Described as “sometimes modest, sometimes historic,” UN special political missions have quietly been preventing the escalation of conflicts during the organization’s 80-year history, becoming a key instrument for maintaining peace. Many of the United Nations’ biggest successes are the crises that never make the headlines. Around the world, special political missions work quietly to ease…
If you want to understand how protest cycles evolve, look not at the crowds but at the empty streets. On June 25, 2026, Nairobi’s Central Business District was not filled with demonstrators; it was sealed off. Police established roadblocksalong Thika Road, Mombasa Road, Waiyaki Way, and Ngong Road, effectively practising what we call pre-emptive territorial…
African stock exchanges have crossed $2 trillion in combined market value, up from $1.6 trillion in 2024, according to the African Securities Exchanges Association. The gain comes after a decade of steady expansion across the continent’s capital markets, from Lagos to Abidjan to Cairo. Nigeria leads the pack. The NGX All-Share Index rose 283% since…
Climate prediction scientists announced in June 2026 that El Niño, a cycle that happens every two to seven years, had formed. It was expected to develop into one of the strongest on record – a “super” El Niño. El Niño happens when the surface of the Pacific ocean becomes unusually warm. It can alter weather…
Across health programme delivery, digital transformation is often discussed in terms of tools. But its real test is whether it helps people make better decisions, faster, in the places where lives are at risk. In May 2026, more than 500 delegates from 61 countries gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for the Information and Communication Technologies for…
In a typical year, scientists discover two or three viruses that have never been seen in people before. The number fluctuates, but the trend has been fairly steady since the 1960s. Most of these viruses attract little attention, and my colleagues and I have often had to search through old medical papers to find any…
United Nations — A new assessment from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warns that the Ebola outbreak could cost Africa USD 3.6 billion, push 985,000 people into poverty, and put 300,000 jobs at risk. The new analysis shows that the damage extends well beyond just those infected, disproportionately harming vulnerable populations and creating trade…
To implement the landmark UN slavery resolution, reparations should be defined as a framework for truth, responsibility, repair, reconciliation and global justice. Ghana recently hosted a conference on Africa’s next steps following the landmark United Nations (UN) resolution declaring the trafficking of African slaves as the ‘gravest crime against humanity.’ Ghana led the process to…
The Federal Government has issued a fresh advisory to Nigerians living in South Africa, urging those who feel unsafe to take advantage of the remaining government-sponsored evacuation flights, with the final flight scheduled to arrive in the country on July 10. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, gave the advice in a…
UN chief António Guterres appealed on Monday for far-reaching, worldwide controls on Artificial Intelligence, as increasingly powerful AI chips that are designed for civilian use shift to the battlefield, where “killer robots” are already the norm. Addressing the inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, the Secretary-General insisted on the need for greater…
