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Un avis à lire ici portant sur des prestations d'interprétariat a été émis par l'US Army.

L'Army Contracting Command recherche 5 interprètes pour la période allant du 1er juin prochain au 7 août, 7 jours sur 7 et de 8h du matin à 18h.

La prestation sera à fournir au Tchad.

Les interprètes devront traduire du français vers l'anglais et vice-versa; ils pourront aussi traduire des documents. Un des interprètes devra avoir des connaissance de la terminologie médicale.

 

Welcome to Thursday’s edition of our daily Brussels Briefing. To receive it every morning in your email in-box, sign up here.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britain's Labour party

Local and regional elections in Europe normally provide minor diversions for the political classes in between the titanic national clashes that pit a country’s most prominent leaders against each other. But over the last six months, it has been a series of regional votes that have sent shockwaves through some of the EU’s most well-established parties and reshaped national debates. In December, the far-right National Front finished first in six of France’s 13 major regions in the first round of voting, and was only denied victory in the second round when the ruling Socialists pulled out of multiple contests. Three months later, the equally anti-immigrant Alternative für Deutschland scored in double digits in three German länder elections, including a stunning 24 per cent in depressed Saxony-Anhalt, rattling the ruling Christian Democrats of Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Today, it is Britain’s turn to hold local contests, and while the populist UK Independence party is hoping to score gains outside its English base, the real potential for electoral mayhem lies within opposition Labour, which is in the midst of a brutal internecine war over the leadership of left-leading party boss Jeremy Corbyn. In the most high-profile vote today, a Labour candidate is expected to emerge victorious: one-time Corbyn ally Sadiq Khan is heavily favoured to succeed Tory Boris Johnson as London’s next mayor. But Labour risks losing seats almost everywhere else in the UK, including in Scotland, where the once-dominant party is at risk of slipping into third behind the commanding Scottish National party and the revived Conservatives.

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Parmi les grandes dates inscrites au calendrier de l’histoire centenaire du centre d’aviation d’Ouges-Longvic, devenu depuis base aérienne (BA) 102  au début des années 1930,  figure celle du 13 mai 1916. Ce jour-là  vit se dérouler une importante prise d’armes organisée en présence d’un aviateur qui, la guerre terminée, allait être érigé en mythe par ses pairs : Georges Guynemer.

Général : À l’occasion de la fête de l’Europe, le Parlement européen à Strasbourg ouvrira ses portes au public le dimanche 8 mai. Profitez de l’occasion pour découvrir les bâtiments de l’institution et pour en apprendre davantage sur l’Union européenne et le travail de vos députés.

Source : © Union européenne, 2016 - PE

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May 5, 2016 (JUBA) – The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura is due in South Sudan from 5-9 May, having been invited by the South Sudanese government.

The United Nations Special Representative on sexual violence in conflict, Zainab Bangura (UN Photo)

Bangura, the UN said in a statement, will participate in activities that will culminate in the validation and launching of the implementation plan of the joint communiqué that she co-signed with President Salva Kiir in October 2014.

“Special Representative Bangura will seize the opportunity of her presence in Juba to consult with senior United Nations colleagues, meet with relevant national authorities, civil society organisations and women's groups and the diplomatic community,” partly reads the statement.

Women in South Sudan have suffered unprecedented levels of sexual violence inform of rape, abduction and forced marriages in the past two years of the country's conflict.

(ST)

Le BPC Gamal Abdel Nasser, qui sera livré à la marine égyptienne en juillet, quittera Saint-Nazaire vendredi pour une première phase d'entrainement en mer. 

Amarré dans le bassin de Penhoët depuis plusieurs semaine, le porte hélicoptère Gamal Abdel Nasser embarquera ses 180 membres d'équipage pour une semaine d'entrainement en mer. Il s'agira de mettre en pratique  la formation théorique des marins.

Le bâtiment militaire repartira pour une deuxième séquence de formation quelques jours plus tard, après la mi-mai.

De son côté, le second porte-hélicoptère de la Marine égyptienne, l'Anouar el Sadate, accueille depuis plusieurs jours une bonne partie de son équipage lui-aussi.

Ce bâtiment ne quittera Saint-Nazaire qu'en septembre et les formations en mer se feront en août.

A fideszes többségű magyar zsűri kiszórta Iványi Gábort és a Menedék Egyesületet az Európai Polgári Díj jelöltjei közül.

May 4, 2016 (BOR) - Two people were injured in attack carried out by suspected Murle men Tuesday night at Dong Boma in Twic East county of South Sudan's Jonglei state.

Twic East county commissioner Dau Akoi speaks in Panyagoor town on July 9, 2012 (ST/File)

The attackers, officials said, also abducted a two-year old child.

“The uncles to the child were injured by gunfire, in the same family in which the child was abducted. We brought the victims to Panyagoor hospital and are now under treatment”, said county commissioner, Dau Akoi Jurkuch.

