Ongoing violence in Cameroon’s northwest and southwest has created a fast-growing humanitarian emergency now affecting some 1.9 million people, a “15-fold increase since 2017”, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
Ongoing violence in Cameroon’s northwest and southwest has created a fast-growing humanitarian emergency now affecting some 1.9 million people, a “15-fold increase since 2017”, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
I congratulate the Government of Yemen and the Southern Transitional Council on reaching an agreement on the way forward.
The signing of this agreement is an important step for our collective efforts to advance a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Yemen. Listening to southern stakeholders is important to the political efforts to achieve peace in the country.
I am grateful to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for mediating successfully this agreement and for their...
It is a pleasure to be back at Yale. A few years ago, as a Senior Fellow at the Jackson Institute, I taught a course here on multilateral institutions in the 21st century. At the time I was a former official of the State Department, drawing on my experience representing the United States in multilateral fora, especially the United Nations.
Today I am an official of the United Nations. The department I head plays a central role in United Nations efforts to prevent deadly conflict and build sustainable peace. We have a global mandate: political missions in Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq, Libya, Haiti and Somalia; and envoys addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Myanmar. We also have envoys practicing conflict prevention at a regional level in East, West and Central Africa, and Central Asia. We provide support to the Secretary-General in his engagements across the world and are increasingly involved in work with e countries where no formally mandated peace operation is present.
As you can imagine, the big questions raised by the title of my remarks suffuse my work. But in the press of daily demands, it can, in all honesty, be hard to find time to think about them. So I particularly welcome the opportunity you have given me to share some thoughts with you today.
A difficult time…
We are having this conversation at a difficult time. Far from a “new world order”, what we see is unease and uncertainty across the globe; intensified competition amongst major powers; and a perception that we face threats more serious than we have seen in a generation: persistent conflict, accelerating climate change, and new forms of warfare deriving from technological change and without international governance.
In our core work of conflict prevention and resolution, we are seeing some negative trends. Three, all intertwined, stand out:
Together, these factors contribute to a sense that we have lost traction on the major conflicts; increase calls for isolationism and closed borders; and feed scepticism about multilateral efforts. Yet, as Secretary-General António Guterres has frequently observed, this is a moment where there is arguably more need for multilateral cooperation and collective solutions to a range of problems that transcend borders and regions than at any time in the United Nations’ history.
How to explain, and respond to, this central paradox?
My view is that a questioning of the relevance of multilateralism is rooted in divergence among states in their interpretation of the principles on which the UN is based, principles that have defined international cooperation for the past seven decades. This underpins a tendency to circumvent rules and leads some states to seek to redefine their roles in the multilateral system.
When the UN was established 74 years ago, its Member States committed to the sovereign equality of all states, to refraining from the use of force and to taking collective action regarding threats to international peace and security. These principles are outlined in the UN Charter, to which all Member States pledge adherence. They were developed by the victors of the Second World War — the major powers that exist today. But there are now new and rising powers that were not part of the creation of these rules. And even those who were, interpret them differently.
Let’s take one principle — sovereignty. To many countries, sovereignty does not mean that a state has the absolute right to do as it chooses. It also means that a state has responsibilities — not only to its citizens but to other states — not to pollute the environment, to prevent terrorists from crossing borders, to curb the flow of weapons, to abide by international human rights and humanitarian law. But to other states, sovereignty is deemed absolute. This has limited the UN’s ability to prevent and resolve conflicts in many parts of the world, including, perhaps most obviously, Syria.
Meanwhile, many people are losing faith in the process of globalization. They feel left behind. Around the world, we see the rising appeal of nationalist and populist voices.
Demonstrations are affecting countries from the Middle East to Latin America and the Caribbean and from Europe to Africa and Asia. While every situation is unique, one common thread connecting all demonstrations is a growing deficit of trust between people and political establishments. This constitutes a rising threat to the social contract.
Not all bad news…
Yet not all the news is bad. Indeed, if we look back at the recent high-level week of the General Assembly, more world leaders than ever before descended on New York. The climate crisis quite rightly topped the bill in terms of their attention – and beyond states, generated an extraordinary mobilization of activists, many of them young, demanding change at the Climate Action Summit.
As a collective body, the General Assembly itself counters the idea that unilateralism could be the answer to the world’s problems. What we heard from a number of Member States is that many of today’s challenges cannot be addressed by one state or a few states alone. For some issues, the way forward lies in more, not less international cooperation.
