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…
Mr. Ján Kubiš arrived today in Beirut to take up his new position as United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon. He was received by an official from the Ministryof Foreign Affairs at Beirut Rafik Hariri international…
UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col today held his first meeting with the newly appointed Lebanese Minister of Defence Elias Bou Saab in Beirut to discuss the situation in the UNIFIL area…
A milestone in the fight to eliminate gender-based violence in Kosovo has been reached with the inauguration of the first multiethnic shelter for gender-based violence survivors in Novo Brdo/Novobërdë and surrounding areas…
A milestone in the fight to eliminate gender-based violence in Kosovo has been reached with the inauguration of the first multiethnic shelter for gender-based violence survivors in Novo Brdo/Novobërdë and surrounding areas…
UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col today held his first meeting with the newly appointed Lebanese Minister of Defence Elias Bou Saab in Beirut to discuss the situation in the UNIFIL area…
“I would like to ask you all a question.” There is a deafening silence among the group of over a hundred boda boda riders in Bunj – a bustling town in Maban in the north-east of South Sudan. The riders stare in anticipation…
The Core Group (composed of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, the Ambassadors of Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, the European Union, the United States of America, and the Special…
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel concludes his visit to campaign offices, hails the commitment of the five candidates and their supporters to ensure peaceful and…
Photo by Mohamad Almahady, UNAMID. UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Bintou Keita; the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, and their delegation today started…
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) welcomes the contribution of SEK 75 million (approximately USD 8.3 million) from the Government of Sweden on mitigating the threat from explosive hazards in support of enhanced…
An Ethiopian military helicopter registration Number UNO 379P with 23 passengers on board has crashed today at around 1310H inside the compound of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) killing three of…
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Ghassan Salame, held talks today with H.E Abdelkader Messahel, the Foreign Minister of Algeria, on the…