirm their willingness to collaborate on important topics: such as the fight against climate change,  the protection of biodiversity in the spirit of the "One Planet Summit" of Nairobi, the strengthening of the Francophonie in all its dimensions. A long-term partnership based on common priorities. In the fie...

Welcome, and thank you for coming to this 4th ministerial meeting of our International Contact Group (ICG) on Venezuela.    First of all, I would like to warmly welcome Panama to the Group and to this first meeting together with the ICG. We really believe that the reinforcement of the participation of the region in our Group is very important, because we always intended to support regional solutions and ownership of the region.   Today, we will review the latest developments in the country and our work since we met in San José and discuss possible next steps we can take together.   In spite of international efforts, notably by Norway, to help reaching an inclusive political agreement among national actors, the political situation in the country remains blocked. The political crisis and economic collapse in Venezuela is taking a heavy toll on the population and over four million people have already fled the country. This has a tremendous...

After eight years of conflict, the announcement made by the UN Secretary General on an agreement on the formation of the Constitutional Committee in the framework of UNSCR 2254 and the Geneva process is a long awaited welcome news that gives back hope to the Syrians. The EU has consistently affirmed that any sustainable solution to the conflict requires a genuine political transition in line with UNSCR 2254 and the 2012 Geneva Communique, negotiated by the Syrian parties within the UN led Geneva process. The UN Special Envoy has the full support of the European Union in his continued efforts. We look forward to the inaugural meeting of the Constitutional Committee at the earliest possible opportunity and expect that this should represent the start of a process ultimately leading to peace that Syrians so clearly need and deserve.  Cassien Tribunal Aungane / Editor Contact / Whatsap : +243 81 00 44 202 e-mail: tribunalcass...

During the reporting period, IOM conducted training on the methodology and tools of the DTM Displacement Tracking Matrix for its operational partners AIDES and CARITAS. The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of partners to collect data on population movements. IOM's Health and Migration Division continues to collect data on population flows in selected POE / POCs in North Kivu. Since 19 August, 15 data collectors have been assigned to POE / POCs in Mubambiro, Grande Barrière and Goma Airport. The information collected during this exercise is used to better understand the nature, volume, direction and migration factors in the area affected by Ebola and its surroundings. IOM also organized a two-day training on integrating protection for government officials, implementing partners and IOM staff. The training aims to ensure the integration of protection in CCCM, DTM, Shelter, WASH and health interventions. Similar training is planned for partners in Ituri province. During...

Approximately 5,038,498 travelers were screened in IOM-supported POEs / POCs and 5,019,323 people reportedly used hand washing facilities available in POE / POCs. Front-line providers reported 242 alerts, of which 90 were validated by WHO / MoH investigator teams.  Of the validated cases, no EVD case was confirmed. In these Checkpoints, IOM provides support through medical screenings, handwashing services, contact tracing, risk communication, community engagement, and population flow monitoring. Between August 26 and 31, 11 new POCs were operational in South Kivu, including seven in Bukavu and four in Mwenga. The goal is to strengthen prevention against Ebola. In partnership with the Ministry of Health and the PNHF, IOM continues to support the implementation of Ebola surveillance and prevention activities in 108 POE / POCs in North Kivu, Ituri and, recently, in the South-Kivu. To prevent the spread of the epidemic in the HZs not affected by the disease, IOM is supporting 9 addi...

The CCCM teams organized a joint mission (IOM, Civil Protection and Aids) to assess the humanitarian situation and the needs of displaced persons and their host in Mahagi (Ituri) sites. Following cholera outbreaks on the Kaseke (Tanganyika) site, IOM distributed hygiene items and held hygiene awareness sessions for 7,883 IDPs residing on the site.   As of August 31, 3,031 cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) have been confirmed and 2,031 deaths have been reported since the beginning of the epidemic on August 1, 2018 (WHO). To date, 29 health zones in North Kivu, Ituri and South Kivu have been affected. A total of 209,116 people were vaccinated against EVD (WHO). South Kivu experienced its sixth EVD case on August 27 in the Mwenga Health Zone. Two deaths have already been recorded. On August 29, the Ugandan Ministry of Health reported for the first time in two months a new cross-border case, a nine-year-old Congolese girl. The girl crossed the border post of Mpondwe (North Kiv...

