مرحبا بكم في الأمم المتحدة

Reports and Policy Documents

2020

  • 15 ديسمبر 2020

    Mogadishu – The recent Somalia Partnership Forum enabled all involved to openly exchange views on current developments in the country and to...

  • 14 ديسمبر 2020

    GENEVA, 14 December 2020 - Acting Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya Stephanie Williams convened today a technical meeting on...

  • 14 ديسمبر 2020

    Second Government-Youth Dialogue for Central Asia and Afghanistan (10 December 2020)

    ASHGABAT, 10 December 2020

    ...
  • 14 ديسمبر 2020

    New York, 15 December 2020

    Fruits and vegetables are the cornerstone of a healthy and varied diet.  They provide the human body with an abundance of nutrients, strengthen immune systems and help lower risks for a number of diseases.  Yet, despite these tremendous benefits, we do not consume enough of them.

    By declaring 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and...

  • 14 ديسمبر 2020

    Today marks the second anniversary of the Stockholm Agreement, a diplomatic breakthrough that offered a glimmer of hope that an end to the devastating conflict in Yemen...

  • 14 ديسمبر 2020

    The United Nations Secretary-General has called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of hundreds of boys, believed abducted by suspected bandits, after an attack on their school in northwest Nigeria. 

  • 13 ديسمبر 2020

    MAIDAN WARDAK – Panellists in a series of UN-backed radio programmes across Afghanistan’s central provinces remain hopeful, despite all the many challenges and obstacles, that...

  • 13 ديسمبر 2020

    The closing ceremony of the United Nations Integrated Office for Peacebuilding in Guinea-Bissau took place on December 11, 2020.

    ...
  • 12 ديسمبر 2020

    Garowe – Pastoralism is a way of life for many Somalis and Puntland, in Somalia’s north, with its semi-arid landscape and warm climate, is a key location for this form of livelihood.

    But, over the past...

  • 11 ديسمبر 2020

    The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (...

  • 11 ديسمبر 2020

    The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the...

  • 11 ديسمبر 2020

    Outstanding issues related to Syria’s initial declaration of its chemical weapons stockpile and programme cannot be considered “accurate and complete”, the head of the world body monitoring States’ implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention told the Security Council on Friday.

  • 11 ديسمبر 2020

    The 51st round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) took place in the Palais des Nations on 10-11 December 2020.

    Against the backdrop of the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, this was the first and only GID round that took place in 2020. In the interim, the Co-Chairs held a series of consultations via videoconference and conducted several visits for in-person meetings with the participants. The holding of an in-person GID round re-confirmed the commitment of all participants to the GID process.

    In this regard, the importance of in-person meetings was noted, as was support for continued dialogue and joint efforts, which are aimed at addressing conflict-related issues and defusing tensions and potential misunderstandings. The collective efforts of the Co-Chairs allowed participants to better address issues relating to the security and humanitarian situation of conflict-affected populations on the ground.

    During this 51st GID round, the participants once again met in two separate working groups focused on security and humanitarian issues. The security situation on the ground was assessed as relatively calm and stable. The participants reviewed a number of issues on the agenda, including the situation in the Chorchana-Tsnelisi area, recent detention cases, missing persons, and the importance of conflict-affected populations' access to livelihoods. Particular focus was given on the one side to the core agenda item of non-use of force and, on the other, on the impact of COVID-19 on the humanitarian situation on the ground. Efforts to address these challenges jointly were positively noted. Participants could not engage on the issues of IDPs and refugees, due to a walkout of some participants.

    The resumption of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) in Ergneti with two meetings held this year was welcomed. The Co-Chairs emphasised the need to resume regular meetings of the Gali IPRM.

    The Co-Chairs reiterated their call for all participants to increase efforts to build trust and confidence among them, and to ensure constructive cooperation with international humanitarian and human rights organisations.

    The participants agreed to hold their next meeting in Geneva on 23-24 March 2021.

  • 11 ديسمبر 2020

    As the world marks the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change, a promising movement for carbon neutrality is taking shape.  By next month, countries representing more than 65 per cent of harmful greenhouse gasses and more than 70 per cent of the world economy will have committed to achieve net zero emissions by the middle of the century.

    At the same time, the main climate...

  • 11 ديسمبر 2020

    New York, 12 December, 2020

    At today’s Climate Ambition Summit, I appealed to leaders worldwide to declare a State of Climate Emergency in their countries until carbon neutrality is reached.

    There can be no doubting or denying that the world faces a climate emergency.

    The past decade was the hottest on record.

    ...

  • 11 ديسمبر 2020

    New York, 12 December 2020

    I am pleased to welcome you to the Climate Ambition Summit on the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement.

    Five years after Paris, we are still not going in the right direction.

    Paris promised to limit temperature rise to as close to 1.5 degrees as possible.

