Defence`s Feeds

La famille du défunt Grand Imam de Dédougou, profondément touchée par les nombreuses marques de compassion, de solidarité et de soutien moral reçues à la suite de son rappel à Allah, tient à exprimer sa reconnaissance sincère et émue à l'ensemble des fidèles musulmans, autorités coutumières, religieuses, administratives, ainsi qu'à toutes les personnes venues de Dédougou et d'ailleurs.

À l'occasion du dou'a du 40ᵉ jour, tenu le 14 décembre dernier à la Grande Mosquée de Dédougou, votre présence massive, vos prières ferventes et vos témoignages de fraternité ont constitué pour la famille un réconfort inestimable et une preuve éclatante de l'attachement de la communauté à l'œuvre spirituelle et sociale laissée par le défunt.

La famille tient également à remercier très respectueusement l'ensemble des autorités religieuses et des notabilités pour la bonne tenue de la cérémonie d'installation du nouvel Imam de Dédougou, Imam BA Mamadou, ainsi que de son adjoint, Imam FAMANTA Idriss Traoré, fils du défunt Grand Imam.

Puisse Allah (SWT) les assister dans leurs nobles missions, leur accorder sagesse, droiture et succès dans la conduite de la communauté musulmane de Dédougou.

Que le Tout-Puissant récompense chacun selon ses intentions, accorde une place de choix au défunt dans Son vaste Paradis (Al Jannah Firdaws) et préserve notre communauté dans la paix, l'unité et la foi.

Moov Africa Burkina a organisé un arbre de Noël au profit des enfants de son personnel. La cérémonie s'est tenue le dimanche 21 décembre 2025 sous la présidence du directeur général de l'entreprise, Mohamed Karim, dans une atmosphère empreinte de convivialité et de chaleur humaine.

S'adressant à ses collaborateurs, le directeur général a exprimé sa joie de voir une forte mobilisation autour de cet événement qu'il qualifie de moment le plus attendu de l'année. Pour lui, cette fête est une parenthèse qui permet de mettre de côté les dossiers professionnels pour se retrouver dans un esprit de famille, celle de Moov Africa Burkina.

Quant aux enfants, qu'il présente comme les véritables stars de l'événement, Mohamed Karim a rappelé qu'ils constituent la raison des efforts quotidiens de leurs parents. Il a insisté sur leur rôle de bâtisseurs de demain et sur la volonté de l'entreprise de contribuer, à travers son travail, à leur offrir un avenir prometteur.

Dans son allocution, le premier responsable de l'entreprise est revenu sur l'année écoulée, marquée par des défis pour l'entreprise. Il a salué l'engagement, le professionnalisme et l'esprit de solidarité des équipes, grâce auxquels Moov Africa Burkina a pu faire face aux difficultés. Il a également remercié les travailleurs pour leur fidélité et leur capacité à se soutenir mutuellement.

Le directeur général a tenu particulièrement à adresser sa reconnaissance aux équipes de la direction des ressources humaines pour l'organisation de la cérémonie, soulignant leur implication et le soin apporté à la réussite de la soirée.

Le directeur général remettant un présent à un enfant

Placée sous le signe du partage et de la solidarité, cette célébration de Noël a été, selon Mohamed Karim, l'occasion de mesurer la chance d'évoluer au sein d'une entreprise qui se veut avant tout une grande famille. Il a conclu en souhaitant à l'ensemble du personnel et à leurs enfants un merveilleux Noël.

Le directeur des ressources humaines, Moussa Sakandé, président du comité d'organisation a indiqué qu'il a été très heureux d'avoir pu réaliser cette fête pour les enfants. Il leur a souhaité bonne fête et les a exhortés à travailler bien à l'école pour le plaisir de leurs parents.

Le directeur des ressources humaines, Moussa Sakande

« Chers enfants, vous êtes la véritable source de cette magie. Ce soir, c'est à vous que nous avons voulu offrir un moment spécial, un moment où vos yeux brillent de joie, où vos sourires réchauffent nos cœurs. Noël, c'est une fête qui rassemble les familles, et aujourd'hui, c'est avec vous que nous partageons ce moment de bonheur. Nous espérons que cette soirée vous apportera tout ce dont vous pouvez rêver : des rires, des surprises, et beaucoup de joie », a dit le directeur des ressources humaines aux enfants.

Le directeur général de Moov Africa Mohamed Karim avec quelques enfants présents à la fête

Et d'ajouter « Chères collaboratrices, chers collaborateurs, chers enfants, ce Noël est un moment de célébration, mais c'est aussi une invitation à la réflexion. À travers nos valeurs d'entreprise que sont l'écoute, la collaboration, la responsabilité. Nous construisons un avenir commun. Un avenir où, ensemble, nous pourrons faire face aux défis de demain et offrir à nos enfants un monde meilleur. Alors, ce soir, laissons de côté les préoccupations professionnelles et concentrons-nous sur l'essentiel : le bonheur de partager un moment convivial avec nos proches, de rire ensemble et de créer des souvenirs précieux ».

Les enfants, véritables stars de la soirée, ont eux aussi exprimé leur reconnaissance. Par la voix de leur porte-parole Andy So, ils ont remercié la direction de Moov Africa Burkina pour cette « soirée magique », vécue comme un grand cadeau à la veille de Noël. « Nous voulons vous remercier du fond du cœur pour cette soirée magique qui est pour nous un grand cadeau à la veille de Noël et pour les cadeaux que nous avons reçus de votre part. Grâce à vous, nous pouvons vivre un moment inoubliable tous ensemble, dans la joie et l'amitié, avec de la musique, de la danse et, bien sûr, l'arbre de Noël qui brille de mille feux. Et merci à Noël, qui est l'occasion de se retrouver pour partager des moments merveilleux et d'être entourés de ceux que l'on aime. Grâce à vous, nous nous sentons très spéciaux ce soir. Nous sommes vraiment heureux de pouvoir profiter de ce moment magique avec nos amis, nos familles et tous ceux qui rendent cette fête possible », a laissé entendre Andy So.

Le représentant des enfants, Andy So

Placée sous le signe de la solidarité et du vivre-ensemble, cette célébration renforce l'esprit de famille qui caractérise Moov Africa Burkina, dans un contexte où l'entreprise affirme son attachement aux valeurs humaines et à la cohésion entre ses travailleurs et leurs familles.

