Africa Free Trade Area, likely spur for growth and development
New York: With productivity-boosting measures, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement could reduce poverty and inequality while spurring sustainable and inclusive growth, according to a report launched on Wednesday by the UN trade and development body, UNCTAD.
EU concerned over Ethiopia's possible further fragmentation, aggravation of armed conflict
Brussels/Sputnik: EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed concerns over the recent escalation of fighting in Ethiopia, pointing to risks of further fragmentation of the country and spreading of the armed conflict, and also reiterated calls for the withdrawal of Eritrean troops.
Ethiopian Parliament approves state of emergency as Tigrayan Rebels advance: Reports
Addis Ababa/UNI/Sputnik: The lower house of the Ethiopian parliament has approved imposing a state of emergency in the country in the last ditch effort to protect the population from the advancing rebels of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Tigray (PNLF), Fana Broadcasting Corporation reported on Thursday.
Greater global solidarity needed to achieve peace and security for Africa
New York: The deputy UN chief on Thursday emphasized the “vital importance” of peace and security in Africa, thanking ambassadors in the Security Council for helping the UN shine a spotlight on the issue, and how all Member States can work with the African Union and other regional and sub-regional groups, to make lives more secure across the continent.
New FAO report highlights urgent need to restore Africa’s degraded landscape
New York:: The first-ever stocktake of Africa’s forests and landscapes, which was released on Wednesday finds slow progress in repairing Africa’s degraded lands and urges ramped up efforts for climate action.
Islamic State threat moves online, expands across Africa: Senior counter-terrorism expert
New York: Two decades after the 11 September terrorist attacks in New York, terror networks Al-Qaida and Islamic State – also known as Da’esh – continue to pose a grave threat to peace and security, adapting to new technologies and moving into some of the world’s most fragile regions, the top UN counter-terrorism official told the Security Council on Thursday.
Congo: Pressure mounts between Chinese cobalt mine workers and their Chinese bosses
Beijing: Chinese companies are slowly entering the southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in search of cobalt recently, triggering a new conflict in the region.
Nine in 10 African nations set to miss urgent COVID vaccination goal
New York: Nine in 10 African nations look set to miss the September target of vaccinating 10 per cent of their populations against COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO), said on Thursday.
Thousands flee fresh clashes in Central African Republic: UN agency
New York: Recent fighting between government forces and rebels in northern Central African Republic (CAR) has forced more than 2,000 refugees into neighboring Chad over the past week, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday.
UN agencies appeal for $266 million to feed refugees in eastern Africa
New York: A funding shortfall is putting the lives of some three million refugees in eastern Africa at risk, two UN agencies warned on Tuesday.
Secretary-General underscores need for peace and stability in Africa’s Sahel region
New York: The UN Secretary-General has underlined his concern for Africa’s Sahel region, where deteriorating security and violence are aggravating an already difficult humanitarian situation that is unfolding amid the COVID-19 pandemic and climate emergency.
UN envoy outlines progress towards cooperation in Africa’s Great Lakes Region
New York: Even as they confront the COVID-19 pandemic, countries in Africa’s Great Lakes Region continue to improve political, security and economic cooperation in line with a 2013 Framework agreement, UN Special Envoy Huang Xia told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Illicit capital robbing Africa and its people of their future: UN trade and development chief
New York: Every year, an estimated $88.6 billion, which is equivalent to 3.7% of Africa’s GDP, leaves the continent in the form of illicit capital, according to UN trade and development agency UNCTAD’s Economic Development in Africa Report 2020, launched on Monday.
CAR President calls for better representation of Africa on the Security Council
New York: Central African Republic, like nearly every nation on the planet, has not been spared by the COVID-19 pandemic, with indictors predicting a contraction by up to 1.2 of the country’s economic growth, President Faustin Archange Touadera said on Thursday, calling on world leaders to unite against the virus.
South African President warns pandemic has set back African development
New York: Despite the continent-wide approach taken by African countries to combat COVID-19, the pandemic has set back their development aspirations, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa told world leaders at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.