The Nation Newspaper

Tag: UN

  • UN, AU, EU raise alarm on Burundi crisis

    The United Nations, African Union and European Union warned on Thursday that political division in Burundi threatened to create a deep and violent regional crisis and called on both sides to meet for mediated talks.

    “Alarmed by the widening divisions, the threat for many more lives and a deep regional crisis, we pledged to work closely together and to mobilise all our means and instruments to prevent a further deterioration of the situation,” Reuters quoted senior officials of the three bodies as saying in a joint statement.

    UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, who met EU foreign policy, chief Federica Mogherini and African Union Commission chair, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, at an EU-Africa summit on Malta, told Reuters that the institutions were not setting deadlines for talks but wanted to “raise the level of concern.”

    In their statement, they spoke of the “urgency” of a meeting between President Pierre Nkurunziza’s government and the opposition, either in Addis Ababa, where the AU is based, or in the Ugandan capital Kampala, where President Yoweri Museveni would chair talks. “No effort can be spared to achieve an end to the violence and to foster a political solution.”

    The statement was released four hours before the UN Security Council was due to vote on a French-drafted resolution that would ask UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, to report back on options for boosting the UN presence in Burundi.

  • UN envoy to Fed Govt: don’t reduce foreign missions

    UN envoy to Fed Govt: don’t reduce foreign missions

    UNITED Nations (UN) Joint Special Representative for Darfur Hybrid Operation Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari not to reduce the number of Nigeria’s foreign missions.

    Uhomoibhi, who heads the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, said reducing the number of missions would have negative effect on Nigeria’s foreign policies and relationship with the affected countries.

    Speaking at the sidelines of the Fourth Annual Lecture of Society for International Relations Awareness in Abuja, he said rather than close some missions, Federal Government should introduce “smart missions”.

    He explained that a “smart mission” only had an ambassador, one diplomatic staff and local staff.

  • Landmines kill three in Mali

    No fewer than three civilians died on Tuesday in northern Mali when their vehicle hit a landmine, a military source said.

    The source said that a second mine explosion also injured two UN peacekeepers who tried to the rescue the civilians.

    Meanwhile, a statement by the UN mission in Mali had condemned the attack, noting that the incidents occurred in the vicinity of a UN base at Tessalit in the region of Kidal.

    The explosions were the latest violence around Kidal, a stronghold of the separatist coordination of Azawad Movements, dominated by ethnic Tuaregs.

    It would be recalled that in 2012, separatists seized northern Mali with support from militants linked to al Qaeda.

    In spite of UN intervention, violence in the region had persisted, with attacks by militia groups and radical Islamists.

    The government said it would commit 175 million dollars annually between 2016 and 2018 to support a peace agreement it signed in June with the separatists.

     

  • ‘India, Africa deserve UN Security Council’s permanent seats’

    ‘India, Africa deserve UN Security Council’s permanent seats’

    India’s Minister of External Affairs Ms Sushma Swaraj has demanded permanent seats for India and Africa in the United Nation Security Council.

    She called for more development partnership between Africa and India, which made the Indian government create 137 projects in 41 countries.

    The minister said India’s trade with Africa increased 20 times and today stood at more than $70 billion.

    She added that India had $30 to $35 billion worth of investment on the continent.

    Ms Swaraj spoke at the opening of the Third Edition of the India-Africa Editors’ Forum in New Delhi.

    She said: “The developing countries are also articulating similar views and concerns as the UN celebrates its 70th anniversary this year.

    “A major issue in this context is that of UN Security Council reforms. The Security Council continues to be representative of a world order of 1945. It is inconceivable that the   Security Council today does not have any permanent representation from Africa, which is the largest continent (in terms of number of countries).

    “It is also incomprehensible that India, which represents almost one-sixth of the world’s population and has all credentials to be a permanent member of the Security Council, is still out of it. We all need to work together to remove this anomaly and the media has an important role in this.”

    The minister asked for more collaboration between India and Africa, stressing that the Indian government created 137 projects in 41 countries in furtherance of this objective.

