The Ambassador of Sweden to Uganda, Maria Hakansson, has held talks with State Minister for Regional Affairs John Mulimba following Sweden’s assumption of the chairmanship of the International Contact Group for the Great Lakes. Hakansson said Sweden took over the six-month rotational leadership of the group in January 2026, prompting renewed attention in Stockholm on…
More than 60 years after the UN launched its formal decolonization drive, Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday urged renewed commitment to completing the unfinished business of ending colonial rule. Since 1945, more than 80 former colonies comprising some 750 million people have gained independence. However, 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories remain on the UN list, home to…
Addis Ababa — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called for an urgent overhaul of global governance on Monday, demanding a permanent seat for Africa on the UN Security Council during a high-level forum in the Ethiopian capital. Speaking on the sidelines of the African Union (AU) Summit, Mohamud addressed a session focused on the “Future…
Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby says current NATO approach ‘no longer fit for purpose’. Listen to this article | 3 mins info Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby has called for NATO “partnerships not dependencies”, saying Europe must take primary responsibility for its defence. The US official was in Brussels to meet with NATO’s defence ministers on Thursday,…
Addis Ababa — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has called on Ethiopians to warmly welcome African leaders and delegates as Addis Ababa prepares to host the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Summit. In a message shared on his social media platforms, the Prime Minister said Ethiopia is opening its doors to fellow Africans…
Reuters The exiled son of the last Iranian shah (king) has called on the world to help protesters topple Iran’s government, saying he is confident “the Islamic Republic will fall – not if, but when”. Reza Pahlavi, a US-based opposition leader, asked the world to target Iran’s Revolutionary Guard leadership, which he said would “facilitate…
The organisation urged countries to raise and redesign taxes as part of its new 3 by 35 initiative, which aims to increase the real prices of tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks by 2035. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on governments to significantly increase taxes on sugary drinks and alcohol, warning that the widespread…
Abuja — Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar has called on Europe and Africa to reject isolationist tendencies and embrace a partnership rooted in shared history, geography, and responsibility. Delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Annual Conference of Spanish Ambassadors in Madrid, attended by 182 diplomats, Ambassador Tuggar framed Europe and Africa…
Nairobi — The African Union (AU) has expressed deep concern over the escalating crisis in Venezuela, warning that the country’s complex internal challenges can only be resolved through inclusive political dialogue among Venezuelans themselves. In a communiqué issued from its headquarters in Addis Ababa on January 3, the AU said it was closely monitoring recent…
Letter to UN chief, UNSC comes after Trump says US will intervene if Tehran violently suppresses protests. Published On 3 Jan 20263 Jan 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Iran’s United Nations ambassador Amir Saeed Iravani has written to the UN secretary-general and the president of the UN Security Council (UNSC),…
