diplomacy&development

The Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program in the DRC, Mr. Dominic Sam with the DRC Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge The Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program in the DRC, Mr. Dominic Sam, was received at the Government Hotel by the Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge. The two personalities reviewed the possible avenues of collaboration between the Government of the Sacred Union of the Nation in view and the UNDP. “It was first a courtesy visit to congratulate the Prime Minister on his appointment. We have reviewed the possible avenues of collaboration with the UNDP as soon as the new Government is there. Once the Government’s Program is known, we will sit down with the Prime Minister and the various sector ministers to see together what UNDP’s contribution in the critical sector can be to propel the necessary reforms. So we are waiting for the exit of the Government's Program to be able to discuss it,...

25 heads of government and international agencies come together in extraordinary joint callNew treaty would signal high-level political action needed to protect the world from future health crises.  The international community should work together “towards a new international treaty for pandemic preparedness and response” to build a more robust global health architecture that will protect future generations, world leaders said in a commentary published today in several newspapers around the world. “There will be other pandemics and other major health emergencies. No single government or multilateral agency can address this threat alone,” the leaders say in their article. “The question is not if, but when. Together, we must be better prepared to predict, prevent, detect, assess and effectively respond to pandemics in a highly coordinated fashion. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe.” The main goal of a new internatio...

The report of the international team on their Wuhan field visit, from 14 January to 10 February, was published today as WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for further studies. The report stems from a Member State resolution adopted by consensus at the World Health Assembly in May 2020 and calling on WHO “to identify the zoonotic source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population, including the possible role of intermediate hosts, including through efforts such as scientific and collaborative field missions.” In remarks to Member States today, Dr Tedros, who received the full report on the weekend, thanked the team for their tireless work. He said it advances our understanding in important ways, while raising questions that will need to be addressed by further studies, as noted in the report. “As far as WHO is concerned, all hypotheses remain on the table. This report is a very important beginning, but it is not the end. We have not yet foun...

Bosco Ntaganda during the hearing held at the International Criminal Court on March 30, 2021 for the delivery of the appeal judgments on the verdict and the sentence © ICC-CPI The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “the Court”) issued Yesterday, March 30, 2021, its judgments confirming, by majority, the decision of Trial Chamber VI (“ Trial Chamber ”) of July 8, 2019, declaring Bosco Ntaganda guilty of 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, committed in Ituri, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in 2002-2003.  In addition, the Appeals Chamber unanimously upheld the Trial Chamber's decision of November 7, 2019, which sentenced Mr. Ntaganda to a total of 30 years in prison. The verdict and the sentence are now final. Mr. Ntaganda and the Prosecutor appealed against the verdict and Mr. Ntaganda appealed against the sentence judgment.  At yesterday's hearing, Judge Howard Morrison, presiding judge in these appeals, read a summary of th...

The Head of State of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo was received by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim Bin Hamad The Head of State of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo was received by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim Bin Hamad, this Monday at the princely palace in Doha. At the end of this meeting, numerous agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed between the DRC and Qatar, in particular in the field of economic, commercial and technical cooperation as well as in that of aeronautical and maritime cooperation. These agreements relate in particular to: the protection of the massive investments expected between Qatar and the DRC, the modernization and development of airport and port infrastructures as well as the capacity building of Congolese sector experts. On a working stay, since last Sunday, in Doha, the capital of Qatar, the DRC Head of State, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo took part in a forum bringing together...

Chinese Ambassador in Democratic Republic of Congo, Zhu Jing with the DRC Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Chinese Ambassador in Democratic Republic of Congo, Zhu Jing, on Monday showed good signs in the progress of major Sino-Congolese cooperation projects to Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, during an audience he granted her at the government building in Gombe municipality. « This is a courtesy visit but also a presentation of the state of our bilateral relations and the progress of major projects of Sino-Congolese cooperation. We all agree on the need to maintain the dynamism of Sino-Congolese cooperation and friendship between the two countries. We are going to work more together to create new dynamism in this cooperation, which mainly benefits the Congolese and Chinese peoples”, said the Chinese diplomat. He took this opportunity to convey to Sama Lukonde the congratulations of his Chinese counterpart, Li Keqiang, on his appointment as Prime Minister. Cassien Tribuna...