    ...
  • 11 ديسمبر 2020

    New York, 12 December 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us just how important it is for all countries to have strong health systems that provide the entire population with quality services when and where they need them.

    This year we have seen the tragedy that strikes when health facilities are overwhelmed by a new, highly infectious and often deadly disease – and when the effort...

  • 11 ديسمبر 2020

    Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Libya (ASRSG), Stephanie Williams, held yesterday a virtual consultative meeting...

  • 11 ديسمبر 2020



    5 - 11 December 2020

    This Week in DPPA is a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world.

    Security Council

    DiCarlo: “Sudan is at a critical juncture”
    Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo on 8 December briefed the Security Council on the transition in Sudan, together with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, and Atul Khare, Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support. “Sudan is at a critical juncture. It can move forward decisively in its transition, but that progress can still be derailed by the many challenges it faces. It is incumbent on all of us to support Sudan in its efforts to achieve democratic governance, economic prosperity and an inclusive society for all Sudanese,” Ms. DiCarlo said.  
    Read her full remarks here
    Read more in UN News


    Special Representative encourages inclusive and meaningful political dialogue in Central Africa
    Special Representative François Louncény Fall on 9 December briefed the Counil on the situation in Central Africa and the work of UNOCA in the region. “As election preparations continue in the months ahead, I would like to encourage national authorities and all political stakeholders to promote continued dialogue and consensus on the conditions governing the elections, using political dialogue frameworks where they are in place, as is the case for instance in Chad and the Republic of the Congo, or through ad hoc arrangements,” Fall said.
    Read his full remarks here
    Read more in UN News

     

    Afghanistan

    Call for an end to violence against women in Afghanistan 
    As part of a series of interactive radio programmes marking 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, participants from Afghanistan’s central provinces called for urgent measures to help prevent the crime. "Violence against women is inhumane and un-Islamic," said Sarah Seerat, a women's rights defender, speaking on Radio Sada e Nijrab in Kapisa  "but unfortunately, it remains prevalent in our society." The radio series was organized by the UNAMA field office Kabul.
    Read more here

    UN calls for improved access to justice for crimes of violence against women and girls
    Afghan women and girls are being failed by the country’s justice system with their access to justice for crimes of violence remaining tenuous, according to a new report released on 7 December by UNAMA and the UN Human Rights Office. The report, titled “In Search of Justice for Crimes of Violence Against Women and Girls,” examines the response of the justice system and the redress provided to survivors in reported cases of violence against women and girls in the period between September 2018 and February 2020.
    Read more here

     

    Central Asia 

    Meeting of Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs
    The tenth annual Meeting of Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Central Asian states and Afghanistan, organized by UNRCCA in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, took place on 10 December. The event brought together Deputy Ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. Addressing the meeting, Special Representative Natalia Gherman underlined that “despite the current challenging situation countries of the region maintained regular contacts at different levels, including at the highest political level, to secure cooperation in the socioeconomic and other fields”.   
    Read more here

     

    Iraq

    Mosul rapper launches new song on Human Rights Day
    Mosul rapper “The Golden Nenous” jumped at the chance to record a rap song about standing up for human rights during the global pandemic. The result is “New World (COVID-19)”, a song commissioned by the UNAMI Human Rights Office and launched on UNAMI social media to mark Human Rights Day 2020 on 10 December. The Golden Nenous casts a lyrical spotlight on the importance of protecting each other from COVID-19, ensuring health care is provided to all Iraqis without discrimination, and enabling marginalized and vulnerable communities to participate in decision making on the response to the virus. This song highlights the creative talents of Iraq’s youth and the importance of putting human rights front and centre as Iraq responds to the pandemic. 
    Watch here

     

    Yemen

    Webinar on COVID-19 media coverage in Yemen
    Yemen Envoy Martin Griffiths on 10 December opened a webinar on COVID-19 media coverage in Yemen, organized by the French Agency for Media Development (CFI), with support from the EU. “The digital world in this time of trouble is, for somebody like me, a new discovery”, he said. “The United Nations, almost certainly belatedly, but finally is picking up on this, and on the way in which digital engagement can bring inclusion at a level which has not been imagined before. So, we do not rely only on people physically going to a meeting to be involved in a discussion”.
    Read more here


    Meeting with representatives of civil society working on issues related to prisoners and detainees
    Representatives of civil society working on issues related to prisoners and detainees, met virtually on 10 December with the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen (OSESGY) and shared their views and recommendations on ways to move the file of detainees forward. The meeting discussed priorities, efforts and ways to keep the momentum and evaluated the current status and situation of detainees in different areas in Yemen.
    Read more here

     

    Bolivia

    Personal Envoy concludes work in Bolivia
    The Secretary-General on 11 December paid tribute, through his Spokesperson, to Jean Arnault, his Personal Envoy for Bolivia, who has concluded his mandate following the peaceful culmination of the electoral process in that country. The Secretary-General expressed his gratitude for the work and steadfast dedication of his Personal Envoy, carried out during a challenging year.
    Watch noon briefing here

