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This Week in DPPA: 4 - 10 February 2023

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

Syria

Special Envoy calls for support and generosity for Syria, Türkiye after devastating earthquake 

On 9 February, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria Geir O. Pedersen spoke to journalists following the Humanitarian Task Force meeting organized in Geneva on the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria. He echoed the Secretary-General’s appeal to the international community to show the people of Türkiye and Syria the same kind of support and generosity with which they received, protected and assisted millions of refugees and displaced people in an enormous show of solidarity over the years. The Special Envoy stressed that emergency response must not be politicized; instead, the focus must be on what is needed urgently to help men, women and children whose lives are devastated by one of the most catastrophic earthquakes the region has ever seen.

Lebanon

Special Coordinator underlines the need for political leadership in her engagements with Lebanese and diplomatic officials in Lebanon

Special Coordinator of the Secretary-General for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka held a round of meetings this week with a spectrum of political, parliamentary and religious actors in Lebanon to discuss the importance of respecting constitutional milestones, starting with the election of a President, and steering the country towards a path of recovery through substantive reforms. The Special Coordinator underlined the need for the political leadership in Lebanon to put the interest of the country and the needs of the people at the center of their actions. She also noted the role of spiritual leaders in promoting understanding and the service of the public good. During the past week, the Special Coordinator also met with ambassadors of permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council to coordinate international efforts ahead of Lebanon’s municipal elections and to update them ahead of her briefing to the Security Council next month.

Colombia

Promotion of social reincorporation initiatives in Guaviare

On 9 February, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia participated in the presentation of the project "Model of integral care in the reintegration process " in the former reintegration area of Charras, Boquerón and surrounding communities, in the department of Guaviare, southern central region of Colombia. Former combatants, local authorities, United Nations agencies and civil society also took part. In Guaviare, this initiative will benefit 30 families, 37 young people and 30 children and adolescents, and will work on topics such as new masculinities, strengthening of family dynamics, adaptation and improvement of care areas, community initiatives with young people and activation of routes for cases of gender-based violence.

Libya

5+5 JMC and liaison committees from Libya, Sudan and Niger meet in Cairo

On 8 February, the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) and liaison committees from Libya, Sudan and Niger approved the establishment of an integrated mechanism for joint coordination and data exchange to facilitate the full withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign fighters from Libya. The decision was announced at the conclusion of a two-day meeting in Cairo, chaired by Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Abdoulaye Bathily. He said that the decision is an important step toward achieving sustainable stability and peace in Libya, in neighboring countries and the region in general, and creating a favorable climate for the political process, including the organization of elections in 2023.

Sudan

Trilateral Mechanism continues supporting parties on political process

On 9 February, the IGAD-AU-UN Trilateral Mechanism attended a meeting with civilian and military Framework Agreement signatories and representatives of political parties and movements of non-signatories to support them in reaching consensus on the political process. The Trilateral Mechanism stressed the importance of reaching an agreement as soon as possible, which would provide basis for reaching a final political agreement and the formation of a new credible civilian transition that meets the aspirations of the Sudanese people for a democratic, prosperous future. As part of its facilitation role in the political process, the Trilateral Mechanism plans to hold a conference on the roadmap for political and security stability and sustainable development in eastern Sudan from 12 to 15 February.

Football tournament brings communities together 

On 9 February, the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) in Geneina, a city in West Darfur, organized a football tournament, funded by the European Union. The game brought together youth from nomads, internally displaced persons and communities, as part of peacebuilding mediation and reconciliation effort in the region. 

Mozambique

Personal Envoy Manzoni attends Peace Process event in Cabo Delgado 

On 9 February, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General Mirko Manzoni participated in an event on Mozambique’s peace process during a state visit to Cabo Delgado, in the northern province of the country. DDR beneficiaries, reintegration partners and Peace Process Secretariat staff members shared their experiences of building peace in Mozambique. The event was also attended by President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique and President Alain Berset of the Swiss Confederation, who called the Mozambique Peace Process an inspiration to the world. As of end last year, over 900 DDR beneficiaries and family members have been connected with reintegration opportunities under the leadership of the Personal Envoy.

Democratic Republic of Congo

International delegation visits the DRC

Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support Elizabeth Spehar and Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Martha Pobee visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) this week as part of the international delegation. The visit served to ensure the alignment of UN initiatives and integrated support to national peacebuilding priorities with a particular focus on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) and stabilization. Led by Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) Bintou Keita, the delegation, which included Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security institutions Alexandre Zouev, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa Ahunna Eziakonwa as well as representatives from the World Bank and the Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, met with national authorities, civil society organizations (CSOs), women's groups and the international community in DRC. They discussed opportunities to strengthen partnerships, both with the government and with CSOs, in the context of political processes and the transition.

Horn of Africa

Implementation of the Comprehensive Regional Conflict Prevention Strategy 

From 30-31 January, in Djibouti, the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa convened the bi-annual meeting on the implementation of the Comprehensive Regional Conflict Prevention Strategy. The meeting provided a platform for Special Envoy Hanna Tetteh, Regional Directors of Agencies, Funds and Programmes (AFPs), Resident Coordinators, the strategy’s Pillar heads, Peace and Development Advisors (PDAs) and Peacebuilding Officers to discuss the current situation in the Horn of Africa and take stock of progress in the implementation of the Strategy since the last meeting in June 2022. During the meeting, participants identified areas for engagement as well as challenges and gaps, and provided concrete recommendations ahead of an upcoming fundamental review of the Strategy, which will attain its five-year mark this year.

Next Week

 

 

The Security Council will discuss children and armed conflict on 13 February and hold an open debate on threats to international peace and security: Sea-level rise: implications for international peace and security on 14 February. 

 

 

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