Funding for African Union Somalia mission critical to security: UN political chief

Funding for African Union Somalia mission critical to security: UN political chief

Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo was speaking on Wednesday at a meeting at UN Headquarters to draw attention to the widening financing gap at the year-old operation. “Despite initial generous donor support, contributions have significantly declined, leaving the mission in a dire financial situation,” she said.  Contributing to progress  ATMIS builds on the work of a previous…

Read More
Sudan holds massive political ‘workshops’, embarks on new transition phase, Security Council hears

Sudan holds massive political ‘workshops’, embarks on new transition phase, Security Council hears

“Today, we are the closest we have been to a solution, although challenges remain,” said Volker Perthes, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sudan and head of the UN’s transition assistance mission in the country, known as UNITAMS.  Landmark agreement  Mr. Perthes recalled his last briefing to the Council, on 8 December, when he welcomed the…

Read More
Ukraine-Russia: Extension of grain export deals vital to global food security

Ukraine-Russia: Extension of grain export deals vital to global food security

Martin Griffths, the UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefed ambassadors on the eve of the expiration of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has allowed nearly 25 million metric tonnes of foodstuff from Ukraine to reach global markets.  The accord was signed in Türkiye in July 2022, in parallel with a Memorandum of…

Read More
UN Security Council reaffirms strong support for the Libyan people

UN Security Council reaffirms strong support for the Libyan people

As the oil-rich North African nation continues to be ravaged by instability and clashes between rival authorities and armed groups, the Council’s statement outlined some of its pressing concerns. Libyan-owned process Members reaffirmed their strong commitment to an inclusive, Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process, facilitated by the UN and supported by the international community. It…

Read More
Security Council: Despite progress on reforming global security, ‘our work is not done’

Security Council: Despite progress on reforming global security, ‘our work is not done’

“Our work is not done,” said Aleksander Zouev, Assistant-Secretary-General in the Department of Peace Operations told the UN Security Council. Providing members with a progress report, he cited gains made on implementing the UN Secretary-General’s bold vision for security sector reform outlined in his inaugural report on the issue, published in 2022. New plan and…

Read More
Diplomacy in Yemen reaches new pitch following year of relative calm, Security Council hears

Diplomacy in Yemen reaches new pitch following year of relative calm, Security Council hears

“The truce can only be a stepping stone,” said Hans Grundberg, the UN’s Special Envoy for Yemen. Reiterating that short-term solutions and piecemeal approaches can only bring partial relief, he outlined a range of fresh diplomatic efforts currently underway to bring the conflict to a sustainable end. Truce holding, despite lapse The nearly decade-long conflict in Yemen – and the…

Read More
Afghanistan now ‘most repressive country’ for women, Security Council hears

Afghanistan now ‘most repressive country’ for women, Security Council hears

Roza Isakovna Otunbayeva, UN Special Representative and head of the UN’s Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, strongly condemned recent Taliban decrees that have further eroded the rights of Afghan women. However, she also urged the international community to preserve “whatever political space exists” for frank discussions with Afghanistan’s leaders, warning of rapidly deteriorating humanitarian and…

Read More
‘Radical change of direction’ needed in women, peace and security agenda

‘Radical change of direction’ needed in women, peace and security agenda

Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, was speaking during a Council meeting to reaffirm the importance of Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security,  adopted in October 2000, and to take stock of implementation since it turned 20 nearly three years ago.  “As we meet today at the mid-point between the 20th and 25th anniversaries, on…

Read More
UN officials call for Security Council’s support for post-quake Syria

UN officials call for Security Council’s support for post-quake Syria

The UN Emergency Coordinator and the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria called for robust support for ongoing emergency efforts and a “bold” plan for paving a political path towards lasting recovery and reconciliation. Race against time Briefing the 15-member body on the severity of humanitarian needs, Rasha Muhrez, Response Director at the international non-governmental organization…

Read More