16th Africa Independents Forum: Developing & driving change in Africa’s oil & gas industry

APO News from Africa:

16th Africa Independents Forum: Developing & driving change in Africa’s oil & gas industry:

As one of the foremost events on the international Oil and Gas calendar, the 16^th Africa Independents Forum (www.Africa-IndependentsForum.com) to take place in London over 24^th and 25^th May brings together all stakeholders in Africa’s upstream oil and gas to review the state of the industry and exchange ideas on game-changing opportunities for the future.  

Examining up-to-date and emerging exploration plays and capital development projects with insights into Africa's large and undiscovered hydrocarbon reserves, the state of Africa's geo-economics of oil and the way forward with an overview of key issues shaping the future of funding and ventures in Africa's upstream sector.

Corporates will benefit from invaluable insights, rethinking Africa’s financing and investments. The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation, principal state oil company of Egypt, will demonstrate investment opportunities in the Egyptian upstream sector, revealing regulatory framework for petroleum exploitation in the country in addition to incentives offered by EGPC to attract foreign investment considering the current economic climate.

Developing & driving change in Africa’s upstream industry, key independents will present its E&P strategic repositioning, shaping the continent’s exploration and development future and upstream growth aspirations (see full speaker list: http://APO.af/cRCZgr). 

“We have just relinquished the Chad acreage as a result of our revised strategy to progressively exit exploration and make entry into producing assets”. Peter Ntephe, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of ERHC Energy will present on Wednesday, 25^th May with an overview of its strategies for exploration in Sub-Saharan Africa.  

• 79^th PetroAfricanus Club Dinner: Wednesday, 24^th May, The Waldorf Hilton, with guest speaker, Jasper Peijs, Vice President of Exploration Africa, BP, London.
• 8^th Global Women Petroleum & Energy Club Luncheon: Thursday, 25^th May, The Waldorf Hilton, with guest speaker, Sandy Stash, Group Vice President, Safety, Sustainability and External Affairs, Tullow Oil, London.

For more information: www.Africa-IndependentsForum.com. 

Distributed by APO on behalf of Africa Independents Forum.

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Sonika Greyvenstein 
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa

European Parliament President, Antonio Tajani, meeting with African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat:

“We must develop our partnership and cooperation with the African Union in a range of areas, such as sustainable development, youth employment, climate change, peace, security, human rights and crisis management”, the President of the European Parliament stated following his meeting with the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat.

“Africa is a priority for the European Union”, Tajani emphasised, saying that, “Mr Moussa Faki’s presence in the Chamber today sends a very powerful political message which will lend fresh impetus to our relations with our African partners.”

President Tajani also stated, “Europe and Africa face a common challenge, that of managing migration. We need to address the root causes of the problem. We must invest more in Africa, and engage in genuine economic diplomacy in an effort to create growth and jobs. Africa is a continent of opportunity and it is my belief that it will be the continent of the future. ‘ 

‘I also applaud Mr Moussa Faki’s unwavering commitment on the fight against terrorism. We must not forget that Africa is the continent hardest hit by terrorist attacks. Cooperation between the European Union and the African Union in this area, in particular in the Sahel and Libya, is crucial’, Tajani concluded.

Note to editors:

Presidents Tajani and Moussa Faki will hold a press conference outside the protocol room today at around 12.30. You can follow it live here.

Moussa Faki Mahamat is the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, which fulfils a similar role to the European Commission as the executive authority of the African Union.

The European Parliament has also invited the President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, to address the plenary in June 2017.

The next European Union-Africa Summit will be held in late November 2017 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Distributed by APO on behalf of European Parliament.

Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa

High Commissioner Zeid alarmed by increasing violence, killings, in Central African Republic:

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Tuesday expressed grave alarm over the expanding attacks by armed groups against the civilian population in several parts of the Central African Republic in recent months, as well as attacks against United Nations peacekeepers in the southeast of the country.
 

High Commissioner Zeid said he was particularly disturbed by the increase in targeted killings of civilians since the fighting between rival groups began in November 2016.

Just this weekend in Bangassou, in the south, armed men (presumed to be anti-Balaka) used heavy weapons to attack the base of the United Nations mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA*). They also attacked the Muslim neighbourhood of Tokoyo where numerous civilians were killed and others wounded, although the exact death toll remains unclear. One MINUSCA peacekeeper was shot and killed during the attack, and another was wounded.