Rama Diallo

Lefaso.net

La 5e Région militaire (5e RM) a organisé un arbre de Noël, première édition, au profit de 71 pupilles de la nation à Dédougou, ce dimanche 21 décembre 2025. Elle a mis en œuvre cette initiative de concert avec l'association African women leaders (AWL). Cette cérémonie vise avant tout à donner le sourire à ces enfants dont les parents ont consenti le sacrifice suprême pour que le pays ne sombre pas, selon le commandant de cette Région militaire, Idrissa Sosthène Coulibaly.

Placée sur le thème « Noël des espoirs des Héros : Espoir, courage et solidarité », cette première édition de l'arbre de Noël initiée par la 5e Région militaire (5e RM) qui couvre les régions administratives du Sourou et de Bankui aura réussi son pari. Celui de donner le sourire aux familles et surtout aux enfants des hommes tombés au cours de leur mission de défense de la patrie. Par ce geste la 5e Région militaire démontre qu'elle porte dans le cœur les familles de ses combattants arrachés à son affection.

Chants, danses et prestations d'artistes ont permis de faire sourire ces pupilles de la nation

Cette édition 2025 a été organisée en collaboration avec l'association African women leaders (AWL). La présidente nationale de cette association, Marie H. Coulibaly, a expliqué que sa structure, qui célèbre ses dix années d'existence cette année, œuvre depuis sa création en faveur de la protection des droits des personnes vulnérables. « Ces enfants-là entrent en droite ligne avec la cible de l'association », a-t-elle justifié.

La présidente d'AWL, Marie Coulibaly, a confié que l'activité vise à réconforter ces enfants

Chacun des 71 gamins a eu droit à un présent au cours de la cérémonie tenue au sein de la garnison du 51e Régiment d'infanterie commando sous la présidence du gouverneur de Bankui et du Sourou, Babo Pierre Bassinga. La soirée s'est déroulée au rythme des chants, des danses et des prestations artistiques. Il n'en fallait pas plus pour offrir un air de détente à ces plus jeunes. La présidente d'AWL a précisé que cet arbre de Noël vise à créer un moment de réconfort pour ces enfants dont les parents sont tombés en servant le pays.

Puisse cette initiative s'éterniser

La reconnaissance des enfants à l'endroit de leurs bienfaiteurs de la soirée ne s'est pas fait attendre. Leur porte-parole, Carine Imelda Yonli, a remercié les membres de l'association et les frères d'armes de leurs pères qui ont pensé à eux.

Le gouverneur, Babo Pierre Bassinga, en remettant le cadeau à ce gamin, a salué une initiative qui ravive la solidarité

La thématique, selon Mme Coulibaly, exprime un double message. Celui d'espoir pour ces enfants et d'hommage aux sacrifices des soldats. « Cet événement honore la mémoire des hommes tombés et consolide la résilience des enfants qui portent en eux l'espoir d'un avenir meilleur », a-t-elle ajouté avant d'appeler à une solidarité à grande échelle pour venir au secours de ces enfants.

Le commandant de la 5e RM, Sosthène Coulibaly, a indiqué que c'est un devoir que de veiller sur ces familles

Avant tout propos, le commandant de la 5e RM, Idrissa Sosthène Coulibaly, s'est incliné sur la mémoire de ses frères d'armes morts au front. A l'en croire, cette cérémonie rappelle la nécessité de rester solidaire à l'endroit de ces enfants dont « les papas sont morts pour que le pays tienne debout ». C'est donc leur devoir d'accompagner ces petits et de veiller sur eux. Il a relevé que leur action entre dans le cadre du titre de pupilles de la nation accordé à ces jeunes adolescents. Au-delà des enfants, la 5e RM a pu, avec ses partenaires, mobiliser une tonne de riz et une autre de farine pour les veuves. M. Coulibaly d'indiquer qu'il s'agit d'un geste symbolique et d'amour pour les bénéficiaires.

Le gouverneur, Babo Pierre Bassinga, a salué la tenue de cette activité qui, pour lui, ravive la flamme de la solidarité envers les enfants des martyrs. Il a formulé le vœu que cette initiative puisse s'éterniser pour le bonheur des enfants vulnérables.

Alphonse DAKUYO
Lefaso.net

La Direction régionale de l'Industrie, du Commerce et de l'Artisanat de l'Est (DRICA-EST), à travers une publication faite sur sa page Facebook, confie avoir mené du 19 au 21 décembre 2025, une vaste opération de contrôle des produits de grande consommation dans les communes de Diabo et de Tibga. Ce qui a permis de saisir plus de 5 tonnes de produits périmés, composés en grande majorité de boissons impropres à la consommation. Une action salutaire pour la protection des consommateurs et la préservation de la santé.

Au-delà de la répression, la DRICA-EST a mis à profit cette opération pour sensibiliser les commerçants et acteurs économiques au respect de la réglementation commerciale en vigueur.

www.lefaso.net

22 décembre 2024- 22 décembre 2025 ! Partir n'est point partir quand l'amour et le souvenir restent présents dans le cœur des proches. Voilà un an déjà qu'il a plu à Dieu de Rappeler à lui son serviteur le Colonel Wendémanéguédé Nestor OUEDRAOGO précédemment Commandant du Groupement Central des armées ( GCA) .

Un an déjà que tu nous as quitté mais, ton souvenir reste vivant dans nos cœurs. A l'occasion de ce triste anniversaire, la grande famille OUEDRAOGO à Tèma, sa Majesté Naba Tègré Dimbila de Tèma, les frères et sœurs, les enfants ainsi que les proches amis, vous réitèrent leurs reconnaissances pour vos soutiens multiformes, vos marques d'amitié et de compassion lors des obsèques. Elle vous invite toutes et tous en union de prière. Que son âme repose en paix !

L'université Joseph Ki-Zerbo a vibré, du 16 au 20 décembre 2025, au rythme de la créativité et de l'innovation, à l'occasion de la 5ᵉ édition du Camp d'idéation porté par l'incubateur digital Incub@UO, en partenariat avec le Centre d'excellence interdisciplinaire en intelligence artificielle pour le développement (CITADEL). Au sortir de cette immersion entrepreneuriale, la cérémonie de clôture a consacré quatre projets lauréats parmi dix initiatives finalistes, portées par des étudiants venus de divers horizons académiques.

