UN News Centre - Africa

UN human rights experts today welcomed the release of Egyptian journalist Hossam Bahgat but expressed their “grave concern” over the “very difficult environment” for journalists and human rights defenders in Egypt that deters reporting and intimidates writers and activists of all kinds.

Following a killing and revenge attack on a camp for internally displace people in the Central African Republic (CAR) town of Batangafo, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today expressed concern about the spreading insecurity in the country and condemned the violent attack on the camp.

The United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict today commended 54 ranking members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in Opposition (SPLA-IO) for signing “explicit undertakings” to prevent conflict-related sexual violence.

Mali is entering a new era of opportunity, but while significant progress has been made, the international community ‘must not take its foot off the accelerator,’ a senior UN relief official said today, returning from a three-day visit to the country.

More than 240,000 children will receive daily hot meals in school this academic year in Guinea, according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), which is expanding its school meals programme from 735 to 1,605 primary schools across the country.

Scientists have found that 90 per cent of individuals vaccinated with a meningitis A vaccine costing less than 50 cents a dose had protective antibodies in their system 5 years later, bringing Africa close to elimination of the “highly feared’ disease on the continent, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced today.

The United Nations Security Council today renewed for another year its authorization for international naval forces to join in fighting piracy off the coast of Somalia, stressing that while the threat from Somali pirates has declined, it still remains a matter of “grave concern.”

The United Nations has called for the immediate release of detained Egyptian human rights defender Hossam Bahgat with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon describing as “profoundly worrying” the latest in a series of such detentions.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the killing today of a peacekeeper from the United Nations mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) following a confrontation with armed elements in the town of Batangafo, amid ongoing violence in the strife-torn country where elections are set to take place before the end of the year.

The United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura has wrapped up an official visit to Guinea, where her Office has been supporting an investigation into events that took place in 2009 at a stadium in the capital, Conakry, where more than 100 people were killed and at least 100 women were raped during an opposition demonstration.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is following with “great concern” the situation in Burkina Faso, and today called upon the country’s defence and security forces to avoid at all costs an escalation of violence and to ensure the respect for physical security and human rights of all Burkinabé citizens.

The United Nations envoy for Libya has announced the finalization of a proposed peace plan to end the political crisis in the North African nation, adding that it is now up to the parties to act on the text.

The United Nations Security Council took note of the recent appointment of Carlos Correia as the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau as an important step towards ending the country’s political crisis, and stressed the importance of forming a new Government at the earliest.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the multiple bomb attacks at a mosque and nearby areas conducted by suspected Boko Haram elements in Maiduguri in north-east Nigeria on Sunday.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned reports of violence against civilians in Burkina Faso and urged the country’s defense and security forces, especially the Presidential Guard, to exercise restraint and respect the human rights of all citizens.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Sunday strongly condemned the military escalation in Benghazi and called for an immediate ceasefire, stressing the need to give the ongoing political dialogue a chance to bring the country&#39s conflict to an end.

The top United Nations humanitarian official for the Sahel today commended the immense generosity of the Government and host communities in Niger which are hosting those fleeing violence in neighbouring Nigeria, and called on the international community to take its responsibility for a greater share of the “humanitarian burden.”

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the release today of the Transitional President of Burkina Faso who was detained along with several other officials following this week’s coup d’état, and reiterated his demand that all those being held be freed immediately.

The number of attacks by Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria and neighbouring countries has risen, and half a million children have had to flee to safety in the past five months, bringing the total number of displaced children in the region to 1.4 million, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said today.

The Security Council today extended the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) until 30 September 2016, and authorized a reduction in the number of its personnel, as preparations continue for the security transition to the country’s authorities next year.