     

    Colombia

    Lights, Camera, ¡Peace Actions!
    Twenty  young people from the Reintegration Area of Tierra Grata in Cesar department, and Pondores in La Guajira department, along with young people from their neighboring communities, completed  three months of virtual training in strategic and digital communication on 7 December. According to Anna Pont, head of the UN Verification Mission's regional office: "In this case, within the framework of the Mission's youth strategy and with support from the Public Information Office, we have worked to strengthen the relationship between the children of former combatants and young people in the process of reintegration, and the community. To promote their productive projects, improve their capacity to disseminate information, and support the consolidation of the reintegration areas”. The UN Verification Mission and UNDP backed the workshop.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Guinea-Bissau

    Closing ceremony for UNIOGBIS
    A ceremony marking the closure of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) was held in the capital Bissau on 11 December. The mandate of the Mission ends on 31 December. The UN Country Team, the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and regional organizations will continue supporting the country. Bintou Keita, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, attended the ceremony, and in her remarks, she conveyed the Secretary-General’s deep gratitude and appreciation to Special Representative Rosine Sori-Coulibaly and UNIOGBIS staff, past and present, for their tireless efforts and dedication to the mandate.
    Watch the ceremony here

     

    Somalia

    Somalia Partnership Forum takes stock of country’s progress
    The Federal Government of Somalia and its international partners gathered on 7 December for a high-level meeting dedicated to taking stock of the progress made by the country in various areas, as well as agree on priorities ahead of it. As occurred last year, the Somalia Partnership Forum (SPF) was held in Mogadishu, and the topics covered included the country’s elections, the fight against Al-Shabaab and security transition planned for 2021, economic development and more. In his remarks, James Swan, Special Representative and Head of UNSOM, called for dialogue to solve Somalia’s challenges with the current elections, and highlighted the need for a practical roadmap with clear benchmarks that would lead to ‘one person, one vote’ elections in the next electoral cycle.
    Read more here

     

    Peacebuilding

    Group of Friends of the Peacebuilding Fund meeting
    The fourth quarterly meeting of the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) took place on 11 December, convened by Group co-chairs Sweden and the United Kingdom. The Peacebuilding Support Office briefed partners on the status of the Fund, notably the $134.9 million of initiatives approved so far, including $36.9 million for this year’s Gender and Youth Promotion initiative.  Nearly half of ongoing PBF projects have made COVID-19 related adjustment. Partners were also briefed on the Fund’s high-level Replenishment Conference to be held on 26 January. The conference aims at mobilizing  commitments in support of the Fund’s strategy for the next 5 years.

     

    Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) meeting on Sierra Leone 
    The Peacebuilding Commission met on 10 December to discuss its future engagement with Sierra Leone. Traditionally, the PBC’s work with with Sierra Leone has centered around mobilizing and sustaining international attention and support to peace consolidation and peacebuilding efforts. The discussion built on Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s visit to Sierra Leone on 14 November and considered a roadmap for future engagement with the PBC prepared by the Government, stressing the need to further promote peace and national cohesion, including through the implementation of the 2019-2023 National Development Plan and by fast-tracking the establishment of a Commission for Peace and National Cohesion. The Commission expressed full support for the government’s efforts to invest in human capital development, economic diversification, and enhanced institutional governance, while at the same time ensuring effective COVID-19 response and recovery. The Commission recognized the critical role of the PBF, which has buttressed in the last decade national efforts to rebuild State institutions, improve security, and promote inclusive governance and reconciliation. The Commission encouraged stronger action to ensure meaningful participation of women in decision-making processes and promote youth employment and empowerment and stressed the importance of concluding the Constitutional review process, which would enable the inclusion of ethnic minority groups into governance structures. 
    Recording available here

     

    Talking Peace

    Final session of “Talking Peace” Series
    The DPPA-Shared_Studios Talking Peace series concluded on 10 December with a final conversation about speculative design and the future of peace. Co-hosted by UNESCO’s High-Level Futures Literacy Summit, the 90-minute interactive event saw close to 50 participants, including local peacebuilders from Afghanistan, Bolivia, Iraq and Rwanda; foresight experts and enthusiasts, and DPPA-DPO and other UN colleagues. The discussion focused on new means and opportunities to advance the inclusion of women and youth in the future. The Design Futures Initiative (DFI) and DPPA Innovation Cell introduced aspects related to foresight methodology for peace and security, drawing on the recent DPPA-DFI call for speculative artefacts that evoke novel ways to better sustain peace. 