At least seven children have since January been abducted, by suspected Murle criminals, said Akoi, who urged Pibor authorities to collaborate with Twic East county authorities to trace the two children and return them to their families.

“We are sure that all the children abducted from us had gone to either Gumuruk or Likuangole in Pibor,”said Akoi.

“We urge the government of Boma state to return them, because this will show that the leaders in Murle have sense of humanity in them”, he further explained.

A security report shows over 200 goats and 500 heads of cattle had been stolen in Twic East by suspected Murle raiders from January to May, with seven people killed.

(ST)

Dès sa réouverture, le hall des départs de l'aéroport de Bruxelles-Zaventem, terrain des attentats du 22 mars dernier, a vu des milliers de passagers affluer. Avec les mesures de sécurité renforcées avant de pouvoir entrer dans le bâtiment, de nombreux voyageurs ont raté leur vol ces derniers jours. Résultat : des passagers mécontents, une mauvaise image pour l'aéroport et les mesures de sécurité ont finalement été allégées.

May 4, 2016 (JUBA) – The Governor of South Sudan's Wau state, Elias Waya Nyipuoc has, through a gubernatorial order, appointed seven new county commissioners.

Wednesday's decree saw the removal of the Wau county commissioner, Fada Anthony Taban and his Jur River county counterpart, Karlo Manyuon Majak who were transferred to Bagari and Roc Roc Dong counties respectively.

The newly appointed commissioners include, Barjuok Ucu Kuic (Kwajiena county), James Akuar Agau (Udic county), James Mabuong Marial Bai (county), Michael Ricardo Ugali (Kpalie county) while Pasquale Joseph Ayan will oversee Besilia county.

Governor Waya has, however, not yet appointed the Kangi county commissioner.

Last month, South Sudan President Salva Kiir approved eight counties in Wau state.

(ST)

May 4, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), has provided $ 10 million to the government of Sudan in support to the Syrian refugees who fled war in their country to Sudan.

Sudanese and Syrian protesters demonstrate against the continued violence in Syria outside Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Khartoum November 23, 2011. (Reuters)

On Wednesday, UNHCR Representative in Sudan, Mohamed Adar, met senior officials at the Ministry of Interior and Sudanese Commission of Refugees. After the meeting he stated he handed over the international support for the over 100,000 Syrian refugees.

Last April, an international team from UNHCR visited Sudan and explored with government officials ways to assist the Syrian refugees in Sudan.

Senior Sudanese officials expect that the number of Syrian refugees may rise as the conflict is escalating in their country.

Last March, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim Ghandour, briefed an international conference, held in Geneva, for supporting Syrian refugees, on the situation of Syrian refugees in Sudan.

“Sudan is hosting over 2 million refugees form the neighbouring countries and freely provide them with health and education services,” Ghandour told the senior donors meeting in Geneva in March.

“I have discussed with the Sudanese officials mechanisms for supporting Syrian refugees and ways to support refugees living in Sudanese towns,” UNHCR Representative in Sudan, Mohamed Adar told the press in Khartoum, adding that a high level meeting will be held within two days to discuss refugees programme for the rest of the year.

The interior ministry and Sudanese refugees body, on their part, urged UNHCR to increase the assistance extended to refugees from the neighbouring countries and making basic services available in refugee camps.

(ST)

May 4, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan's finance minister, David Deng Athorbei has urged ministry's staffs to embark on efforts to address the country's current economic crisis.

South Sudan's minister of finance and economic planning David Deng Athorbei (Middle East Online)

Speaking during a reception party at the ministry headquarters Tuesday, Deng vowed to ride on his past experience to uplift the finance ministry.

“I am not new in the ministry. I am old here but I have to tell you that this time is time of work. We have to work very hard. If we are committed, our performance will change and South Sudan's economy will improve,” he said.

South Sudan's new Transitional Government of National Unity faces an uphill task of reviving an economy largely dependent on oil resources to support its budget.

The oil sector, which accounts for over 90 per cent of government revenues, has been badly affected the recent war, in addition to the decline in oil prices on world markets.

Commodity prices also shot up due to the devaluation of the local currency, South Sudanese pound, which has gravely impacted on the transport sector in the country.

Deng said the current economic crisis demands extra efforts from the finance ministry.

“If the ministry of finance and economic planning has to change, every employee will need to change and if we do not do well, all South Sudanese will be angry with us. Let us concentrate so that our country goes ahead,” he said without further details.

In June 2014, oil prices dropped from $112 to $30 per barrel. South Sudan currently produces 160,000 barrels of crude oil from 350,000 per day before war broke out.

Analysts are optimistic that donor nations like the United States, Japan and China will aid the economy. Such assistance, however, will require that South Sudan to initiate economic reforms, fight corruption and improving its human-right records.

