Africa Matters

World Humanitarian Day – UN Demands Action As Aid Worker Deaths Hit Record High

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York) Aid workers on the frontlines of the world’s conflicts are being killed in unprecedented numbers, OCHA said today as it marked World Humanitarian Day. With 280 aid workers killed in 33 countries last year, 2023 marked the deadliest year on record for the global humanitarian community. This outrageously high…

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It’s time for Africa’s fair representation in world institutions

Written by Abbey Makoe AFRICA’S role, or lack thereof, came into sharp focus when the UN General Assembly debated under-representation of the continent in the global governance system, particularly at the UN Security Council. The debate, which took place at the beginning of the week, was called by Sierra Leone, whose leader, President Julius Maada Bio, made a compelling…

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UN General Assembly elects 15 new members to Human Rights Council

The UN General Assembly on Tuesday elected 15 new countries to serve on the Human Rights Council, with Peru and Russia failing to secure a seat. After the ballots were cast and counted, Assembly President Dennis Francis announced Albania, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malawi, and the Netherlands were elected…

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UN Calls Africa for Closing Internet Connectivity and Digital Governance Gap

Against a backdrop of growing geopolitical tensions, proliferating crises and widening inequalities, the challenges facing the global community in reaching the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are vast, the UN said on Monday. With the Internet holding a critical role in navigating these complexities, the 18th annual Internet Governance Forum hosted by the Government of Japan is under the…

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Guinea junta leader tells UN to ‘stop lecturing’ Africa

The head of Guinea’s junta, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, defended the use of military intervention in politics during a UN address Thursday, following a recent series of coups on the African continent. “Africa is suffering from a model of governance that has been imposed on us. A model that is certainly good and effective for the West, which designed it…

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Tanzania: VP Mpango to Address Unga78

UNITED STATES ,New York : VICE- PRESIDENT Dr Philip Mpango is set to address the world leaders during the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit at the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) in New York tomorrow. Dr Mpango left the country on Monday this week to represent President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan at the assembly. According to a statement…

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Africa Calls For Action on Climate, Investment at UN Assembly

African leaders, including Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa are in the U.S. for the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) which is taking place from September 19 to September 26, 2023. In his first UNGA meeting as newly-elected leader of Nigeria, Tinubu called for “genuine partnership for Nigeria and Africa’s…

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UN cautions of “deteriorating security situation” in West Africa

The UN cautioned of a “deteriorating security situation” in West Africa on Tuesday, after a coup in Niger. “The unfolding crisis, if not addressed will exacerbate the deteriorating security situation in the region,” warned Leonardo Santos Simao, the chief of the United Nations Office for West Africa as well as the Sahel. “It will also negatively impact the development…

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UN Recommends To Prioritize Women’s Reproductive Health Over Growing Population Concerns

The United Nations suggested on Wednesday that instead of focusing solely on the growing global population, it is imperative to consider women’s reproductive rights to bolster “demographic resilience.” The UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, has recognized that there is a significant level of concern regarding the global population, expected to reach a maximum of approximately 10.4 billion…

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Hunger is soaring and spreading across West Africa, says UN

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Hunger is soaring and spreading across West Africa, with some 48 million people, a 10-year-high, facing food insecurity in the conflict-riddled region, the United Nations warned Tuesday. Driven primarily by violence as well as the economic fallout from COVID-19 and inflation, food insecurity has heavily impacted Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, northern Nigeria and Mauritania, U.N….

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US top diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield to visit Nairobi

United States top diplomat to United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield is set to visit Kenya on Wednesday Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield is expected to receive briefings from the UN country team on humanitarian programs, including the regional drought response and assistance to refugees. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield will also meet with refugees pending resettlement in the United States and highlight the Joe Biden’s…

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Aid access to Ethiopia’s Tigray continues to open up, UN

Aid access to the Tigray region of Ethiopia has been gradually opening up since fighting ended early last month, UN humanitarians said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said food and other supplies are being transported into Tigray through four corridors in the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions, reports Xinhua news agency. “Between November 15…

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United Nations Food Systems Summit: Tanzania needs heavy investments to improve food systems to cement its place as the region’s agriculture powerhouse

* Dar es Salaam, 1st August  2021 Tanzania preparations to participate in the forthcoming United Nations Food Systems Summit are in full gear. So far, about 11 broad-based and inclusive food systems dialogues have been convened to rally stakeholders to develop a comprehensive summary of recommendations and commitments for Tanzania that will be presented at the UN 2021 Food…

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