Africa

Registration takes place for the May 2014 Tripartite Elections in Malawi.
UNDP Malawi

Ban urges continued calm, cooperation as Malawi enters post-electoral period

31 May 2014
Now that the results of Malawi's recent election have been made public, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged all parties to continue to call for calm among their supporters and to work together to consolidate democracy in the country.
Displaced people shelter on the grounds of a church in Bossangoa. Until recently, religious institutions were considered safe havens for people fleeing conflict in the Central African Republic.
UNHCR/B. Heger

Central African Republic: Security Council condemns latest wave of violence

30 May 2014
Strongly condemning the latest wave of fighting in the Central African Republic, including Wednesday's deadly attack in the capital, Bangui, on a church that was sheltering thousands of people, the United Nations Security Council today demanded that all armed groups put aside their weapons and take immediate steps “to end the cycle of violence and retaliation.”
Hilde F. Johnson, Special Representative and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan, meets with President Salva Kiir.
UNIFEED video still

Top UN envoy in South Sudan stepping down after three years

30 May 2014
The top United Nations envoy in South Sudan announced today that she is stepping down from her post in July after leading the world body’s efforts in the country for nearly three years.
Child marriages keep girls out of school.
IRIN/Mujahid Safodien

UN agencies welcome African-led push to end child marriage

29 May 2014
Two United Nations agencies today welcomed the first campaign by the African Union to end child marriage, a practice that robs over 17 million girls – 1 in 3 – across the continent of their youth.
Security Council votes unanimously to extend the mandate of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS).
UN Photo/Mark Garten

Security Council extends UN missions in Abyei, Guinea-Bissau, Somalia

29 May 2014
The Security Council today extended the United Nations peacekeeping force in Abyei – an area contested by Sudan and South Sudan – as well as the missions assisting Guinea-Bissau and Somalia with their efforts to advance stability, security and development.
A man and his child walk through a crowded site for internally displaced people in the Central African Republic capital, Bangui, where many people remain at risk.
UNHCR/S. Phelps

Central African Republic: Ban deplores recent attacks, urges end to ‘cycle of violence’

29 May 2014
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned recent attacks in the Central African Republic (CAR) and encouraged the country’s Transitional Authority to do everything within its means to prevent further violence and to hold the perpetrators to account.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.
Violaine Martin

On first visit, UN rights chief urges Morocco to expedite pending laws

29 May 2014
Morocco has made great strides towards the better promotion and protection of human rights, United Nations High Commissioner Navi Pillay said at the end of her first official visit to the country, but urged officials to approve pending draft laws and more robustly implement and enforce new legislation.
Stop killing journalists.
UNESCO

UNESCO voices concern over killing of newspaper editor in Libya

28 May 2014
The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today voiced deep concern over the killing of newspaper editor Meftah Bouzid in Libya earlier this week.
The Security Council votes to extend the operation of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until 30 November 2014.
UN Photo/Devra Berkowitz

Security Council prioritizes civilian protection as it extends UN mission in South Sudan

27 May 2014
The Security Council today extended the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and revised its mandate to give priority to the task of protecting civilians and to address the security, humanitarian and political crisis that has gripped the nation for the past six months.
A policeman directs traffic at a checkpoint in downtown Mogadishu, Somalia.
UN Photo/Tobin Jones

UN and international partners call for resolution of Somali political crisis

27 May 2014
The United Nations, the European Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) today issued a joint appeal for a resolution of the political crisis in Somalia, adding that they stand ready to hold to account anyone who poses an obstacle to progress in the Horn of Africa nation.