The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo has in an official visit in Doha, the capital of Qatar The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo has been staying in Doha, the capital of Qatar since Sunday.  His agenda includes a meeting on Monday between him and the Emir of Qatar, as well as the employers of this country.  For this whirlwind visit, Félix Tshisekedi and Emir Cheikh Tamim Ben Hamed will hold a working session alongside experts from two countries. As a prelude to this meeting, ministerial meetings took place on Sunday between the foreign ministers of two countries accompanied by their respective experts. The Head of State's agenda also includes a meeting with Qatari employers to discuss the prospects for economic exchanges between the two states. Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor

The DRC Head of State, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President in office of the African Union met with Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, President of the Commission of the AU The DRC Head of State, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President in office of the African Union met with Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, President of the Commission of the AU. The continental response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the institutional reform of the African Union and the situation of peace in Africa are the topics discussed during this almost two-hour tête-à-tête. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat welcomed the perfect convergence between the Commission of the African Union and the policy of President Tshisekedi, the current leader of the said continental institution.   US Ambassador Donald Booth, at the head of a large delegation from the Africa Office of the US Department of State to the office of t he DRC Head of State Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo The DRC Head of State Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo recei...

The DRC Head of State, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo taking part by videoconference, in the 30th Forum of Heads of State and Government of member countries of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) The DRC Head of State, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo took part this 25 March 2021, by videoconference, in the 30th Forum of Heads of State and Government of member countries of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The Head of State, in his speech, sealed the official membership of the DRC to the APRM, as 41st member, stressing the great importance of promoting good governance and strengthening the rule of law in view of the development of Africa. This official membership follows the audience that the Head of State granted on March 16 to Mr. Eddy Maloka, Director General of this AU structure allowing African countries to assess and advise each other in terms of good governance. Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor

The Congolese Head of State, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo with Tete Antonio, Angolan Minister of External Relations The Congolese Head of State, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo granted this Friday 27 March 2021, an audience to Mr. Tete Antonio, Angolan Minister of External Relations, leading a large delegation. Mr. Antonio transmitted to the Head of State a message from his counterpart, President Joao Lourenço, who supports the Congolese mandate at the head of the African Union by promoting peace, stability and prosperity in Africa. Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor

The American diplomat officially handing over to the Congolese Head of State an invitation from President Joe Biden The DRC Head of State, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo received in audience this Friday 27 March 2021, Mr. Mike Hammer, US Ambassador to the DRC. The American diplomat officially handed over to the Congolese Head of State an invitation from President Joe Biden, who invites him, from April 23 to 24, to a virtual summit on climate change and the preservation of the environment. It should be noted that this invitation relates to the major role that the DRC plays in the ecological balance of the planet, thanks in particular to its equatorial forest, making it a continental leader in the fight against climate change. Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor

The Ambassador of China to DRC, ZHU Jing with Modeste BAHATI LUKWEBO, Speaker of the Senate of the DRC On March 26, Ambassador ZHU Jing conveyed the congratulatory message from H.E.M. LI Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, to Hon. Modeste BAHATI LUKWEBO, Speaker of the Senate of the DRC. It should be noted that, In the People's Republic of China, the NPC Standing Committee is composed of a chairperson, several vice-chairpersons, the secretary-general and other members.  They are all elected by the NPC from its deputies for a five- year term, the same as the NPC term. The Standing Committee shall exercise its functions and powers until a new Standing Committee is elected by the succeeding NPC. In the first session of the 13th NPC, 175 m embers of t he 13th NPC Standing Committee were elected, and they have been performing their duties since March 2018.  None of the NPC Standing Committee members may hold office in any of the S...

Christophe Mboso, President of the National Assembly and Emily Baltman, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Great Britain in the Democratic Republic of Congo Christophe Mboso, President of the National Assembly and Emily Baltman, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Great Britain in the Democratic Republic of Congo discussed last Tuesday on the agenda of the ordinary session of March 2021. The two personalities also raised the question of partnership between the British government and the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo. "I exchanged with the new president of the National Assembly on the work program for this session, the bills that are already before the Assembly and other projects that are expected from the government," he said. she makes it known at the end of the hearing with Mboso. She also expressed the wish to see the Congolese parliament work for the good of the Congolese people. "I hope that the National Assembly and ...

  The President of the DRC Senate Modeste Bahati Lukwebo and the United States Ambassador to the DRC Mike Hammer Meeting this Thursday, March 25, between the President of the Senate and the United States Ambassador to the DRC. Mike Hammer, however reassured Bahati Lukwebo that his country is ready to support the efforts of the DRC to ensure good elections in 2023. "We, on the side of the United States, we are ready to support the efforts of the DRC to ensure good elections in 2023," Mike Hammer told the Press In addition, the American Diplomat, revealed that with the Speaker of the Upper House of Parliament, discussions also revolved around electoral reforms which are among the priorities. “The Speaker of the Senate told me. It is important that the next elections take place in 2023, as programmed in the Constitution, and that these (elections) are done well, ”the US ambassador reported. These exchanges took place during an audience granted to Ambassador Hammer by the Speaker...

