A brief roundup of United Nations political and peacebuilding events and developments globally. ASG Khiari warns of escalating fighting and rising civilian toll in Ukraine On 20 April, Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, briefed the Security Council on developments in Ukraine. He noted that a temporary Easter truce announced from 11 to 12 April was not respected, with…
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of MONUSCO, Mr. James Swan, arrived in Goma on Friday, April 24, 2026, as part of his first field visit to the eastern part of the country since taking office and which started on 20 April with Beni. This visit comes amid persistent security challenges and ceasefire monitoring responsibilities for MONUSCO. Upon his arrival at Goma…
United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert held a round of meetings this week with Lebanese political, security and religious representatives. In exercising her good offices role, the Special Coordinator discussed with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam ongoing efforts to consolidate the cessation of hostilities and advance stability in Lebanon. Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert also met with the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces…
New analysis underscores urgent need for coordinated responses to protect civilians. Bogotá, Colombia – 15 April 2026. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Colombia has launched a new technical paper titled “Uncrewed Aircraft Systems with Explosive Payloads: Emerging Threats and Challenges for Colombia”, highlighting the growing humanitarian risks associated with the use of weaponized drones by non-state armed groups. Presented…
WAU – In 2016, clashes between armed forces caused almost 40,000 people to flee Wau town in search of a safe haven. By 2020, many had resettled in other parts of the country while about 10,000 former residents remained in the Naivasha protection site, established by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and partners. Since then, the site has undergone various changes regarding protection mandates and different partner organizations providing…
YAMBIO – Victoria* gazes lovingly at the upturned face of the four-month-old infant lying on her lap. She brushes her palm gently across his forehead and giggles as the baby coos and gurgles and kicks his tiny legs in the air. She leans back and smiles, her eyes glinting with pride, revelling in the newfound joy of motherhood. Just shy of 19, her smile and calm demeanour conceal the many horrors that she’s battled. And survived. Abducted by an…
À Obo, dans le Haut-Mbomou, 80 représentants de partis politiques ont bénéficié, le 21 avril, d’une formation organisée par la Délégation sous-préfectorale des élections (DSPE) avec l’appui de la MINUSCA, afin de renforcer leurs compétences dans les bureaux de vote le jour des scrutins. Les modules développés ont porté notamment sur les droits et devoirs des représentants des partis politiques dans les bureaux de vote, ainsi que sur le code de…
As Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory prepare to go to the polls on 25 April, the United Nations Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, welcomes the efforts of the Central Elections Commission to organize local elections in the West Bank and the municipality of Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip. “Saturday’s elections represent an important opportunity for Palestinians to exercise their…
The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) on 22 April, officially handed over the newly rehabilitated 37‑kilometre stretch Abyei–Agok road, a key supply route constructed by its Vietnamese Military Construction Engineering Contingent 4. The re-opening of the road, which serves as a lifeline for communities across Abyei, will support the delivery of humanitarian aid, economic recovery and peacekeeping efforts. The rehabilitation…
The United Nations Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Moustapha Soumaré, and the Deputy Minister of Interior, Hon. Riaw Gatlir Gai, today inaugurated the Prisons Development Committee (PDC) at a…
NEW YORK - The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement by the Government of Afghanistan of a temporary ceasefire with the Taliban for the Eid al-Fitr holiday. The Secretary-General urges the Taliban to reciprocate the…
The UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo concluded a day-long visit to Somalia today, her first field trip since her appointment to the position one month ago. Ms. DiCarlo’s visit to Somalia is…
PRESS STATEMENT 07/2018 The United Nations Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Political Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, visited the Somali capital today and held a series of meetings with the country’s leadership to reiterate the…
KABUL - The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) welcomes the announcement made today by the Government of Afghanistan for a temporary ceasefire with the Taliban. Citing calls by more than 2,000 religious…
The United Nations, African Union, European Union, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, Ethiopia, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States welcome the significant outcomes of the June 3-5…
ASADABAD - Community-level peace efforts in eastern Afghanistan are demonstrating the power of consensus-building, even against the backdrop of the broader conflict playing out across the country, said panellists in a UN…
Mr. Zahir Tanin, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMIK, welcomes the condemnations and expressions of concern by Kosovo’s leaders regarding recent ethnically motivated incidents. SRSG Tanin further…
You’re Excellences, Admirals, Generals, Distinguished guests, Fellow Peacekeepers, Colleges, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for taking time to attend the commemoration of this very significant occasion. To day is dedicated…
On 4 June 2018, the Special Representative of the Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohamed Ibn Chambas received a delegation of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) led by its…
"MINUSMA is implementing the four R’s of the waste policy of DPKO/DFS: reduce, reuse, recover and recycle." The objective of the environmental policy for UN peacekeeping missions is reduce their impact on environment. The…