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Tag: Stephane Dujarric.

  • UN, Obama urge peaceful polls in Kenya

    UN, Obama urge peaceful polls in Kenya

    Ahead of Tuesday Kenya’s presidential election, the UN and former U.S. president Barack Obama on Monday called for peaceful polls, urging respect for the outcome of the polls.

    The UN urged whoever is dissatisfied with the outcome of the polls to use legal channels to address grievances, according to Mr Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the secretary-general.

    “We urge the leadership of the various political parties to respect the outcome of the elections and to use the existing legal channels to address grievances.

    “We also call for impartial and human-rights compliant conduct of the police and security forces as a cornerstone of peaceful elections,” he said.

    Obama, whose father was born in Kenya, said there has been “too much incitement and appeals based on fear from all sides”.

    The former president warned that the Kenyan people “will be the losers if there is a descent into violence.”

    “I urge Kenyan leaders to reject violence and incitement; respect the will of the people; urge security forces to act professionally and neutrally; and work together no matter the outcome.

    “The choices you make in the coming days can either set Kenya back or bring it together,” Obama said.

    “As a friend of the Kenyan people, I urge you to work for a future defined not by fear and division, but by unity and hope” Obama added in a statement.

    Tuesday’s election has been predicted as a battle between incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta battling to secure a second five-year term and his opponent and long-time rival opposition leader Raila Odinga.

    Odinga alleged voting irregularities after losing to Kenyatta in the 2013 election and took his case to the Supreme Court, which ruled in Kenyatta’s favour by saying the election was valid.

    Odinga was also a candidate in the 2007 election, which was followed by deadly violence fueled by ethnic rivalries.

    Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is among international observers who will be monitoring the election.

  • Trump’s withdrawal from Paris Climate Accord a ‘great disappointment’ – UN

    Trump’s withdrawal from Paris Climate Accord a ‘great disappointment’ – UN

    The UN says the decision by the United States to withdraw from Paris Agreement on Climate Change is a disappointment for global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote global security.

    Stéphane Dujarric, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, told the media at the UN Headquarters in New York, shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced his country’s withdrawal from the Agreement.

    “The Paris Agreement was adopted by all nations in the world in 2015 because they recognise the immense harm that climate change is already causing and the enormous opportunity that climate action presents.

    “It offers a meaningful yet flexible framework for action by all countries,” Dujarric said.

    He added that the Secretary-General António Guterres remained confident that cities, states and businesses within the U.S., along with other countries, would continue to demonstrate vision and leadership.

    According to him, this can be done by working for the low-carbon and resilient economic growth that will create quality jobs and markets for 21st century prosperity.

    “It is crucial that the United States remain a leader on environmental issues,” the spokesman for the Secretary-General noted.

    Dujarric also said that the Secretary-General looked forward to engaging with the U.S. Government and all actors in the country and around the world to build the sustainable future on which the future generations depend.

    Trump had promised to make his decision known this week on the Paris Climate Agreement, which as at May, 195 members of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change had signed and 147 had ratified.

    In a nationwide broadcast, Trump announced: “to fulfil my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord but begin negotiations to re-enter our way into Paris Accord.

    “Or in really entirely new transaction or terms that are fair to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people and its tax payers.

    “So, we are getting out but we will start to negotiate and we would see if we could make a deal that is fair and if we can, that’s great and if we can’t, that’s fine.

    “As President, I can put no other consideration before the wellbeing of the American citizens. The Paris Climate Accord is simply the latest example of Washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the United States.

    “For the exclusive benefits of other countries, leaving American workers, who I love, and tax payers to observe the cost in terms of job loss, low wages, shattered factories and vastly diminished economic production.

    “Thus, as of today, the United States would cease all implementation of the non-binding Paris Accord and the draconian financial and economic burdens the agreement imposes on our country.

    “This includes ending the implementation of the nationally determined contributions and very importantly, the Green Climate Fund, which is costing the United States a vast fortune.”

    According to him, compliant with the terms of the Paris Accord and the onerous energy restriction that is placed on the U.S. can cost America as much as 2.7 million job loss by 2025.

  • Nigerian soldier killed in Darfur

    Nigerian soldier killed in Darfur

    A Nigerian peacekeeper serving with the African Union-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) has been killed in Darfur, the UNAMID said said on Thursday.

    UNAMID, in a statement said the Nigerian soldier was killed by an unidentified group in a carjacking incident in Nyala, South Darfur State.

    The Mission extended its condolences to the family of the late peacekeeper and the Government of Nigeria.

    “UNAMID strongly condemns this attack, which constitutes a violation of international law.

    “The incident has been reported to the relevant Sudanese authorities.