    Next Week 

    Security Council
    Special Envoy Martin Griffiths will brief the Security Council on 14 December on political developments in Yemen. On 16 December, Syria Envoy Geir Pedersen will update the Council on the work of the Constitutional Committee. Special Representative Deborah Lyons will brief on Afghanistan and the work of UNAMA on 17 December.
    Updated Council programme of work here

     

    The Work of Peace

    Virtual exhibit
    Remember to check out our virtual exhibit: The Work of Peace. It highlights the UN’s key role in preventive diplomacy, good offices, mediation and elections over the past 75 years, and looks ahead at what the future may hold for this work.
    Enter here

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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    Contact DPPA at dppa@un.org

  • 11 ديسمبر 2020

    On 14 and 15 December, ASRSG Stephanie Williams  and the co-chairs of the Economic Working Group of the Berlin Process including Egypt, USA and EU, will convene a technical meeting of representatives of...

  • 11 ديسمبر 2020

    Amidst “disturbing reports” from Ethiopians fleeing to Sudan, the UN refugee agency called on Friday for “unfettered access to Tigray in order to reach people in need”. 

  • 11 ديسمبر 2020

    UN humanitarians issued a fresh alert on Friday for war-torn Yemen, warning that time is running out to avoid famine in the country. Out of two million children who need treatment for acute malnutrition, 360,000 are at risk of dying if they do not receive medical care, the World Food Programme (WFP) said.

  • 11 ديسمبر 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for global solidarity and greater international cooperation, and must be turned into an opportunity for fundamental change, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a keynote address to the Nobel Peace Prize Forum on Friday. 

  • 10 ديسمبر 2020

    The Secretary-General takes note of today’s delivery by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon of the sentencing decision of Mr. Salim Jamil Ayyash to five concurrent sentences of life imprisonment. 

    ...
  • 10 ديسمبر 2020

    At a time when Africa is mobilizing resources for pandemic recovery and sustainable development, illicit financial flows (IFFs) are robbing the continent of $50 billion annually, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told a high-level virtual meeting on Thursday held under the African Union’s (AU) ‘Silencing the Guns’ initiative. 

  • 10 ديسمبر 2020

    New York, 11 December 2020

    Mountains are home to stunning biodiversity.  Mountain regions host more than a quarter of terrestrial plants and animals and 30...

  • 10 ديسمبر 2020

    10 December 2020 – Representatives of Yemeni Civil Society working on issues related to prisoners and detainees, met virtually today with the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen (...

  • 10 ديسمبر 2020

    Griffiths addressing Yemeni journalists in a webinar by CFI

    Remarks by the UN Special Envoy, Martin Griffiths, at the...

  • 10 ديسمبر 2020

    Mogadishu – With the theme of this year’s Human Rights Day centred on ‘Recover Better. Stand Up for Human Rights,’ the United Nations envoy to Somalia today called on all...

  • 10 ديسمبر 2020

    ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

    The tenth annual Meeting of Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Central Asian states...

  • 10 ديسمبر 2020

    New York, 10 December 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced two fundamental truths about human rights.

    First, human rights violations harm us all.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups including frontline workers, people with disabilities, older people, women and girls, and minorities.

    It...

  • 10 ديسمبر 2020

    A UN International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East concluded on Wednesday, with a vibrant online panel discussion exploring how the systematic spread of untruths has changed the way traditional news outlets cover the Israel-Palestine conflict, and created avenues for citizen journalists to quickly push out stories to express their lived realities. 

  • 10 ديسمبر 2020

    ‘Rights Commitments Should Be Central in Libya’s Ongoing Political Process’

    On...

  • 9 ديسمبر 2020

    With so-called vaccine nationalism spreading “with full speed”, the Secretary-General told a journalists, following the fourth annual African Union-UN conference, that the continent must be “effectively supported” to fight the pandemic everywhere. 

  • 9 ديسمبر 2020

    Security Council Briefing on the Situation in Central Africa by Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Regional Office François Louncény Fall

     

    Mr. President,
    Distinguished members of the Security Council,

    It is a pleasure to brief the Security Council today on the situation in Central Africa and the activities of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) remotely for the second time this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic seems generally under control in the subregion, with only 13,470 active cases as of 7 December, for a total of 88,422 cases and 1,614 deaths officially reported since the beginning of the pandemic, although in recent days the number of infections in some countries have been on the rise again, thus delaying the lifting of some of the restrictions imposed to counter the evolution of the pandemic.

    The trends across Central Africa clearly indicate that the early measures enforced by the governments of the subregion to contain and reduce the propagation of the pandemic have proven effective. However, this effectiveness comes at a high socioeconomic cost as the economic slowdown triggered by the pandemic and the different restrictive measures further depleted the already limited capacity of the States to provide basic social services to their populations. I would like to encourage bilateral and multilateral partners to avail their support to all countries in the subregion to help them continue to fight the pandemic and address its economic, socio-political and security impact. I also appeal to international financial institutions to continue to facilitate the release of emergency assistance for all COVID-19 affected countries in Central Africa.