Durant cinq jours intensifs, cinquante campeurs, répartis en équipes pluridisciplinaires, ont travaillé à structurer des idées innovantes intégrant le numérique et l'intelligence artificielle pour répondre à des problématiques concrètes du Burkina Faso. Éducation, agriculture, culture, inclusion ou services numériques : les thématiques explorées témoignent de la diversité des défis abordés et de la capacité des jeunes à proposer des solutions ancrées dans les réalités locales.

« L'incubateur de l'université Joseph Ki-Zerbo est dédié à l'accompagnement des porteurs de projets d'entreprises, mais avec une particularité sur les projets numériques », explique Issa Tagnabié, manager de l'incubateur. Cette orientation se reflète dans l'organisation même du Camp d'idéation. Chaque édition accueille 50 campeurs et retient 10 projets, chacun porté par une équipe d'au moins cinq étudiants issus de filières et parfois d'universités différentes.

Issa Tagnabié manager de l'incubateur s'est dit satisfait du travail de réflexion menée par les jeunes pour proposer des projets innovants

• A lire : Burkina Faso/Camp d'idéation : Le projet Educare remporte la 4ᵉ édition

Pour cette cinquième édition, un engouement particulier a été remarqué par le comité d'organisation. « Nous avons reçu plus de 300 candidatures, toutes issues du monde estudiantin. Ce sont ensuite les étudiants eux-mêmes qui ont voté pour les projets les plus pertinents », précise Issa Tagnabié. Une démarche participative qui renforce l'appropriation du processus par les jeunes et valorise l'intelligence collective. Au-delà des chiffres, le manager de l'incubateur se dit surtout rassuré par la qualité des idées proposées. « Il y a une grande satisfaction de voir que les jeunes proposent vraiment des projets pertinents. Ils ont les idées, ils ont la vision ; ils ont surtout besoin d'accompagnement pour pouvoir les réaliser », souligne-t-il.

Dix projets face au jury

À l'issue des ateliers de formation, des sessions de coaching et des multiples rounds de pitch, dix projets finalistes ont été présentés devant un jury composé d'acteurs de l'écosystème entrepreneurial et numérique. Une étape décisive, au cours de laquelle chaque équipe a dû défendre la pertinence de sa solution, sa faisabilité technique et son potentiel économique. Le président du jury, Salifou Zongo est revenu sur les critères ayant guidé les délibérations. « Nous avons analysé l'adéquation entre l'équipe et le projet, le modèle économique, mais aussi les options possibles sur le produit et le besoin du marché », explique-t-il. À ces éléments se sont ajoutés la qualité de la présentation, la répartition des rôles au sein des équipes et la cohésion démontrée lors des pitchs.

“ S'il fallait financer tous les projets, nous pensons que l'on peut tous les financer. Mais il faut choisir “, a fait savoir le président du jury

Malgré la compétition, le niveau général a impressionné le jury. « Dans la globalité, il faut noter qu'il y avait de très bons projets. On ressent une dynamique formidable, une cohésion, et surtout des projets innovants. S'il fallait financer tous les projets, nous dirions oui, parce que ce sont des projets bancables, capables d'apporter une réelle valeur ajoutée à notre nation et à la population », affirme Salifou Zongo.

Au terme des délibérations, le premier prix, doté de 1 000 000 de francs CFA, a été attribué au projet EduklinkBF. Portée par une équipe pluridisciplinaire, cette initiative vise à améliorer le suivi éducatif des apprenants, du primaire jusqu'à l'université. « EduklinkBF est une plateforme éducative qui permet le suivi des élèves, du primaire jusqu'à l'université, tout en donnant aux parents la possibilité de suivre l'évolution de leurs enfants en temps réel, sans trop dépenser », explique Eugile Ouédraogo, étudiant en pharmacie et membre de l'équipe lauréate. Composée de cinq membres dont trois informaticiens en master 2, une étudiante en communication et linguistique et lui-même, l'équipe incarne parfaitement l'esprit pluridisciplinaire prôné par le Camp d'idéation. Pour Eugile Ouédraogo, le prix reçu constitue avant tout un tremplin. « Ce prix est un départ. Il va nous permettre de lever plus de fonds, car pour réaliser réellement le projet, nous avons besoin d'au moins 18 250 000 francs CFA », confie-t-il.

Eugile Ouédraogo (au centre de l'image) est le porte-parole du projet Eduklinkbf ayant remporté le premier prix

• A lire : Camp d'idéation 2019 : Viima, meilleur projet d'incub@uo

Le prix spécial du partenaire, assorti d'une enveloppe de 400 000 francs CFA, a été décerné au projet Yilga, une plateforme d'agriculture intelligente intégrant l'intelligence artificielle et une marketplace. « Yilga, c'est une plateforme d'agriculture intelligente avec deux volets : un volet client IA et un volet marketplace, pour assurer la mise en relation entre clients et acheteurs », explique Franck Méda, étudiant en deuxième année d'informatique au Burkina Institute of Technology (BIT). Satisfait de l'expérience vécue, il souligne les acquis du camp. « Grâce au coaching, nous avons acquis beaucoup de compétences et d'expériences », affirme-t-il, tout en reconnaissant les défis à venir. Si l'équipe espérait un classement encore plus élevé pour accélérer le déploiement de l'application, les besoins restent importants. « Pour un début de déploiement avec une IA, nous avons besoin d'environ 30 à 34 millions de francs CFA », précise-t-il.

Les autres distinctions ont récompensé KudmdéArt, deuxième prix avec 300 000 francs CFA, et Smart Eyes, troisième prix doté de 200 000 francs CFA. Mais au-delà des montants, le Camp d'idéation 2025 a surtout offert aux participants un cadre structurant pour apprendre, se confronter et se projeter.

• A lire : Digital : L'incubateur « incub@uo » inaugure son nouvel espace de travail au sein de l'université Joseph Ki-Zerbo

À travers cette initiative, Incub@UO et CITADEL confirment leur ambition de faire de l'université un espace d'innovation vivante, où les idées prennent forme et où la jeunesse burkinabè se prépare à jouer un rôle actif dans la transformation numérique et sociale du pays.