    “UNAMID calls on the Government of Sudan to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

    “The Mission extends its deepest condolences to the family of the late peacekeeper, his colleagues, and the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

    The UN, at a press briefing by Mr Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General, confirmed the death and extended its condolences to the family, colleagues and the Federal Government.

    “We join the Mission in extending our deepest condolences to the family of the late peacekeeper, his colleagues, and the Federal Government of Nigeria”, Dujarric said.

  • Nigeria’s $1.5bn humanitarian response plan 28% funded – UN

    Nigeria’s $1.5bn humanitarian response plan 28% funded – UN

    The 1.5 billion dollars humanitarian response plan for Nigeria for 2017 is 28 per cent funded, five months into the year, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon, has said.

    Kallon, who is also the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, made the update available to the UN, according to Mr Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

    The Nigeria’s humanitarian coordinator also said that humanitarian partners had scaled up assistance and the delivery of food aid has increased 700 per cent from October 2016.

    However, Kallon stressed that while the humanitarian response has increased substantially, “we have not turned the corner yet.

    “And if the funding situation is not sustained, the situation can easily relapse into a famine situation.”

    Kallon, who is the Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme, said there was still “a protection and food security crisis of ‘global proportions’” in the north-east geo-political zone.

    “More than 1.8 million people have been forced to flee their homes in the six north-eastern states due to the violent Boko Haram insurgency and military counter-insurgency operations.

    “In addition, 4.7 million people are food insecure in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, and this number may rise to 5.2 million during the upcoming lean season,” Kallon said.

  • Nigerian arrested for robbing four banks in New York

    Nigerian arrested for robbing four banks in New York

    A Nigerian who works with the United Nations (UN) has been arrested for robbing four Manhattan banks, all during his lunch hour, New York Police said.

    Abdullahi Shuaibu, 53, was picked up by police on Monday and charged with robbery and attempted robbery for the crimes committed during his two-month spree.

    All four banks are within walking distance of the UN headquarters on First Ave. near E. 42nd St., where the Nigerian worked.

    Authorities were led to the suspect after a retired police officer who works at the UN recognised him from a surveillance image previously released by the police.

    In the first incident, Shuaibu walked into a Santander Bank on Madison Ave. near E. 43rd St. on February 27 and told the teller he had a gun. The bank employee complied and handed him an unknown sum of money.

    He hit two more banks in March, first striking out at a Bank of America on Third Ave. near E. 47th St. on the 13th.

    Similarly, he succeeded in robbing a Santander Bank on Third Ave. and E. 63rd St. on the 27th.

    During the most recent incident on Monday, Shuaibu walked into an HSBC on Third Ave. and E. 40th St. around 2:30 p.m. and passed a note demanding cash to the teller.

    The teller did not read the note and asked him for identification.

    He, however, instructed the teller to read the note, keeping his hand in his jacket pocket while simulating a gun, police said.

    Police arrested him later in the day when he returned to the UN office.

    Shuaibu was an employee of the News Agency of Nigeria and served as its UN correspondent between 2006 and 2009.

    The agency, however, terminated his appointment in April 2013 following his refusal to resume work in Nigeria at the expiration of duty tour and an extended period which he requested to enable him complete an academic programme.

    The termination of appointment was formally conveyed to the UN.

    A UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric denied that Shuaibu was a staff of the organisation.

    He told NAN in New York that the suspect was also not accredited to the UN after NAN withdrew his accreditation.

    Dujarric also said that the suspect only worked as a contract staff for three months in Darfur and his contract was terminated in 2012.

  • North Korea: UN concerned at rising tensions

    The UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday expressed concerns on the rising tensions over North Korea in recent weeks.

    The Spokesperson to the Secretary-General, Mr Stephane Dujarric, at a briefing, called on all parties to employ diplomatic options to resolve the crisis.

    “We’re obviously deeply concerned about the rising tensions that we’ve seen in the Korean Peninsula.

    “We call on all to redouble their diplomatic efforts. I think the latest launch that we saw over the weekend from the DPRK was troubling.

    “We call on the DPRK (North Korea)to take all the steps necessary to de‑escalate the situation and return to a dialogue on denuclearization.

    “All Security Council resolutions must be fully implemented, and we note that the Security Council has consistently stated its commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic, and political solution,” he said.

    He noted that the UN used to have a Special Representative for North Korea, but that the position had not been filled.

    “The post has been unfilled for quite some years. But I’m not aware of any plans to appoint someone, which should not mean that we’re not watching the situation very carefully.”

    Kim In Ryong, North Korea’s Permanent  Representative to the UN, also warned against nuclear war at a news conference.

    “The prevailing grave situation proves once again that the DPRK was entirely just when it increased in every way its military capabilities for self-defense and pre-emptive attack with a nuclear force as a pivot.

