nations

Egypt says Red Sea governance must be limited to littoral states ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Egypt’s foreign minister said Sunday that stewardship of the Red Sea should be confined to countries that border it, rejecting what he called attempts by external powers to insert themselves into managing the strategic waterway. Egypt rejects non-littoral involvement in Red Sea governance Cairo seeks to activate Red Sea-Gulf of Aden council for security and development Support reiterated for AU Agenda 2063, water security, Sudan’s…

UN urges Russia to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid as fresh barrages kill civilians, cripple heat and water supplies The United Nations on Thursday called on Russia to stop its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure after another nationwide barrage killed two people and plunged parts of the country into darkness and subzero cold. “The relentless attacks by the Russian Federation on energy infrastructure across Ukraine are depriving an already long-suffering civilian population of adequate warmth, water and…

Analysis: The UN’s budget math has turned existential The United Nations is navigating its most acute cash crunch in decades. In a letter to the 193 member states, Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the organisation faces “the very real prospect of financial collapse,” with cash potentially running out as early as July. Senior UN officials now acknowledge that shuttering the Secretariat’s Manhattan headquarters this summer is a “distinct possibility.” This is not rhetorical brinkmanship. It is the cumulative…

GENEVA — U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk warned that his office is in “survival mode” amid deepening funding shortfalls, launching a $400 million appeal to sustain global monitoring and accountability work as rights abuses surge worldwide. Addressing diplomats at the U.N. rights office in Geneva, Türk said chronic underfunding is hampering life-saving operations “at a time when truth is being eroded by disinformation and censorship.” He called the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) “a lifeline for…

U.S. Diplomat Visits Mali to Revitalize Bilateral Ties Amid Regional Security Concerns The newly appointed head of the U.S. State Department's Bureau of African Affairs, Nick Checker, has embarked on a pivotal visit to Mali aimed at revitalizing bilateral cooperation between the United States and the West African nation. This visit is underscored by a commitment to establish "new foundations, mutual respect, and the absence of any form of interference," signaling a shift in diplomatic priorities. Accompanying Checker's…

Senegal conquered Africa again on Sunday night, defeating host Morocco 1-0 after extra time in Rabat to win the Africa Cup of Nations and ignite raucous celebrations from the Atlantic shore to the Sahel. Fireworks crackled above Dakar, horns blared and flags waved as the Teranga Lions claimed their second continental crown in four years behind a dramatic winner from Pape Gueye and a performance that withstood a chaotic finish. What to know: Score: Senegal 1, Morocco 0 (after extra time) Match-winner: Pape Gueye for Senegal…

EU Removes Several African Countries from High-Risk Money Laundering List Several African nations, including Nigeria, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, and Tanzania, have recently been removed from the European Union's list of high-risk jurisdictions for money laundering and financing terrorism. This significant decision follows comprehensive reforms made in their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks. The delisting by the EU is expected to have a positive ripple effect, facilitating…

US Immigrant Visa Suspension Sparks Outrage and Relief Across Africa The processing of U.S. immigrant visas for nationals from dozens of African countries has been indefinitely suspended, a sweeping decision announced by the U.S. Department of State on Wednesday. This move affects a total of 75 countries, including several longtime allies in the African region. In Liberia, one of the nations caught in this new policy, reactions have varied. Some citizens voiced anger and frustration as the announcement reverberated…

UN demands swift, independent probe into ICE shooting of Minnesota woman as protests, lawsuits escalate The United Nations on Monday urged a rapid, independent and transparent investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, 37, by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis last week, as protests spread and Minnesota filed suit against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. “Under international human rights law, the intentional use of lethal force is only permissible as a measure of…

OIC states condemn Israeli official’s visit to North Western State of Somalia as violation of Somalia’s sovereignty Foreign ministers from more than 20 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned an Israeli official’s Jan. 6 visit to North Western State of Somalia, calling it an illegal act that violates the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia. In a joint statement issued Thursday, the ministers said the visit “breaches international law and the U.N. Charter”…