- United Nations (UN) Security Council has today welcomed commitment of Guinea-Bissau to hold parliamentary elections next month and thus called on all political parties, security forces and civil society to ensure free, fair and transparent voting.
Calling on donors to continue providing financial resources to support electoral process, Council acknowledged in a presidential statement, technical support and funds already provided by international community.
Fifteen-member Council has also expressed serious concern at continued growth in drug trafficking and organised crime, which reportedly threatens peace and security in Guinea-Bissau and rest of West Africa.
"Council underlines responsibility that government of Guinea-Bissau has for tackling this issue and calls upon international community to cooperate actively with Guinea-Bissau in this regard," says statement read out by Ambassador Zhang Yesui of China, which holds rotating council presidency for October.
Mr Yesui noted that security sector reform must remain a priority for Guinea-Bissau, encouraging government to continue implementing programme it has begun in area.
Hiking food and fuel price crises and cholera epidemic were also causes of concern to Council, as it called on government and its partners to strengthen efforts to eradicate disease.
Since latest cholera outbreak emerged in May, at least 133 people across Guinea-Bissau have died and UN agencies, particularly World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) have been helping local authorities respond.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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