    Notwithstanding this peculiar context that impacted the smooth implementation of UNOCA’s mandate, I was able to engage with key UN, national and international partners in the subregion on various issues, including during my recent visits to Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo. On 1 December, I convened a meeting of heads of UN presences in Central Africa, during which we agreed, among others, to reinforce coordination in supporting regional efforts to address the impact of climate change, prevent election-related violence and fight against hate speech.

     

    Mr. President,

    I am pleased to report that ECCAS has reached a key milestone in its institutional reform process, with the swearing in of its new Commission on 1 September, including its President, Ambassador Gilberto da Piedade Veríssimo, its Vice-President and five Commissioners. The convening of two ordinary summits of Heads of State and Government is further evidence that regional leaders are determined to enhance regional integration and address peace and security issues in Central Africa. I therefore was pleased to witness such commitment at the 18th ordinary summit of ECCAS held in Libreville, on 27 November, which adopted the ECCAS Indicative Strategic Plan for 2021-2025 and Priority Action Plan for 2021, and decided to appoint a Mediator and deploy an election observation mission for the upcoming presidential and legislative elections in the Central African Republic. Ahead of the Summit, UNOCA has been engaging with the new Commission to identify joint priorities for the years ahead, notably on conflict prevention and regional integration, and enhance coordination of international partners for the implementation of the 2021-2025 Indicative Strategic Plan.

    While the reformed ECCAS institutions are gradually becoming operational, the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC) remains a relevant forum where the countries of Central Africa discuss and make recommendations aimed at addressing regional peace and security challenges. The 50th ministerial session of UNSAC took place virtually on 4 December. The Committee reviewed the regional peace and security situation, discussed the situation in the Central African Republic, and held a debate on the impact of COVID-19 on peace and security and on peaceful electoral processes in Central Africa. The Committee adopted declarations on the two latter issues, stressing the need to reinforce regional cooperation in addressing them.  

     

    Mr. President,

    Several countries of the subregion have been preparing for the holding of elections, including Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo and Sao Tome and Principe. On 6 December, Cameroon successfully held its first ever regional elections aimed at finalizing the decentralization process in the country, including the implementation of a special status for the North-West and South-West Regions. In the Republic of the Congo, political consultations to discuss preparations for the 2021 presidential election took place on 25 and 26 November, with the participation of opposition parties. In Chad, following the recommendations from the second National Inclusive Forum convened by the authorities from 29 October to 1 November, amendments were voted to the Constitution on 3 December. The amendments included the creation of a position of vice-president, the re-establishment of a senate and a court of auditors as well as the reduction of the minimum age to stand as a candidate in a presidential election from 45 to 40 years.

    As election preparations continue in the months ahead, I would like to encourage national authorities and all political stakeholders to promote continued dialogue and consensus on the conditions governing the elections, using political dialogue frameworks where they are in place, as is the case for instance in Chad and the Republic of the Congo, or through ad hoc arrangements. To be effective, such dialogue initiatives should be inclusive both in terms of participation and the issues discussed. I will continue to offer the good offices of the Secretary-General, wherever required, to encourage inclusive and meaningful political dialogue in the countries preparing for elections.

     

    Monsieur le Président,

    L'insécurité dans toute l'Afrique centrale a continué d'être une source de préoccupation, y compris lorsqu’elle a une dimension transfrontalière, notamment dans le bassin du lac Tchad et le golfe de Guinée.

    Lors de ma dernière visite au Cameroun en novembre, j'ai constaté avec une grande inquiétude la poursuite de la violence dans les régions de l'Extrême-Nord, du Nord-Ouest et du Sud-Ouest. Je déplore le fait que la violence dans les régions du Nord-Ouest et du Sud-Ouest vise maintenant les civils, y compris les élèves et les enseignants, ainsi que les religieux. Au cours de ma visite, j'ai réitéré l'appel lancé par le Secrétaire général à toutes les parties concernées pour qu'elles renoncent à la violence, fassent taire les armes et cessent les attaques contre les civils et les infrastructures civiles telles que les établissements scolaires. À cet égard, je voudrais appeler tous les acteurs à rester engagés en faveur d’un dialogue constructif pour mettre fin à la crise dans les deux régions et construire une paix et un développement durables. Je prends note de l'engagement des autorités nationales à faire avancer la mise en œuvre du programme présidentiel pour la reconstruction et le développement des deux régions, qui sera encore consolidé par un tel dialogue et la cessation des hostilités.

    Je suis particulièrement préoccupé par le fait que Boko Haram continue d’être une menace sérieuse dans le bassin du lac Tchad avec la multiplication des attaques et des enlèvements, entre autres. Les groupes terroristes ont continué d'intensifier leurs attaques au Cameroun et au Tchad et de perfectionner leur modus operandi, comme l'a démontré une récente attaque, dans la nuit du 24 au 25 novembre, lors de laquelle quatre soldats tchadiens ont été tués et environ 16 autres ont été blessés après que leur bateau eut apparemment heurté un engin explosif improvisé dans la région de Ngouboua sur le lac Tchad.

