MIL Africa Engine

Source: United Nations – English

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Excellencies,

Dear friends,

I am pleased to send my greetings to this Second United Nations Habitat Assembly as you resume your session in Nairobi.

You gather as our world and cities face challenges on all fronts – accelerated by conflicts, the climate crisis, rising inequalities and growing geo-political divides.

This Assembly is about coming together to help find solutions, adhering to shared values, and strengthening our work as the UN marks its 80th anniversary.  

You recognize a core truth: 

We can’t build a livable world if people don’t have a place to live. 

Yet 2.8 billion people around the world lack adequate shelter – stuck in informal settlements, slums or no home at all.  

The Pact for the Future underscores the urgency – calling for universal access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing.

The Strategic Plan that you are taking up in Nairobi reaffirms that housing is a human right.  It is a public good.  And it is crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Your Strategic Plan offers a pathway to helping advance dignity, safety, opportunity.

I wish you every success. 

Together, let’s keep working to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has a place to call home.

Thank you.
 

Source: United Nations – English

he Secretary-General extends his warm congratulations to the people of West Africa on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
 
The Secretary-General notes that, over the past five decades, ECOWAS has played a vital role in advancing economic cooperation, regional integration, and peace and stability in this rich and vibrant region. From free movement of people and trade liberalization to regional infrastructure projects, conflict resolution, and contributions to peacekeeping, ECOWAS has made remarkable strides towards achieving its vision of an integrated Community of peoples in a peaceful and prosperous region.
 
The Secretary-General recognizes the strong institutional partnership between the United Nations and ECOWAS, as exemplified by several joint initiatives in the region, including through the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel and the broader United Nations system.   
 
He encourages continued cooperation to preserve hard-won regional gains and mobilize international support to address the challenges and needs of the region.
 
The Secretary-General reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to ECOWAS, including in support to regional efforts to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the ECOWAS Vision 2050 of an “ECOWAS of the Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All”.
 

Source: United Nations – English

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With unwavering courage, United Nations peacekeepers step into danger – to help protect those who need protection, preserve peace, and restore hope in some of the world’s most challenging contexts.

Today, we honour their service.

We draw inspiration from their resilience, dedication and courage. 

And we remember all the brave women and men who made the ultimate sacrifice for peace.

More than 4,400 peacekeepers have died in service – 57 last year alone.

We will never forget them – and we will carry their work forward.

The focus of this year’s International Day of Peacekeepers is on “the future of peacekeeping”.

Today, peacekeepers face increasingly complex situations in an increasingly complex world:

Growing polarization and division around the globe …

Operations made even more dangerous from a multiplicity of threats such as terrorism…

Targeting of peacekeepers through deadly misinformation…

And challenges that transcend borders – from the climate crisis to transnational crime. 

As we look ahead, it is essential that peacekeepers have what they need to do their jobs.

This is the shared responsibility of the United Nations and Member States.

The Pact for the Future – adopted last year at the United Nations – includes a commitment to adapt peacekeeping to our changing world.

This challenge is also an opportunity:

To analyse what makes peacekeeping operations successful…

To better understand what hinders them…

And to help design new future-focused models that are anchored in political solutions, adequately resourced, and have mandates that are achievable, with clear exit strategies.   

The first step – reviewing our peace operations – is underway.

And together, we will keep pushing this vital effort forward.

Now more than ever, the world needs the United Nations — and the United Nations needs peacekeeping that is fully equipped for today’s realities and tomorrow’s challenges. 

***

C’est avec un courage inébranlable que les soldates et soldats de la paix des Nations Unies bravent le danger pour aider à protéger celles et ceux qui en ont besoin, préserver la paix et restaurer l’espoir, dans des contextes parmi les plus difficiles au monde.

Aujourd’hui, nous rendons hommage à leur travail.

Leur résilience, leur dévouement et leur courage nous inspirent.

Et nous nous souvenons de ces femmes et de ces hommes courageux qui ont consenti le sacrifice ultime au service de la paix.

Plus de 4 400 Casques bleus sont morts en service, dont 57 rien que l’année dernière.

Nous ne les oublierons jamais et nous poursuivrons leur œuvre.

Cette année, la Journée internationale des Casques bleus des Nations Unies a pour thème « l’avenir du maintien de la paix ».

Les soldates et soldats de la paix font face à des situations de plus en plus complexes, dans un monde de plus en plus complexe :

Une polarisation et des divisions de plus en plus marquées partout dans le monde…

Des opérations rendues plus dangereuses encore par la multiplicité des menaces, dont le terrorisme…

Une mésinformation qui peut avoir des effets meurtriers pour les Casques bleus…

Et des défis qui dépassent les frontières – de la crise climatique à la criminalité transnationale.