Left: ICC Registrar Peter Lewis opening the online ICC Training for Counsel ; right: some of the keynote speakers addressing Training participants ©ICC-CPI  On 22-26 March 2021, the International Criminal Court (ICC) held a five-day Training for Counsel with the participation of 197 lawyers registered on the ICC List of Counsel and the List of Assistants to Counsel.  This year’s training was held online due to COVID-19 restrictions and was organised in collaboration with the International Criminal Court Bar Association (ICCBA) and with the financial support of the European Commission. Welcoming the participants in his opening address, the ICC Registrar, Peter Lewis, said that “the Court celebrates once more another edition of the Training for Counsel, event that highlights and emphasises the commitment of the ICC to international justice and the importance of disseminating information about the Court’s mandate and its activities. This annual event has been evolving since its i...

François Pujolas, Ambassadeur de France en RDC, Néfertiti Tshibanga, Délégué général de la Francophonie, Jean Bosco PUNA, Président de l'Association des professeurs de français, directeurs d'école, lauréats et leurs parents La cérémonie de remise de prix du concours d’orthographe du Réseau National des Professeurs et Enseignants de français (RENAPEF RDC) s’est tenue à l’ambassade de France à Kinshasa, ce vendredi 26 mars 2021, en présence de François Pujolas, ambassadeur de France en RDC, Nefertiti Tshibanga, déléguée générale à la Francophonie, Jean Bosco PUNA, président de l’association des professeurs de français, des directeurs des écoles, des lauréats ainsi que de leurs parents. Cet évènement marque la dixième édition du concours qui a mobilisé en 2020, 20 écoles, soit 1500 élèves en phase préliminaire pour 200 élèves en phase finale. Pour rappel, les épreuves du concours ont eu lieu de décembre 2019 à mars 2020. La remise de prix initialement prévue en date du 20 mars 202...

François Pujolas, Ambassador of France in the DRC, Nefertiti Tshibanga, General Delegate for La Francophonie, Jean Bosco PUNA, President of the Association of Teachers of French, school directors, laureates and their parents The award ceremony for the National Network of Teachers spelling competition and French teachers (RENAPEF RDC) was held at the French embassy in Kinshasa, this Friday March 26, 2021, in the presence of François Pujolas, Ambassador of France in the DRC, Nefertiti Tshibanga, General Delegate for La Francophonie, Jean Bosco PUNA, President of the Association of Teachers of French, school directors, laureates and their parents.  This event marks the tenth edition of the competition which in 2020 mobilized 20 schools, i.e. 1,500 pupils in the preliminary phase for 200 pupils in the final phase.  As a reminder, the competition tests took place from December 2019 to March 2020. The award ceremony initially scheduled for March 20 2020 to celebrate the World Day of...

The Prime Minister of DRC, Sama Lukonde Kyenge with the Ambassador of Marocco in DRC, Mr Mohamed Ben Kaddour A friendly courtesy visit and a fruitful exchange between Sama Lukonde, Prime Minister of the DRC and the Ambassador of Marocco in DRC, Mr Mohamed Ben Kaddour this Thursday 25 March 2021 in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DRC Prime Minister Sama Lukonde Kyenge with the Ambassador of Japan in DRC, Minami Hino Following on from talks with the diplomatic corps the same day, the DRC Primister has received the Ambassador of Japan, Minami Hino. " Our  exchange focused on the sustainability of cooperation between our 2 countries and on Japan's desire to support the next government of sacred union" said Sama Lukonde. Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor

Dawit Temesgen, Account Manager at APO Group Media Relations team, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Dawit Temesgen has joined the APO Group Media Relations team as Account Manager, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Dawit is a passionate #media and communication professional with over 8 years of experience in the industry. Prior to joining APO Group, Dawit was a communication expert at Ethiopian Airlines, where he developed and successfully led the implementation of comprehensive communication campaigns and #CrisisCommunication strategies.  Working closely with the world’s top-tier media over the years, he has amassed a wealth of experience in MediaRelations which made him a great contributor to the airline’s integrated marketing communication efforts in the hyper-competitive global aviation market.   Prior to joining the Pan-African airline, he was a #reporter and news presenter at Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.  Dawit was a member of Toastmasters International and ...

