Africa

WFP delivers life-saving aid to one million people in Burkina Faso The agency has provided assistance to more than one million crises affected people so far this year through crucial funding from the United States. The humanitarian response comes at a critical time for the West African nation, which has been grappling with instability, security … Read more

In Ethiopia, UN chief advocates for permanent Security Council seats for Africa In a speech delivered during the inauguration of the renovated Africa Hall in Addis Ababa, Secretary-General António Guterres celebrated the building’s historic and symbolic importance for Africa’s unity and progress. “This hall is where Africa came together to give life to the Organization of … Read more

‘Africa must continue to rise,’ says General Assembly President In a speech delivered during a debate on African development, Assembly  President Philémon Yang addressed the continent’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s (AU) related framework, known as Agenda 2063.  “There has never been a better time to accelerate progress towards … Read more

Sudan: Refugee numbers swell as war continues to drive displacement South Sudan now ranks as the second largest recipient of people fleeing Sudan, with more than 810,000 new arrivals since April 2023, including returning South Sudanese refugees who were sheltering in Sudan and refugee and asylum seekers from other countries. UNHCR warned that the situation … Read more

‘Alarming’ situation in Great Lakes Region of DR Congo “It is the civilian population who will continue to bear the heavy toll of war daily: loss of life, sexual violence, health problems and malnutrition in displacement camps,” said Huang Xia. The violence is driven by both the M23 armed group which continues to expand its territory … Read more

WHO calls for action to halt rise in hearing loss in Africa Hearing loss already costs the continent $27 million annually, exacting profound impact on lives and economies, according to the report, which was launched at the African Summit on Hearing Impairment in Nairobi, Kenya. Widespread hearing loss disproportionately affects poor and vulnerable populations. WHO … Read more

Sudan: ‘Children should be safe everywhere’, says UNICEF, as fears grow for El Fasher UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reminded journalists in New York at the regular noon briefing that famine conditions have already been confirmed in the Zamzam camp for the displaced, just outside the city, “and we think that other camps in the area … Read more

Chagos Islands: UK’s last African colony returned to Mauritius The agreement follows 13 rounds of talks that began in 2022 after Mauritian calls for sovereignty were recognised by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the UN General Assembly in 2019 and 2021. The world court, as the ICJ is known, is the principle judicial … Read more

Somalia: UN official reports on electoral progress, ongoing security challenges James Swan, acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), briefed the Security Council in New York alongside Mohammed El-Amine Souef, Head of the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). The mandate for UNSOM is set to … Read more

Sudan war: ‘Horror’ grows as reports of summary executions emerge The warning on Thursday comes as the SAF launched a major offensive last month to regain control of key areas currently held by the RSF. The two armies led by rival generals have been locked in a brutal power struggle since April 2023. The fighting … Read more