Armed groups have trapped more than 140,000 people, including over 80,000 children, in the town of Menaka in Mali, where they are facing malnutrition and disease, following a similar blockade of the city of Timbuktu, Save the Children said.

A four-month blockade of Menaka by armed groups follows a similar siege in the historic city of Timbuktu, which started in August 2023 and remains in place, although some small amount of aid is now getting through.

As the siege in Menaka drags on, supplies in the city have reached critically low levels, with government and aid groups only able to deliver a very limited amount of food, medicines, and other essential items. Over 80,000 children are trapped in Menaka, nearly a third of whom (33,600) have already fled fighting in other parts of the country and are staying in temporary shelters in camps and with host families.

Save the Children staff who recently had a rare chance to get into the town to carry out a week-long needs assessment were trapped there for three weeks, the aid group said.

Safiatou*, 55, fled fighting in her village to come to Menaka and is now caregiver to six unaccompanied children. She said: “We came to Menaka after fleeing four months of terror in our village. We have no business or income – we lost everything. It’s the little helpers that keep us going. Some households are struggling just to have one meal a day. Our children are suffering from this chaotic situation, and we do not have what we need to provide for them.”

According to the Cadre Harmonisé 2024 – a regional framework to identify food and nutrition insecurity in the Sahel and West Africa – over 40,000 people in Menaka are already facing emergency levels of hunger, and over 800 people in catastrophic levels of food insecurity, due to a combination of rising violence and climate change. The situation is set to deteriorate in June, with over 49,000 people projected to be in the catastrophe phase of food insecurity – and needing immediate support to meet their basic needs.

Without aid arriving to these communities, there is the potential for total collapse of livelihoods and large-scale deaths in coming months, said Save the Children. Last year – before the siege began – a survey by the National Institute of Statistics report (INSTAT) showed that 19% of children in Menaka were experiencing either moderate acute malnutrition or severe acute malnutrition.

The blockade follows the siege of Timbuktu which began in August, trapping more than 136,000 people including nearly 74,000 children in the historic city and leading to a humanitarian catastrophe. While the blockade remains in place, some aid and supplies have been allowed to enter the city in recent months.

Siaka Ouattara, Country Director of Save the Children in Mali, said:

“Children in Menaka are trapped in a living nightmare. Let us be clear: unless the blockade is lifted , starvation and disease will led to deaths.

“A third of these children fled to Menaka thinking it was a safe refuge from violence back home. Many of these children are unaccompanied and separated – at grave risk of exploitation and abuse. They are unable to get the protection and support they need.

“We call on all actors to allow unfettered humanitarian access to populations in Ménaka who are in dire need of assistance.”

Save the Children has been working in Mali for over 35 years, with a presence in six regions. Save the Children has carried out a rapid multi-sectoral assessment in the town of Menaka and hopes to deliver aid to Safiatou* and others as soon as the blockade ends, and aid delivery is possible.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Save the Children.

Following an invitation to serve as Keynote Speaker at the University of Massachussetts-Boston’s 6th Africa Day, co-organized by UMASS-Boston, West Africa Research Association (WARA) and West Africa Research Centre (WARC) of Boston University, the ECOWAS Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Ambassador Kinza Jawara-Njai delivered the Keynote address of the 2024 Academic Conference of UMASS Boston’s John W. McCormark Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at its Campus in Boston on Friday, 19th April 2024. The Theme of the Scholarly Exchange was “Democratic Backsliding in West Africa: Contradictions, Challenges and Difference”.

Ambassador Jawara-Njai’s speech focused on “Why West African Democracy is on the Right Path despite Challenges”. It gave an overview on ECOWAS as a Regional Enonomic Community (REC), its normative Legal Instruments on Democracy and Good Governance and touched on efforts by ECOWAS in promoting Democracy, Good Governance and development in West Africa.

In showcasing gains and challenges in consolidating democracy in the Region, Amb. Jawara-Njai acknowledged present reversal in democratic trends through a number of Coup d’etats and Unconstitutional Changes of Government experienced in the region and highlighted demarches of the Bloc to return the 4 ECOWAS Countries under Military Rule to Constitutional order. She further highlighted that despite Governance challenges in some ECOWAS States, Liberal Democracy continues to thrive and has been gaining grounds in West Africa as can be seen with Election successes in the 11 other ECOWAS Member States.

Amb. Jawara-Njai showcased the Free, Fair and Credible Election outcomes of the recent past in countries such as Ghana, Gambia, Benin, Nigeria, Cape Verde etc. and most recently in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Senegal. She pointed out that the recent Electoral success in Senegal clearly demonstrates signs of a maturing democratic culture and resilience in the region with marked Will of citizens and Strong credible functioning Institutions playing key roles in not only ushering in desired democratic change but also offering renewed hope for the future of democracy in West Africa.

