Africa

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

Security Council briefed on progress in UN-AU partnership for peace Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to the African Union, highlighted “encouraging developments” that are fueling optimism. “These include Africa’s resilient people and resourceful women and youth, their stated preference for democratic rule against all odds, the recently gained G20 membership, and … Read more

Sudan crisis must not be forgotten by world leaders, says UN food agency In an appeal for greater global solidarity with the people of Sudan, the World Food Programme (WFP) said that around 800,000 people have fled to Ondo in neighbouring Chad after enduring “unimaginable violence”. WFP Communications Officer Leni Kinzli told journalists in Geneva … Read more

Collective effort essential to get DR Congo on firm path to peace “We need to collectively remain engaged in assisting the country on its path to peace and stability,” said Bintou Keita, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the DRC and head of the UN Mission there, MONUSCO. Ceasefire and dialogue ‘framework’ There has been a … Read more

Sudan crisis: Top ministers meet in New York in call for concerted action The development comes almost 18 months since rival militaries started fighting each other in Sudan, forcing more than 10 million people from their homes – half of them children. “People in Sudan have endured 17 months of hell, and the suffering continues … Read more

Calls by African leaders for equitable representation on UN Security Council gain momentum They articulated a compelling case, highlighting how the legacy of colonialism and its lingering effects have left the continent disproportionately excluded. This exclusion is not merely a matter of representation, it directly impacts Africa’s ability to influence discussions on critical issues, such … Read more

Women and girls in Sudan disproportionately impacted by ongoing conflict The need for gender-based violence-related services has increased 100 per cent since the crisis began in April 2023, the UN agency championing gender affairs reported, with up to 6.7 million people needing assistance by the end of last year. Cases of conflict-related sexual violence, sexual exploitation, and … Read more