Also in the south, in Alindao and surrounding villages, unconfirmed reports suggest that from 7 to 9 May, clashes between anti-Balaka fighters and a group known as the “Unité pour la Paix en Centrafrique” (UPC) — which is allied with the ex-Seleka — led to the killing of some 56 civilians. It is alleged that the anti-Balaka were responsible for the death of 19 people including 13 of Fulani ethnicity, and an Imam. The UPC, in response, allegedly killed 37 civilians, and more than 3,000 civilians are said to have been displaced. MINUSCA has not yet been able to verify these allegations.

Investigations by MINUSCA’s Human Rights Division suggest that between March and May 2017 more than 121 civilians were killed (these figures do not include the two incidents mentioned above), as well as six peacekeepers. The most serious incidents include the following:

• On 7 March, UPC elements reportedly attacked the town of Goubali 2, in central Central African Republic, killing eight civilians and looting and burning houses. From 13 to 31 March further attacks by both anti-Balaka and UPC led to the killing of 40 civilians, including five children and four Fulani men, and injured another 26. Homes were torched and people displaced from Atongo-Bakari village, and various mining sites in Danga-Gboudou commune. Several children were reportedly thrown into the nearby Ngoubrou River by the UPC elements.
• In eastern CAR, between 7 and 15 March, anti-Balaka elements reportedly attacked and killed 10 Fulani civilians in Site Chinois village and another three civilians in Bimbe village near the town of Bria. Civilians fled to various villages in Mbomou prefecture, to the south and some crossed into the Democratic Republic of Congo. Between 6 and 20 March, UPC elements also allegedly attacked civilians in Rou and Ndjolina villages, where they killed nine civilians including two children, wounded many others, and set fire to homes.
• In the south, on 30 March, 13 civilians were killed and 14 others wounded following a clash between UPC and FPRC elements. The villagers were displaced northward to Guigui village.
• Also in the south, on 3 April, elements of the FPRC/anti-Balaka coalition reportedly killed 22 civilians in the towns of Bakouma and Nzako. On 4 April in Goulou, UPC elements are said to have attacked and killed three civilians, including a child, and wounded two others. According to information gathered from various partners, on 27 April, at least four Fulani men were killed by anti-Balaka elements in Yongofongo village. Also in Yongofongo, on 8 May, suspected anti-Balaka fighters ambushed a convoy of MINUSCA peacekeepers, killing five of them and wounding 10 others. This is the deadliest attack against MINUSCA since its deployment at the end of 2014.
• In western Central African Republic, on 2 May, in the town of Niem between Bouar and the Cameroonian border, members of the Retour, Réclamation et Réhabilitation (3R) rebel group reportedly shot nine men in the head in a church, killing them. The next day, in a meeting with the villagers, the leader of the 3R group reportedly admitted responsibility for the incident and apologized for it. To date no steps have been taken to hand over the alleged perpetrators to the relevant authorities.

The High Commissioner said that many of the above areas had previously remained largely unaffected by violence and insecurity, and related human rights abuses.

“Violence and rising tensions are spreading to areas of the Central African Republic that had previously been spared the kinds of terrifying violence seen in some other parts of the country – this is highly worrying and should set off loud alarm bells,” High Commissioner Zeid said.

“The hard-earned relative calm in Bangui and some of the bigger towns in CAR risks being eclipsed by the descent of some rural areas into increasing sectarian violence, with defenceless civilians – as usual — paying the highest price.”

The resurgence of violence has also had a serious and direct impact on humanitarian actors. During the first quarter of the year, more than 45 incidents targeting humanitarians were recorded across the country, making the Central African Republic one of the highest-risk countries for humanitarian aid. Half of the population of the Central African Republic is dependent on humanitarian aid and one in five Central Africans is displaced.

The High Commissioner strongly condemned the acts of violence and human rights abuses, including the killing of international peacekeepers. He called on the leaders of armed groups to cooperate with MINUSCA and Government authorities to bring to justice those of their fighters who have been involved in human rights violations and abuses. “I remind those who commit, order, command or fail to prevent attacks against civilians, humanitarian workers and UN peacekeepers that they may also be subject to prosecution for war crimes,” he said.

High Commissioner Zeid also noted the fact that the Special Criminal Court is preparing to start its work is a strong signal by the authorities and the international community that the continued climate of impunity is unacceptable.

* The Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) 

Distributed by APO on behalf of United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG).

Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa