Peace and Security

Women and children displaced from Jebel Marra, in North Darfur, due to fighting, take shelter in the Tawilla new arrivals site.
OCHA

Security Council stresses need of ‘sustainable solutions’ for millions displaced in Darfur

31 January 2018
Africa

Despite improvements in the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur, continued challenges remain, the United Nations Security Council has said, underlining the need for sustainable solutions for the region’s 2.7 million internally displaced persons.

UN Special Envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura speaking to reporters as Special Meeting on Syria wraps up at the UN in Vienna.
Stanislav Jenis

UN envoy for Syria to attend Russia-sponsored talks in Sochi

27 January 2018
Middle East
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will send his Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, to Sochi next week to attend the Russia-sponsored Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue, talks reportedly on a political solution towards ending the seven-year Syrian conflict.
UN peacekeeping mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) BMP armored vehicle on patrol.
MONUSCO/Sylvain Liechti

DR Congo: UN chief condemns killing of 'blue helmet,' calls on armed groups to lay down weapons

27 January 2018
Africa
Condemning the killing today of a peacekeeper with the United Nations stabilization mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who was ambushed in the vast country's restive east, Secretary-General António Guterres again called on armed groups there to lay down their weapons and seek to resolve their grievances peacefully.
Violent extremists have carried out bombings in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on various occasions. Shown here is the aftermath of a car bomb attack on the city's Banadir Beach hotel on 25 August 2016.
UN Somalia (file)

At African Union Summit, Guterres outlines UN-AU approach to combatting terrorism

27 January 2018
Africa
No single nation, institution, or organization can defeat terrorism in Africa or anywhere else, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told a special meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Saturday, as he called for a sustained, cooperative and coordinated approach in tackling this complex, ever-evolving menace.
A view of Kabul, the centre of Afghanistan’s social and political life. Photo UNAMA/Fardin Waezi.

UN condemns massive vehicle bomb attack in Kabul that leaves scores dead and wounded

27 January 2018
Asia Pacific

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, the Security Council and the UN in Afghanistan have strongly condemned Saturday's massive vehicle bomb attack on a street near Government buildings in the Afghan capital, Kabul, which reportedly left 95 people dead and scores wounded.

A wide view of the Security Council in session.
UN Photo/Devra Berkowitz (file)

Security Council condemns 'barbaric' terrorist attack in central Mali that killed dozens on civilian bus

27 January 2018
Africa

The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the “barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack” on 25 January against a bus transporting civilians near Boni, in central Mali, during which 26 people from Mali and Burkina Faso, including children, were killed.

On large screen: Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov briefs the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.
UN Photo/Kim Haughton

Time to stop ‘managing’ Israeli-Palestinian conflict, show leadership to resolve it – Security Council told

25 January 2018
Middle East

The United Nations, the Security Council and the wider international community all have fallen into a pattern of “managing, rather than resolving” the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the UN envoy on the Middle East peace process warned Thursday, saying it was time to end this paralysis, show political leadership and push for policies on the ground that rebuild trust.

An armored personnel carrier on patrol near Beni, where the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) is supporting the Congolese National Forces (FARDC) in an operation against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel militia. March 2014.
UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti

Spike in attacks on ‘blue helmets’ means UN peace operations must adapt, says peacekeeping chief

25 January 2018
Global

With United Nations ‘blue helmets’ facing increasingly grave threats, including armed groups with no interest in peace, the UN peacekeeping chief called on Wednesday for greater political engagement and leadership from the Security Council and the world body’s Member countries to ensure UN troops – and the populations they serve – are better protected.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) line up early in the morning for a general food distribution at the UN Protection of Civilians Site, Malakal, South Sudan.
IOM/Bannon

South Sudan: Ceasefire violations, hostile propaganda undercut regional peace push, Security Council told

24 January 2018
Africa

While the signing last month of a ceasefire accord among South Sudan’s warring parties is a great stride forward, it is just a first step toward peace and stability, the United Nations peacekeeping chief said Wednesday, warning that the 21 December deal has already been violated numerous times.

Secretary-General António Guterres.
UN Photo/Mark Garten (file)

Afghanistan: UN chief ‘appalled and deeply saddened’ by deadly attack on aid partner

24 January 2018
Asia Pacific

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has spoken out against the fatal attack on the Afghan offices of renowned international non-governmental organization Save the Children, saying that he was “appalled and deeply saddened” by the casualties.