Farida Thiombiano
Lefaso.net

“Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue” (CA+JAD). Credit: Prime Minister’s Office of Japan

By Katsuhiro Asagiri
TOKYO, Japan, Dec 22 2025 (IPS)

Leaders of Japan and the five Central Asian states met in Tokyo on Dec. 20 and adopted the “Tokyo Declaration,” launching a new leaders-level format under the “Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue” (CA+JAD). The declaration places at the core of cooperation two priorities: strengthening supply-chain resilience for critical minerals, and supporting the Trans-Caspian Corridor (the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route), which links Central Asia with Europe without transiting Russia.

Chaired by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the meeting reflected Central Asia’s strategic importance as a Eurasian crossroads and as a region with mineral resources essential to decarbonization and advanced industries. As major powers step up engagement across the region, Central Asia’s weight as a stage for diplomacy and trade has been growing.

“Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue” (CA+JAD). Credit: Prime Minister’s Office of Japan

The Japanese government emphasized a practical, implementation-oriented approach—translating cooperation into deliverable projects. For Central Asian countries, the Trans-Caspian Corridor is also a means to expand transport options and reduce dependence on any single transit route. It can help attract investment for modernizing ports, railways and customs systems, while increasing opportunities to capture transit and logistics revenues.

For Japan, corridor development and cooperation on minerals serve as a form of risk diversification in economic security. By diversifying both procurement sources and transport routes for critical minerals—such as rare earths and lithium—needed for batteries, renewable energy technologies and electronic devices, Japan aims to prepare for heightened geopolitical risk. There is also a clear intent to expand opportunities for Japanese companies to participate in infrastructure, logistics and digital sectors.

Japan–Kazakhstan Joint Statement as the Anchor

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev(left) and Prime Minister Sane Takaichi (right) signing a joint statement. Credit: Prime Minister’s Office of Japan

Ahead of the leaders’ summit, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid an official visit to Japan, with a series of diplomatic engagements scheduled around the trip.

On Dec. 18, Prime Minister Takaichi and President Tokayev held a summit meeting and issued a joint statement on a “future-oriented expanded strategic partnership.” The statement reaffirmed a rules-based international order grounded in the principles of the U.N. Charter, and the two leaders agreed to advance cooperation through concrete initiatives in areas including critical minerals, the energy transition, and transport and logistics connectivity.

On the Trans-Caspian Corridor, the joint statement specified practical measures aimed at easing customs and port bottlenecks—such as training for customs officials in cooperation with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and support for improving cargo inspection scanners (cargo inspection equipment) at Aktau Port in western Kazakhstan. The two leaders also welcomed plans to launch regular direct flights in 2026 and agreed to begin intergovernmental negotiations toward the conclusion of a bilateral air services agreement. In addition, the joint statement expressed an intent to exchange information and explore potential avenues of cooperation with the “UN Regional Centre for the SDGs for Central Asia and Afghanistan”, which was established in Almaty.

Middle Corridor. Photo credit: TITR

Tokayev Warns of Nuclear Risks in Tokyo

On the following day, Dec. 19, President Tokayev delivered a lecture at the United Nations University in Tokyo, warning that “nuclear risks are rising again.”

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered a lecture at the United Nations University

He referred not only to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki but also to Kazakhstan’s Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, where the former Soviet Union conducted more than 450 nuclear tests, arguing that both Japan and Kazakhstan are countries that know the devastating consequences wrought by nuclear weapons. He said practical steps must be steadily accumulated to advance nuclear disarmament and reduce nuclear risks.

Semipalatinsk Former Nuclear Weapon Test site/ Credit: Katsuhiro Asagiri

Tokayev also cited Kazakhstan’s decision to relinquish the nuclear weapons left on its territory after the Soviet collapse, suggesting that security should not depend solely on nuclear deterrence.

Kazakhstan has, around Aug. 29—the date the Semipalatinsk test site was closed and also the U.N.-designated International Day against Nuclear Tests—hosted meetings in Astana that foreground the inhumane impacts of nuclear weapons and call for strengthening norms underpinning the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. These gatherings have included participation by civil society groups such as the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and Soka Gakkai International (SGI).

A Group photo of participants of the regional conference on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons and nuclear-free-zone in Central Asia held on August 29, 2023. Credit: Jibek Joly TV Channel

Three Priority Areas: Resilience, Connectivity, Human Development

At the Dec. 20 summit, President Tokayev attended alongside the presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Prime Minister Takaichi noted that Central Asia’s growing population and rapid economic expansion have raised the region’s international profile, and stressed the importance of regional cooperation and engagement with external partners.

Japan announced the “CA+JAD Tokyo Initiative,” setting out three priority areas for cooperation: (1) green and resilience (including the energy transition, disaster risk reduction and supply-chain resilience for critical minerals); (2) connectivity (including the Trans-Caspian Corridor and A.I. cooperation); and (3) human development (including scholarship programs and cooperation in health and medical fields).

The Tokyo Declaration also explicitly set out the launch of the “Japan–Central Asia Partnership for AI Cooperation,” with a view to applying A.I. to resource development and related areas. More than 150 documents were signed and announced by public and private stakeholders on the margins of the meeting, and a goal was presented to develop business projects totaling 3 trillion yen over the next five years.

Multipolar Engagement and Kazakhstan’s “Multi-Vector” Diplomacy

The Tokyo gathering also underscored the reality of accelerating summit diplomacy around Central Asia. China convened a leaders’ meeting with the five Central Asian states in Kazakhstan earlier this year, and the United States invited the same five leaders to Washington in November.

Credit: Prime Minister’s Office of Japan

Kazakhstan, in particular, has long pursued a “multi-vector” foreign policy—cultivating relations in parallel with competing major powers to preserve sovereignty and strategic options. The Tokyo agreements—combining diversification of transport corridors, expanded cooperation on minerals and technology, and the use of development cooperation through international institutions—align with this balancing strategy.

For Japan, the new leaders-level format provides a means to deepen engagement with Central Asia by connecting resources, logistics and technology. For President Tokayev, the visit also served as a platform to argue that, as nuclear risks re-emerge at the forefront, Eurasia’s economic future cannot be separated from the security challenges that shape it.

