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UN and Africa

FAO/Giulio Napolitano

UN and Africa Special: Sub-Saharan Africa

In this week’s special programme during the holiday season: the International Monetary Fund or IMF, looks at what a drought, earthquake or pandemic can do to economies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Natural disasters hold back a country’s ability to produce, leading to an economic slowdown according to two top economists from the IMF.

Sub Saharan Africa has been especially prone and natural disasters have adversely impacted the overall economic performance of the region.

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9'59"
IOM/Bannon

UN and Africa: focus on South Sudan, autism and outer space

South Sudan “on a trajectory towards mass atrocities”: UN chief

South Sudan is “on a trajectory towards mass atrocities” and immediate action needs to be taken by the UN Security Council to prevent that from happening. That was the message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, at a recent meeting of the 15-member council in New York. He urged members to impose an arms embargo on warring parties, in support of a revived political process to end the fighting. Daniel Dickinson reports.

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10'
UN Photo/Manuel Elías

UN and Africa: focus on civilians in Central Africa, Libya and sustainable industrial development

Lord’s Resistance Army continues to cause “unspeakable suffering”

The Lord’s Resistance Army rebel group, is continuing to cause “unspeakable suffering” for civilians in central African countries where it operates, according to the UN’s Special Representative for the region. François Louncény Fall, acting head of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa, UNOCA, was briefing Security Council members in New York on the main threats to peace and security. Matthew Wells reports

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10'
UN Photo

UN and Africa: focus on UN peacekeeping, post-conflict Liberia and African refugees

Terrorism, violent extremism require more nimble peacekeeping response

A deadly ambush of UN peacekeepers in Mali just a few days ago has highlighted the dangerous landscape in which many blue helmets have to operate. The UN Security Council has been looking at ways to strengthen support to field missions so that they can better respond to threats such as terrorism, violent extremism and organized crime. Dianne Penn reports.

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