UN and Africa

Suicide bombing in Mali “direct attack on the peace process”

Peacekeeping chief urges swift implementation of DRC agreement

The UN Security Council has been urged to continue calling for the swift endorsement of a recent political agreement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The appeal was made by UN peacekeeping chief, Hervé Ladsous who has updated members on political and security developments in the country. Government and opposition groups had signed an agreement in late December related to the electoral process. Dianne Penn reports.

Killing of two peacekeepers in CAR condemned by UN

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.

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.

Scene set for “Rwanda-like” genocide in South Sudan 

In South Sudan, the risk of genocide today is as real as it was in Rwanda in the 1990s. That was the message from independent experts at the UN Human Rights Council, which held a special session on the plight of the world's youngest country in Geneva. Here's Daniel Johnson's report from Geneva:

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

“Serious human rights violations” continuing in South Sudan

AU-led peace operations need “predictable and sustainable” financing

“Huge positive developments in Somalia” as elections continue