Category: Africa

Source: United Nations – English

iodiversity is the bedrock of life and a cornerstone of sustainable development. 

Yet humanity is destroying biodiversity at lightening pace – the result of pollution, climate crisis, ecosystem destruction, and – ultimately – short-term interests fuelling the unsustainable use of our natural world. 

Biodiversity loss is a global challenge. No one country, however rich or powerful, can address it alone. Nor can they live without the rich biodiversity that defines our planet.

As we pursue sustainable development, we must transform how we produce and consume, and how we value nature, and deliver on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework – the world’s blueprint to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. We need policies, regulations, and other incentives to support sustainable livelihoods and build strong, green economies. 

That means governments building on progress made at CBD COP16, including by delivering domestic and international finance, and shifting public subsidies and other financial flows away from activities that harm nature. And it means countries delivering National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans that put the Framework into effect, address inequality, advance sustainable development, respect traditional knowledge, and empower women, girls, Indigenous People and more. 
 
As the theme of this year’s International Day reminds us, living in “harmony with nature and sustainable development” is humanity’s path to a better world for us all. Together, let’s take it.   

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La diversité biologique est au fondement de la vie et l’une des pierres angulaires du développement durable.

Pourtant, l’humanité est en train de l’anéantir à une vitesse fulgurante du fait à la fois de la pollution, de la crise climatique, de la destruction des écosystèmes et, in fine, de la poursuite de l’intérêt à court terme qui favorise une exploitation non durable de l’environnement naturel.

La perte de biodiversité est un problème mondial. Aucun pays, aussi riche ou puissant soit-il, ne peut y remédier seul. Aucun ne peut non plus se passer de cette biodiversité dont la richesse caractérise notre planète.

Tandis que nous avançons sur la voie du développement durable, nous devons transformer nos façons de produire, de consommer et de valoriser la nature et appliquer le Cadre mondial de la biodiversité de Kunming-Montréal, à savoir le plan d’action mondial visant à enrayer et à inverser la perte de biodiversité. Nous avons besoin de politiques, de réglementations et d’autres mesures incitatives qui favorisent des modes de subsistance durables et consolident les économies vertes.

À cette fin, les États doivent mettre à profit les avancées obtenues à la seizième session de la Conférence des Parties à la Convention sur la diversité biologique, notamment en procédant à des investissements aux niveaux national et international et en ne subventionnant plus et en ne finançant plus les activités qui nuisent à la nature. Il faut également que les pays élaborent des stratégies et des plans d’action nationaux en faveur de la biodiversité qui viennent appliquer le Cadre, remédier aux inégalités, favoriser le développement durable, respecter les connaissances traditionnelles et donner des moyens d’action aux femmes, aux filles, aux peuples autochtones et à d’autres encore.

Comme nous le rappelle le thème de la Journée internationale de cette année, vivre « en harmonie avec la nature et le développement durable » est la voie qui permettra à l’humanité de créer un monde meilleur pour tous et toutes. Empruntons-la ensemble !

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Source: United Nations – English

he Secretary-General strongly condemns the appalling killing on Wednesday night of two Israeli Embassy officials in Washington, D.C.  Nothing can justify such a horrific act.

The Secretary-General reiterates his consistent condemnation of attacks against diplomatic officials.

The Secretary-General calls for the perpetrator to be brought to justice and extends his sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims and to the Government of Israel.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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The World Health Organization (WHO) today donated three mobile water quality testing kits to the Ministry of Health, through the Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), to strengthen Angola’s capacity to monitor and respond to waterborne disease risks—especially during health emergencies such as the ongoing cholera outbreak.

These mobile kits allow for on-the-spot analysis of water sources, enabling health teams to detect issues such as pH levels, chlorine concentration, turbidity, and other key indicators of water safety—without the delays caused by transporting samples to laboratories.

“In provinces like Lunda Norte, we’ve faced serious challenges collecting and transporting water samples from remote communities,” said  Alex Freeman, a WASH and Health logistics  specialist deployed to Angola with the support of the WHO Nairobi  AFRO Emergency Hub “Now, with these mobile kits, we can conduct accurate tests immediately at the point of collection, enabling faster decision-making and a more agile public health response.”

As part of the rollout, nine INIS staff members were trained on the use of the mobile kits, with additional training planned for personnel from other sectors in the coming weeks.

The testing kits are also a practical tool for routine monitoring in hospital settings, helping ensure safe water for patients and health workers. As part of WHO’s mandate to support water quality surveillance, the kits represent an important operational boost for both preventive health efforts and outbreak response.

“This is a great example of collaboration and targeted support,” said Simão Nhassengo, a WASH specialist deployed to Angola with the support of the government of the Netherlands. “These kits will play an important role in monitoring water safety across Angola and ultimately help prevent the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera.”

