Africa

Herder in search of pasture (file)

UN helping Kenya respond to drought-related food and water crisis

13 January 2011
United Nations agencies and their partners are helping the Kenyan Government respond to food and water shortages that have hit several parts of the country as a result of a prolonged dry spell, which has been particularly severe in arid areas inhabited by nomadic livestock keepers.
Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis.

UN rights chief calls for halt to use of excessive force against protesters in Tunisia

12 January 2011
The United Nations’ top human rights official today urged the Tunisian government to ensure that its security forces stop using excessive force against demonstrators, and to start credible investigations into deaths that have occurred during recent protests.
Peacekeepers on the streets of Côte d’Ivoire

Côte d'Ivoire: Ban warns against further raids by pro-Gbagbo forces

12 January 2011
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday voiced his deep concern about the developments unfolding in the Abobo suburb of Côte d'Ivoire's commercial capital, Abidjan, where clashes between security forces and supporters of President-elect Alassane Ouattara have reportedly left six people dead, and warned against any further raids by forces loyal to outgoing leader Laurent Gbagbo.
Voting in Sudan's independence referendum

With strong independence vote turnout in South Sudan, UN sees no need for extension

12 January 2011
The week-long independence referendum in South Sudan passed its half-way mark today with a continued large turnout, and a United Nations monitor said there should be no need to extend the vote, which could split Africa’s largest country in two.
A group of refugees from Côte d'Ivoire waiting to be registered in eastern Liberia

Number of Ivorian refugees in Liberia tops 25,000 – UN agency

11 January 2011
The United Nations refugee agency said today that there are now some 25,000 Ivorian refugees in neighbouring Liberia, with around 600 people arriving daily after fleeing the post-electoral crisis in their homeland.
UNMIS troops on patrol in Abyei area of Sudan

Sudan: UN intensifies patrols after clashes in north-south border region

11 January 2011
United Nations peacekeepers intensified their patrols in the border area between North and South Sudan after reports of deadly clashes as the week-long independence referendum in the South entered its third day today.
A voter casting his ballot at polling centre in Al Barka IDP camp, in Bahri, Khartoum

Sudan: UN panel tours polling centres in South’s independence referendum

10 January 2011
The independence referendum in South Sudan, which could split Africa’s largest country in two and produce the United Nations’ 193rd Member State, has got off to a good start with officials successfully handling a large initial turnout, the head of the UN monitoring panel has said.
UNAMID maintaining presence in North Darfur to ensure the safety of thousands of people displaced by recent clashes

Joint UN-African mission investigating further clashes in North Darfur

10 January 2011
The joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) said today it is investigating further clashes in an area where thousands of people have already been displaced by recent fighting between Sudanese Government forces and rebels.
UN peacekeepers on patrol in Côte d’Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire: UN seeks to aid thousands displaced by post-election turmoil

10 January 2011
More than 16,000 people in western Côte d’Ivoire, driven from their homes by violence after the outgoing president refused to step down despite his election defeat, need immediate medical aid, food, shelter and protection, the United Nations said today.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at a press conference (file photo)

Ban urges restraint and dialogue amid escalating violence in Tunisia

10 January 2011
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged restraint after violent clashes between Tunisian security forces and protesters resulted in a number of deaths and injuries.