To quote the Secretary-General, however, “it is not enough to proclaim the virtue of multilateralism; we must prove its added value.” And collective action must be for a defined purpose, based on principles that are commonly agreed.
What to do?
So, what does multilateralism look like in practice? A short answer lies in one word, “partnerships”. There is not a juxtaposition between “multilateralism versus regionalism and unilateralism”. Multilateralism can mean a few states working togheter to solve common problems. Or an organization like the UN working with regional organizations or international financial institutions. But these partnerships must go beyond states and intergovernmental bodies to include civil society, the private sector, women’s organizations and youth – all of whom make an important contribution to global international cooperation.
We are still wrestling with existing threats and challenges to security – migration, terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, arms transfers. And we have new challenges to address – the impact of climate change on security, the benefits and risks of new technology. I think that you would all agree that not one country can solve these challenges alone.
Let me end here, as I am keen to hear your views, in particular, on how you see cooperation that is needed to address today’s security challenges; and your role in helping realize it.
Thank you.
A recap of stories this Monday: UN reaction to US Paris Agreement withdrawal; UNICEF urges repatriation of children stranded in Syria; Public health emergency in India’s New Delhi; Ebola health worker death in DR Congo shows deadly risks; Guinea Bissau crisis, Security Council update; UNEP campaign targets ocean microplastics.
The road ahead “will not be easy” for the Horn of Africa, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said on Monday, briefing the Security Council on her Joint Solidarity Mission with the African Union (AU) at the end of October.
The head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is appealing for countries to repatriate scores of foreign children who are stranded in northeast Syria in the wake of the Turkish-launched offensive which began last month.
Honorable Chairman, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
First, I extend thanks to our Qatari hosts from their warm hospitality and excellent arrangements for this meeting. I also want to express our solidarity with the Somali victims of the tragic flooding in Belet Weyne. The United Nations family — including the Office of the Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and the World Food Program, among others —has responded swiftly to provide assistance, thanks to generous...
UN-brokered face-to-face talks between the Syrian Government and opposition – the first to take place in nearly nine years of fighting – to draft a new constitution for the country, will continue into next week, the UN’s Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said on Friday.
“An inspiration to all of us” is how top Police Adviser Luis Carrilho, described this year’s winner of the UN Female Police Officer of the Year Award, which was announced on Friday.
This Week in DPPA is a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world.
DPPA Chief in the CaucasusContinues visit in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia In Tbilisi, Georgia, on 28 October Ms. DiCarlo met President Salome Zourabichvili, and reaffirmed the UN’s strong commitment to assisting the participants in revitalizing the Geneva International Discussions, the process that addresses the consequences of the conflict in Georgia in 2008. She also discussed with representatives from civil society and internally displaced persons progress in constitutional and electoral reforms and the important role of NGO’s and women in advancing peace through dialogue. Continuing to Yerevan, Armenia, the Under-Secretary-General addressed the UN “Think Equal Forum on Women Empowerment” on 29 October, highlighting alongside Armenian women leaders the essential role of women in peace and security. She also met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and again emphasized the UN’s full support for the ongoing peace efforts led by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Security Council‘Multi-generational tragedy’ in Israel and Palestine demands political will for two-state solution, says Mladenov
WPS agenda one of the top priorities of the UN, Secretary-General reaffirms
UN–African Union collaboration more ‘systematic and predictable’
Situation in Burundi remains tense, says outgoing Special Envoy
New YorkPeacebuilding Commission briefed on The Gambia
ColombiaFormer FARC combatants present a collection of hiking clothes
More than 30 artists painted for reconciliation and peacebuilding
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AfghanistanProtection of children’s rights in the spotlight at Kunduz symposium
Central AsiaYouth from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan meet through UNRCCA initiative
IraqSpecial Representative meets protesters at Tahrir Square
LebanonSpecial Coordinator calls for government that meets aspiration of the Lebanese people
SyriaLaunch of the Syrian Constitutional Committee
SomaliaSpecial Representative visits Puntland
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Contact DPPA at dppa@un.org
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday presented UN Secretary-General António Guterres with a plan for resettling hundreds-of-thousands of Syrian refugees, in the wake of the country’s offensive into northeastern Syria last month to remove Kurdish forces, aimed at creating a so-called “safe zone” along the border for returnees.