    She added: “In the last 15 years, India’s trade with Africa has gone up 20 times and today stands at more than $70 billion. India also has a total investment of $30 to $35 billion in Africa.

    “We have managed to extend concessional credit to the tune of $7.4 billion. Most of this credit stands approved and at least half has already been disbursed. Through credit lines, India has partnered Africa in creating 137 projects in 41 countries.

    “Let me emphasise that our basic approach to our relations in Africa has been one of maximising mutual benefit. We have sought to complement our needs with each other’s strengths.

    “Capacity building through programmes, such as ITEC (Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation Programme), in which more than 25,000 scholarships have been provided since the 2nd India Africa-Forum Summit, remains a key element of that.

    “Later this year, in December, we will witness the culmination of the global discourse in two other critical areas – climate change and world trade – in the form of COP 21 on Climate Change in Paris and the 10th WTO Ministerial in Kenya.

    “This year has been historic for pushing forward South-South cooperation. We celebrated the 60th Anniversary of Asian-African Conference and the 10th Anniversary of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership at Bandung. We worked together in finalising the post-2015 Development Agenda.

    “In both these meetings, India, Africa and other developing countries will have to work hand-in-hand to ensure that our development agenda is not affected.

    On the Third Edition of the   India-Africa Forum Summit, she said it would be “an epoch -making engagement in this journey of strengthening South-South Cooperation  to promote world peace and prosperity, while accounting for Africa’s own aspirations for growth of pan-African institutions and development programmes.” Over the next four days, at the highest political levels, we will endeavour not just to give a new thrust to our age-old partnership but also to develop a new paradigm of cooperation focusing on key areas, such as infrastructure, agriculture, energy, innovation and health.”

  • Saudi Arabia, UN to broker peace in Yemen

    Saudi Arabia on Monday backed a decision by its allied Yemeni government to hold peace talks with Iran-backed Yemeni rebels, raising hopes for an end to the months-long conflict in the country.

    A source from the Foreign Ministry official told newsmen that Saudi Arabia had supported a decision by Yemeni President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi to attend UN-sponsored talks with Houthi rebels.

    “The talks are a right step to end the Yemeni crisis,” the Saudi official was quoted as saying.

    The venue and date of the talks are not yet known.

    Earlier this month, UN envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ahmed said that the Houthis had agreed to implement a UN resolution demanding that rebels withdraw from areas under their control and hand over their weapons to state institutions.

    The Yemeni government has repeatedly linked its participation in any peace talks with the rebels to their acceptance of the resolution issued in April.

    Previous UN attempts to end Yemen’s war failed, worsening a humanitarian conditions in the country.

    More than 2,300 civilians have been killed since March, according to UN agencies.

  • UN hails Nigeria over fight against Boko Haram

    UN hails Nigeria over fight against Boko Haram

    The United Nations (UN) has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari administration for its fight against Boko Haram.

    Mr. Weixiong Chen of the UN Counter Terrorism Centre said this when he led a delegation to Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS’) Controller-General, Dr. Peter Ekpendu.

    Chen praised the government and the NPS management for being able to contain insurgency, particularly the de-radicalisation of those in prison custody.

    NPS spokesman Francis Enobore  quoted the leader of the delegation as noting with delight the “appreciable success that has been recorded in the counter-terrorism, reformation and rehabilitation drive of the prisons service through the support of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), European Union and other development partners”.

    He stated that violent extremism, which he described as a relatively new phenomenon in Africa, remained a global challenge and a common enemy to mankind.

    The UN official said insurgency must be collectively fought with unwavering determination and relentless vigour.

    Chen observed that Nigeria, being the first country in Africa to adopt the soft approach to managing terrorism through good penal practice, has once again demonstrated its capacity to taking a leading role in strengthening the resources of other sister nations in the continent in dealing with the menace.

    He promised to seek the support of international donor agencies for logistics, infrastructural intervention and capacity-building for prison workers to enhance and sustain the gains so far recorded.