    On ne saurait trop insister sur la nécessité de traiter la crise dans le bassin du lac Tchad de manière globale, notamment dans le cadre de la Stratégie régionale de stabilisation, de redressement et de résilience des zones du bassin du lac Tchad affectées par Boko Haram. Malgré les difficultés dues à la COVID-19, le Plan d'action régional de la stratégie a été finalisé et les huit territoires les plus touchés sont maintenant en train d'élaborer leurs Plans d'action territoriaux. Je voudrais une fois de plus en appeler à la générosité des membres du Conseil de sécurité et des autres partenaires pour fournir les ressources nécessaires à la mise en œuvre rapide de la Stratégie régionale, afin de permettre aux populations du bassin du lac Tchad de bénéficier du dividende de la paix qui, en retour, renforcera leur résilience à la radicalisation et à l'extrémisme violent.

    La proximité et les similitudes entre les situations dans le bassin du lac Tchad et au Sahel justifient que nous les suivions et les analysions conjointement et que nous coordonnions nos réponses aux défis qui s’y posent. Plus concrètement, nous devons établir des liens entre la Stratégie intégrée des Nations Unies pour le Sahel et la Stratégie régionale pour le bassin du lac Tchad afin d'éviter les doubles emplois, rationaliser l'utilisation des ressources et faire en sorte que les deux stratégies se renforcent mutuellement.

    Dans le Golfe de Guinée, la criminalité organisée maritime a continué à se développer, notamment le trafic de drogue, la traite des personnes et le trafic illicite de migrants. Tout en saluant les mesures individuelles et les initiatives de coopération bilatérale prises par plusieurs Etats de la région pour faire face à l'insécurité maritime, je tiens à souligner que les réponses aux menaces à la sécurité tant des Etats que des personnes dans le Golfe de Guinée ne seront efficaces que si elles sont coordonnées entre l'Afrique centrale et l'Afrique de l'Ouest, par le biais des mécanismes existants tels que le Centre interrégional de coordination et les centres régionaux de sécurité maritime de l’Afrique centrale (CRESMAC) et de l’Afrique de l'Ouest (CRESMAO). Mon collègue le RSSG Mohamed Ibn Chambas de l'UNOWAS et moi-même avons convenu d'intensifier notre engagement en faveur de la coopération et de la coordination interrégionales en matière de sécurité maritime dans le Golfe de Guinée, ce qui constitue l'une des principales priorités communes de nos deux bureaux. Lors de sa 50ème session ministérielle, l'UNSAC a recommandé la tenue d'une conférence régionale sur la sécurité maritime en Afrique centrale.  

    La transhumance et les conflits entre agriculteurs et éleveurs se sont poursuivis en Afrique centrale, comme en témoignent les récents incidents sécuritaires dans la sous-région. Le 27 novembre, le gouvernement du Tchad a annoncé que 22 personnes ont été tuées et 34 autres ont été blessées lors d’affrontements entre agriculteurs et éleveurs dans la nuit du 23 au 24 novembre dans la province du Mayo Kebbi Est. Selon le gouvernement, 66 personnes ont été arrêtées à la suite de cet incident, tandis que les autorités ont également imposé un couvre-feu dans la zone. Je réitère l'appel du Secrétaire général aux gouvernements et aux communautés locales d'Afrique centrale pour qu'ils continuent à travailler ensemble afin de relever les défis communs liés à la transhumance. Je réaffirme également l'engagement de l'UNOCA à continuer à soutenir la CEEAC et ses États membres en vue de l'adoption d'une cadre réglementaire sous-régional sur le pastoralisme et la transhumance.

     

    Mr. President,

    To conclude, I would like to emphasize that these threats to peace and security in Central Africa also affect other regions, especially West Africa and the Great Lakes. This is the case of the already mentioned instability in the Lake Chad basin. Similarly, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) is currently present in both Central Africa and the Great Lakes, two regions to which several countries under UNOCA’s purview belong. Addressing these threats requires coordination between all affected regions and between the UN regional offices. On 23 November, SRSG Chambas and I agreed on a set of joint activities that our offices will undertake with regard to the situation in the Lake Chad and the Gulf of Guinea, and support to the implementation of the Lomé Declaration adopted at the 2018 ECCAS-ECOWAS Summit on peace, security, stability and the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. I will also continue to hold regular consultations with my colleagues from the Office of the Special Envoy for Great Lakes Region, UNOAU, MINUSCA, and MONUSCO, as well as UN Resident Coordinators and regional offices to address interregional challenges. All these coordination efforts are intended to improve our understanding of challenges in our areas of responsibilities and to better support the affected countries to address them.