The UN Migration Agency appealed on Friday for the immediate liberation of a volunteer and child who’ve been missing since a gun battle in South Sudan at the weekend that claimed the lives of three agency workers.
Expressing deep concern for the impact on human rights of ongoing political unrest in Haiti, the UN rights chief on Friday called on all actors to acknowledge the grievances of Haitians, many of whom have been demanding the president step down amidst violent demonstrations which ignited a sprawling emergency in recent weeks.
Elections held earlier this month in Kosovo represent “the most significant change in the political landscape” there in a dozen years, the UN mission chief told the Security Council on Thursday.
A recap of Thursday’s top stories: Guterres in Turkey underscores successes of mediation; 45 million lack food across Southern Africa; rights experts push to release Palestinian hunger striker; new UN health report targets causes of urban deaths; Climate change conference finds a new home; Iraq protests put country at ‘a crossroads’
Mediation is “one of our most important tools to reduce and end conflict”, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the sixth Istanbul Mediation Conference, in the Turkish capital on Thursday.
The Security Council highlighted the growing partnership on matters of peace and security between the United Nations and African Union (AU) on Wednesday amidst calls to bolster overall effectiveness.
A recap of Wednesday’s stories: new Syria talks begin in Geneva; Chile pulls out as host of major climate conference; UN calls for national talks to break cycle of violence in Iraq; UN chief voices ‘serious concern’ over Guinea-Bissau political crisis; IOM suspends South Sudan Ebola screening; UN atomic watchdog appoints new leader.
Madame la Présidente du Conseil,
Mesdames et messieurs les membre du Conseil,
Madame la Présidente,
Je me réjouis de l'opportunité que vous m’offrez de briefer le Conseil, à l’occasion de l’examen du rapport du Secrétaire Général, portant sur la situation au Burundi. Mais auparavant, qu’on me permette de vous féliciter pour votre accession à la présidence du Conseil de Sécurité, pour ce mois d’octobre et de saluer par la même occasion les autres membres.
Madame la Présidente,
Distingués Membres du Conseil,
Le présent briefing porte sur le document qui a été déjà soumis à votre appréciation et intitulé « Rapport du Secrétaire Général sur la situation au Burundi », publié le 24 octobre 2019. La première partie de mon exposé, concerne quelques observations tirées de ce rapport ; la deuxième partie fait le point de mes activités, relativement au dialogue inter-Burundais. Dans la troisième partie, je formule quelques recommandations sur la nécessité pour l’Organisation des Nations Unies de rester présente au Burundi.
Dans l’ordre des observations, il faut tout d’abord noter qu’à maints égards, la situation au Burundi demeure tendue. Au cours de la période considérée, on a observé une montée de l’intolérance politique et des atteintes aux libertés civiques et politiques. Le gouvernement a heureusement réagi, en mettant en place un cadre de dialogue politique, regroupant les partis politiques, les administrateurs locaux, et les représentants des forces de sécurité. Cette initiative mérite d’être encouragée et soutenue. Tout comme la condamnation à perpétuité, de quatre auteurs de l’assassinat, à Muyinga, d’un membre du parti CNL, le 18 août dernier, ainsi que les discussions en cours entre le CNARED et le Gouvernement quant au retour des leaders politiques en exil.
La deuxième observation porte sur le processus électoral, géré par la Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendante (CENI). Il faut espérer que ce processus sera transparent. Des élections mal organisées et contestées, on le sait, sont toujours sources de conflit.
La troisième observation porte sur la situation socio-économique, laquelle continue de se détériorer.
La quatrième observation est centrée sur la situation sécuritaire qui, il faut bien l’admettre, s’est améliorée sur toute l’étendue du territoire, même si, ici et là, des abus et autres violations des droits de l’Homme continuent à être rapportés.
En tout état de cause, il convient d’encourager le gouvernement dans les obligations qui sont les siennes de garantir la sécurité de tous ses citoyens et de mettre fin à l’impunité.
La cinquième et dernière observation a trait à la situation humanitaire qui demeure aussi préoccupante. Toutefois, il faut saluer le retour volontaire de milliers de réfugiés au pays, tout en veillant à ce que leur insertion et réintégration se fassent dans la dignité.