Last week, the U.S. government announced more than $86 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help conflict-affected people in South Sudan and refugees in the region. The fund will reportedly provide much-needed safe drinking water, emergency health care, nutrition services, shelter, improved sanitation facilities, agricultural training, seeds and tools for the most vulnerable families and communities.

South Sudan's largest single donor of humanitarian assistance, the US has reportedly donated nearly $1.6 billion since the start of conflict in the country in December 2013.

(ST)

May 4, 2016 (JUBA) - The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) on Wednesday said it does not recognize the legitimacy of the controversial 28 states which President Salva Kiir created in violation of peace agreement and the country's constitution.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir prepares to give his speech during the India Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015 (Photo AP/Bernat Armangue)

A senior official of the peace monitoring body said they stood by the January communiqué by the East African regional bloc, IGAD, that the parties discuss how many states to create or revert to the 10 states upon which the peace deal was signed.

JMEC warned that failure to suspend the 28 states by the transitional unity government would amount to non-implementation of the peace agreement.

“The JMEC doesn't recognize the 28 states as having been described in the peace agreement and that the position of IGAD and the communique is essentially the position of JMEC and that it is a matter of no further implementation of the 28 state,” said JMEC's Military and Security Advisor, Bill Harmon.

Also, head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said the decision be suspended until the parties to the agreement reach a consensus to either return to the 10 states or agree to expand the number of states in a manner that would not cause ethnic frictions between local communities in the country.

“On the 28 states, as you all know, the IGAD Heads of State in a communique adopted on the 31st of January urged the transitional government immediately after its establishment to solve the issue of the 28 states, and if they couldn't, to establish a boundary commission,” said Ellen Margrethe Løj, Special Representative and head of UNMISS.

“Now the transitional government has been established and we expect the transitional government urgently to address the issue of the 28 states,” she added.

Løj, who spoke at her first official news conference at which she officially welcomed the formation of unity government following the return to the national capital, Juba, of armed opposition leader, Riek Machar, to take up his new position as the first vice president in accordance with peace agreement, however said there are challenges.

“It is very clear that there are challenges around the country in relation to how the borders have been drawn in the 28 states proposal, and that has led to ethnic tensions in many parts of the country.”

The top UN official in the country referred to the situation around Malakal as particularly sensitive because of the ethnic composition of the population in that area on the east and west bank of the river and in the city of Malakal.

“So we expect the transitional government to urgently address the issue of 28 states, and in the meantime we are not formally recognizing the 28 states, but we are of course dealing with the officials on the ground which we have to do on a daily basis,” she pointed out.

She further said the UN system was waiting for the outcome of the transitional government's deliberation on the states, adding this should also be done in a way that will lessen tensions in various areas.

The warning parties of former government of President Kiir and his rival, Riek Machar, in August last year signed a peace agreement on the basis of the existing 10 states.

During the peace negotiations, the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) led by Machar proposed 21 federal states to be based on former colonial districts in the country.

President Kiir's government at the time rejected the proposal, arguing that the matter would be decided by the people. The government further cited lack of resources to establish more states.

However, over a month later the former government unilaterally decreed into being 28 states, a matter which has been rejected by some communities due to conflicts over boundaries.

The transitional government of national unity is expected to discuss the matter and form state governments.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

May 4, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia said it will be investing billons of Dollars to execute various Climate Resilient Green Economy projects across the country.

The US$1.5 billion Gibe III project dam is expected to generate 1870 MW of electricity.

The state minister for environment, Kare Chawicha, said the Horn of Africa nation would invest $150billion to implement projects in the next two decades.

The projects are expected to transform the country's economy to a green one and make them resilient to the effects of global warming.

The new target, the minister said, seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emission, advance economic growth as well as create job opportunities for women and youth.

According to the minister, $ 50billion of the total budget will be allocated to the construction of low-carbon emission and green infrastructures.

Citing to a study conducted on the country, she said Ethiopia annually needs $7.5 billion for the implementation and transformation of its climate-resilient green economy.

Financial sources will be secured from the government and Ethiopian people, investors, financial partners and from revenues collected from trades in the carbon market.

After mobilising a range of financial sources to cover funding needs for the appropriate bodies to carry on the Climate resilient Green economy activities, it will then be run fully and independently by the Ethiopian government.

Ethiopia is one of the many nations most exposed to the effects of global warming.

Due to its vulnerability, Ethiopia is among some African countries currently hit by severe food insecurity caused by El Nino-induced drought.

The drought which is worst in decades led to sharp deterioration in food security and massive drop in agricultural and pastoral production forcing over 10 million Ethiopians to depend on food Aid.

Last month Ethiopia was among the 170 world nation which signed the historic Paris climate deal at UN Headquarters.

