UN Secretary-General calls for rights-based governance in 2023
6/2/2023: In presenting his 2023 roadmap to the General Assembly, the Secretary-General has called on member states for a transformation in policy, grounded in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He affirmed that a rights-rooted approach is central to achieving a more peaceful and sustainable world.
Source: UN News
African leaders meet to seek peace and security
11/2/2023: The annual assembly of the African Union will shortly be held in Addis Ababa. Aspirations to adjust from fighting colonialism to encouraging economic integration are struggling. There have been four successful coups in West Africa and an unsuccessful attempt in Niger since 2020.
Source: The East African
Will UN reform happen this year? Don’t hold your breath
1/2/2023: Everyone talks about reforming the UN Security Council but change remains elusive after decades of debates. This past year, the voices for expanding the Council became louder, yet few can agree on how to do it.
Source: PassBlue
Myanmar’s neglected crisis demands a different response
1/2/2023: The UN system’s response to the crisis in Myanmar has been toothless, contributing to ineffective aid. A principled way to meet the overwhelming humanitarian needs in Myanmar is to provide support directly to local community-based organisations.
Source: The New Humanitarian
Myanmar junta extends state of emergency
1/2/2023: Myanmar's state of emergency has been extended by a further six months, coinciding with the announcement of new sanctions by the US and its allies. The UN special investigator on Myanmar has warned that the military junta plans to seek legitimacy by orchestrating a "sham" election this year.
Source: DW
Asia’s response to US trashing of rules-based international trade
23/1/2023: The end of 2022 left no doubt that the Biden administration has sustained US policy to undermine the rules-based international trading system. What should the rest of the world do, especially the heavily trade dependent economies in Asia?
Source: East Asia Forum
UN Security Council reform moves at snail’s pace
23/12/2022: The UN has made significant contributions as a humanitarian relief organization but remains deadlocked as a political body. The permanent five countries continue to exercise their veto, even though they no longer reflect geopolitical reality.
Source: Inter Press Service
Africa’s free trade agreement takes baby steps
5/12/2022: A handful of African companies have finally started shipping goods under the long-delayed AfCFTA free trade agreement. Intra-African trade is only around 15% of total trade, much lower than in other world regions, such as Europe, where it's 67%.
Source: DW
Call for integration of African Union into G20
25/11/2022: French President Emmanuel Macron told world leaders gathered at the recent Bali summit that his country supports the integration of the African Union into G20 membership. South Africa is the only current member country from Africa.
Source: The East African
The 20th Party Congress is another step in Xi’s rise
16/10/2022: The 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party is scheduled to confirm Xi Jinping as China’s leader for a third term. By steering China back towards a system of one-man rule, echoing that of Maoist China or Russia under Vladimir Putin, Xi risks replicating all of their governance failures as well.
Source: East Asia Forum