    I thank you for your kind attention.

  • 9 ديسمبر 2020

    Insecurity continues to plague Central Africa, the UN envoy for the region told the Security Council on Wednesday, highlighting concern for cross-border violence.  

  • 9 ديسمبر 2020

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  • 9 ديسمبر 2020

    During the crisis and violent incidents that followed the general elections of October 2019 in Bolivia, the Secretary-General sent a Personal Envoy to the country to engage with all national actors and offer UN support to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis, including through credible and inclusive elections. The Personal Envoy joined facilitation efforts by the Episcopal Conference of Bolivia, the European Union and Spain in a dialogue among the main political actors that resulted in the de-escalation of the crisis. Under the facilitators’ auspices, on 22 November 2019, the main parties reached an agreement in which they requested the UN system to undertake peace consolidation activities “to help protect life; contain and prevent violence; ensure respect for human rights; promote dialogue; and guarantee the holding as soon as possible of a transparent, credible and inclusive electoral process”.  

  • 9 ديسمبر 2020

    New York, 9 December 2020

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  • 8 ديسمبر 2020

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  • 8 ديسمبر 2020

    International support for Sudan is critical as the country continues on the path to democratic transition, amid challenges that include political disagreements, economic decline, and the COVID-19 pandemic, UN political affairs chief, Rosemary DiCarlo told a virtual meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday. 

  • 8 ديسمبر 2020

    New York, 9 December 2020

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  • 8 ديسمبر 2020

    Mr. President,

    Thank you for this opportunity to brief the Security Council today on the situation in Sudan.                                         

    Since my last briefing in September, Sudan has made progress in its democratic transition. The Juba Peace Agreement between the Transitional Government, the Sudan Revolutionary Front and the Sudan Liberation Army – Minni Minawi faction was signed on 3 October and was enshrined in the Constitutional Document on 2 November.

    The amended Constitutional Document extends the transitional period to 39 months from the date of signature of the Juba Peace Agreement.  It expands the membership of the Sovereign Council from 11 to 14 members; provides for the signatories to select 25 per cent of ministerial portfolios and 75 seats out of 300 of the Transitional Legislative Council.  It also provides for the establishment of the Council of Partners during this period and further exempts representatives of the signatories from the ban on running for office in elections that will follow the transitional period. 

    The formation of the Transitional Legislative Council has now been postponed until 31 December. All political stakeholders will need to engage in constructive consultations to ensure the creation of an inclusive and representative body that reflects the diversity of Sudan’s social and political landscape and includes significant representation of women. 

    Despite the progress observed, political forces are increasingly fragmented. Disagreements have surfaced particularly over the mandate and functions of the Council of Partners that was established on 1 December. Key political stakeholders expressed concern that the nominally advisory and coordination body may have been given additional powers that would undermine those of other transitional institutions. 

    While initially supportive, the Council of Ministers and the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) subsequently rejected the suggested authority of the Council of Partners and its current composition and deplored the lack of women and youth representation.

    The Council of Ministers also called for the swift formation of the Transitional Legislative Council, emphasizing its exclusive power of oversight and accountability, and its role in guiding the transitional period.

    I hope that consensus can be found to ensure the functioning of clearly defined transitional institutions that are inclusive and effective.  I also echo the Transitional Government’s call for the swift formation of the legislative body as per the Constitutional Document. 

    Let me note that while the transitional authorities have committed to the promotion of gender equality, women remain underrepresented in transitional structures.  The Cabinet includes three women out of 18 ministers and the Council of Partners has only one female representative.  I welcome efforts by women’s organizations to develop a common agenda in promoting the inclusion of women.  The equal right to political participation and representation of women in decision-making at all levels of the transition is an integral part of democratization.  I commend the Transitional Government’s efforts on legal reforms that promote gender equality.

     

    Mr. President,

    The dire economic situation continues to cast a dark and long shadow over all these efforts.  COVID-19 restrictions, including the five-month shutdown to prevent its spread, resulted in a severe decline in economic activity, and a loss of approximately 42 per cent of State revenues.

    Given Sudan’s arrears, the country has been unable to avail of debt relief. The increased spending on emergency health programmes, coupled with a decline in public revenues, has led to a budget deficit of approximately USD 250 million per month. Rampant inflation and exchange rate fluctuations are negatively impacting the amounts of funding for programme delivery. The inflation rate also increased to 229 per cent in October, negatively affecting UN agencies’ and partners’ operations.

     

    Mr. President,

    19 December will mark the second anniversary of the revolution in Sudan.  Demonstrations continue to occur intermittently across the country because of the economic crisis, demands for government reform and rejection of the amendments to the Constitutional Document.  Some have been accompanied by loss of life and injuries. 

