Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Wad Madani, the capital of Al Jazeera state, since fighting broke out last Friday. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is urgently calling on the parties to the conflict to ensure protection of all civilians and provide safe passage for people trying to reach safety. "We fear that Wad Madani, once considered a safe haven for people fleeing extreme violence in […]

Ethiopia is severely affected by climate related hazards. Since 2020, the country has faced prolonged drought resulting from consecutive failed rainy seasons, generally happening in the northern, southeastern, and southern parts of Ethiopia. The current drought impacts approximately 24 million people, including more than 11 million people who are in need of food assistance. The majority being in Afar, Oromia, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ (SNNP), and Somali regions (WFP, […]

The United States extends our deepest sympathy to the people of Kenya suffering from catastrophic flooding. Severe flooding caused by the El Nino – the worst Kenya has experienced in decades – has taken at least 170 lives and comes immediately following one of the worst droughts in the country’s history. The unprecedented nature of these back-to-back disasters highlight the impact of climate change and the need to prepare for […]

With elections set to be held in just a year’s time, upholding the rule of law will be key to building and maintaining enduring peace. For this reason, and in line with its mandate, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) continues to build the capacity of different actors in the justice system, not least the country’s police force. A recent example of this is a three-day workshop in […]

About six million children were pushed into hunger in the top 10 countries that faced worsening food crises this year, which was a 32% increase compared to 2022, according to a new analysis by Save the Children. Since January, 5.8 million children – or about 16,000 children a day – have entered chronic levels of hunger in Sudan, Somalia, Burundi, Djibouti, Gambia, Haiti, Lebanon, Liberia, Senegal and Malawi this year, […]

A bright future sometimes begins with acquiring the skills needed to generate a sustainable income. In Rumbek, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) recently decided to improve the prospects of 25 young women and men by funding a three-month-long training on basic computer maintenance and mobile phone repairs. “What we learn today is the steppingstone for a better future. By making the most of our new skills we […]

The President of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org), Akinwumi Adesina, has been awarded the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership. The award which promotes the legacy and democratic ideals of the late Nigerian nationalist and federalist leader Chief Obafemi Awolowo, also “recognises and celebrates excellence in leadership.” The Foundation’s Executive Director, Ambassador Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu said, “Dr Adesina was the unanimous choice of the Foundation’s Selection Committee, which described Adesina […]

Sierra Leone has taken a significant stride in strengthening its public health infrastructure with the unveiling of the National Public Health Agency (NPHA). This pivotal initiative, launched on December 14, 2023, by H.E. President Brigadier Rtd Dr. Julius Maada Bio, reflects the government's resolute commitment to enhance the well-being of its citizens and build a resilient healthcare system capable of addressing existing health challenges. The World Health Organization (WHO) joined […]

New offshore projects in Ivory Coast, Angola and the Republic of the Congo (ROC) have created lucrative opportunities for European service providers, who offer the latest technologies in drilling, engineering and subsea services. As a result, large-scale contracts have been awarded in the past twelve months to support oil and gas exploration activities across the continent. The Invest in African Energy (IAE) forum – returning to Paris for its second […]