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Reports and Policy Documents

2019

  • 12 sep 2019

    DSRSG for Political Affairs, Stephanie Williams, participated in the closing session of the event.

    TRIPOLI, 12 September 2019 – In an UNSMIL-organized seminar to counter hate...

  • 12 sep 2019

    ISSYK-KUL/Kyrgyzstan

    On 10-12 September, more than 50 professionals in the field of anti-money laundering and combating...

  • 12 sep 2019

    HERAT – Participants of a UN-backed television programme in the western province of Herat have added their voice to calls for an end to the conflict and...

  • 11 sep 2019

    Delegate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nairobi, Kenya. UN Photo/Aaron Kakunza

    Nairobi, 11 September 2019...

  • 11 sep 2019

    In her first week in office, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Guinea-Bissau, Ms. Rosine Hadizatou Sori-Coulibaly met the national authorities and will continue her courtesy...

  • 10 sep 2019

    Since the inauguration of Guinea-Bissau’s new Government in July, the political arena has been dominated by preparation for presidential elections, the assistant chief for UN peacekeeping operations in Africa told the Security Council on Tuesday, briefing members on the state of the nation, and the UN peacebuilding office there (UNIOGBIS).

  • 10 sep 2019

    Mr. President,

    Distinguished members of the Council,

    Thank you for the opportunity to brief you today on the developments in Guinea-Bissau and the activities of UNIOGBIS.

    Following the successful holding of the legislative elections on 10 March, renewed political tensions resulted in a stalemate over the composition of the Executive Bureau of the National Assembly, and delayed the appointment of a prime minister and the formation of a new government. The situation was further complicated by the conclusion of President José Mário Vaz’s five-year term in office on 23 June 2019, amidst differing opinions regarding interim arrangements for the office.

    The ECOWAS’ decision on 29 June addressed these issues, enabling the swearing in of a new government on 3 July and determining that President Vaz would remain in Office until the holding of the next presidential election, with limited powers, leaving the management of national affairs to the new Government.

    Allow me to commend the Government for the unprecedented achievement on gender parity and the appointment of some highly qualified youth in the new Cabinet. This opens a new window of opportunity for inclusive governance in the country. The 31-member Government is composed solely from the majority alliance, reflecting the results of the legislative elections. However, the recent nomination and replacement of senior officials in key positions, including the new commander of the National Guard, Rear Admiral Agostino Sousa Cordeiro, who is under EU sanctions for his participation in the 2012 coup, has triggered negative reactions from national and international stakeholders.

    Meanwhile, the Government has adopted a seven-month emergency plan aimed at providing relief to key sectors namely the education, health, infrastructure and public services sectors. It has also submitted its programme to the National Assembly for approval.  However, given the current tensions within and between political parties, including within the majority alliance led by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cabo Verde (PAIGC), the approval of the new Government’s Programme by the National Assembly will be a testament to the majority alliance’s strength and ability to govern the country.

     

    Mr. President,

    Excellencies,

    Since the inauguration of the Government, the political arena has been dominated by preparations for the presidential election. Several political parties have organized primaries to select their candidates, while some independent candidates have also emerged. As we approach the 25 September deadline for submission of candidacies to the Supreme Court for validation, we will continue to witness the emergence of new candidates.

    Meanwhile, the electoral process remains fraught with challenges. Some political actors have expressed concern about the correction of the voters’ register to regularize approximately 25,000 persons who were disenfranchised in the legislative elections, owing to their fear of fraud. They have also questioned the creation of the new position of Secretary of State for Electoral Management.

    There is a general feeling of mistrust among national stakeholders surrounding the electoral process, which must be addressed before the election if we are to ensure a peaceful and consensual process, and an outcome that is accepted by all. To address this, the Group of Five in Bissau, [the African Union, CPLP, ECOWAS, European Union and the UN] has advocated for enhanced procedural control, transparent measures, information-sharing mechanisms, and the development of a communication strategy on the voter correction exercise. Ultimately, the joint message is that the country must remain focused on ensuring the timely holding of the presidential election.