The project also aims to increase maize yields from 1.5 to 3.5 tonnes per hectare on at least 2,500 hectares, with a production cost reduced by about 25%. The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) on ​​Wednesday March 24 in Abidjan granted additional funding of US $ 8 million to Congolese government to cover part of the costs of the Project for the Integrated Development of Agricultural Value Chains in Congo (PRODIVAC). Bank financing consists of a grant of two million dollars and a loan of six million dollars from the resources of the Strategic Climate Fund-Forestry Investment Program (FSC / FIP). It will be devoted to the implementation of the sub-component "Promotion of community agroforestry" consisting of three components: building the technical and operational capacities of communities, support for land tenure security and the development of plantations. Congo has four types of soils characterized by high acidity and low fertility, one of the...

The Child Rights Committee today published its legal guidance note on how States should protect children’s rights with regard to the digital environment. The guidance note, also known as general comment, is the result of a two-year consultation with States parties, inter-governmental organizations, civil society, national human rights institutions and children. Over 700 children and young people, aged between nine and 22 years old in 27 countries, were asked how digital technology impacts their rights, and what actions they want to see taken to protect them. “We would like the government, technology companies and teachers to help us [to] manage untrustworthy information online,” said a group of children from Ghana. “I would like to obtain clarity about what really happens with my data,” a 16-year-old girl from Germany added. In its general comment, the Committee emphasizes that the rights of every child must be respected, protected and fulfilled in the digital environment. Children sho...

Everwell's Ornament findable at Everwell's booth on March 23rd and 24th at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi An estimated 1.4 million fewer people received care for tuberculosis (TB) in 2020 than in 2019, according to preliminary data compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO) from over 80 countries- a reduction of 21% from 2019. The countries with the biggest relative gaps were Indonesia (42%), South Africa (41%), Philippines (37%) and India (25%). “The effects of COVID-19 go far beyond the death and disease caused by the virus itself. The disruption to essential services for people with TB is just one tragic example of the ways the pandemic is disproportionately affecting some of the world’s poorest people, who were already at higher risk for TB,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “These sobering data point to the need for countries to make universal health coverage a key priority as they respond to and recover from the pandemic, to ensu...

Houda Ourkia, Account Director MENA, based in Rabat, Morocco for the APO Group Media Relations team Houda Ourkia has joined the APO Group Media Relations team as Account Director MENA, based in Rabat, Morocco. Houda started her career at a very young age and always had a clear vision about her aspirations and objectives.  After obtaining her master degree in Communication & Marketing, she specialized in PublicRelations at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania in the USA where she had the opportunity to be trained at The Brandman Agency in NewYork City. Houda has worked for numerous high-profile events and has a successful track record working on large accounts across Morocco, Europe, UK, Middle East and North Africa, through PR MEDIA H+K Strategies Affiliate. After several years, she had the opportunity to oversee an entire department as a #PR and Marketing Manager for the #MENA region, Spain and Portugal. A proud mother of a 5-year-old baby girl, her hobbies are reading, trave...

Canon Ambassador, Lorenz Holder shooting with the EOS R5 Hosted by vlogger and photographer, Kai Wong, an inspiring line-up of Canon Ambassadors will share pro insights, tips, and tricks to help master each Redline Challenge brief. Canon Europe (Canon-Europe.com) announces the launch of Redline Challenge (http://bit.ly/3cdybRn) a brand new competition for amateur photographers to push their craft, challenge their creativity and test their technical know-how. Hosted by vlogger and photographer, Kai Wong, an inspiring line-up of Canon Ambassadors will share pro insights, tips, and tricks to help master each Redline Challenge brief. Internationally renowned photographer and multiple Red Bull Illume Winner, Lorenz Holder, today joins Kai to announce the first theme – Light in the Dark – designed to be the ultimate test of talent. Amateur photographers can put their skills into action and explore the possibilities of shooting in low-light and the relationship between light and shadow, contr...

APO Group launched its Coronavirus Initiative for Africa at the beginning of April 2020. One year on from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading Pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, continues to work on many fronts in the battle against the virus. In March 2020, at a time of great uncertainty for Africa, APO Group Founder and Chairman, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, and his team quickly realized that the company’s PR tools and media network could help in delivering potentially life-saving information to people all over the continent. APO Group launched its Coronavirus Initiative for Africa (http://bit.ly/3f1SC5m) at the beginning of April, donating resources and expertise to support African governments, institutions and official organizations in the fight against COVID-19.  A major part of the initiative was to offer pro bono access to APO Group’s press release distribution service for governments and hea...