Tag: UN Africa News

“This was my first field mission in Burkina Faso, and I visited Kaya, some 100 kilometres northeast of the capital, Ouagadougou; Dori, which is the capital of the Sahel region, on the border with Niger and Mali; and Djibo, a town in the north of the country. The people we met all asked the same questions: can we get jobs?… Read More

Leading condemnation for the 25 October takeover, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said that at least 13 civilians have been reportedly killed by military and security forces since then, and more than 300 injured.  Looking on as Ms. Bachelet spoke during the specially convened session, the Sudanese permanent representative and his deputy – who reportedly associate with different sides in the crisis – sat either side of an empty chair usually occupied… Read More

In a press statement released this Friday, they noted the impact of the conflict on the humanitarian situation, as well as the stability of the country and the wider region.    They also welcomed the efforts of the UN Secretary-General. Earlier this week, António Guterres said: “The stability of Ethiopia and the wider region is at stake.”   Joining Mr. Guterres’ appeal, the Council Members asked parties to refrain from “inflammatory hate speech and incitement… Read More

Ten unarmed Egyptian “blue helmets”, who were newly deployed to the mission, were injured in the incident, which occurred in the capital, Bangui, on Monday.   The peacekeepers had arrived at M’Poko International Airport as part of the periodic rotation and deployment of troops in the country.  They were heading to their base when they came under heavy fire from… Read More

“We have some pockets of IPC 5 or famine-like conditions, this is basically the only – maybe the first – climate change famine on earth,” said Arduino Mangoni, WFP Deputy Country Director in Madagascar, citing IPC food insecurity assessments, which are used to gauge the level of emergency aid required. After a recent “heartbreaking” visit to an emergency nutrition centre in the south, the… Read More

According to MINUSCA, the blue helmets were part of the Egyptian Constituent Police Unit and were shot by elements of the presidential guard. Two were seriously injured.   The peacekeepers arrived on November 1 at M’Poko International Airport, as part of the periodic rotation and deployment of troops in the country and were heading to their base, when they came under heavy fire from the presidential guard, said a statement released by the mission.  According… Read More

Speaking from the capital, Khartoum, Mr. Perthes said the situation on the ground is “stable but very tense” in the wake of the takeover.  Just met with @SudanPMHamdok at his residence where he remains well but under house arrest. We discussed options for mediation and the way forward for Sudan. I will continue these efforts with other Sudanese stakeholders. —… Read More

“People must be allowed to demonstrate peacefully, and this is essential”, António Guterres added, speaking to journalists in Rome on Friday morning, ahead of this weekend’s G20 Summit in the Italian capital.   Mr. Guterres reaffirmed his “strong condemnation of the coup”, which saw civilian leaders detained, stressing “the need to reestablish the transition system that was in place.”  Pro-democracy demonstrations have been held across the country’s capital, Khartoum, since the army… Read More

“However, all is not lost”, El-Ghassim Wane cautioned.   He highlighted the Council’s visit to the country last week and the tribute paid to the 243 fallen peacekeepers who’ve been killed serving the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA), saying it was “a stark reminder of the sacrifices made over the last eight years in the search for peace.”  “It further enhanced our resolve to ensure that every one of those lives lost, was not… Read More

Speaking on behalf of the Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed drew the attention of the Council to “a number of worrying trends” Africans face today. The Deputy Secretary-General highlighted the socio-economic burdens of COVID-19, saying it has not only impacted the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Africa, but also exacerbated poverty, inequalities and all the drivers of conflict. “It has… Read More