    Moreover, yesterday [9 September] an ECOWAS ministerial delegation visited Bissau to assess progress in the organization of the election. In its final communiqué, it insisted that in the absence of consensus by all political parties on the voter register correction exercise, that the same voters’ register used for the legislative elections be applied for the presidential election. It also took note of the decision of the electoral bodies to hold the election during 2019, including the second rounds – if needed. The communiqué also requested a clarification of the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Electoral Management. In its response, the Government indicated today that the correction process will proceed for now but the actual register will be updated only if the presidential candidates agree during an upcoming meeting at the plenary session of the CNE.

    Meanwhile, the initiatives taken by the Government and the electoral management bodies (the CNE and GTAPE) to enhance general communication and consultations with political parties, are steps in the right direction. To support this, the UN recommends the establishment of an all-inclusive stakeholders’ platform of national actors for information sharing purposes.

    In the meantime, civil society organizations, including women’s groups, have begun preparations for the establishment of a situation room to jointly monitor the election. They have also put in place coordinated efforts for the preparation and implementation of a Code of Conduct for the election.

    The Government has developed a consolidated election budget that amounts to USD 5.3 million. The UN is working closely with the authorities and the electoral bodies to fine-tune and finalize the budget. Additionally, the Government has committed to contributing to the electoral budget to cover initial expenses for the presidential election (USD 730,000), in addition to paying the outstanding debt (1.6 million USD) from the legislative elections.

    The correction exercise, which started on 24 August, is the first of the major electoral activities, and is expected to end on 24 September. However, less than a quarter of the funding required for this exercise has been disbursed thus far. To address this, UNDP has contributed USD 100,000 to the Basket Fund, while the Government has contributed approximately 160,000 directly to the electoral management bodies (CNE and GTAPE).  

    Efforts to mobilize resources from the international community have yielded limited results so far. Several pledges and indications of interest have been made but with no actual contribution.  We expect the first batch of financial contributions by international partners to arrive before the first week of October. Should the fund arrive, these will be applied to the training of civic educators and training of trainers of polling staff during October.

    With 75 days left to the presidential election, it is important that funding is made available now either bilaterally or through the UNDP-managed basket fund, to ensure that the electoral operations of the month of November, namely the training, deployment and payment of polling and security personnel, as well as the movement of materials to all the polling stations, are completed in a timely manner.

    I would therefore wish to take this opportunity to encourage international partners to extend their generosity to Guinea-Bissau to provide the necessary financial support for the election with urgency. Time is of the essence. Your contributions will be instrumental in ensuring the holding of the presidential election on 24 November.

     

    Mr. President,

    Excellencies,

    Since the formation of the government, UNIOGBIS has developed with the Minister of Women, Family and Social Solidarity, a programme to promote the visibility of the eight women Ministers, to support their out-reach to the population to discuss key public administration programmatic areas from a gender perspective. UNIOGBIS has also supported a civil society network, including women organizations, to monitor and advocate for key reforms during the post-electoral period.

     

    Mr. President,

    Excellencies,

    The political environment continues to negatively impact the economic performance of the country and the living conditions of the population. 

    The human rights situation continues to be negatively impacted by socio-economic tensions, including targeted restrictions on freedom and civil liberties.  Upholding these rights remains crucial to sustaining peace, stability and development in Guinea-Bissau.

    Meanwhile, drug trafficking and organized crime continue to pose threats to peace and security in the country and beyond.  The seizure by the Judiciary Police of about 1,869 kg of cocaine on 2 September, signals that Guinea-Bissau remains a transit route for drug trafficking, but also illustrates the enhanced capacity of the Judiciary Police to combat the scourge. The signing on 2 August, of an MoU between Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia and Senegal, to combat drug trafficking and organised crime along their borders, is a commendable effort to tackle the cross-border threat.

    I appeal to the international community to continue to provide financial and technical support to the Government of Guinea-Bissau in its fight against drug trafficking and organized crime, to prevent losing the gains achieved thus far.

