An independent United Nations expert called Friday for stronger oversight of traditional medicine in African countries, in order to limit the threat to people living with albinism. Ikponwosa Ero, a Nigerian with albinism and internationally recognized human rights advocate, called for a two-track strategy that would address the urgent need…
It’s World Wildlife Day on Friday, and African nations join the world with activities planned across the continent and its diverse habitats. This year’s theme for the United Nations event is “Listen to the young voices,” and most of the programs center on the hopes of African youth for a…
Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed was sworn into office at the United Nations on Tuesday, then emphasized the importance of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a speech that followed the ceremony. Mohammed, the former Minister of Environment for Nigeria, was sworn in by UN Secretary General António Guterres. She has…
Morocco announced it will withdrawal forces from the Guerguerat region of Western Sahara, a move expected to reduce tensions between the government and armed elements of the Polisario Front maintaining their decades-long call for an independent state. Reuters reports the decision came just days after a phone call between King…
With the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government transition process at a standstill, the African Union (AU) and other international partners said Thursday that all parties to the negotiated December 31 agreement need to return to the ongoing dialogue and begin the formal framework leading to new elections. The AU, along…
As the humanitarian situation in South Sudan further deteriorates, the United Nations and partner organizations are appealing for help in dealing with the looming risk of famine and the ongoing suffering. Humanitarian groups estimate there are now 7.5 million people across South Sudan needing assistance and protection. The conflict that…
Late Sunday night, the United States Embassy in Yaounde sent out its “congratulations to the indomitable Lions” message to celebrate the Africa Cup of Nations victory in Cameroon. It was an exciting match, and both Christian Bassogog’s MVP award and the the 2-1 victory over Egypt he helped to deliver…
New United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has reiterated the U.N. position on protecting refugees, joining the chorus of international voices concerned over President Donald Trump’s stance on those seeking help from the United States, and other countries with similar closed-border policies. “Refugees fleeing conflict and persecution are finding more…
Willy Nyamitwe, the highly vocal spokesman for Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza, has again taken to social media – this time to condemn a Washington Post story on poorly vetted United Nations peacekeepers from Burundi, and to blame Rwanda for advancing it. “A story sponsored by Rwanda cannot be reliable,” was Nyamitwe’s…
Somalia moved forward with its arduous elections process on Tuesday, swearing in nearly 300 new lawmakers even as the international community said it was “gravely concerned” about changes by the National Leadership Forum that would add seats, and other election issues. Today’s inauguration of the Federal Parliament represents a step…
Kanayo Nwanze, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), says African poverty and hunger continue because of “a lack of committed leadership and rampant corruption.” The Nigerian native, speaking this week to a parliamentary group on agriculture at the House of Lords in London, said that despite the…
The dire situation in South Sudan is setting the stage for a genocide like that of Rwanda, a United Nations commission member warns, and the international community is obligated to prevent it. “There is already a steady process of ethnic cleansing underway in several areas of South Sudan using starvation,…
Ban Ki-Moon was in Morocco for Tuesday’s high-level sessions at COP22, but perhaps it comes as no surprise that most of the questions at the Marrakech press conference were about Donald J. Trump, the president-elect of the United States who has denied the reality of climate change as a U.S….
As the drought in Somalia deepens, the nation’s president is appealing for humanitarian aid to help millions of Somali people without food and water. Hassan Sheik Mohamud said the Somali government needs additional resources from both its own citizens and the international community to meet overwhelming need. The drought is…
Nearly a third of all people in South Sudan are facing severe food insecurity now, and that’s expected to “rapidly deteriorate to massive proportions” in 2017, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said. The FAO issued an assessment report Monday explaining that harvest time in South Sudan traditionally means…