Amid multiple deadly attacks on civilians by armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), an Ebola death “unlinked to any chain of transmission” risks reversing major gains against the epidemic, which is now down to just a handful of cases, a top UN medic said on Friday.
A recap of Thursday’s stories in brief: Syria’s violence continues to strike children; governments must do more for human rights in business; poor health in Europe’s prisons; rights experts’ concern over Irish ISIL bride and her child in Turkey; Fishing workers face huge risks at sea.
With Somalia scheduled to hold “one-person, one-vote” elections next year, leaders must act now to break the “stalemate” between the central government and federal member states, the top UN official in the country told the Security Council on Thursday.
Turkey must ensure that an Irish woman and her infant daughter who are being held in custody there are repatriated, independent UN experts said in a statement released on Thursday. The woman, Lisa Smith, has been described in press reports as a supporter of the ISIL terror group, and former member of the Irish military.
Violence in Syria continues to kill and maim civilians with reports that missiles fired into settlements for people fleeing conflict in the country’s northwest on Wednesday night, killed at least 12 people and wounded dozens more, including children, UN humanitarians said on Thursday.
Madame la Présidente,
Merci de me donner l’opportunité de vous entretenir des activités de la Force conjointe du G5 Sahel, du soutien international dont elle bénéficie, notamment de la part de la MINUSMA, des défis auxquels cette Force fait face, ainsi que et des mesures pouvant être envisagées à cet égard. Je rentre à l’instant du Forum de Dakar où la question de la montée en puissance de la force conjointe et de sa relation à la MINUSMA a été largement évoquée. J’y reviendrai dans le courant de ma présentation.
Au cours des six derniers mois, la situation sécuritaire au Sahel a continué de se détériorer. Les attaques attribuées ou revendiquées par les groupes terroristes contre les forces de sécurité et les populations civiles se sont multipliées. De même que les incidents violents opposants les membres de diverses communautés.
Le 6 novembre dernier, à Boungou, dans le nord-est du Burkina Faso, une quarantaine de civils et de soldats ont ainsi été tué lors d’une attaque attribuée à des groupes terroristes. Au cours des dix derniers jours, ce sont près d’une centaine d’éléments des forces de sécurité du Burkina Faso, du Mali et du Niger qui ont perdu la vie dans une série d’attaques visant principalement le triangle du Liptako-Gourma. Ce 18 novembre, 24 soldats des Forces armées maliennes ont péri lors d’une opération anti-terroriste, près de Tabankort, au Nord du Mali, à proximité de la frontière nigérienne. Au total, depuis le début de cette année, les incidents sécuritaires ont triplé dans la région en comparaison de l’année précédente, en particulier au Burkina Faso et au Niger. Au Burkina Faso, 489 incidents ont été enregistrés cette année contre 151 l’année dernière. Au Niger, 218 incidents ont eu lieu, contre 69 à la même période il y a un an. De plus, la violence causée par les groupes terroristes au Sahel s’étend désormais aux pays de la côte ouest-africaine, et le long d’une bande sahélo-sahélienne qui relie pratiquement à présent les zones d’opérations de la force conjointe du G5 Sahel et celles de la Force multinationale dans le Bassin du Lac Tchad. Ce fait a été constaté par de nombreux représentants des pays de la sous-région ces derniers jours à Dakar qui ont mis en garde contre le risque d’effondrement de la digue sécuritaire dans la région. À ce titre, les chefs d’Etat de la Mauritanie et du Sénégal ont renouvelé les appels à un mandat robuste en faveur de la force conjointe du G5 Sahel.
Madam President,
The situation in the Sahel is of serious concern and urgent action is needed. It is therefore encouraging that the G-5 Sahel Joint Force has increased its operational tempo. I welcome the commitments and determination of the G-5 Sahel countries to overcome the many challenges they face in operationalizing the Joint Force.
Since the issuance of the report of the Secretary-General before you, the Joint Force has conducted one more operation in collaboration with the French Forces. This operation took place in the border area between Mali and Burkina Faso from 1 to 17 November. It involved 1,400 troops from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, alongside the French forces and resulted in the neutralisation of 24 suspected terrorists, the seizure of arms, ammunitions, 100 telephones, and 64 vehicles.
The terrorist attacks against the base of the G5-Sahel Joint Force in Boulekessi, Mopti region, central Mali and on the Malian armed forces post in Mondoro on 30 September, which resulted in the killing of dozens of soldiers, was a painful reminder of the dangerous environment the Joint Force and other security forces are operating in the Sahel. I would like to pay tribute to the courage and dedication of the personnel operating under the Joint Force in the fight against terrorism and to remember those who have paid the ultimate price for their countries.