Madame la Présidente,
Le dialogue inter-Burundais sous les auspices de la Communauté de l’Afrique de l’Est, n’a toujours pas eu lieu, quatre ans après son lancement, faute, sans doute, de volonté politique des uns et des autres et aussi, pourquoi ne pas le souligner, d’engagement ferme des Etats de la sous-région. Ce dialogue aurait cependant permis que le nouveau Burundi, en perspective, soit l’affaire de tous, pour éviter ainsi les remises en cause et les éternels recommencements, ce que l’on a vu par le passé.
Et pourtant, le 20e sommet de la Communauté de l’Afrique de l’Est, tenu à Arusha le 1er février 2019, avait décidé que le Médiateur entreprendrait davantage de consultations pour l’organisation et l’aboutissement de ce dialogue.
Hélas ! les choses n’ont malheureusement pas bougé.
C’est dans cette incertitude que j’ai entrepris, une fois de plus, des concertations avec les leaders de la région, à commencer par le Médiateur, le Président Yoweri Museveni, qui m’a reçu le 23 août 2019. Au cours de nos entretiens, il m’a confirmé sans ambages sa volonté de poursuivre la médiation de concert avec le Président de la Communauté de l’Afrique de l’Est, M. Kagame, ainsi que les autres Chef d’Etats de la région. Mais aussi avec le concours des Nations Unies à qui il demande de continuer d’apporter leurs appuis.
Madame la Présidente,
Distingués Membres du Conseil,
Ayant accompli ces dernières démarches, le temps est venu pour moi de conclure ma mission d’Envoyé Spécial au Burundi. A vrai dire, c’est depuis le mois de juin dernier que j’avais notifié ma volonté de partir à Monsieur le Secrétaire Général. Mais ma rencontre avec le Médiateur, programmée par lui, d’abord pour le 19 juillet mais qui eut lieu finalement en août, me dissuadait alors d’officialiser ma décision. Aujourd’hui, je le confirme.
J’atteste que même si nous n’avons pas gagné la bataille du dialogue au Burundi, le rôle des Nations Unies est loin d’avoir été négligeable. Sans conteste, nous avons contribué à susciter chez les responsables de la Région, une prise de conscience plus aigüe de ce que la stabilité au Burundi est un impératif catégorique pour la paix globale dans l’ensemble de cette région.
Madame la Présidente,
Distingués Membres du Conseil,
Avec cette précision importante que je viens de mentionner, à savoir l’engagement continu des Nations Unis en faveur du Burundi, permettez-moi de refaire brièvement le compte, ne serait-ce qu’à titre de redevabilité, des principales activités accomplies dans le cadre du mandat que vous m’avez confié.
Depuis ma nomination par le Secrétaire Général, le 5 mai 2017, comme Envoyé Spécial pour le Burundi, je n’ai ménagé aucun effort, pour aider la Facilitation et la région, à mener à terme, le processus du dialogue inter-Burundais. A cet égard, et à plusieurs reprises, j’ai entrepris des visites dans la région et consulté ses principaux leaders, notamment le Médiateur et le Facilitateur, ainsi que les parties prenantes burundaises.
J’ai aussi, en de nombreuses occasions, rencontré les autorités de l’Union Africaine, à l’effet de les sensibiliser et solliciter leur engagement dans la recherche d’une solution consensuelle au Burundi. De même, j’ai approché certains Chefs d’Etat africains, toujours dans le même objectif.
En deux ans et demi de mission, j’ai été reçu une fois par le Président Pierre Nkurunziza. Plus précisément, c’était au lendemain de ma nomination, le 27 Juin 2017. Les espoirs nés de cette première rencontre avec le Chef de l’Etat du Burundi, notamment sur les questions liées au dialogue et à la coopération avec l’ONU, dont la signature du SOMA, n’ont malheureusement pas encore abouti.
Durant mes régulières visites au Burundi, j’ai eu des séances de travail avec les principaux acteurs et leaders politiques, tant de l’opposition que du Parti au pouvoir; les représentants de la société civile ; ceux des confessions religieuses, des femmes et des jeunes et naturellement avec les diplomates accrédités dans ce pays. J’ai rencontré les responsables du CNARED, à Bruxelles pour les persuader d’aller au dialogue. Mon Bureau à Bujumbura a établi des rapports de coopération avec toutes les parties concernées et d’abord avec les représentants du Gouvernement ; ceux de la communauté internationale et les principaux acteurs politiques.
