Peace and Security

UNSOM

UN chief expresses ‘full confidence’ in top Somalia official following Government expulsion

4 January 2019
Africa

The UN Secretary-General said on Friday he “deeply regrets” the Somali Government’s decision to expel his Special Representative in the country, adding that he had “full confidence” in Nicholas Haysom’s abilities and track record as an international civil servant.

MONUSCO/John Bopengo

DRC ‘calm but tense’ as country awaits presidential election result

4 January 2019
Africa

The post-election environment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is “calm but tense” as the country waits for the results of the presidential poll, the UN Human Rights office (OHCHR) said on Friday.

UNAMA/Eric Kanalstein

Security Council condemns attacks on Afghan security forces which killed at least 27

3 January 2019

The United Nations Security Council has condemned “in the strongest terms” a series of coordinated attacks aimed at security checkpoints in northern Afghanistan which took place on Monday night, killing at least 27 and wounding dozens of others

UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

‘Milestones are clear’ for ‘significant progress’ in Somalia during 2019, Security Council hears

3 January 2019
Africa

Somali Government efforts to build a lasting peace through political reform and transformation have progressed along a “positive trajectory” but everyone involved in the process needs to “pull in the same direction”, the UN Special Representative in the country told the Security Council on Thursday.

MINUSMA/Gema Cortes

Deadly Mali attack to be investigated by UN rights experts

3 January 2019
Africa

An attack on a village in central Mali earlier this week in which at least 37 civilians died, is to be investigated with the help of United Nations human rights experts, the UN stabilization mission in the country (MINUSMA), announced on Thursday.

UN Photo/Tobin Jones

Attack on UN compound in Somalia may be 'violation of international humanitarian law'

2 January 2019
Africa

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned Tuesday’s attacks against the UN compound in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, saying that intentionally attacking UN personnel may constitute "a violation of international humanitarian law.”

UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

As the year closes out, UN political chief talks the art of diplomacy – and crises to watch in 2019

31 December 2018
Global

As the world – and the United Nations – continues to grapple with political crises, we look at the political landscape with Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo. We begin by asking her what it’s like to be the top UN political officer.

UN Photo/Cia Pak

UN urges ‘restraint’ in Bangladesh’s post-parliamentary election violence

31 December 2018
Asia Pacific

The United Nations said on Monday that it is aware of violent incidents and reports of irregularities in Sunday’s general elections in Bangladesh.

UNAMA / Mujeeb Rahman

Afghanistan: UN mission welcomes new polling dates following election delays

31 December 2018
Middle East

Amid reports that Afghanistan’s 2019 presidential election may be postponed, local electoral authorities confirmed a polling date delay; a decision the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) welcomed for its clarity on Monday.

UN Photo/Evan Schneider

In 2019, ‘reasons for hope’ in a world still on ‘red alert’: UN chief Guterres

28 December 2018
Global

Last year, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued “a red alert” over a range of dangers confronting the world, which “still persist” as 2019 looms: “These are anxious times for many, and our world is undergoing a stress test,” the UN chief said on Saturday in his message for the New Year.