Ethiopia has been spearheading Africa's common position on climate change to make sure the continent speaks with one voice in global climate change negotiations.

Climate change generates various kinds of risks and opportunity for Ethiopia that would affect all sectors in the country.

Preliminary projections suggest that climate change can have a sizeable impact in Ethiopia's economy amounting 7-8% of GDP loss per year, with stronger impacts in later decades and on the poor.

Being a low emission country both at aggregate value and per capita Ethiopia's economy has generally low carbon intensity.

However, if the growth trajectory continues on a same pace, UNDP says Ethiopia's greenhouse gas emissions will increase from the current 155 Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2e) to almost 400 Mt CO2e in 2030 – an increase of more than 150% and roughly the amount of green house gas South Africa emits today.

Under a low carbon growth trajectory, however, studies show that Ethiopia could offset in the order of 250 Metric Tonne (Mt) of carbon dioxide equivalent per annum. At the modest carbon price, this has the potential to generate around 2.5 billion per annum, which is twice as much as Ethiopia's export revenue of coffee today.

Ethiopia intends to become a middle income, carbon neutral and climate resilient economy by 2025.

(ST)

May 4, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir has renewed his country's keenness to cooperate and coordinate with Saudi Arabia in all domains and in particular the economic field to achieve the joint interests of both nations.

Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir (L) walking with Saudi Arabia's King Salman Bin Abdel Aziz in Riyadh on 25 March 2015 (SPA)

Bashir, who met the Saudi minister of petroleum and mineral resources, Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Naimi in the presence of Sudan's minerals minister, Mohamed Sadiq al-Karouri Wednesday, announced readiness to open the doors to receive the Saudi investments particularly with regard to mineral wealth.

Following the meeting, Al-Naimi told reporters that he conveyed greetings of the Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz and his Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Nayef to Bashir, saying he also briefed him on the Kingdom's new economic vision aiming at diversifying the sources of income.

Last month, the oil-dependent Kingdom revealed a long-term plan to transform itself into a diversified economy, with non-oil government revenues projected to increase six-fold by 2030.

According to the official news agency (SUNA), Al-Naimi expressed his country's desire to invest in mineral wealth in Sudan and to utilize the economic resources in both nations through joint cooperation.

For his part, Al-Karouri said that Sudan is ready to provide the necessary incentives and remove all obstacles facing Saudi investments in order to achieve the joint interests.

He announced that the two countries agreed to revive the Atlantis II project on the basis of new understandings, saying the project is on the top agenda of the Saudi minister visit to Sudan.

In February 2012, Khartoum and Riyadh signed an agreement known as Atlantis II on exploring minerals in the joint territorial water in the Red Sea.

The project goes back to 1970s, when Sudanese government had plans to exploit the Red Sea bed with Preussag AG, a German mining company but it was abandoned due to the lack of suitable exploration technologies at the time.

In 2010, the Canadian Diamond Fields International and Saudi Manafa International Ltd. were licensed by the Saudi Sudanese Committee to conduct exploration activities in Red Sea rift valley.

In a feasibility study conducted in 2012, Diamond Fields International expected that Saudi Arabia and Sudan will make big profits from the extraction of copper, silver and zinc from Red Sea bed. At the time, it expected to start production in 2014 once technical studies are terminated.

Sudan's foreign relations have witnessed a remarkable shift since last fall particularly in its rapprochement with the Arab Gulf states following years of chilly ties.

The east African nation participates with over 850 troops in the Saudi-led "Decisive Storm" against the Iranian-allied Houthi militants in Yemen.

The Sudanese military participation in the military campaign in Yemen and the Islamic alliance reconciled Bashir's regime with the Saudi government, and marked the divorce with Iran.

(ST)

May 4, 2016 (JUBA) – It is important for the parties to the August 2015 peace agreement to cooperate in the implementation of the peace deal which ended the 21 months of conflict in South Sudan, says opposition's official.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir (C) poses for a picture after the government swearing in with his first deputy Riek Machar (R) and second deputy James Wani on 29 April 2016 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

Media official of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) told Sudan Tribune that a meeting of the political bureau encouraged that the parties implemented the peace agreement in good faith and in cooperation.

“The leadership of the SPLM-IO encourages cooperation and good faith among the parties in the implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan,” said James Gatdet Dak, press secretary of the newly sworn in first vice-president, Riek Machar.

He said the SPLM-IO political bureau met on Wednesday in Juba and highlighted the importance of implementing the deal in restoring stability in the country.

The meeting chaired by Machar and attended by senior members of the party, many of whom were recently appointed as national ministers, discussed progress made in the implementation of the accord as well as pending issues.

A transitional government of national unity was formed on Wednesday last week in which members of the four factions in the agreement formed the coalition.

The other factions include President Salva Kiir's appointed members to the cabinet, members of former political detainees as well as members of other political parties.

(ST)