     

    Mr. President,

    Excellencies,

    Pursuant to Security Council resolution 2458 (2019), measures have been put in place for the UN transition for the prospective closure of UNIOGBIS by 31 December 2020. As a first step, one regional office has been closed and the remaining three will follow by 31 December 2019. Additionally, coordination structures to oversee and plan for the transition have been established in Bissau and at Headquarters.

    The development of the UN transition plan including a preliminary Mission drawdown plan is ongoing. A full-scale transition implementation will be launched in close coordination with the UNCT, UNOWAS and the national authorities, following the conclusion of the presidential election.

    The UN presence in Guinea-Bissau, has also engaged with the Government on the gradual transfer of the UNIOGBIS residual mandated tasks to the UNCT, UNOWAS, and other partners. With the arrival of the new SRSG, Ms. Rosine Sori-Coulibaly, in Bissau, as of 5 September, scaled up engagement with the Government is planned, in particular after the presidential election.

    Meanwhile, UNIOGBIS and UNOWAS have already started strengthening their information sharing arrangements and SRSG Chambas (UNOWAS) has increased his engagement with UNIOGBIS on the political process and has visited Bissau twice this year.

     

    Mr. President,

    Excellencies,

    2019 is a pivotal year for Guinea-Bissau to seize the opportunity to end the recurring cycle of instability that has hampered its socio-economic development for decades. The risk of further instability in the period leading to the presidential election is high, with political rivalries and poor economic prospects for the population.  The role of national political stakeholders in ensuring stability cannot be overemphasized. All national actors must be mindful of their duties towards the people of Guinea-Bissau and the need to transcend narrow individual and party interests.

    All efforts must be made to ensure the timely holding of an inclusive, credible and peaceful presidential election. Both the Government and the international community should abide by their commitments to provide resources for the election.

    On the longer run, key institutional reforms, including the Constitutional review, will remain critical to consolidate the country’s stability. Collaboration between all the branches of power and in the National Assembly, will therefore be vital in preparing the ground for an inclusive reforms process. The sustained engagement by international partners will also be crucial to accompany Guinea-Bissau in its path towards lasting stability.

    I would like to conclude by commending ECOWAS for its leading role and steadfast commitment towards ensuring stability in Guinea-Bissau, including the maintenance of ECOMIB, despite other security challenges facing the region. Sincere appreciations also go to all partners, including the AU, CPLP, and the EU for their valuable contribution to the stabilization efforts in Guinea-Bissau. 

    Thank you.

  • 10 sep 2019

    A recap of Monday’s top stories: All Afghans must participate in peace process; Nicaragua’s rights crisis can be resolved says Bachelet; Rohingya refugees impacted by monsoon rains; Libya detainees to be evacuated to Rwanda; and multiple donors show solidarity with the Bahamas.

  • 10 sep 2019

    A recap of Monday’s top stories: All Afghans must participate in peace process; Nicaragua’s rights crisis can be resolved says Bachelet; Rohingya refugees impacted by monsoon rains; Libya detainees to be evacuated to Rwanda; and multiple donors show solidarity with the Bahamas.

  • 10 sep 2019

    Ethiopia is beset by “persistent and multi-faceted humanitarian problems”, the United Nations relief chief said on Tuesday, calling for more international funding as well as support for the Government-led response to the country’s displacement crisis.

  • 10 sep 2019

    The long Afghan conflict can only be resolved by “direct talks” between its own people, the chief of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) told the Security Council on Tuesday, underscoring that they must be inclusive and represent “the whole spectrum of Afghan society”.

  • 10 sep 2019

    Nicaragua’s on-going human rights crisis can be resolved peacefully through dialogue, the UN’s top rights official said on Tuesday, before expressing concern about allegations of torture and murder of protesters involved in last year’s anti-Government demonstrations.

  • 9 sep 2019

    Events commemorating the recent International Day against Nuclear Tests serve as an “important and stark reminder…of the disastrous consequences of nuclear testing on human health and the environment”, a top UN official told the General Assembly on Monday.

