Brussels, 6 December 2013: It was with profound sadness that H. E. Dr. Tuilaepa Lupesoliai SAILELE MALIELEGAOI, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Independent State of Samoa and President of the Council of the Ministers of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, and H. E. Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Secretary-General of the ACP Group learnt of the passing of Mr. Nelson Mandela, former President of the Republic of South Africa, on Thursday 5^th December 2013.

Brussels, 6 December 2013/ ACP: The Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Samoa, Hon. Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi is confirmed to preside over the 98^th session of the Council of Ministers for the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group.

Brussels, 6 December 2013/ ACP: Secretary General, H.E Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni led the ACP Secretariat in remembering iconic world leader and former South African President Nelson Mandela, who passed away last night at age 95.

About a hundred colleagues gathered at the ACP House to hear a tribute to the renowned and much-loved statesman, and to observe a minute of silence in his honour.

Addis Ababa, 27 November 2013/ ACP: The ACP Parliamentary Assembly pronounced united positions on three pressing issues for the 79-member group of African, Caribbean and Pacific states, including on the International Criminal Court, the deteriorating security situation in the Central African Republic, and Zimbabwe-EU relations.