Facebook moves into larger South Africa premises as African growth accelerates MyZA

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Facebook moves into larger South Africa premises as African growth accelerates:

Facebook (www.Facebook.com) has moved its Johannesburg offices into new premises, creating a new home for the company to work with its partners to boost innovation and provide an African home for the Facebook culture. The new office will continue to provide support to Facebook advertisers, application developers and other key partners across the continent.

“Since we first established a direct presence in sub-Saharan Africa in 2015, Facebook has grown from strength to strength,” says Nunu Ntshingila, Regional Director, Africa, Facebook. “We have enjoyed working closely with entrepreneurs, partners, developers and small businesses as they have used Facebook as a platform for growth. It’s inspiring for us to learn from the continent and to play a role in helping people and organisations connect with the world.”

Since 2015 the number of people connected to Facebook across Africa has grown to 42% to over 170 million monthly active users. Of these, 94% come back on mobile. The Facebook team in Africa has grown alongside the number of people and businesses who use it and its ecosystem of developers, entrepreneurs and business partners.

Facebook executives Carolyn Everson, VP Global Marketing Solutions and Nicola Mendelsohn, VP EMEA, attended the launch of the new office together with Ntshingila.

“Facebook is deeply committed to Africa, a mobile-first continent where seven in 10 of all connected people use the platform,” says Carolyn Everson. “Many people in Africa are coming online for the first time, unleashing new possibilities for people and businesses alike. We're also seeing growth of small and medium-sized businesses that are driving economic development, companies that Facebook wants to help grow locally and regionally across the continent. Our new offices are part of our ongoing commitment to invest in the African market and work with innovators across our key target countries.”

Distributed by APO on behalf of Facebook.

Media contact:
Idea Engineers – PR agency for Facebook in South Africa
Facebook@IdeaEngineers.co.za

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Image: Left to right: Carolyn Everson – VP Global Marketing Solutions Facebook, Nunu Ntshingila – Regional Director Africa Facebook, Nicola Mendelsohn – VP EMEA Facebook

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

MONUSCO deplores the ongoing hostilities and escalating violence in the Kasais:

MONUSCO is alarmed by ongoing reports from the Kasai region of escalating violence that is continuing to result in serious human rights violations including an ever growing number of civilian casualties and the discovery of mass graves as well as ongoing recruitment by the militias, especially of children.

The most recent violence, between 14-17 March, has affected the town of Kananga, during which dozens of people were killed in clashes between the Kamuina Nsapu militia and the Congolese security forces. The violence has also now spread to new areas such as Luebo, 134 km from the capital of Kasai province, where militia have attacked symbols of the state and also released prisoners from jail. In recent days, Tshimbulu has also suffered renewed violence and there are growing threats against churches in the region, particularly in Luiza. Between 28 and 31 March, the Congolese military also carried out operations during which there have been numerous reports of civilian casualties, allegations of human rights violations and arbitrary arrests, including of minors.

“The violence in the Kasais has already claimed the lives of possibly more than 400 civilians as well as a significant number of members of the security forces. It must stop”, stated Maman S. Sidikou, the Special Representative of the Secretary General in the DRC and Head of MONUSCO.

“It is clear that there is no military solution to the violence. At this point, intensifying the military response will only exacerbate the violence and further place civilian populations in danger,” warned Mr Sidikou.

MONUSCO recognizes there are already Congolese Government initiatives underway in support of ending the hostilities including encouraging the surrender of militia elements as well as moves to find durable solutions to disputes over traditional chieftaincies. MONUSCO encourages the Government to intensify these efforts to find acceptable political solutions.

MONUSCO also calls on the leadership of the Kamuina Nsapu and other militia to stop the senseless violence and immediately halt the recruitment of children.

There are also clear links between the violence in the Kasais and the delayed implementation of the 31 December agreement. “It is no coincidence that the escalation in violence coincided with the recent political developments in Kinshasa. For the sake of the Congolese people and the country, I urge all sides to rapidly seek compromises that allow for the full implement the agreement and the holding of peaceful elections in December” concluded Mr Sidikou.

MONUSCO response

In response to the deteriorating situation, MONUSCO, continues to engage the Congolese authorities at national and provincial levels with a view to halting the hostilities. Most recently, on 3 April, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for Operations and Rule of Law, Mr David Gressly, and the United Nations Police Commissioner were in Kananga to assess ways to further reinforce MONUSCO’s capacities in the Kasai region as well as discuss the current situation with the acting governor and the provincial Security Council.

MONUSCO initially deployed peacekeepers and reinforced police and civilian capacities in November 2016 and has again recently reinforced its presence in the Kasai region. Three additional combat units have been deployed to areas where violence and the threat to civilians is most severe, including Luiza, Tshimbulu and Kabeya Kamwanga. This will be complemented by the establishment of civilian alert networks and early warning mechanisms. MONUSCO will also continue to monitor and document allegations of serious human rights violations in the region, including investigating the reports of mass graves, and has already undertaken a number of human rights missions as well as the monitoring and documentation of human rights violations. MONUSCO will also be available to support greater humanitarian access which becomes more important as the humanitarian needs intensify in the face of a deteriorating security situation.

MONUSCO will also look to providing support to the voter registration process that is due to commence in the Kasais around the end of April. This is a key part of ensuring a timely and peaceful path to the elections in December as well as ensuring that a durable peace returns to this region.

MONUSCO is also available to provide support to the Government security forces in the region in terms of providing training on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

Distributed by APO on behalf of Mission de l’Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).

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

German Government, German Football Association, FIFA and Namibia kick off new cooperation programme: Sports fields for 14 000 young people:

On Friday 31 March 2017, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the construction of 45sports fields for socially disadvantaged youth in Namibia. In future, nearly 14,000 young Namibians across the country will be able to use the sports fields for free to play football or other sports. The BMZ has teamed up with prominent partners for this project. They include partners from Namibia and the German Football Association (DFB), as well as the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

German Development Minister Gerd Müller said, “Football and sports do not only open people's hearts, they also open doors. Sport teaches young people values such as fair play, discipline and respect – these are things they need in order to live their lives independently. People who know how to deal with victory and defeat in sports will find it easier to handle challenges in their real lives, too. Our initiative gives young people the opportunity to meet and interact.”

Quotes from DFB and FIFA:

There are many parts of Namibia where children and young people do not have any opportunity yet to play sports. By building or renovating sports fields, the BMZ and its partners create safe spaces for children and youth to meet and to play football, basketball, volleyball and other sports. Sports training teaches young people important social skills such as respect, fair play and team spirit. Playing sports together also builds young people's self-esteem. Specially trained coaches will be available for the youth. They can act as role models and as counselors. As part of their work, they will make a point of discussing difficult issues such as HIV prevention, teenage pregnancies, alcohol abuse and violence against women. Women coaches in particular can act as important role models.

Namibian national women soccer coach Jacqui Shipanga said: “Our young women football players, especially in the U17 national team, now sit together and talk about the university they want to attend and the careers they want to pursue. A mere five years ago, most of my women players were school dropouts, and of course their conversations now are very different. And that is the kind of impact that programmes such as 'Sport for Development' are having in Namibia and in society.”

In order to make sure that the sports fields will still be used frequently a few years from now, the project also engages with schools, building knowledge there – on things such as good physical education curricula and technical maintenance of sports fields. The costs for these activities will be covered by the Namibian government.

Distributed by APO on behalf of The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany – Windhoek.

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