Lessons from the UN’s outgoing Myanmar special envoy
29/6/2023: As the contract of the UN’s special envoy on Myanmar comes to an end, experts debate whether the lack of progress should be attributed to the international approach to the Myanmar crisis rather than the role. Weak regional governance has failed to cut off the junta’s access to aid and weapons.
Source: Devex
Frustration and tentative progress at Macron summit
23/6/2023: No major breakthrough has been achieved at the gathering of world leaders to pursue the idea of a New Global Financial Pact, sponsored by President Macron. Grievances aired by poorer countries at times appeared to dwarf the solutions on offer by the richer.
Source: Devex News
UN Security Council terminates Mali peacekeeping mission
30/6/2023: The UN Security Council has unanimously approved the complete withdrawal of UN peacekeeping forces in Mali, its 15,000 personnel due to leave by the end of this year. Several Council members cautioned that the withdrawal is occurring at a time of fragility in the Sahel region, aggravated by the reported presence of armed actors, including the Wagner Group.
Source: UN News
African blocs demand withdrawal of armed DRC groups
28/6/2023: A quadripartite summit of four African regional blocs has demanded an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in an effort to end the decades-long war. The instability in mineral-rich east DRC is a concern all over the globe.
Source: The East African
Deaths from global conflict at highest in 21st century
28/6/2023: Conflict deaths are higher than they have ever been this century, the new Global Peace Index has found, with over 238,000 people killed in conflicts last year. The average level of "global peacefulness" has sunk for the ninth year in a row.
Source: DW
Mass emigration is leaving huge gaps in Africa’s health sector
15/6/2023: According to the World Health Organization Africa has a ratio of 1.55 health workers — physicians, nurses, and midwives — per 1,000 people, barely a third of the recommended ratio needed to deliver essential health services. Some African countries are working to ban the emigration of health practitioners.
Source: Devex
The EU must not be complicit in the loss of lives at sea
16/6/2023: After the latest tragedy close to the Greek coast, human rights organizations have called for an end to rights violations at Europe’s borders. Some EU states have drastically reduced search and rescue capacity at sea, limiting prospects of prompt and effective assistance for migrants in distress.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Bonn climate talks avoid break down on adaptation goals
16/6/2023: Talks on global efforts to adjust to the effects of climate change were rescued at the very last minute during climate talks in Bonn, following bitter divisions between developing and developed countries. Progress was essential to prospects of agreement on adaptation goals at the forthcoming COP28 summit in Dubai.
Source: Climate Home News
Is India’s renewable energy push a threat to food security?
14/6/2023: India needs to double its electricity requirements by 2030 to fulfill its growing demand but targets for renewable energy may come at the cost of agricultural land being converted into solar farms. Consultation standards are poor and there are at least 12 ongoing conflicts between local communities and solar companies across eight states in India.
Source: Devex
Mali orders UN peacekeeping mission to leave
16/6/2023: Mali's foreign minister has accused the UN mission of failing to respond to security challenges. The peacekeeping mission was established in 2013 to stabilize the country amid a jihadi insurgency. UN experts have recently pointed to human rights violations exercised by the Malian military junta.
Source: DW