    The NPS’ Controller-General thanked the visitors for the  interest in assisting Nigeria to surmount the challenge of violent extremism, which has redefined the country’s security architecture and socio-economic development.

    He lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for the logistics support through the ONSA that led to a huge impact in the de-radicalisation  programme for those  in prison custody.

  • ‘Why we partnered UN’

    ‘Why we partnered UN’

    Citizen’s Mediation Centre (CMC) Director, Mrs. Oluwatoyin  Odusanya, has explained why the Lagos State government adopted the United Nations World Peace Day.

    She said one of the Centre’s core mandates is to engender peaceful coexistence among people in the various communities in the state through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) just like the UN, a global peace body, does on an international level.

    She said: “The essence of partnering with the United Nations is that before a matter will escalate to the stage of self-help, the Citizen’s Mediation Centre offers mediation as an Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism.

    “Instead of going to court they’ll come here, and it’s for civil not criminal cases, they’ll come to our office and the matter will be handled by trained mediators, neutral persons. Both parties will agree to a Memorandum of Understanding and that is it, everyone is happy, unlike going to court where the case may go on for a long time and you know as Africans you don’t go to court and come back to become friends.”

    She continued: “But at the CMC we encourage people to shake hands, husbands and wives who have come to dissolve their marriage, they’ll end up going back home happy and all that.

    “That’s basically why we’re partnering with the United Nations World Peace Day, to engender peace in our communities just like the UN is doing globally.’’

    The announcement of the UN partnership was made during last month’s World Peace Day celebration by Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode. Mrs. Odusanya said the partnership was here to stay.

    The CMC Director said: “Just like what we did on September 21, every World Peace Day we hope to come up with programmes that tell people about our centre and encourage them to embrace alternative dispute resolution. “ADR has helped to greatly reduce the number of cases at the courts. Even the courts nowadays they now send cases to us, they look at the cases and ask the parties, have you tried mediation? If you have not, then go to CMC. It is only when mediation fails that they may be encouraged to go to court.”

     

  • Experts seek action on UN global goals

    Experts seek action on UN global goals

    The Executive Director of Network of Non-governmental organization of Nigeria, (NNNGO), Mr. Oluseyi Oyebisi has called for a national plan of action to achieve the new global goals for sustainable development in Nigeria.

    Oyebisi made this known at an event organised by Save the Children, ONE Campaign, The Nigeria Network of NGOs, CSDEVNET and The Future Project held University of Lagos.

    The Sustainable Developments Goals are a new global targets recently ratified by over 150 heads of state and governments across the world at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

    Oyebisi said, “Nigeria can only implement the new sustainable development goals if there is a national plan of action on the sustainable development goals by the federal government which will set the pace for private sectors and other stakeholders’ involvement and participation in its implementation.

    He said that the federal government’s stance and posture toward the full adaptation and implementation of the new sustainable goals is imperative for the goals to be achieved.

    These goals, he said, should be adopted and consultation should be done in all the ministries, agencies and departments of government on how it relate to them and fashion out ways government and other stakeholders can key into the goals.

    He said, “Tackling poverty, promoting inclusive education for all, promoting healthy environment and affordable and efficient energy for all are among the new SDGs which must be pursued vigorously by everyone”.

    He opined that monitoring and evaluation of the new goals should be put in place to ascertain the effectiveness of the goals periodically.

    Oyebisi, who lamented that Africa, especially Nigeria could not meet the just concluded millennium development goals because there was enough political will and coordinated approach by government agencies who would have galvanize all other stakeholders toward meeting the goals.

    He opined that funding for the implementation can be source from curbing illicit corrupt funds, aids and grants, taxes and foreign direct investment.

    Also speaking at the event, the Executive Director of One Campaign, Edwin Ikhuoria challenged Nigerians to own the new global goals and hold government accountable for its implementation.

    He said, “The office of the citizen is the most important office that can exist. The citizens must know and understand their power to determine what leaders do and hold them to account for the common wealth entrusted in their hands to govern.