  • 9 sep 2019

    On Saturday 7 September, the Guinean Judiciary Police (JP) proceeded with the destruction of 1,869 kilos of cocaine seized last week in the north of the country as a result of operation ‘Navara’.

    Before being...

  • 9 sep 2019

    While peacekeeping is an “essential tool” for preventing conflict and reducing the risk of relapse, “political solutions are a prerequisite to sustainable peace”, the United Nations peacekeeping chief told the Security Council on Monday.

  • 9 sep 2019

    Participant at the meeting of Civil Society Organizations and Regional FORA. Photo: UN/Penangnini Toure

    Nairobi, 8...

  • 8 sep 2019

    United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed on Sunday, yesterday’s exchange of prisoners and detainees between Russia and Ukraine.

  • 8 sep 2019

    United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed on Sunday, yesterday’s exchange of prisoners and detainees between Russia and Ukraine.

  • 8 sep 2019

    As children in many parts of the world return to school, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched a haunting installation on Sunday that displays 3,758 school backpacks as headstones to illustrate the grave scale of child deaths in conflict in 2018 and call for greater protection of children living in conflict. 

  • 8 sep 2019

    KABUL - Media can follow the live broadcast of the UN Security Council session on the Secretary-General’s latest report on Afghanistan on UN Web TV (http://...

  • 7 sep 2019

    Baidoa – Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre convened Somalia’s international partners in Baidoa in South West State on 7 September 2019.

    The participants met to discuss priority areas for...

  • 7 sep 2019

    Mogadishu – The group of Somalia’s international partners listed below* welcome the opening of the Galmudug Reconciliation Conference convened in Dhusamareb.

    We underscore the...

  • 7 sep 2019

    Mogadishu – The group of Somalia’s international partners listed below* welcome the opening of the Galmudug Reconciliation Conference convened in Dhusamareb.

    We underscore the...

  • 6 sep 2019

    When terrorists attacked and ransacked 30-year old Mamma Hamidou’s village in the Far North region of Cameroon four years ago, she faced an impossible choice. Hand over her young daughter or risk that her husband be executed on the spot.

  • 6 sep 2019

    NUR-SULTAN/BURABAY, Kazakhstan

    The second Central Asian Expert Forum took place on 5 and 6 September 2019 in Kazakhstan, in the cities of Nur-Sultan and Burabay. The United Nations...

  • 6 sep 2019

    SRSG Natalia Gherman with H.E. Ms. Dariga Nazarbayeva, Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan

    NUR-SULTAN/Kazakhstan

    ...

  • 5 sep 2019

    In the second quarter of 2019, the United Nations received 38 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) involving UN personnel, including civilian and uniformed personnel from peacekeeping operations, as well as those from agencies, funds and programmes, according to the latest figures released on Thursday.

  • 5 sep 2019

    The three-day workshop, held at UNIOGBIS HQ in Bissau, is organized by the National Cell for the Treatment of Financial Information (CENTIF).

    The purpose of the...

  • 5 sep 2019

    KUNDUZ - The active participation of youth in peacebuilding, locally and nationally, is crucial for creating a more stable and inclusive Afghanistan, said participants in a series of UN-backed events in the...

  • 4 sep 2019

    “Spikes of violence” in previously unaffected areas of the Central African Republic (CAR) have prompted new displacement, the United Nations Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator said on Wednesday, calling for additional funding to meet the humanitarian needs of 2.9 million people.

  • 4 sep 2019

    A recap of Wednesday’s main stories: UN rights experts warn ‘climate of fear’ rampant in Burundi; New health report on proper nutrition; One in three young people say they’ve been bullied online; and UN’s top rights official on world’s crises

  • 4 sep 2019

    It is five months to the day since the forces of the self-styled Libyan National Army launched an offensive to seize control of Tripoli, halting “an active and promising political process”, the United Nations top envoy for the country told the Security Council on Wednesday.