INPS Japan

Related articles:

Kazakhstan Takes Lead in Global Push for Nuclear Disarmament Amid Heightened Tensions

Kazakhstan Committed to a Nuclear-Weapons-Free World

Kazakhstan’s leadership in multilateralism: A Beacon for global peace and stability

IPS UN Bureau

 

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Fulgence Ndayizeye, a Burundian bicycle taxi driver who used to cross the Congolese-Burundian border every day to support his family, wanted to return home. He and more than 500 other Burundians, including women, men, and children, stranded in Uvira on the border between the DRC and Rwanda, were finally allowed to return to their country […]

By External Source
Dec 22 2025 (IPS-Partners)

Multiple shocks defined 2025: conflict, climate breakdown and shrinking democracy.

Multilateral institutions were tested as never before.

At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, governments argued over words while the planet heated.

Yet amid the pressure, countries agreed on steps that kept global climate cooperation alive.

A new Just Transition Mechanism promised a fairer shift to a green economy.

It pledged to protect workers, women and Indigenous peoples as fossil fuels are phased out.

Island nations warned that promises without finance mean rising seas and vanishing homelands.

Pacific voices called for stronger funding for Loss and Damage.

Across the system, humanitarian budgets were cut just as needs exploded.

Conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan and Myanmar pushed millions toward famine.

In many crises, lifesaving food support was reduced or halted for lack of funds.

Global alliances like CIVICUS warned that conflict, climate chaos and democratic backsliding are converging.

They cautioned that institutions built for cooperation are struggling as powerful states turn inward.

Civil society responded with proposals to put people—not geopolitics—at the centre of the UN.

At COP30, Global South leaders elevated Indigenous and Afro-descendant voices in climate talks.

They argued that dignity, fairness and planetary protection must guide a new world order.

Gen Z movements demanded those values on the streets of South Asia and Africa.

Young protesters challenged corruption, dynastic power and widening wealth gaps.

In several countries they were met with bullets, repression and mass arrests.

Researchers noted a common story: frustration with entrenched elites and “business as usual”.

When conflict and climate disasters collide, children’s education often disappears first.

Initiatives such as Education Cannot Wait and the Safe Schools Declaration fought to keep classrooms open.

Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean showed how storms can erase decades of progress in a night.

Billions of dollars in damage underscored how vulnerable economies are to climate extremes.

UN agencies warned that without urgent action, millions of children could be pushed into poverty by 2030.

Science bodies like IPBES stressed that climate change, nature loss and food insecurity are inseparable.

Global research networks worked to equip small-scale farmers for climate resilience and stable incomes.

Spiritual leaders also used their platforms to call for peace, climate action and an end to war.

From Gaza to Ukraine and beyond, moral voices insisted that civilians must never be targets.

Marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War, survivors renewed the vow: “never again”.

The message from 2025 was stark but clear.

The old order is straining—but new visions are emerging from communities on the frontlines.

Civil society, young people and Global South leadership are sketching a different future.

One rooted in justice, shared prosperity and protection of the planet.

The coming year will test whether the world is ready to listen.

 

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Dans un message rendu public le 19 décembre 2025, le président de la Fédération des églises et missions évangéliques du Burkina (FEME), Dr Vincent Ilboudo, adresse des vœux de paix, de santé et d'espérance à l'ensemble des Burkinabè à l'occasion de la célébration de la fête de Noël et de la nouvelle année.

Tout en exprimant sa compassion aux familles frappées par le deuil au cours de l'année, aux déplacés internes, aux blessés ainsi qu'à toutes les victimes de l'insécurité, Dr Vincent Ilboudo invite chaque Burkinabé à être artisan de paix, à cultiver l'amour du prochain, le pardon, la tolérance et le respect mutuel.

Découvrez ici l'intégralité de son message.

www.lefaso.net

MESSAGE DE VŒUX DE FIN D'ANNÉE DU PRÉSIDENT DE LA FÉDÉRATION DES ÉGLISES ET MISSIONS ÉVANGÉLIQUES DU BURKINA FASO (FEME)

Chers frères et sœurs en Christ,
Chers compatriotes du Burkina Faso,
Mesdames et Messieurs,

En cette période bénie où nous célébrons la naissance de notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ, et à l'orée de la nouvelle année, il m'est particulièrement agréable, au nom de la Fédération des Églises et Missions Évangéliques du Burkina Faso, de vous adresser nos vœux les plus sincères de paix, de santé et d'espérance.
La fête de Noël nous rappelle que Dieu, dans Son immense amour, a donné Son Fils au monde afin d'apporter la lumière là où règnent les ténèbres, l'espérance là où subsiste le désespoir, et la paix là où sévissent les épreuves. Ce message demeure plus que jamais d'actualité pour notre chère patrie.

L'année qui s'achève a été marquée par de nombreux défis pour notre pays. La FEME tient à exprimer sa profonde compassion à l'endroit des familles endeuillées, des personnes déplacées internes, des blessés et de tous ceux qui souffrent encore des conséquences de l'insécurité. Nous élevons nos prières vers le Seigneur afin qu'Il console les cœurs, restaure les vies et fortifie les plus éprouvés.

À l'aube de la nouvelle année, nous appelons chaque Burkinabè à être artisan de paix, à cultiver l'amour du prochain, le pardon, la tolérance et le respect mutuel. La paix véritable commence dans les cœurs et se construit par des actes quotidiens de responsabilité, de civisme et de solidarité.

La FEME salue avec respect le courage des Forces de Défense et de Sécurité ainsi que des Volontaires pour la Défense de la Patrie, et prie pour la protection divine sur leurs vies. Elle exhorte également les autorités de notre pays à continuer d'agir avec sagesse, justice et discernement pour le bien commun.
Que l'année nouvelle soit pour le Burkina Faso une année de réconciliation, de progrès, de stabilité et de bénédictions abondantes.

Que l'Éternel fasse luire Sa face sur notre Nation et accorde Sa paix à chacun de ses fils et filles.
Joyeux Noël et bonne et heureuse année à toutes et à tous.
Que Dieu bénisse le Burkina Faso.