    The COVID-19 pandemic has further aggravated the humanitarian needs, also driven by severe flooding, intercommunal violence and prolonged displacement. In recent weeks, over 48,000 people have fled the Ethiopian conflict in the Tigray region and have sought refuge in Sudan. This has put an additional strain on the Sudanese authorities.

    In the IMF Staff-Monitored Program, signed in September, the Transitional Government agreed to implement the removal of subsidies and implement macro-economic reforms. This has caused serious hardships for the population in the short-term.

    It is critical that the international community continue supporting Sudan’s economic recovery through funding of the basic income cash transfer programme known as the “Family Support Programme,” intended to mitigate the social impact of the transitional Government’s economic reform agenda.

    I welcome once again the intention of the United States to rescind Sudan’s designation as a State sponsor of terrorism, a change that will facilitate the country’s access to critical international financial assistance. I also welcome the commitment of President Emmanuel Macron of France to hold an international economic conference in Paris next year in support of Sudan.

     

    Mr. President,

    After a thorough planning process involving the UN system, the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan, UNITAMS, began to deploy to Khartoum in October.

    The team is now continuing its consultations with transitional authorities regarding priorities for this time-bound mission.

    The Transitional Government has underscored the need for UNITAMS to have a light footprint, and this is how the mission has been configured. The mission will focus on the four objectives outlined in Resolution 2524: assist the political transition; support peace processes; assist peacebuilding, civilian protection and the rule of law; and support the mobilization of economic, development and humanitarian assistance.  It will provide good offices, technical support and capacity building, and will leverage the work of the United Nations country team.  

    UNITAMS is headquartered in Khartoum but will establish field offices in Darfur, the Two Areas and eastern Sudan. Let me stress that UNITAMS will be a fully integrated mission, and the mission staff and the UN Country Team are now developing an Integrated Strategic Framework and coordination structures to maximize UN support and effectiveness. Our goal is for UNITAMS, together with the Country Team, to begin delivering against all the mission’s strategic objectives by 1 January 2021.

    As the Mission establishes itself, we count on the Transitional Government’s continued support.

     

    Mr. President,

    UNITAMS is also working closely with UNAMID, in anticipation of its drawdown. The protection of civilians remains a concern, especially for women and children who face a multitude of risks in areas still under the control of armed groups. Protection of civilians will be the responsibility of the Transitional Government, but UNITAMS will provide support and help to create a protective environment for vulnerable populations.   

    I welcome the steps the government has taken to address this issue, including through the formulation of a National Plan for Civilian Protection and the announcement that 12,000 members of a protection force will be deployed in Darfur.  National and local authorities have made a strong commitment to ensure basic security and protection across Sudan.  UNITAMS will support the Transitional Government by helping to create a protective environment.

    UNAMID and UNITAMS joint teams are conducting assessment visits focused on the protection of civilians to ensure that lessons learned from UNAMID are sustained. UNITAMS will have child protection advisors, women’s protection advisers, human rights officers and police trainers to support the Transitional Governments’ efforts. 

    However, effective protection of civilians will only be achieved through Sudan’s own efforts.

    Key to the efforts to protect civilians will be the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement. The agreement is a major step towards ending years of conflict in the country, addressing the root causes, and building a sustainable peace.

     

    Mr. President,

    Sudan is at a critical juncture. It can move forward decisively in its transition, but that progress can still be derailed by the many challenges it faces. It is incumbent on all of us to support Sudan in its efforts to achieve democratic governance, economic prosperity and an inclusive society for all Sudanese.

    Thank you.

     

  • 7 ديسمبر 2020

    The UN Secretary-General said on Monday it was “essential to quickly restore the rule of law” in Ethiopia’s northern region of Tigray, where Government forces and those loyal to the ruling Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have been engaged in fighting for more than a month.

  • 7 ديسمبر 2020

    There is a critical need for State institutions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to provide more stability and safety for citizens facing multiple threats, the head of the UN mission there told the Security Council on Monday. 

  • 7 ديسمبر 2020

    ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

    On 4 December 2020, His Excellency President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov endorsed the National Action Plan for 2021-2024 on the implementation of the Strategy of Turkmenistan to Prevent Violent Extremism and Counter Terrorism. The Plan was developed with the support of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia and the UN Counter-Terrorism Office - UN Counter-Terrorism Centre...

  • 7 ديسمبر 2020

    KABUL - Afghan women and girls are being failed by the country’s justice system with their access to justice for crimes of violence remaining...

  • 7 ديسمبر 2020

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  • 6 ديسمبر 2020

    Somalia Partnership Forum

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    Somalia and its international partners met in Mogadishu on 7th December 2020...

  • 6 ديسمبر 2020

    Mogadishu, 7 December 2020 – The Federal Government of Somalia and its international partners today gathered in the capital for a one-day, high-level meeting dedicated to taking...