Pour l’avenir, il est essentiel de s’assurer que les Casques bleus disposent des moyens nécessaires pour s’acquitter de leur mission.

Il s’agit là d’une responsabilité partagée de l’Organisation des Nations Unies et de tous les États Membres.

Dans le Pacte pour l’avenir, adopté l’an dernier au Siège de l’ONU, les États Membres se sont engagés à adapter le maintien de la paix à un monde en mutation.

Ce défi est également l’occasion :

D’analyser ce qui fait le succès des opérations de maintien de la paix…

De mieux comprendre ce qui leur fait obstacle…

Et d’aider à concevoir de nouveaux modèles tournés vers l’avenir, fondés sur des solutions politiques, dotés de ressources suffisantes et associés à des mandats réalisables et à des stratégies de sortie claires.

La première étape, à savoir le réexamen de nos opérations de paix, est en cours.

Ensemble, nous poursuivrons cette action indispensable.

Aujourd’hui plus que jamais, le monde a besoin de l’ONU – et l’Organisation a besoin d’un maintien de la paix pourvu de tous les moyens nécessaires pour s’adapter aux réalités d’aujourd’hui et relever les défis de demain.

***
 

Source: United Nations – English

n Africa Day, we celebrate a continent rich in heritage, vibrant in diversity and remarkable in its contributions to our global community.

Africa is home to the world’s youngest population and fast becoming a powerhouse in renewable energy and technological innovation.

Yet, Africa bears the scars of historic injustices.  The legacies of slavery, colonialism, apartheid, and systemic racism still cast long shadows, and entrenched inequalities affect Africans and people of African descent to this day.

This year’s theme calls for confronting these shameful legacies. I renew my call for reparatory justice that is grounded in accountability, reconciliation and equity. 

The Pact for the Future, adopted in September, urges greater African representation – particularly at the Security Council – and reforms to the international financial system to support African countries with financing and debt relief. The Pact, through the Global Digital Compact, also seeks to close the digital divide and promote the responsible use of AI technologies.

At a time when barriers are being erected, Africa leads by example. The African Continental Free Trade Area promises to usher in a new era of economic integration, opening the door to jobs, growth and prosperity.

At the same time, we must support Africa’s efforts to expand its clean-energy sector, and ensure that the minerals that are critical to the renewables revolution benefit Africans first and most.

Throughout, we will continue standing with Africa to silence the guns, tackle terrorism, and safeguard human rights for all.

On this Africa Day, let us recommit to not only addressing past wrongs, but also to building a sustainable future for the people of Africa grounded in peace, dignity, and opportunity for all.

***
En cette Journée de l’Afrique, nous célébrons un continent qui se distingue par son riche patrimoine, son éclatante diversité et ses formidables apports à la communauté internationale.

L’Afrique abrite la population la plus jeune du monde et s’impose peu à peu comme un poids lourd des énergies renouvelables et de l’innovation technologique.

Pourtant, l’Afrique porte encore les stigmates des injustices passées. Le spectre de l’esclavage, du colonialisme, de l’apartheid et du racisme systémique hante toujours le continent, et les Africains et les personnes d’ascendance africaine restent en proie à des inégalités profondément ancrées.

Le thème de cette année nous exhorte à regarder en face cet héritage honteux et je demande une nouvelle fois que soit mise en place une justice réparatrice fondée sur la responsabilité, la réconciliation et l’équité.

Le Pacte pour l’avenir, adopté en septembre, invite instamment à accroître la représentation de l’Afrique, notamment au sein du Conseil de sécurité, et à réformer le système financier international pour qu’il puisse mieux répondre aux besoins des pays africains en matière de financements et d’allègement de la dette. Ce Pacte, par l’intermédiaire du Pacte numérique mondial, vise également à réduire la fracture numérique et à promouvoir l’utilisation responsable des technologies d’intelligence artificielle.

À l’heure où sont érigées de nouvelles barrières, l’Afrique montre l’exemple. Ainsi, la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine promet de faire entrer le continent dans une nouvelle ère d’intégration économique, en ouvrant la voie à l’emploi, à la croissance et à la prospérité.

Parallèlement, nous devons soutenir l’action menée par l’Afrique pour développer le secteur des énergies propres et veiller à ce que les Africains soient les premiers à bénéficier des minéraux qui sont au cœur de la révolution des énergies renouvelables.

Jusqu’au bout, nous resterons mobilisés aux côtés de l’Afrique pour faire taire les armes, lutter contre le terrorisme et protéger les droits humains de toutes et tous.

En cette Journée de l’Afrique, réaffirmons notre engagement non seulement à réparer les torts du passé, mais aussi à construire pour les peuples d’Afrique un avenir durable, fondé sur la paix, la dignité et l’égalité des chances pour tous.

***
 

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.   

***

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 !

***

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).