The initiative was made possible thanks to the generous contributions of the European Union through European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), and the Embassy of the Netherlands, whose support has also enabled technical deployments to strengthen water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) capacity across the country.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Angola.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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Jorge Moreira da Silva, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Executive Director, is scheduled to visit the Africa region, in a five-day visit that will take him to Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. 

During his visit, Mr. Moreira da Silva will meet national authorities and development partners. He will discuss the practical solutions that UNOPS offer to partners to maximize the impact of their humanitarian, development and peace operations ―all in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The visit also aims at getting a better understanding of the needs on the ground, and how UNOPS can scale operations to respond.

UNOPS ongoing support in the region includes: 

In Sudan, where half of the population ―some 25 million people― need humanitarian assistance and protection, UNOPS is strengthening health infrastructure, improving access to clean, safe water, supporting peacekeeping operations to protect civilians, and facilitating a more sustainable and equitable use of natural resources. 

In Somalia, UNOPS works to strengthen the capacity of Somali institutions and supports partners in a range of sectors, such as health, governance, peace and security. We work to support reconstruction and state-building through disaster preparedness planning, crisis recovery, climate-resilient infrastructure and strengthening of the security sector.

In Ethiopia, UNOPS works with partners to support national and international development priorities. Over the years, with our partners, we have helped strengthen health and education systems and supported food security. This includes environmentally friendly solutions and innovative models to modernize Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, provide clean energy to off-grid areas and improve health services across the country.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations – Ethiopia.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, expresses deep sorrow at the passing of H.E. Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Former President of the Republic of Zambia.

H.E. Dr. Lungu served his nation and the African continent with dedication and distinction. His contributions to the advancement of democratic governance and regional cooperation in Africa will be remembered with deep respect and appreciation.

On behalf of the African Union, the Chairperson conveys his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, the Government of the Republic of Zambia, and the people of Zambia during this time of national mourning.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

In Bambouti, Haut-Mbomou, MINUSCA launched the 8th phase of the Community Violence Reduction Program on May 27, 2025. Lasting three months, it will focus on Cash For Work and vocational training for the benefit of 160 participants, including 90 women. An opportunity for the youth of the locality to be able to take charge of themselves.

The training will include sewing, carpentry, masonry and sanitation actions. Some beneficiaries express their joy and emphasize that the money they will receive will help them start income-generating activities.

“I express my gratitude to MINUSCA, because the work I will do will help me to become financially independent. When I receive the money, I will start investing in Income-Generating Activities,” said Suzanne Mbate, one of the beneficiaries.

Many participants in the professional training recognize the benefits of this initiative, both for the community and for themselves. Beneficiaries of past editions of the Programme are currently engaged in income-generating activities. These initiatives help to reduce acts of violence in the community.

The mayor of Bambouti, Anne-Marie Sioukarani, welcomes this program which will contribute to the development of the region: “This initiative will contribute effectively to the development of the locality. Because it is a good thing for the youth of Bambouti who, for several years, had nothing to do as an activity or training. The launch of the CVR 8 project will help young people to take charge of themselves.”

It should be noted that the sanitation work will take place in particular at the town hall and the sub-prefecture.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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The recently signed agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius fails to guarantee and protect the rights of the Chagossian people, including their right to return to Diego Garcia, effective remedy and reparations and their cultural rights, UN experts* said today.

On 22 May 2025, the United Kingdom and Mauritius signed a bilateral agreement to return sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, to Mauritius to complete the decolonisation of Mauritius following years of negotiations and international pressure, including from the International Court of Justice and the General Assembly.

“By maintaining a foreign military presence of the United Kingdom and the United States on Diego Garcia and preventing the Chagossian people from returning to Diego Garcia, the agreement appears to be at variance with the Chagossians’ right to return, which also hinders their ability to exercise their cultural rights in accessing their ancestral lands from which they were expelled,” the experts said.

They raised serious questions about whether the foreseen £40 million Trust Fund, which remains subject to yet-to-be adopted regulations, would comply with the right of the Chagossian people to effective remedy and adequate, effective, and prompt reparation, including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-repetition.

Most notably, the current agreement contains no provisions providing for the full panoply of the right to adequate and effective reparations as it does not provide restitution, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-repetition, the experts noted. The agreement also lacks provisions to facilitate the Chagossian people’s access to cultural sites on Diego Garcia and protect and conserve their unique cultural heritage.

“In light of these significant concerns, we call for the ratification of the agreement to be suspended and for a new agreement to be negotiated that fully guarantees the rights of the Chagossian people to return to all islands of the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia. This includes their right to adequate and effective remedy and reparations, including restitution, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-repetition, as well as their cultural rights,” the experts said.

The experts had previously raised concerns about continuous forced displacement of the Chagossian people and lack of their effective participation in decision-making processes concerning negotiations over the Chagos Archipelago, in letters to the governments of Mauritius and the United Kingdom on 21 February 2023 as well as through a press release on 10 October 2024.