The Professor Yves Lévy launched the project "Winners of Ebola" , under the chairmanship of the technical secretariat of the Multisectoral Committee for the Response to Ebola Virus Disease, the Ministry of Health, the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) and the Ebola Special Envoy for France this 23 September 2019. Funded by France, this project will combine, in addition to the National Ebola Healing Program, the INRB in partnership with a team of French scientists from the Institute for Research for Development (IRD) and the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM). Professor Yves Lévy, France's special envoy for the Ebola epidemic, is doing his second mission in the DRC from 22 to 26 September 2019. He is at the head of a strong French delegation involving the main actors involved in the French response to the Ebola virus epidemic, namely: the Crisis and Support Center of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (CDCS), the Fre...

Accompanied by the first lady Denise Nyakeru, the head of state goes to Donald Trump's country for the second time as President of the Republic, after his first visit last March. For his first participation, Felix Tshisekedi will make his very first speech on September 24th and he will participate in the climate action summit organized by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Felix Tshisekedi arrived this Sunday, September 22 in New York where he will attend the 74th regular session of the UN General Assembly. It should be noted that this is the second time Felix Tshisekedi has been to the United States of America as Head of State. The first time was in March of that year. At the UN, the general debate of this session will take place from 24 to 30 September 2019. This will be the first time Felix Tshisekedi will take part in this work. Several high-level meetings will be held during the week of the general debate. Particular emphasis will be placed on September 23 with ...

The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo will deliver his very first speech at the UN platform Thursday, September 26, 2019, during the annual debate in front of several heads of state and some delegations. Felix Tshisekedi will be accompanied by four provincial governors who according to our sources are already on their way to Donald Trump's country. Writer/Editor :  Cassien Tribunal Aungane Telephone : +243 81 00 44 202 e-mail : tribunalcassien5@gmail.com

Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi arrived late Monday afternoon in Brussels for a three-day state visit to Belgium. He was received by the Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense, Didier Reynders. The arrival of the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Felix Tshisekedi in Belgium marks the start of a highly symbolic visit after years of conflict between the two countries at the end of Joseph Kabila's second term . Felix Tshisekedi dines this evening 16 September with the Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel he must find the next day for a more official meeting. "This is a page that is turning," says the Congolese presidency. "It's a highly symbolic visit," says the Belgian side, too happy to have been chosen by Felix Tshisekedi rather than France for this first visit to Europe. "This is proof that we maintain our privileged relations," says a Belgian diplomat. Four Memoranda of Understanding. An...

The new Congolese head of state has decided for the first time since his arrival in Brussels to speak publicly before these business leaders and it has sold out. In his speech to the Belgian employers, Felix Tshisekedi drew up an uncompromising assessment of the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), such as the lack of electricity, infrastructure and skilled labor. But also endemic corruption: 80% of state revenue does not reach the Treasury.  However, the Congolese president asks Belgian business leaders to trust him. "I would like to emphasize here that the Congo of today is a new Congo, and this Congo expects from Belgium an accompaniment," he said. Make sure you stay on the side, watching us, you also miss opportunities. " Belgian entrepreneurs suffered bad relations between Belgium and Congo under the Kabila presidency. The arrival of Felix Tshisekedi in power is a boon for them, hence the enthusiasm for this meeting. Guy de Sell...

On Tuesday the Congolese president was first received with military honors by Prime Minister Charles Michel, t hen the two countries have signed some symbolic texts for the resumption of cooperation before the head of state of DRC was received by the King of the Belgians.   It's a great visit with a busy program to which Felix Tshisekedi lends himself. There is a willingness on both sides to show that a certain page is turned, while on the last years of the presidency of Joseph Kabila, the two countries were at loggerheads. Kinshasa expelled the Belgian officers and suspended military cooperation. Consulates had been closed and Belgium had openly redirected its aid to the country towards civil society. The European Union did the same, but did not say so openly. In any case, the Congolese head of state hopes that Belgium will serve as a gateway to boost cooperation with the European Union. It is partly to return to these different snags that President Tshisekedi...