Africa

Special Representative Bert Koenders.
UNOCI

Senior UN official deplores deadly Ivorian clashes

18 December 2011
The top United Nations official in Cote d''Ivoire today deplored the deadly clashes in the west of the country that have reportedly killed at least six people this weekend.
A displaced woman with two children after fleeing their home in southern Somalia.
UNHCR/B. Bannon

Somalia: UN expert urges greater efforts to tackle violence against women

16 December 2011
An independent United Nations human rights expert today called for greater efforts to improve the plight of women in Somalia, thousands of whom remain extremely vulnerable to discrimination and violence.
Special Representative for South Sudan Hilde Johnson

South Sudan: UN envoy hails Vice-President’s appeal for reconciliation in Jonglei

16 December 2011
The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan has welcomed an appeal by the country’s Vice-President Riek Machar to communities in the troubled Jonglei state to refrain from violence and to immediately engage in talks on reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.
A hula hoop competition, aimed at raising HIV awareness, taking place at the Nelson Mandela/Soshanguve sports ground in South Africa

UN and major African bank in partnership to raise HIV/AIDS awareness

16 December 2011
The United Nations body tasked with combating the spread of HIV/AIDS and one of Africa’s largest banks have formed a two-year partnership to raise public awareness of the pandemic in the continent, the UN agency reported today.
Headquarters of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Vincent van Zeijst

ICC orders release of Rwandan rebel leader after dismissing charges

16 December 2011
Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) today ordered the release of a Rwandan rebel leader after dismissing war crimes charges related to deadly fighting in the far east of the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2009.
Migrant workers from sub-Saharan Africa sit by the sea in Benghazi, eastern Libya

UN mission on impact of Libyan crisis on Sahel region heads to Mauritania

16 December 2011
A United Nations mission to assess the impact of the recent turmoil in Libya on the Sahel region is heading to Mauritania for talks with top officials in the West African nation, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s spokesperson announced today.
2011 SEED Winner. Solar bread oven in Burkina Faso.
UNEP

African entrepreneurs win UN-backed award for eco-friendly initiatives

15 December 2011
A company that transforms groundnut shells into fuel briquettes in Gambia and a business in Kenya where women produce aloe-based skin care products are among this year’s winners of a United Nations-backed award recognizing projects that help promote sustainable development.
Sudanese refugees rest next to their UNHCR tent inside South Sudan

‘Storm of hunger’ threatens lives of 2.5 million South Sudanese – UN official

15 December 2011
Damaged crops combined with conflict and insecurity are threatening to leave some 2.5 million people in South Sudan – the world’s newest country – in critical conditions unless food assistance is provided immediately, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned today.
UN Photo/Mark Garten
UN Photo/Mark Garten

UN’s Rwanda tribunal cuts jail terms for two ex-officials convicted of genocide

15 December 2011
The United Nations tribunal trying suspects connected to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda today reduced the sentences of two former senior officials found guilty in 2008 after a number of their convictions were overturned on appeal.
Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno-Ocampo.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Execution of arrest warrants vital for ending crimes in Darfur, says ICC Prosecutor

15 December 2011
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) today renewed his call for the arrest and transfer of those alleged to have committed genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur, citing the need to protect millions of lives in the troubled Sudanese region.