“We are gravely concerned about the lack of meaningful participation of Chagossians in processes that have led to the agreement,” the experts said.

They urged the Governments of the United Kingdom and Mauritius to apply a human rights-based approach in addressing historical injustices against the Chagossian people.

The experts are in touch with the United Kingdom and Mauritius regarding these issues.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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The Government of Saudi Arabia must immediately halt the reportedly imminent execution of 26 Egyptian nationals sentenced to death for drug-related offences, in violation of international law, an UN expert said today.

“The Government’s claim that applying the death penalty for offences such as smuggling, receiving and distributing narcotic substances under the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act complies with international law is incompatible with its legal obligations under International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” said Morris Tidball-Binz, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

“The right not to be arbitrarily deprived of life is a fundamental tenet of international law, from which no derogation is permitted,” Tidball-Binz said.

The 26 Egyptian nationals, currently held on death row in Tabouk prison, have reportedly been informed that their executions will take place shortly after the Eid al-Adha holidays. This follows the execution of two other Egyptians from the same group, carried out on 24 and 25 May respectively, without prior notification to their families.

UN experts previously raised these cases with the Government of Saudi Arabia in a formal communication, to which the Government responded.

“The death penalty for drug-related offences fails to meet the threshold of the ‘most serious crimes, and lacks conclusive evidence of serving as an effective deterrent,” the expert said.

According to court documents reviewed by the expert, some of the Egyptian prisoners were denied legal representation, while others were convicted based on self-incriminating statements which they later retracted in court, claiming that they were made under coercion.

“The right to effective legal representation must be ensured at all stages of criminal proceedings – during interrogations, preliminary hearings, trial, and appeal – and constitutes an effective safeguard against torture and other forms of ill-treatment,” the expert said. “Violations of fair trial guarantees leading to the imposition of the death penalty render such sentences arbitrary and unlawful,” he added.

Since the beginning of 2025, Saudi Arabia has reportedly executed 141 individuals, approximately 68 of whom were foreign nationals. The vast majority were reportedly executed for non-lethal drug offences, in clear violation of international law.

Imposing death sentences and carrying out executions for such offences significantly increases the number of people worldwide subjected to punishments fundamentally incompatible with human rights norms, and amounting to arbitrary deprivation of life.

“I urgently call on the Government of Saudi Arabia to halt the planned executions of the 26 Egyptian nationals, to abolish the death penalty for drug-related offences, and to ensure that its drug control policies fully comply with its international human rights obligations, notably the right to life,” the expert said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

For a year now, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams in Darfur, Sudan, have been witnessing outbreaks of measles in the four Darfur states where we currently work. While massive vaccination campaigns are finally ongoing in several locations across the region, MSF calls on health authorities and medical organisations to increase efforts to catch up on the immunisation of children who have never been vaccinated.

The first surge of measles cases observed and treated by MSF were in June 2024 in Rokero, in Central Darfur, where MSF teams have been running the local Ministry of Health hospital since 2020. At the start of 2025, cases were also reported in East Jebel Marra, South Darfur, and in Forbrenga, West Darfur. More recently, new surges are also being observed in Zalengei, Sortony, and in Tine, East Chad – all places where we run activities.

From June 2024 until the end of May 2025, more than 9,950 patients were treated for measles in health facilities run or supported by MSF in the region. Around 2,700 were complicated cases requiring hospitalisation, and 35 deaths were recorded. To manage the influx of patients, we had to expand our paediatric bed capacity in three hospitals.

One of the root causes of this situation is the region’s already low immunisation coverage. 

“In Forbrenga, 30 per cent of the measles patients we are receiving are above five years but only 5 per cent of them are vaccinated,” says Sue Bucknell, deputy head of mission in West Darfur. “This suggests that the lack of vaccination dates back further than the recent conflict.” 

“The ongoing conflict is also contributing to this outbreak, constraining the capacities of medical staff to both prevent and respond to outbreaks of contagious diseases,” says Dr Cecilia Greco, medical coordinator for Central Darfur. “Mass population displacement has made the illness spread even faster across the region, further complicating the situation.”  

Since the war broke out, constant administrative impediments and regular blockades of key supply roads have caused vaccine shortages throughout Darfur. This led to disruption in routine immunisation programmes in several locations, sometimes for months. In Sortony, for example, an internally displaced people’s camp in North Darfur hosting more than 55,000 people, vaccination activities totally stopped from May 2024 to February 2025.

These constraints and shortages have also limited medical organisations’ capacity to roll out proper response campaigns. Last year, MSF carried out several vaccination campaigns, such as in November 2024 in North Jebel Marra where 9,600 children were vaccinated. 