Au sein du Groupe Conjoint de Travail (JTWG), mis en place pour soutenir les efforts du Facilitateur, mon Bureau a apporté un appui significatif sur le plan technique, logistique et financier, contribuant ainsi à la tenue de plusieurs réunions de consultations dont les sessions plénières du dialogue, à Arusha et à Entebbe.
L’appui multiforme de mon Bureau et mon engagement personnel auprès du Facilitateur et du Médiateur, ont contribué souvent à lever certains blocages politiques et techniques et rendu possible la poursuite du processus de recherche de la paix.
Madame la Présidente,
Distingués Membres du Conseil,
Depuis ma prise de fonction, j’ai eu l’opportunité de rendre régulièrement compte à votre Conseil, de l’évolution de la situation au Burundi. J’ai apprécié vos remarques, vos conseils, et vos encouragements. Au moment de mettre fin à ma mission, je tiens à vous remercier pour tous ces égards et pour le soutien constant et multiforme que vous m’avez apporté.
Je remercie Monsieur le Secrétaire General pour la confiance qu’il m’a faite tout au long de ma mission.
Je remercie l’Ambassadeur Jürg Lauber, Président de la Configuration-Burundi de la Commission des Nations Unies pour la Consolidation de la Paix.
Je remercie tous mes collaborateurs, et en premier lieu l’équipe du Bureau de L’Envoyé Spécial à Bujumbura et celle du Département des Affaires Politiques et de la Consolidation de la Paix.
Je remercie les autorités et le peuple burundais.
En un mot, j’exprime ma sincère gratitude à tous ceux qui ont facilité ma mission.
Ten years ago, the UN Security Council established a mandate to prevent and address the scourge of conflict-related sexual violence. At a commemorative event on Wednesday, the UN deputy chief described that commitment as essential to “highlight, prevent and seek justice for this crime”.
Work on drafting a new foundational text for war-torn Syria officially began at the UN in Geneva on Wednesday with representatives from the Syrian Government and opposition sitting face to face and preparing to discuss the country’s future for the first time in the nearly nine-year conflict.
The UN’s most senior official in Iraq, visited protesters in central Baghdad on Wednesday, calling for “a national dialogue to identify prompt, meaningful responses to break the vicious cycle of violence” which has roiled the country during the past five days.
A recap of Tuesday’s top stories: ‘Real change’ too slow for women’s peace and security role; UN rights chief urges India to ‘unlock’ Kashmir restrictions; UN chief welcomes milestone Syria constitution meeting.
The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis notes the announcement of Prime Minister Saad Hariri submitting his resignation.
The Special Coordinator urges the authorities to act...
The Women Peace and Security agenda must continue to be “one of the top priorities of the United Nations”, Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Tuesday, in an open debate on how best to accelerate change.
United Nations Special Coordinator, Nickolay Mladenov meets with the Director of Jerusalem Waqf Department, Sheikh Azzam Al-Khatib (29 October 2019 - UNSCO Photo)
...The people of Indian-administered Kashmir continue to be deprived of numerous basic freedoms, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday, before urging the Indian authorities “to unlock the situation”.
The United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) is saddened and concerned to learn about the death of a civilian and injury to several others, reportedly following a demonstration in Bissau on Saturday, 26 October 2019.
UNIOGBIS calls on the population and political parties of Guinea-Bissau to remain calm and serene and expresses its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured....
Mogadishu – The Somalia Joint Police Programme (JPP) Executive Board met today to set out the next quarter of activities of the programme as it rolls out the new policing model throughout the five federal member states and Banadir region.
by Somalia’s Federal Government, international partners and the United Nations, mapping the next stage of activities of the Joint Police Programme and New Policing Model roll-out at federal and state level throughout the country.
...A recap of Monday’s top stories: ‘Multi-generational tragedy’ in Israel and Palestine demands viable two-State solution; gender gap persists in Latin America’s workforce; Syria envoy urges prisoner release ahead of talks in Geneva; Egypt urged to end repression of protesters and rights defenders; future of digital communications discussed at world conference.
Pervasive deteriorating facts on the ground in Israeli-Palestinian conflict, “are pushing us every further” from achieving a viable two-State solution, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told the Security Council on Monday.