The Joint Force remains a critical part of a series of regional and international security responses to address extremist armed groups in the Sahel, along with other cross-border challenges, including trafficking in persons, illicit goods, weapons and drugs; migration; and displacement. However, the Joint Force alone cannot secure the Sahel. More needs to be done to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
To this end, I would like to welcome recent international and regional initiatives to respond to the expanding threat posed by terrorist armed groups in the Sahel are encouraging. One such initiative is the new partnership for security and stability in the Sahel announced in August by the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, on the margins of the summit of the Group of Seven in Biarritz, France. The initiative is aimed at reinforcing troops and police forces from the G5 Sahel countries at the national level, which will play an instrumental role in combating terrorism. Another important initiative was announced by the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on 14 September in Ouagadougou to combat growing insecurity and terrorism. Their pledge of $1 billion dollars to fight terrorism and extremism over the next five years is a sign of a renewed commitment to take ownership and find solutions to the challenges facing their countries. In parallel, it will remain critical to continue supporting the efforts by the Joint Force of the G5 Sahel, as well as top mobilize external partners to that end.
Madam President,
Resolution 2480 (2019) of 28 June 2019 lifted geographical restrictions on the provision of water, rations and fuel to all battalions of the Joint Force. MINUSMA has taken swift action to provide the required support. On 3 October, the Joint Force requested for the provision of four hundred and twenty-nine thousand litres of fuel and oil as well as thirty-five thousand rations for all its battalions in all five countries. In response, after completing a risk assessment under the United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy, MINUSMA has begun delivery of the requested items. So far, the Mission has delivered 60,000 litres fuel and 4,500 rations to designated collection points in Mali. MINUSMA stands ready to deliver the rest of the support as soon as the contingents confirm their readiness to receive these items up.
The delivery of life consumable support to all contingents operating under the Joint Force has the potential to help the Joint Force to enhance performance better and operate more effectively. However, more equipment, capabilities (such as air assets) and training will be needed for the Force to make a difference on the ground. I wish to recall, in that regard, that the provision of support by MINUSMA to the G5 joint force, as mandated by Security Council resolutions 2391(2017) and 2480(2019) was, and should remain, one of several mechanisms of assistance for enhancing the capacities of the G5 joint force.
I would also like to welcome the efforts by the Joint Force to implement the human rights and international humanitarian law compliance framework with the support of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and other partners. It is of critical importance that the Joint Force and the member states of the G5 Sahel continue to take all necessary measures to ensure that the protection and security of the civilian population remains at the centre of their security efforts, both within the Joint Force and at national level. We also call on the Joint Force and G5 Sahel countries to ensure the full investigation of allegations of human rights violations involving contingents of the Force, which not only harm populations’ trust, but also the image and the reputation of the Joint Force and that of national security forces, and ultimately the very purpose of these military operations. I am pleased to note the efforts undertaken in operationalizing the police component of the Joint Force in operations related to fighting terrorism and transnational organized crime. The police component has an integral role in the implementation of the Joint Force’s compliance framework and in investigating allegations of human rights violations by members of the Joint Force.
Madame la présidente,
Le terrorisme aujourd'hui est un problème partagé, un problème pour tous. Aucun pays ne peut y faire face seul. Je tiens à rappeler ici que la plupart des pays du G5 consacrent déjà près de 20% de leurs budgets nationaux à la défense et la sécurité, ce qui signifie un recul des investissements dans le domaine de la sécurité humaine pourtant indispensables au règlement des causes profondes de l’insécurité. La communauté internationale doit donc contribuer à l'effort de lutte contre l’extrémisme armé au Sahel. Elle doit soutenir la Force conjointe afin qu'elle puisse jouer pleinement son rôle et obtenir des résultats plus tangibles sur le terrain. Il est important que les promesses de financement soient tenues. Je tiens ici à saluer la contribution à cet égard de l’Union Européenne et des autres partenaires internationaux, dont le soutien à la Force conjointe est décisif et vital. Une fois encore, je réitère l'appel du Secrétaire général en faveur d'un financement prévisible et durable de la Force conjointe.
Les initiatives sur le plan sécuritaire ne porteront des fruits que si des réponses satisfaisantes sont apportées aux questions relatives au sous-développement, à la pauvreté, à la gouvernance, aux difficultés d’accès aux services de base, à l’exclusion systématique, ainsi qu’aux effets du changement climatique. Il faut offrir aux populations, aux plus jeunes en particulier, des perspectives d’avenir. Ces perspectives doivent aller au-delà des besoins quotidiens, pour assurer le développement, promouvoir l'égalité des sexes et faciliter l'accès aux opportunités économiques et aux services sociaux. Pour cette raison, j'appelle tous les partenaires à assurer un décaissement rapide des fonds promis et à soutenir la mise en œuvre de la stratégie intégrée des Nations Unies pour le Sahel. Investir dans des efforts de développement durables et inclusifs est le moyen le plus efficace de s'attaquer aux causes profondes des conflits, de l'extrémisme violent et du terrorisme.
Enfin, j’en appelle aux gouvernements de la région, au-delà de la réponse sécuritaire, à continuer à mettre en place des mécanismes et des reformes a même de renforcer l’unité et la cohésion nationales. Ce doit être tout le sens du partenariat à consolider pour la lutte contre le terrorisme, l’insécurité et les inégalités.
Ensemble, nous devons nous mobiliser davantage et de toute urgence, pour le Sahel.
Je vous remercie de votre attention.
Following some misleading media reports, the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) would like to reconfirm its position concerning the government formation.
UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis has called upon the leadership of Lebanon to urgently nominate the Prime Minister-designate, start the mandatory process of parliamentary consultations and to maximally accelerate the process of the formation of the new government of personalities known...
The situation in Africa’s Sahel region continues to be “of serious concern and urgent action is needed”, a high-level United Nations official told the Security Council on Wednesday, attributing a rising number of attacks to terrorist armed groups.
Regardless of any national policy declarations, Israeli settlement activities are “a flagrant violation under international law”, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process spelled out to the Security Council on Wednesday.
Madam President,
Members of the Security Council,
We meet today in the aftermath of the most serious recent escalation between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza. Although the immediate crisis was diffused, the situation remains highly volatile.
Following Israel’s targeted killing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Commander Baha Abu al-Ata...
NICKOLAY MLADENOV
SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
BRIEFING TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
20 November 2019 [As Delivered].
Madam President,
Members of the Security Council,
We meet today in the...
Improving understanding of the nexus between terrorism, transnational organized crime and drug trafficking is essential, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday in his address to a high-level meeting involving the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a leading player in diplomacy in Eurasia.
A recap of Tuesday’s stories in brief: UN ‘regret’ over US settlements reversal; Almost daily attacks plunge Sahel into ‘three-country crisis’; live ammunition reportedly used against Iranian protesters; reconciliation helps ‘repair fractures’, promote peace; call for poorest countries to take leading role in their own development agendas; and World Toilet Day.
Increasing hurdles which prevent former combatants from returning to a peaceful civilian life have prompted the UN to update its standard practices, in an effort to ensure they remain “fit-for-purpose for years to come”.
The longstanding position of the UN regarding Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territory – that they are in breach of international law – is unchanged, Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said during a press briefing on Tuesday in New York, reacting to the policy reversal announced by the United States.
The UN Security Council this Tuesday has been debating what one activist labeled “the toughest and arguably most important part of the peace-building cycle”: reconciliation.
Violent attacks by extremists “almost every day” in the Sahel nations of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have displaced nearly one million people and caused emergency levels of malnutrition, UN humanitarians have said.
A recent resurgence of violence in Tripoli, means Libya is “ever more in a race against time” to reach peace, however, agreeing the way forward to ending the conflict “is a realistic prospect”, the top UN official in the country told the Security Council on Monday.
Representatives from across the Middle East are meeting at UN Headquarters this week in efforts to negotiate a legally binding treaty establishing a regional zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is urging authorities in Bolivia to ensure security forces comply with international standards on the use of force following the deaths of at least five protestors on Friday.
This Week in DPPA is a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world.
Security CouncilClosed consultations on Guinea-Bissau
ColombiaParis Peace Forum highlights Colombian peace process
Former FARC-EP combatants participate in a coffee contest in Spain
El SalvadorPeacebuilding Fund partners visit El Salvador
AfghanistanTheater group promotes the rights of children in Kandahar
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Central AsiaWater diplomacy on the agenda in Dushanbe
Training course to counter internet propaganda
IraqMeeting with Women’s Advisory Group
African UnionHigh-level visit to the African Union
Great LakesWorkshop on the participation and representation of women in electoral processes
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Contact DPPA at dppa@un.org
A recap of Friday’s main stories: The Security Council adopts resolutions on Central African Republic and Somalia: ICC to investigate crimes against Rohingya; UNESCO marks International Day for Tolerance; rise in migrant deaths in the Americas, and encouraging news on Ebola in the DRC.
Addis Ababa, November, 14 2019: The African Union (AU) Department of Political Affairs (DPA), in partnership with the Office of the United Nations (UN) Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), convened a regional workshop on the "Participation, Representation and Protection of Women in Electoral Processes in the Great Lakes Region” at the AU Headquarters in...
The top UN humanitarian official was in the Security Council on Wednesday to appeal for the renewal of an operation that delivers life-saving food and other aid relief to some four million civilians in northern Syria.
UN chief António Guterres announced on Thursday that he had appointed a Personal Envoy who would be travelling to Bolivia later in the day, to offer support to national leaders, following the departure of former president, Evo Morales.
The office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Guinea-Bissau launches a Public Report on the Right to Participate in Political and Public Affairs in Guinea-Bissau
The report is timely contribution on the Right to Participate in Political and Public Affairs in Guinea-Bissau. The Report reveals that although challenges remain, various achievements and good practices illustrate the commitment of the State and other stakeholders to ensure that the...
Noting that the people of Iraq were at “a critical juncture”, the top UN Envoy in the country told parliamentarians there on Thursday that over the past six weeks, hundreds of thousands have been peacefully voicing their “genuine, legitimate, demands, loud and clear”.
Following Israel's targeted killing of a Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader inside Gaza on Tuesday, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process has expressed his growing concern over increasing rocket fire across the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
“I am very concerned about the ongoing and serious escalation between Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Israel, following the targeted killing of one of the group’s leaders inside Gaza yesterday.
The indiscriminate launching of rockets and mortars against population centres is absolutely unacceptable and must stop immediately.
There can be no justification for any attacks against...
The UN Secretary-General has welcomed the decision to push back the deadline for the formation of a unity Government in South Sudan.
