Three years ago, Miyobo was a village council nestled in one of the most remote areas of Niefang. Within the framework of the social project promoted by the Government, with the creation of just over 50 urban districts to bring the administration closer to the population, it has now become a small urban town.

The President of the Republic, Head of State and of the Government, H. E. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and H. E. Constancia Mangue de Obiang, put into operation this new urban district, which officially joins those already established throughout the country.

After words of welcome from the Mayoress and words of thanks from a village elder, the Vice-President, Charged with Defence and State Security, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, was awarded the title of Honorary Mayor of the new Urban District of Miyobo. The insignia and nameplate were received by the Minister for the Interior and Local Corporations, Faustino Ndong Esono. A number of gifts were also presented to the presidential couple.

The work in this new urban district cost the Government just over 6.533 million FCFA and consist of a town hall, a school, a police station, a health centre, a market, 20 social housing units, a doctor’s house, a church, and the development of 1.87 km of asphalted roads.

As in other places, the Head of State began his remarks with a greeting of peace, thanks to which Equatorial Guinea is experiencing the unprecedented development that has led to the creation of more than 50 urban districts.

The Head of State called for vigilance in order to thwart any element seeking to disrupt peace and healthy coexistence. He also praised the massive turnout in the latest presidential elections of 20 November 2022, which gave victory to the PDGE.

In another moment in his guidance, he invited those present to apply a a change in mentality regarding the protection and care of minors, and with respect to the fair distribution and care of the new infrastructures.

With a priest’s blessing and the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon, Miyobo was officially declared an urban district.

In Niefang, three village councils have been upgraded to urban districts, namely Ayene, Miyobo and Andon Bekueñ, with the latter due to be inaugurated in the near future.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Equatorial Guinea: Official Web Page of the Government.

Cooperation with the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), air connectivity, collaboration in tourism, sports, amongst others, were discussed during the courtesy call of the Ambassador-designate of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Seychelles, H.E. Mr. Muhammed Mutair Ammash Al-Shmalani Al-Enazi, on the Principal Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Department, Ambassador Vivianne Fock Tave.

During their meeting, on Monday 22nd April 2024 at Maison Quéau de Quinssy, the two diplomats also discussed the signing of the Visa Waiver Agreement for holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports, as well as the Agreement on the Establishment of a Joint Committee on Cooperation.

Principal Secretary Fock Tave expressed her gratitude to the Government of Qatar for its continued support, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, and welcomed the possibility of future collaboration.

Ambassador-designate Al-Enazi will present his Credentials to President Wavel Ramkalawan on Tuesday 23rd April 2024.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism – Foreign Affairs Department, Republic of Seychelles.

Maritime security, tourism, climate change, air connectivity, and regional engagements in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) were at the top of the agenda for bilateral talks between the High Commissioner-designate of Australia, Ms. Kate Chamley, and the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Vivianne Fock Tave on Monday 22nd April, 2024 at Maison Quéau de Quinssy.

On the topic of maritime security, the two diplomats agreed on the importance of collaboration in this area given the resurgence of piracy in the region.

The two sides also discussed the possibility of expanding collaboration to increase visitors’ arrivals from Australia, as well as cooperation in capacity building and exchange of expertise in the field of tourism.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism – Foreign Affairs Department, Republic of Seychelles.

 Angola’s parliament should significantly revise or withdraw a proposed national security law that fails to meet international human rights standards, Human Rights Watch said today. The draft National Security Law passed a first vote in parliament on January 25, 2024. Following specialist committee review, the bill is expected to be submitted to parliament for final approval.

The draft law in its current form would permit excessive government control over private institutions, including media organizations, and undermine the rights to freedom of the press, expression, and association.

“The proposed national security law would give the Angolan government broad authority to improperly interfere with the media and civil society groups,” said Zenaida Machado, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Parliament should stand up for basic rights and freedoms, and substantially revise or reject the current bill.”

The national security bill has not been made public, but Human Rights Watch has reviewed a recent draft. It contains a number of provisions contrary to the rights to freedom of expression and the press set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Angola ratified in 1992, and other international and regional human rights treaties. The Angolan constitution also protects these rights.

For instance, draft article 36 gives government security forces the authority to prohibit public or private radio stations from broadcasting and to disrupt some telecommunication services under “exceptional circumstances” without a court order. The bill does not specify what would constitute “exceptional circumstances.” It would also authorize security forces to inspect “establishments or other public places or places open to the public” and “surveil [their] security equipment,” without judicial approval or oversight.

Draft article 40 would require workers of public and private companies and others to report to security forces any facts they become aware of in the course of their duties or because of them that constitute risks and threats to national security. Failure to abide by this provision could result in criminal prosecution.

Domestic and international human rights groups have been highly critical of the draft law. Florindo Chivucute, president of the human rights group Friends of Angola, told Human Rights Watch that the bill posed a long-term threat to Angola’s democracy. The Angolan organization Mãos Livres (Free Hands) expressed concern that the new law would “promote an authoritarian and repressive state.” The Committee to Protect Journalists said the bill could “severely undermine press freedom, further exposing journalists to harassment, intimidation, and censorship by authorities.”

The Angolan government has not publicly discussed the contents of the draft law. The Minister of State and head of the Military House of the President, Francisco Furtado, told members of parliament that it “was not appropriate” to discuss the national security law, and that lawmakers would have the opportunity “to enrich the bill” during specialist committee review. The minister did not respond to a Human Rights Watch text message requesting a comment.

The Angolan government has repeatedly enacted repressive legislation, Human Rights Watch said. In January 2017, then-President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos signed a media law that severely limited freedom of expression. In May 2023, parliament voted on the first draft of the law on the status of nongovernmental organizations, which civil society groups said contradicts Angola’s international legal obligations to uphold the freedoms of expression and assembly.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa provide for limitations on the right to freedom of expression to protect national security. However, such limitations must be necessary and proportionate and fulfill certain conditions that the draft law does not provide.

The African declaration of principles adds that “[s]tates shall ensure that any law limiting the rights to freedom of expression and access to information is overseen by an independent body in a manner that is not arbitrary or discriminatory” and “effectively safeguards against abuse including through the provision of a right of appeal to independent and impartial courts.”

The lack of provisions for judicial oversight in the proposed national security law opens the door for the Angolan government to arbitrarily prosecute and criminally charge media and civil society groups, Human Rights Watch said.

“The Angolan government appears intent on using a broad national security law as a pretext to further undermine people’s rights,” Machado said. “Parliament should act to ensure that the media and civil society can operate free from improper government intervention.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).