However, due to limited vaccine supplies, our teams were forced to reduce the target number and to exclude children over age five, despite clear needs. This inevitably reduced the long-term impact of these campaigns. In North Jebel Marra, while the vaccination campaign initially slowed the outbreak, cases began to rise sharply again from February.

Although mass vaccination campaigns are now happening in different parts of Darfur, negotiations and procedures have been lengthy. After MSF first raised the alarm about the multiple surges our teams were witnessing, it took months before the Federal Ministry of Health in Port Sudan and UNICEF released the needed vaccines from their stocks, finally enabling mass vaccination campaigns to be launched in different areas of Darfur. 

Last week, 55,800 children from age nine months to 15 years were vaccinated in Forbrenga as part of a campaign led by the Ministry of Health and supported by MSF. Around 93,000 more children are set to receive the vaccine in North Jebel Marra and Sortony by the end of this week, in a similar campaign.

“Even if they represent a certain achievement, these campaigns should have happened much sooner. Many measles cases and their consequences could have been prevented,” says Dr Greco. “And as much as they are needed, such reactive campaigns are only a band-aid to an open wound unless massive efforts are put in place on immunisation and prevention across Darfur, including its most remote areas.”

There is the threat of further outbreaks of disease unless such efforts are initiated.

“Measles is not the only contagious illness currently present in Darfur with the potential to turn into outbreaks,” says Bucknell. “Over the last 10 days, about 200 suspected cholera cases were brought to MSF-supported health facilities in two different Darfur states. This follows a significant cholera outbreak in Khartoum state and other parts of Sudan.”

“It is essential that federal and local health authorities, UN agencies and all medical organisations on the ground collaborate, not only to catch up on the vaccination of all the children left behind by immunisation programmes over the years, but also to enhance their ability to respond quickly and efficiently should any other outbreaks, like cholera, start spreading over Darfur,” says Dr Greco. “This includes the capacity to supply vaccines in and across Sudan, without facing the same impediments.”   

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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The very real risk of famine continues to stalk Sudan’s communities impacted by war, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday, in an appeal for more funding to support immediate needs and boost longer-term recovery across the country.

“Over the past six months, WFP scaled up assistance and we are now reaching nearly one million Sudanese in Khartoum with food and nutrition support,” said Laurent Bukera, WFP Country Director in Sudan. “This momentum must continue; several areas in the south are at risk of famine.”

In an update from Port Sudan, Mr. Bukera reported that a mission to Khartoum had found many neighbourhoods abandoned, heavily damaged and akin to a “ghost city”.

Pressure on overstretched resources will only intensify, he insisted.

Fragile frontline communities

And as conflict still rages between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, sparked by a breakdown in transition to civilian rule in 2023, the veteran aid worker also explained that communities on the frontlines were at “breaking point” and unable to support displaced families any longer.

Despite many generous contributions to the UN agency’s work in Sudan, it faces a $500 million shortfall to support emergency food and cash assistance for the coming six months.

“The international community must act now by stepping up funding to stop famine in the hardest hit area, and to invest in Sudan’s recovery,” Mr. Bukera insisted.” We must also demand respect for the safety and the protection of the Sudanese people and aid workers.”

No food, water

More than two years of fighting have smashed infrastructure and left communities without basic services, such as clean water.

This – and weeks of heavy rains – have contributed to a deadly cholera outbreak and reports of corpses rotting in the Nile in Omdurman, one of the capital’s three cities.

In an update last week, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said that war-related displacement and the spread of cholera have continued to add to needs across Sudan.

“We are deeply concerned and meeting the basic needs, especially food, will be critical and is urgent,” said WFP’s Mr. Bukera. “Urgent action is needed to restore basic services and accelerate recovery through coordinated efforts with local authorities, national NGOs, UN agencies and humanitarian partners.”

This vital work has been prevented by a lack of international support, forcing WFP to reduce the amount and range of relief it can distribute.

“Funding shortfalls are already disrupting some of the assistance we are providing in Khartoum, Blue Nile, Al Jazeera and Sennar states,” the WFP senior official continued. “Our rations and the oil and the pulses in the food basket had to be removed due to lack of resources.”

Rations cuts

In Khartoum, lifesaving nutritional supplements for young children and pregnant and nursing mothers are already “out of reach” because of a lack of resources, he said.

Despite the many challenges, the UN agency now reaches four million people a month across Sudan. This is nearly four times more than at the start of 2024 as access has expanded, including in previously unreachable areas like Khartoum.

Communities are also supported in the longer-term via cash assistance to support local markets and support for bakeries and small businesses planning to reopen.

“We have rapidly scaled up our operation to meet increasing needs,” Mr. Bukera said. “We are aiming to reach seven people on a monthly basis, prioritizing those facing famine or other areas at extreme risk”, such as Darfur, Kordofan and Al Jazeera.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.