    He noted that gone are the days when a leader will blatantly squander resources and nobody can mention it for fear of being a target of high-level vindictiveness.

    “Nigeria has moved from where it used to be, but today at the end of the MDGs, Nigeria can only boast of meeting maybe 2 or 3 of the targets! The rest are not met. What happened? He asked.

    On the essence of the programme, the Campaign Advisor of Save the Children, Hope Udoma said that we are here to light up and amplify our voices to the rectification and implementation of the new global goals.

     

  • United Nations mark peace day in style

    United Nations mark peace day in style

    The 2015 International Day of Peace has been marked in Lagos with fanfare as youths, government and NGO partners trooped to the street to ‘Walk for peace’.

    The peace day observance, which started with a press briefing, was addressed by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode who was represented by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Funlola Odunlami and the Director of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Lagos, Mr Ronald Kayanja.

    The conclusion of the press briefing marked the beginning of an exciting ‘Walk for Peace’ as organised by UNIC in Lagos and Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC).

    Delivering his message on the theme for 2015 observance – ‘Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All’, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, called on all warring parties to lay down their weapons and observe a global ceasefire.

    “To them I say: stop the killings and the destruction, and create space for lasting peace.” The Secretary-General who was represented by the Director of UNIC Lagos further said: “There is no group more poised to help realize this dream than today’s young people. They are part of the largest generation of youth in history, more aware and connected than any before.”

    Speaking earlier, Governor Ambode thanked the UN Information Centre for the partnership and pledged that the CMC would adopt the International Day of Peace as an annual event to propagate the ethos of peaceful co-existence among residents in Lagos State.

    Flagged off by Mrs Odunlami and led by Mr Kayanja and the CMC Director, Mrs Oluwatoyin  Odusanya, the road show started from the Lagos State Secretariat Alausa, Ikeja through Obafemi Awolowo Way and terminated at Ikeja-under-bridge where a citizens’ mediace dayation session was held by the CMC, an agency of the Lagos State government under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice.

    The CMC serves as a non-adversarial dispute resolution Centre using mediation mechanism in dispensing justice fairly and speedily to the satisfaction of both parties.

    With participants numbering over 100 and clad in branded T-shirts, dancing to contemporary songs, to the admiration of members of the public, the ‘Walk for Peace’ road show stopped intermittently at intersections to give room for professional dancers to entertain while leaflets with peace building messages were shared with members of the public.

  • Buhari seeks military action against ISIS, Boko Haram, others

    Buhari seeks military action against ISIS, Boko Haram, others

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday harped on the need for world leaders to take military action, effective border security, intelligence collection, sharing and vigorous policing action against the Islamic State in the Middle East and other violent extremism across the globe.

    He spoke during the Global Leaders’ Summit on Countering ISIS and violent extremism at the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in United States.

    Stressing that Nigeria has noted with satisfaction the efforts of the UN and the rest of the international community towards containing ISIS, he said that world leaders need to do more.

    He said: “We need to take military action combined with effective border security, intelligence collection and sharing, and vigorous policing action.

    “These alone may not suffice, but they can certainly stem the tide and reverse the process of recruitment, movement and effective operation of foreign terrorist fighters and their associated radical extremists.

    “In order to put in place the critical components of an effective approach to countering ISIS and eventually defeating it, we must address the threat from the source.”

    He said that everything must be done to prevent young people from turning to terror in the first place.

    “And the young people that turn to violent extremism do not exist in a vacuum – they are often part of communities and families and are lured into the fold of barbaric and nihilistic organizations, somehow, through a misguided appeal to their worst fears, expectations and apparent frustrations.”

    Apart from addressing the causes of the attraction and how to deal with them, he said that close attention should be paid to other manifest factors that may not be tangible but can be crucial including good governance, which entails transparency, accountability and rule of law.

    These factors, he said, remained the basis on which the process should be kick-started to rid the world of the menace of terrorism and violent extremism.