Fait à Ouagadougou, le 19 décembre 2025
Le Président de la Fédération des Églises et Missions Évangéliques du Burkina Faso (FEME)
Dr Vincent N. ILBOUDO
Officier de l'Ordre de l'Etalon

By Farhana Haque Rahman
TORONTO, Canada, Dec 22 2025 (IPS)

Our traditional “year-ender” usually kicks off with a grim litany of world disasters and crises over the past 12 months, highlights IPS partners and contributors and culminates in a more positive-sounding finale. This time I’d like to begin on a more personal note intended also as a metaphor.

Farhana Haque Rahman

On November 20 when the UN climate talks COP30 in Belem, Brazil, looked set to spill over into extra time as delegates harassed by fossil fuel lobbyists haggled over a concluding text, fire broke out in the conference centre. Cue flames and panic.

As thousands looked for the nearest exit, a young Bangladeshi diplomat saw me and instead of joining the mass scramble, he gallantly led me through the crowds to safety. Thank you Aminul Islam Zisan for demonstrating when in crisis people can come together in unique ways.

Thankfully no one was killed in the fire; talks resumed and the Conference of Parties process survived in the form of a concluding document that could be interpreted as a small step forward in the global battle to stem the climate crisis, even while making only an oblique reference to the fossil fuels that are largely creating it.

COP’s survival was not assured given the US boycott ordered by President Donald Trump who dismissed climate change as “the greatest con job” in addressing the UN General Assembly in September.

The US absence from Belem in fact inflicted more damage to the US in terms of its global standing, just as Trump’s decision to shun the G20 talks running parallel in Johannesburg only deepened its reputational harm. Salt was diplomatically rubbed into its self-inflicted wounds by the dignity of G20 host President Cyril Ramaphosa who ignored US opposition from afar and steered adoption of a declaration addressing global challenges, notably the climate crisis.

Looking back, perhaps this was the week that quietly brought the curtain down on the Age of America. Unpredictability, chaos, violence and institutionalised cruelty are the early symptoms of the dramatic shift in 2025 towards unilateralism and protectionism.

Hundreds of Palestinians, including scores of children, have been killed since the US-brokered “truce” between Israel and Hamas began on October 11. Russian air strikes against Ukrainian civilian targets have also regularly punctuated Trump’s flip-flopping efforts to end a war he said he could finish on day one of his presidency.

Sharp cuts in US aid ordered by Trump in January have “fuelled a global humanitarian catastrophe”, according to a statement by the UN Human Rights Council on July 31. Citing two independent experts on poverty, food and human rights, the Council said: “More than 350,000 deaths stemming from the aid cuts have already been estimated, including more than 200,000 children.”

Famine is spreading with the conflict in western Sudan, and lack of finance has also led to cuts in vital UN aid to South Sudan. Over one million people caught in Myanmar’s largely forgotten civil war had their lifesaving support cut by the UN World Food Programme because of funding shortfalls.

Civicus, a global alliance of civil society organizations and activists working to strengthen citizen action, says these multiple and connected crises – conflict, climate breakdown and democratic regression – are overwhelming the international institutions designed to address the problems that states can’t or won’t resolve. US withdrawal from global bodies threatens to worsen this crisis in international cooperation.

But as CIVICUS’s 2025 State of Civil Society Report outlines, civil society has ideas about how to save the UN by putting people at its heart: a theme embraced at COP30 by Open Society Foundations President Binaifer Nowrojee who endorsed Brazil’s democratic leadership for elevating Indigenous and Afro-descendant voices and bringing human rights back to the centre of climate action.

In this rapidly shifting world order, Nowrojee sees the Global South stepping forward with new ideas and a new vision rooted in dignity, fairness, and protection of the planet.

Arguably the most important agreement emerging from COP30 was the Just Transition Mechanism which aims to ensure fair development of a global green economy, protecting the rights of all people, including workers, women and Indigenous people.

Coral Pasisi, Director of Climate Change and Sustainability for the Pacific Community (SPC), highlighted at COP30 how critical the situation has become for island nations experiencing accelerating climate impacts and hoping for meaningful breakthroughs in Belem. She raised the need for stronger support from developed countries for Loss and Damage.

The Gen Z demonstrators who have rocked regimes in South Asia and Africa are certainly stepping up with their visions for fairer futures for all, their protests aimed against nepotism and corruption among entrenched elites. They have been met with bullets in Bangladesh last year, and in Nepal – where the government was forced to resign in September – as well as Tanzania where hundreds were reported killed. Gen Z protests this year also rocked Indonesia, the Philippines and Morocco.

As Jan Lundius, a Swedish researcher, wrote in IPS: “Even though specific incidents triggered these upheavals, they were all due to long-term, shared grievances evolving from stark wealth gaps, rampant nepotism, and unlimited corruption. Above all, youngsters protested against members of powerful dynasties, favouring a wealthy and discredited political elite.”

A combination of conflict and climate disasters can have disastrous long-term consequences, particularly for children’s education. Initiatives supported by IPS like Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and the Safe Schools Declaration focus on providing quality, inclusive education to crisis-affected children to prevent long-term cycles of poverty and instability.

Hurricane Melissa which swept through the Caribbean in October served as a harsh reminder that 5.9 million children and adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean could be pushed into poverty by 2030 due to loss of education as a result of climate change if governments do not intervene soon, according to UNICEF.

The World Bank estimated the physical damage inflicted by Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica at some $8.8 billion, or 41% of the country’s 2024 GDP.

However the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has also warned governments that they are underestimating or ignoring the inextricable links between climate change, nature loss and food security. Its latest assessment, approved by nearly 150 countries meeting in Windhoek, Namibia, warned that biodiversity is declining everywhere, largely as a result of human actions.

CGIAR, a global research partnership focused on food security, is facing a very different world from when it was founded nearly 50 years ago in terms of having to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and new conflicts, according to CGIAR Chief Scientist Dr Sandra Milach. A major focus is on equipping 500 million small-scale producers for climate resilience to protect their livelihoods and increase stable incomes.

A year-ender wouldn’t be complete in the run-up to festive celebrations without at least a mention of the major religious figures to dominate the news.

Pope Francis, one of the most outspoken pontiffs in modern times, died on Easter Monday. Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, 69, became his successor, the first North American elected to the role. Choosing to be known as Pope Leo XIV he called for an end to the ‘barbarity’ of the war in Gaza. He also took aim at climate sceptics and appealed for urgent actions to be taken by world leaders at COP30.

The Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, turned 90 in exile in India, and also made a call for peace in the world. To the delight of his followers, he made clear that he would be reincarnated and that only his trusted inner circle of monks would have the “sole authority” to locate his successor. China swiftly rebuffed his declaration, saying his successor must be approved by Beijing.

In 2025 the world marked 80 years since the end of the Second World War. Minoru Harada, a Buddhist monk and head of Soka Gakkai, recalled his childhood experience of the fire-bombing of Tokyo and pledged his organisation’s determination that no one should have to endure the horrors of war.

Farhana Haque Rahman is Senior Vice President of IPS Inter Press Service and Executive Director IPS Noram; she served as the elected Director General of IPS from 2015-2019. A journalist and communications expert, she is a former senior official of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

IPS UN Bureau

 

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Credit: Issei Kato/Reuters via Gallo Images

By Inés M. Pousadela
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, Dec 22 2025 (IPS)

Myanmar is heading for an election, beginning on 28 December, that’s ostensibly an exercise in democracy – but it has clearly been designed with the aim of conferring more legitimacy on its military junta.

Almost five years after its February 2021 coup, the regime continues to fight pro-democracy forces and ethnic armed organisations, barely controlling a fifth of Myanmar’s territory. The junta has acknowledged that voting won’t be possible in much of the country.

The upcoming election fails every test of democratic legitimacy. The main democratic parties — the National League for Democracy and the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy — are banned. What remains is the Union Solidarity and Development Party, the military’s puppet party, plus minor groups that won no seats in the democratic election held in 2020. Independent media outlets have been crushed, journalists are arrested and intimidated daily and internet access is heavily restricted. In areas that resist military rule, civilians face escalating violence and arbitrary detention.

This election is designed not to reflect the popular will but to entrench military power. It comes as the regime continues its systematic campaign of violence against civilians: weeks before the junta announced the vote, Myanmar’s air force bombed a school in Oe Htein Kwin village, killing two teachers and 22 children, the youngest only seven years old.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has confirmed 6,231 civilians have been killed by the military since the coup, though true figures could be much higher. Nearly half of all civilian deaths are estimated to have been caused by airstrikes. These are not indiscriminate military operations where civilians are collateral damage; they are deliberate attacks where civilians are the targets. The majority of locations of airstrikes have been sites with protected status under international law: camps for displaced people, churches, clinics and schools, often with no presence of armed groups nearby.

The junta has some powerful international allies. China backs it with billions in aid and advanced weapons. Russia supplies the fighter jets that drop bombs on civilians. India quietly sells arms. The three have long provided diplomatic cover and shielded the junta from international accountability. Meanwhile, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) continues pursuing its failed Five-Point Consensus agreed with the regime in April 2021, despite its systematic violation of every commitment. Regional powers have negotiated exclusively with the junta without input from the National Unity Government — the government in exile formed by democratically elected lawmakers — effectively treating the military regime as Myanmar’s legitimate rulers.

Now recent decisions by the Trump administration threaten to tip the balance decisively in favour of legitimising military rule. Trump has lifted sanctions, cut independent media funding and eliminated the protections formerly afforded to Myanmar’s refugees in the USA. Consistent with his transactional approach, he’s choosing access to rare earth minerals over democracy.

The concern now is that ASEAN member states may follow suit, using the sham election as justification to normalise relations with the military regime. Some have already started moving in this direction, with the junta leader invited to regional meetings.

Myanmar’s pro-democracy forces continue to resist despite the shifting international context. The People’s Defence Forces and ethnic armed groups maintain coordinated operations across most of the country. Civil society continues documenting violations, providing aid to displaced people and advocating for international action. They deserve better than to watch the world legitimise their oppressors.

The junta’s control on the ground remains tenuous, but its diplomatic position is strengthening. Whether this consolidation continues depends on how the world responds to the election. The international community must be clear that treating the election as legitimate would signal to authoritarians everywhere that democratic institutions can be overthrown with impunity, war crimes carry no real consequences and regimes that bomb schools and imprison elected leaders can secure international acceptance.

Inés M. Pousadela is CIVICUS Head of Research and Analysis, co-director and writer for CIVICUS Lens and co-author of the State of Civil Society Report. She is also a Professor of Comparative Politics at Universidad ORT Uruguay.

For interviews or more information, please contact research@civicus.org

 

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A young girl looks at signage advertising specials at a food stall near her school in New Delhi, India. India faces high rates of hunger and malnutrition, while the growing availability of ultra-processed foods contributes to rising rates of childhood obesity. Credit: UNICEF/Amit Madheshiya

By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 22 2025 (IPS)

2025 marked a notable year of progress in reducing global hunger; yet climate pressures, economic instability, and ongoing conflicts continue to push agri-food systems to their limits, undermining food availability. In a new report, UN agencies raise the alarm on how these factors are particularly pronounced in the Asia-Pacific region, which accounts for 40 percent of the world’s undernourished.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) warn that access to nutritious food is increasingly slipping out of reach for millions across the region, posing serious risks to economic development, public health, and social stability across the region. A new joint report released on December 17 breaks down the state of food security and nutrition in the Asia-Pacific region in 2025, highlighting global progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“In this day and age, no one should lack the food and optimal nutrition they need and deserve. Yet hunger, malnutrition and overweight impact the health and wellbeing of millions of our fellow human beings – including children,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, the Regional Director of WHO Western Pacific. “We need multilateral solutions to rethink, reshape and reimagine food systems across Asia-Pacific – leaving no one behind.”

While the report notes a significant decline in undernourishment across the region from 2023 to 2024—with roughly 25 million people escaping hunger—it also finds that South Asia continues to lag far behind, experiencing the highest levels of food insecurity in the Asia-Pacific. Nearly 80 percent of South Asia faces moderate to severe levels of food insecurity, with the region also reporting the highest rates of stunted growth among children—at 31.4 percent— and wasting—at 13.6 percent, both exceeding global averages.

Additionally, the Asia–Pacific region faces roughly double the rates of malnutrition compared to the global average. Adult obesity is particularly widespread, adding another layer to the region’s complex nutrition challenges.

