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…
Representatives from all seven counties of Unity State getting prepared to coordinate efforts to receive an influx of returnees. Photo: Roseline Nkwelle Nzelle/UNMISS UNITY- People returning home after having been refugees or…
Communities in Wau have reason to hope for a more peaceful, prosperous future as, in a recent joint exercise by UNMISS and FAO, they contributed to an area development planning document. The aim: To ensure greater food…
People living with disabilities frequently face discrimination. In Malakal, 20 of them participated in a workshop focused on their rights to equal participation in every sphere of life. Photo: Nyang Touch/UNMISS UPPER NILE…
UNITY- People returning home after having been refugees or internally displaced is a sign of trust in the South Sudanese peace process, but it is dividend of stability that comes with challenges: more basic services must be…
NEW YORK - The Secretary-General condemns the recent attacks in Afghanistan, including on passenger vehicles in Mazar-e-Sharif City and the Masjid Sharif Hazrat Zakaria mosque in Kabul City, which have claimed the lives of…
WAU – A two-day programme conducted by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) had a special goal: To harness partnerships with residents of Wau in Western Bahr El…
UPPER NILE STATE- Life in South Sudan, an impoverished country recovering from decades of armed conflicts, can be a challenge to navigate for anyone. For people living with disabilities, it does not get any easier, but…
When Captain Abdelrazakh Hamit Bahar announced to his family in early 2005 that he had found his calling to serve his country, no one was surprised. The young man had always dreamt of joining the Chad National Army, inspired…
From May 10 to 17, the UNITAMS peacebuilding team joined by colleagues from UN OCHA, WFP, UNHCR, UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA, UNMAS, OHCRH and IOM visited the Blue Nile Region. The delegation spoke with women, youth, civil…
Esencias de La Montaña is a startup led by former women FARC combatants and the community of La Plancha in Anorí, Antioquia. The French and Norwegian embassies, Paso Colombia, the Government of Colombia (through ARN), the IOM…
UNMHA Head of Mission General Michael Beary led a verification patrol team in Hudaydah city today , accompanied by the co-chair of the RCC from the Sana’ a authorities, General Mushiki. The patrol team visited various…
By Under-Secretary-General, Jean-Pierre Lacroix Every day, United Nations peacekeepers work to protect hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people in the world’s most fragile political and security situations. Our civilian and…