Security Council briefed on proposal to reduce number of AU-UN troops in Darfur
The African Union (AU) and the United Nations are proposing 44 per cent and 30 per cent reductions in their troop and police presence in Sudan’s Darfur region as a step towards an eventual exit, a senior UN peacekeeping official told the Security Council. “The reconfiguration of UNAMID is an important milestone towards the completion […]
Two African Countries Get Temporary United Nations Seat
U.N. member states elected six countries Friday to temporary seats on the Security Council, the U.N. body responsible for maintaining international peace and security. Starting January 1, 2018, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait, Poland and Peru will serve two-year terms, while the Netherlands will join for one year, in a special arrangement with Italy. The […]
UN condemns terrorist attack in Kabul, underscores need to protect civilians
Condemning the terrorist attack in the Afghan capital, Kabul, United Nations officials, including the Secretary-General and his Special Representative for the country as well as members of the Security Council underscored that all parties to the conflict are obliged, under international law, to ensure that civilians are protected from any harm. “Indiscriminate attacks against civilians […]
‘We are not close’ to urgently needed peace deal in Yemen, UN envoy tells Security Council
The United Nations envoy for Yemen today stressed an urgent need for a peace agreement by the warring sides in the country, but confessed that “we are not close” to such an accord due to the failure of the key parties to compromise. “The reluctance of the key parties to embrace the concessions needed for […]
Security Council strongly condemns ballistic missile test by DPR Korea
Strongly condemning yesterday’s ballistic missile launch conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United Nations Security Council vowed to “fully and comprehensively implement all measures” imposed on the country and strongly urged all other UN Member States to do the same. In a press statement, Council members expressed their utmost concern over […]
As Somalia combats insecurity, drought worsens ‘more rapidly than projected’ – UN official
The humanitarian crisis in Somalia is worsening, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council, calling for more than $800 million in aid to offset the impact of a severe drought in a country that is already battling insecurity and poverty. “The humanitarian crisis has deteriorated more rapidly than was originally projected,” the Deputy […]
UN insists on 4,000-strong protection force for South Sudan and meets resistance from President Salva Kiir
The government of South Sudan is set for a fresh round of diplomatic standoff with the United Nations after the latter ordered the deployment of a 4,000-strong protection force that has been resisted by Juba for the past six months, since authorisation by the Security Council last August. After visiting Juba and meeting with President […]
Security Council and Region Must ‘Speak With One Voice,’ End Suffering in South Sudan – UN Chief
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today stressed the need for the leadership of South Sudan to achieve an immediate cessation of hostilities, restore the peace process and ensure unrestricted humanitarian access in order to pull the world’s youngest country back from the abyss, and back from a widening famine. “All the optimism that accompanied the […]
South Sudan government buying arms with oil money while millions face starvation: confidential UN report
The government of South Sudan is spending its oil revenue on weapons, even as the country descends into a famine largely caused by Juba’s military operations, according to a confidential United Nations report. The report by a panel of experts, whose findings were dismissed by South Sudan’s goverment, calls for an arms embargo on the country […]