Furthermore women and girls are projected to bear the greatest burdens, experiencing the highest levels of food insecurity among all subregions of Asia. Women and girls aged 15 to 49 also face elevated rates of anemia, with an estimated 33.8 percent affected—posing serious risks for both maternal and child health. According to figures from WHO, without urgent intervention, approximately 18 million more women and girls in South Asia could become anemic by 2030, adding to the current figure of 259 million. Anemia is a leading cause of low birth weight and stunted growth, conditions that carry long-term consequences including disrupted education, reduced economic opportunities, deepened gender inequalities, and greater vulnerability to illness.

“In South Asia, our young people and mothers stand at the heart of our demographic and development goals. Ensuring that they are healthy, nourished and empowered is not just a moral imperative, it is a strategic investment in the future of our societies.” said Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Although the number of people in the Asia-Pacific region who can afford healthy diets has increased in recent years, food affordability remains a persistent challenge. In 2024, the cost of a healthy diet in the region averaged roughly USD 4.77 per person per day on a Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) basis—higher than the global average. The affordability gap is the widest in South Asia, where approximately 41.7 percent of the population cannot afford nutritious food.

These widening gaps in access to nutritious food not only threaten public health by leaving populations increasingly vulnerable to infections and chronic disease, but also carry far-reaching economic implications—shaping productivity and further straining already fragile economies in the region.

The report cites a study from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which found that numerous Asian countries have historically benefitted from a “young, growing workforce,” which accounted for up to 42 percent of economic growth in the region between 1960 and 2010. However, as urbanization and population growth accelerate, a workforce facing rising food insecurity could see substantial losses.

As food insecurity in the Asia-Pacific is increasingly driven by rapid urbanization, economic pressures, and climate issues, humanitarian experts stress that response measures must adapt accordingly. Addressing hunger requires protocols that account for shifting population dynamics and rising living costs, with governments and humanitarian groups collaborating to strengthen agri-food systems to ensure that they are accessible, affordable, and resilient.

The report highlights the importance of globalization in addressing hunger strategies, underscoring the vast gains that result from more countries being integrated into global economies generally seeing fewer rates of undernourishment. Additionally, trade policies must be considered, as they shape how agricultural products move across borders, affecting the variety and availability of diverse food options. Favorable trade agreements can expand access to nutritious foods and open larger markets for small farmers, while unfavorable ones can prioritize the import of unhealthy foods, weakening local agriculture and eroding overall nutrition.

The report concludes that, “Governments together with other stakeholders are increasingly including measures in their national pathways to ensure that food and agriculture investments and policies contribute to sustainable and diverse food production, healthy food environments, promotion of positive dietary behaviour and improving access to affordable healthy diets.”

“Accomplishing that goal involves reorienting public finance and encouraging private sector investments in infrastructure development programmes, research on innovations and technologies, food manufacturing and capacity development to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.”

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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Women in peace and security. Credit: UNOAU/Sandra Barrows

By Elizabeth Eilor
WINDHOEK, Namibia, Dec 22 2025 (IPS)

Last November, the streets of Windhoek came alive with the sound of drums and brass as a marching band led a procession of women from Namibia’s Defence and security forces.

Dressed in uniform and walking in unity, they marched not only in celebration but in remembrance of a promise made 25 years ago on 31 October 2000—when the world adopted United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

The resolution reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction, and to protect women and girls from gender-based violence.

Resolution 1325 transformed how the world views women’s roles in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and recovery. It affirmed a truth too long overlooked: that peace is neither sustainable nor just when half of society is excluded from decision-making. It placed women at the centre of efforts to prevent conflict, rebuild nations, and safeguard human rights.

It is fitting that Namibia hosts this silver-anniversary commemoration. Twenty-five years ago, the country made history by presiding over the UN Security Council meeting that adopted the landmark resolution.

Since then, Namibia has continued to turn words into action—integrating gender perspectives into national security policies, ensuring women’s participation in peacekeeping, and promoting women’s leadership from the grassroots to the highest levels of government. The country’s record speaks for itself: a female President, Vice-President, Speaker of Parliament and has one of the world’s most gender-balanced Cabinets.

Namibia was also among the first African nations to adopt a national action plan on Women, Peace and Security, and continues to shape the regional agenda through the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU). The country’s progress demonstrates that when political will aligns with gender equality, transformation follows.

The anniversary, held under the theme “Honouring the Legacy, Advancing the WPS Agenda,” has brought together women from across the continent. From the vibrant street procession to consultative dialogues with civil society and youth, every moment has reflected a shared conviction—that women’s participation is essential to building lasting peace.

For the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), this milestone carries deep meaning.

UNOAU works hand-in-hand with the African Union Commission to strengthen women’s roles across peace processes, governance reforms, and mediation efforts. Through our joint initiative, ‘She Stands for Peace’, we honour African women who have transformed their communities through courage, innovation, and leadership.

The third edition of the book—launched in Windhoek—profiles these remarkable changemakers whose stories remind us that peace grows stronger when women lead.

As we mark 25 years of progress, the UN reaffirms its commitment to advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda. The promise of Resolution 1325 remains as urgent today as it was in the year 2000: to ensure that women are not just protected from conflict but are also empowered to prevent and resolve it.

Namibia’s journey stands as an inspiration to Africa and the world. Its legacy reminds us that the spirit of 1325 lives not in resolutions alone, but in the actions of nations that choose to make peace inclusive and enduring. It lives in every woman who chooses dialogue over division and leadership over silence.

As we look to the next 25 years, may every nation follow Namibia’s example—proving once again that when women lead, peace endures.

Elizabeth Eilor is Senior Gender Advisor, United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) in Addis Ababa.

Source: Africa Renewal, United Nations

IPS UN Bureau

 

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REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EC) No 1907/2006, (EC) No 1272/2008, (EU) No 528/2012, (EU) 2019/1021 and (EU) 2021/697 as regards defence readiness and facilitating defence investments and conditions for defence industry
Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Security and Defence
Antonio Decaro, Aura Salla, Sven Mikser

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

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THE MOMENT YOU’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.

Jake Paul’s final moments against Anthony Joshua… pic.twitter.com/NCI2OktHB1

— george (@StokeyyG2) December 20, 2025