Pres. Obama Announces U.S. Delegation to Attend Inauguration of Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2015

President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire to Attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Alassane Dramane Ouattara

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Alassane Dramane Ouattara on November 3, 2015.

The Honorable Thomas A. Shannon, Counselor of the Department of State, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation:

* The Honorable Terence P. McCulley, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Department of State
* The Honorable Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Department of State

###

U.S. Condemns Seizure of UN Barge by Opposition Forces in South Sudan

Press Statement
John Kirby
Department of State Spokesperson
Washington, DC
October 30, 2015

The United States is deeply concerned by the confirmed reports that the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in-Opposition (SPLA/IO) forces on October 26 detained a UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) barge that was traveling on the Nile River to resupply the UN base in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state.

We call on the SPLA/IO to immediately release all support staff who remain in detention and to return any seized equipment. Attacks against peacekeepers and other UN staff could constitute war crimes and can lead to sanctions under UN Security Resolution 2206.

We are additionally troubled by the provocative nature of this action at a time when both government and opposition forces should be respecting the ceasefire and working jointly to implement the peace agreement. More generally, we are deeply concerned by reports of fighting by both the opposition and the government in the state of Unity, where the humanitarian crisis has worsened in recent months with some 30,000 people in the State facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity and the likelihood of famine occurring in South Sudan if urgent assistance is not provided.

We call on both sides to adhere immediately to the ceasefire and to allow for free and unfettered access by UN and humanitarian personnel, so that they are able to reach populations in need.

U.S. Congratulates Côte d’Ivoire on Peaceful Election

Press Statement
John Kirby
Department of State Spokesperson
Washington, DC
October 29, 2015

The United States congratulates the Ivoirian people for a peaceful presidential election on October 25, which observers have judged to be credible, transparent and inclusive. This election marks another important step toward overcoming conflicts of the past, with a majority of the citizens on the voting rolls exercising their democratic right to select their next president.

According to the provisional results released by Côte d’Ivoire’s Independent Electoral Commission and accepted by the main opposition candidate, President Ouattara has secured a significant victory, and we congratulate him.

We look forward to working with the government and people of Côte d’Ivoire to consolidate our strong partnership and continue the important business of strengthening Côte d’Ivoire’s governance, security, and economic institutions. We encourage all political actors to renew and expand efforts to promote national reconciliation, respectful political dialogue, equitable justice and shared economic prosperity.

United States Welcomes UN Security Council Statement on Burundi

Press Statement
John Kirby
Department of State Spokesperson
Washington, DC
October 28, 2015

The United States welcomes the United Nations Security Council’s Presidential Statement today on Burundi.

Like the African Union’s communiqué of October 17, the Security Council statement put particular stress on the urgency of convening an inclusive inter-Burundian dialogue, among the government and peaceful stakeholders within and outside the country. As such, the Security Council reemphasized the importance of the mediation efforts led by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on behalf of the East African Community and as endorsed by the African Union (AU).

The United States stresses the Security Council’s call for any dialogue to be inclusive and represent the voices of the citizens of Burundi. We also welcome the Security Council’s strong condemnation of all violations and abuses of human rights and acts of unlawful violence committed in Burundi, both by security forces as well as by militias and other illegal armed groups, and its expressed determination to seek accountability for the perpetrators of such acts.

We are encouraged by the leadership of the United Nations in addressing the ongoing crisis in Burundi, particularly through Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s public offer in his October 27 statement of “any support necessary to advance the implementation of the measures agreed upon by the members of the AU Peace and Security Council.”

The United States stands ready to support the AU, the East African Community (EAC) and its designated mediator, President Museveni, and the citizens of Burundi to urgently conduct such a dialogue, which represents the best path forward to resolving the insecurity which has plagued Burundi since President Nkurunziza’s decision to run for a third-term in contravention of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement.

U.S. Issues Statement on the Republic of Congo’s Referendum Process

The Republic of Congo’s Flawed Referendum Process

]Press Statement
John Kirby
Department of State Spokesperson
Washington, DC
October 28, 2015

The United States is disappointed by the deeply flawed process that culminated in the recent referendum on a new constitution for the Republic of Congo. The credibility of the referendum process was marred by violence, intimidation, and severe restrictions on basic freedoms. In its aftermath, the United States strongly urges all parties to come together peacefully to participate in an inclusive political dialogue.

This dialogue should lead to urgently-needed and agreed-upon electoral reforms which will build confidence in and increase the transparency and credibility of the political process and encourage full participation by all parties. We also call on the Government of Congo to respect its citizens’ rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association, which are fundamental to a stable, democratic society.

U.S. Special Advisor for Children’s Issues Travels to Uganda and Ethiopia

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
October 26, 2015

Special Advisor for Children’s Issues, Ambassador Susan Jacobs, will visit Uganda and Ethiopia from October 26-31.

Special Advisor Jacobs will travel to Uganda to deliver remarks at the National Forum on the State of the Ugandan Child. She will also meet with government officials, non-governmental organizations, and other experts to encourage strengthening child protection systems. She will discuss intercountry adoption as an option for children living outside of family care.

Special Advisor Jacobs will then visit Ethiopia to meet with government officials and discuss ways to cooperate and improve the intercountry adoption process. She will also visit with non-governmental organizations in promoting solutions for children needing permanent families.

For more information about children’s issues, please visit: ChildrensIssues.state.gov

U.S. Bureau of OBO Announces the Construction Award for the New U.S. Embassy in Niamey, Niger

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
October 26, 2015

The Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) announces the design/build construction award for the new U.S. Embassy in Niamey, Niger, to BL Harbert International.

The multi-building campus will be situated on the existing 10-acre Embassy compound in the Yantala neighborhood. The new campus will include an office building, a Marine Security Guard Residence, community facilities, and associated support facilities.

Miller Hull Partnership, LLP of Seattle, Washington, is the design architect and Page Southerland Page, Inc. of Washington, DC, is the architect of record.

Since 1999, as part of the Department’s Capital Security Construction Program, OBO has completed 129 new diplomatic facilities and has an additional 55 projects in design or under construction.

The mission of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations is to provide safe, secure, and functional facilities that represent the U.S. government to the host nation and support our staff in the achievement of U.S. foreign policy objectives. These facilities should represent U.S. values and the best in U.S. architecture, engineering, technology, sustainability, art, culture, and construction execution.