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UN and Africa – Year Ahead 2016

UN and Africa – Year Ahead 2016

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Protecting citizens expected to be major challenge for UN in 2016

Protecting citizens is expected to be a major challenge for the United Nations in 2016, according to a top UN official. Hervé Ladsous, head of UN Peacekeeping Operations says about 80 per cent of uniformed peacekeepers are now serving missions in Africa. A major part of their work revolves around keeping people safe. Matthew Wells spoke with Mr Ladsous about what he expects with regard to peacekeeping on the continent in the year ahead.

Toby Lanzer. Photo: UNMISS/JC McIlwaine

Pivotal year ahead for those living in the Sahel

For millions of people living in Africa’s Sahel region, 2016 looks to be a pivotal year. The countries that make up the Sahel are some of the poorest in the world. In December, the UN launched a US$ 2 billion humanitarian appeal for the region, saying up to 600,000 children there are at risk of dying from malnutrition in the coming year. Daniel Dickinson spoke with Toby Lanzer, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the Sahel and asked him what he expects over the next 12 months.

Abdoulaye Bathily. UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

Risk of conflict high without “free and fair” elections in central Africa

With several countries in central Africa due to hold elections in 2016, the need for “free and fair” electoral processes is being emphasized. UN officials in the region have warned about the possibility of conflict if planned elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo and Burundi do not go well. Veronica Reeves spoke with Abdoulaye Bathily, the head of the UN’s regional office for Central Africa about his priorities for the next year.

Presenter: Veronica Reeves

Production Assistant: Sandra Guy

Duration: 10’00″

Audio Duration
10'
Photo Credit
UN Photo/Abdul Fatai