Economic Community of West African States: fifty and fractured
30/4/2025: Half a century after ECOWAS promised peace and prosperity, three breakaway states are testing West African solidarity. In recent years Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have experienced the overthrow of democratically elected governments and have become more closely aligned with China and Russia.
Source: Inter Press Service
Can the UN restructure to remain relevant?
29/4/2025: In March 2025 the UN Secretary-General launched UN80, an initiative to modernise the UN. Once a taboo subject, structural changes are now firmly on the agenda, even the potential merger of UN entities is now openly being discussed.
Source: The Global Observatory
Is it time to say RIP to the Sustainable Development Goals?
15/4/2025: Even before the dramatic changes of the past few months, the Sustainable Development Goals were in trouble, with only 17% on track. But the Goals still enjoy almost universal support among UN members who recognize that humanity’s progress has happened when people work together, not when a ‘winner-takes-all’ mentality prevails.
Source: Inter Press Service
Reciprocal tariffs should exclude vulnerable developing economies
14/4/2025: A report by UN Trade and Development argues that vulnerable and small economies, whose activities have a negligible effect on trade deficits, should be exempt from new tariff hikes. Additional tariff revenue collected from these economies would be minimal.
Source: UN Trade and Development
Flip-flop US tariffs undermine World Trade Organization
11/4/2025: President Trump has withdrawn the US from the UN Human Rights Council, the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement. His on-off announcements on tariffs make life uncomfortable for the World Trade Organization.
Source: Inter Press Service
The US spins out of control, into an economic world of its own
7/4/2025: Donald Trump's imposition of a tariff wall around the US economy is a major blow to global economic integration. There is the added layer of confusion around whether Trump’s tariff policy will stick or whether he will try to use it as a bargaining chip.
Source: East Asia Forum
Is the UN a target of the US rampage?
26/3/2025: Elon Musk, the tech billionaire, who acts as a virtual Prime Minister to President Trump, has called on the US to exit both NATO and the UN. The threat against the UN has been reinforced following a move by several Republican lawmakers who claim that the organization does not align with the “America First” agenda.
Source: Inter Press Service
US dismisses tariff complaints from Canada and China at WTO
20/3/2025: Canada and China have lodged complaints about US trade tariffs, following procedures laid down by the World Trade Organization. The US has responded with attempts to justify its unilateral actions.
Source: Third World Network
Guterres launches plan to update the UN for the 21st century
12/3/2025: The UN80 Initiative aims to deliver tangible improvements in peace, development and humanitarian aid – all while ensuring that public funds are used wisely and transparently. The Secretary-General said: "the United Nations has never been more needed. Our values have never been more relevant."
Source: UN News
Is the world ready for a woman at helm of the UN?
10/3/2025: In closed-door negotiations at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the US has proposed that a provision encouraging states to nominate qualified female candidates for the post of UN Secretary-General should be watered down. The current head of the UN has warned of an aggressive backlash against gender equality – threatening hard-won progress on women’s human rights.
Source: Devex