Cameroon sets presidential elections for October 7
Presidential election will be held on October 7 in Cameroon, according to a presidential decree released by President Paul Biya on Monday. Paul Biya, 84, is one of the world’s oldest heads of state—and one of the longest-serving, having ruled uncontested since 1982. Critics have described Biya’s state record as “chaotic.” Nicknamed “the Sphinx” due […]
UN experts urge Mauritania to release dissenting ex-senator Mohamed ould Ghadda
Mauritanian former senator Mohamed ould Ghadda is victim of “arbitrary” detention and must be released with the benefit of compensation, a working group of the United Nations said in a statement. Mauritanian authorities arrested Ghadda on August 10, 2017, five days after Mauritanians voted in a referendum to dissolve the country’s Senate, of which […]
Opponents of constitutional change in Burundi face torture, execution – UN investigators
The Commission of Inquiry on Burundi has just delivered to the Human Rights Council its findings, based on more than 380 interviews, in addition to 500 testimonies collected last year. The dossier compiled by the three-member panel encompasses events surrounding the national referendum last month on constitutional reform, which could extend President Pierre Nkurunziza’s term […]
UN experts discuss Morocco’s accession to ECOWAS
Experts of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) as well as representatives of the private and the public sector are gathered in Benin’s capital Cotonou for a two-day meeting to measure the implications of the enlargement of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The UN-backed meeting is examining the implications of the […]
New UN-supported farming app is cream of crop in tackling Sahel pest
Farmers in sub-Saharan Africa have a new digital weapon in their agricultural armoury to take on the Fall Armyworm – a crop pest that’s threatening the food security of 300 million people – the United Nations said on Monday. Launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Pennsylvania State University, the talking mobile phone […]
Millions of Ghanaians not benefiting from booming economy—UN
The UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights said millions of people in Ghana are not benefiting from the country’s booming economy, but remain mired in poverty. This came in a report compiled after a 10-day fact-finding mission to Ghana in April by UN Investigator Philip Alston. The report was submitted to the […]
G5-Sahel military force needs reinforced mandate for effective intervention
Permanent Secretary of the G5-Sahel military force, Maman Sidikou, on Wednesday (May 23) called on the Security Council for “a reinforced mandate” for this nascent anti-jihadist unit, a request that was immediately rejected by the United States, which refuses any increased involvement of the UN in the G5-Sahel force. “We are still far from having […]
Morocco Hosts UN Public Service Forum 2018
The Moroccan city of Marrakech will host the United Nations Public Service forum June 21- 23 to be held under the theme: “Transforming governance to realize the Sustainable Development Goals”. The event will bring together ministers and senior decision-makers to discuss how to transform governance and innovate the way governments, institutions and public administrations are […]
Revamped UN strategy aims to address root causes of Sahel crisis
The United Nations has reset its action plan to address the root causes of the complex crisis in Africa’s Sahel, a region now home to one out of five people worldwide requiring humanitarian assistance, the UN deputy chief said earlier this week. “The Sahel is a priority for the Secretary-General and the entire United Nations […]
UN, AU voice concern over protracted political crisis in Guinea-Bissau
The top leaders of the African Union and the United Nations on Saturday expressed concern over the prolonged political crisis in Guinea-Bissau, condemning the recent actions taken by the authorities to prevent a political party from holding its conference. “The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the Secretary-General of the United […]
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