  • 4 sep 2019
            Mr. President, Allow me to congratulate the Russian Federation for its Presidency of the Security Council this month. Mr. President,Members of the Security...
  • 4 sep 2019

    Although terrorists have become skilled at manipulating the Internet and other new technologies, artificial intelligence or AI, is a powerful tool in the fight against them, a top UN counter-terrorism official said this week at a high-level conference on strengthening international cooperation against the scourge.

  • 3 sep 2019

    NEW YORK - The Secretary-General strongly condemns yesterday’s attack in Kabul by the Taliban. Such indiscriminate attacks can never be justified. The Secretary-General expresses his deepest sympathy to the families of the...

  • 3 sep 2019

    In the wake of a surge in violent strikes by Taliban extremists in Afghanistan over the past week, the country’s top UN envoy has pleaded for an end to the fighting through a negotiated peace settlement, and an end to the “indescribable loss” suffered by victims’ loved ones

  • 3 sep 2019

    In the wake of a surge in violence across Afghanistan over the past week, the country’s top UN envoy has pleaded for an end to the fighting through a negotiated peace settlement, and an end to the “indescribable loss” suffered by victims’ loved ones

  • 3 sep 2019

    A recap of Tuesday’s stories: International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala successfully completes mandate; UN prioritizes Hurricane Dorian assistance; Nowhere to hide in Yemen; Insecurity and Violence in Nigeria; Post-Brexit export losses likely in billions for UK; Hunger in Somalia.

  • 3 sep 2019

    The people of Yemen have been subject to “numerous” possible war crimes in recent years including forced recruitment of children and sexual abuse in detention, UN-appointed senior rights experts said on Tuesday, in an appeal to the international community to do more to end the conflict.

  • 3 sep 2019

    Nigeria is a pressure cooker of internal conflicts and generalized violence that must be addressed urgently, an independent United Nations expert said on Tuesday, following a fact-finding visit to the country.

  • 3 sep 2019

    Allegations of torture and ill-treatment leading to the death of ethnic Rakhine men and boys being held in incommunicado detention by Myanmar’s military, has prompted three independent UN rights experts to call for an end to the practice and for “credible, independent” investigations.

  • 3 sep 2019

    KABUL - The violence this week across Afghanistan underscores the urgency of ending the conflict through a negotiated settlement. The suffering of the Afghan people must end.

    I wish to express my heartfelt...

  • 3 sep 2019

    Mogadishu, 2 September 2019: Late and erratic rains during Somalia's 2019 Gu cropping season (April-June) coupled with low river levels have led to the poorest cereal harvest since the 2011 famine and threaten an already fragile food security...

  • 3 sep 2019

    MAZAR-E-SHARIF - Civilians injured in Afghanistan’s conflict, along with family members of those killed, gathered for a daylong event in the country’s north to make their voices heard on peace.

    Dozens...

  • 2 sep 2019

    Seven health centres in Syria’s north-west have been reportedly attacked in recent days and two of them have been destroyed, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday. 

  • 2 sep 2019

    On the third and final day of his visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), UN chief António Guterres declared that the country is experiencing a historic moment, which could herald the development of democratic institutions.

  • 2 sep 2019

    Lise Grande, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, described Sunday’s deadly airstrikes in Dhamar City as a “horrific incident”, and the scale of the casualties, as “staggering”. “These are very dark times for Yemen,” said Ms. Grande. "There have been days of fighting and strikes in the south and hundreds of casualties”.

  • 1 sep 2019

    Mass casualties reported following air strikes in Dhamar Governorate

    Sana’a, 1 September 2019 –On 1 September, air strikes hit a former community college compound on the northern outskirts of Dhamar City.  According to sources on the ground, as many as 170 prisoners were being held in a detention facility within the compound.

    Initial reports from health officials indicate that at least 60 people have been killed and 50 injured.  The Yemen UN Office...

  • 1 sep 2019

    On the second day of his visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres saluted the courage of the country’s citizens, as well as the sacrifice of the peacekeepers who have died serving them.

  • 1 sep 2019

    On the second day of his visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres saluted the courage of the country’s citizens, as well as the sacrifice of the peacekeepers who have died serving them.