    “It has created dangerous situation in which the thermonuclear war may break out at any moment on the peninsula and pose a serious threat to the world’s peace and security, to say nothing of those of northeast Asia,” he said.

    Kim said the U.S. President Donald Trump’s deployment of the Carl Vinson nuclear carrier task group to waters off the Korean Peninsula again “proves the U.S. reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase of its scenario”.

    The North Korean diplomat stressed that U.S.-South Korean military exercises being staged now are the largest-ever “aggressive war drill” aimed at his country.

    He warned that North Korea would take toughest counter actions threatening, “we will hold the U.S. accountable”.

    There were reports that North Korea attempted another missile launch over the weekend but it failed.

  • UN condemns Russia’s bombing

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned Monday’s explosion in Russia which killed at least 10 people.

    Guterres, in a statement issued by his Spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, on Monday in New York, said those responsible for the dastardly act must be held accountable.

    The UN chief also sympathised with the families of the victims and the Government of Russia.

    “The Secretary-General condemns today’s bombing in the St. Petersburg metro.

    “He extends his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and the people of the Russian Federation.

    “Those responsible for this appalling act must be held accountable,” the Secretary-General said.

    The bomb blast inside a train in the St. Petersburg Metro killed 10 passengers and injured dozens of others, officials said.

    The entire Metro system was shut down as bomb squads and rescuers responded to the emergency.

    The explosion happened as the train was traveling between the stations Tekhnologichesky Institut and Snenaya Ploshchad of the St. Petersburg Metro, the National Antiterrorism Committee confirmed.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his reaction to the incident, said the possible cause of the bombing was not yet known.

    “The causes of this event have not been determined yet, so it’s too early to talk about possible causes.

    “The investigation will show. Certainly, we will consider all possibilities: common, criminal, but first of all of a terrorist nature,” Putin said.

    Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova said there were 47 victims of the blast and put the number of fatalities at 10.

    Skvortsova said that the six people being treated in St. Petersburg hospitals for injuries remained in critical condition. (

     

  • Nigeria’s Amina Mohammed is UN Deputy Secretary-General

    Nigeria’s Amina Mohammed is UN Deputy Secretary-General

    New UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday announced Nigeria’s Environment minister, Amina Mohammed as his Deputy Secretary-General.

    Guterres made the announcement through the spokesman of the Secretary-General, Mr Stephane Dujarric.

    The Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York, reports that Guterres also announced the duo of Ms. Maria Viotti of Brazil and Ms. Kyung-wha Kang of the Republic of Korea into high-profile positions at the UN.

    “I am pleased to announce that I will be appointing Ms. Amina J. Mohammed of Nigeria as my Deputy Secretary-General, and Ms. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti of Brazil as my Chef De Cabinet.

    “I also intend to create the position of Special Advisor on Policy, and to appoint Ms. Kyung-wha Kang of the Republic of Korea to this new role.

    “I am happy to count on the efforts of these three highly competent women, whom I have chosen for their strong backgrounds in global affairs, development, diplomacy, human rights and humanitarian action.

    “These appointments are the foundations of my team, which I will continue to build, respecting my pledges on gender parity and geographical diversity,” Guterres said.

    Mohammed, the current Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, served as UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Post-2015 Development Planning.

    She was instrumental in bringing about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Before joining the UN, Mohammed worked for three successive administrations in Nigeria, serving as Special Adviser on the Millennium Development Goals.

    She provided advice on issues including poverty, public sector reform and sustainable development, and coordinating poverty reduction interventions.

    She is also an Adjunct Professor in Development Practice at Columbia University, and serves on numerous international advisory boards and panels, including the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Post-2015 Development Agenda.

    Others include the Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development, and the Global Development Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

    She is also the UN Secretary-General’s Global Sustainability Panel, the African Women’s Millennium Initiative, Girl Effect and the ActionAid International Right to Education Project.

    Born in 1961, and educated in Nigeria and the UK, Mohammed is married and has six children.

    Guterres had hinted on Monday after he took the oath of office that gender parity would be top of his agenda as the UN scribe.

    “I think that one very important element of the agenda would be to give a clear signal that gender parity is a must and so in the appointments I will be making.

    “And the first ones would be announced soon. You’ll see that gender parity will become a clear priority from top to bottom in the UN and it will have to be respected by all.”

    “This is a very ambitious agenda, an agenda that must be for both woman and man, and that is why parity is so important in our reform perspectives.

    “That is also why the empowerment of women is so important in everything the UN will be doing around the world,” the incoming UN scribe said.

    Guterres, succeeds outgoing secretary-general Ban, who bows out on Dec. 31, 2016 after a decade of two terms, while the new secretary-general assumes office on Jan. 1, 2017, for the next five years.A