Topical Research Papers on Democracy and Development in West Africa relating to the Theme of the Conference were also presented by distinguished Scholars at the event. Other Keynote Speakers were Ms. Oge Onubogu, Director, Africa Program, Woodrow Wilson Int’l Centre Washington D.C. and Mr. Gilles O. Yabi, Founder and CEO of WATHI in Senegal respectively.

The University of Massachussetts-Boston, in recognition of ECOWAS support and contribution to the Event named its 2024 Africa Scholars Forum Democracy Award in honour of ECOWAS and African Union and presented “The 2024 Africa Scholars Forum ECOWAS-AFRICA Union Democracy Students Award” to 2 Final Year Doctoral Candidates in the Global Governance and Human Security Programme in support of dissertation Research on Democracy, Human Rights and Justice in Africa.

The Scholarly Exchange afforded ECOWAS opportunity to exchange and showcase democratisation efforts in the Region and the present positive strides and promise of democratic consolidation in West Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) works with the UN system to advance sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. The ECOSOC Youth Forum in New York gathered young people from around to share how they can step up progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The International Trade Centre (ITC) hosted a side event titled: Innovate and Lead: Skills for Youth to Drive Sustainable Change. The event was held in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization and the Permanent Mission of Kenya in the United States. The goal was to empower youth with the skills and knowledge needed to spearhead sustainable change in their communities and beyond. 

Opening remarks were made by the ECOSOC President, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Chile, Paula Narváez Ojeda; the Deputy Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations, Njambi Kinyungu; and WIPO Director General Daren Tang. Each brought unique perspectives and insights on youth empowerment, innovation, and sustainability.  

This was followed by a lively, unscripted chat between youth and high-level policy makers, facilitated by WIPO Assistant Director General for Global Challenges and Partnerships, Edward Kwakwa, and ITC’s Youth and Trade Initiative Manager, Mayara Louzada.  

The conversation broke traditional barriers of dialogue among youth and the following speakers:  

Mohamed Orman Bangura, Minister of Youth Affairs in Sierra Leone, discussed the challenges and opportunities faced by youth in Sierra Leone. He highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting youth-led initiatives. 
Balaam Barugahara, Uganda’s Minister of State for Youth and Children, emphasized the importance of youth engagement in driving sustainable development. He highlighted Uganda’s efforts in youth empowerment. 
Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, shared insights on Nigeria’s initiatives to support youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the role of education and mentorship.
Gareth Sella, Colombia’s Vice-Minister of Youth, is also a film director and political activist. He spoke about the human rights reforms needed to advance the well-being of youth and to empower the most marginalized.  
Karen Jane Salutan, CEO of EdukSine from the Philippines, shared her journey as a young entrepreneur and emphasized the role of education and skills development in fostering innovation and sustainability. 
Federico Perez, founder and CEO of Selvitas from Colombia, discussed the importance of environmental stewardship. He shared insights on how youth-led businesses can contribute to sustainable development. 
Miles Hodges, an American poet and producer from New York, captivated the audience with a youthful discussion on the power of words and how poetry shapes our realities. Miles performed a poem in which he navigated economic necessities, societal pressures, existential searches, and personal and familial relationships providing a rich, metaphorical backdrop that can relate to the experiences and challenges faced by young entrepreneurs.

The session was visually captured by the Sketch Effect in a compelling and dynamic format. The resulting artwork provided a vivid illustration of the event’s atmosphere, highlighting key moments and the energetic exchange of ideas among participants. 

The event attracted a large and engaged audience, with the room filled to capacity. Participants were eager to learn from the panelists’ experiences and insights. The discussions sparked meaningful conversations on how youth can actively contribute to creating a more sustainable and inclusive future. 

Overall, ITC’s side event at the ECOSOC Youth Forum was a resounding success, highlighting the importance of equipping youth with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to innovate and lead in driving sustainable change globally. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened the Subcommittee of the Judicial Council responsible for reviewing its rules of procedure in Banjul, The Gambia, from April 29th to May 1st, 2024. The Meeting brought together eminent Chief Justices and legal dignitaries from the ECOWAS Member States.

Distinguished participants, including the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, the ECOWAS Resident Representative, the Hon. Solicitor General of The Gambia, the Chief Justices of the ECOWAS Judicial Council, the ECOWAS Commission Legal Affairs Directorate, and the Community Court of Justice, were present at the opening of the meeting.

Hon. Chief Justice of The Gambia and Chairman of the Sub-Committee, Justice Hassan B. Jallow, who is the host of the meeting, set a forward-looking tone, stressing the need to revise the Council’s Rules of Procedure and enhance the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice’s operational efficiency. He advocated for expanding the Court’s jurisdiction to address serious international crimes, emphasizing the region’s commitment to justice and accountability.

The Honorable Solicitor General, Justice Hussein Thomasi, representing the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of The Gambia, delivered insightful remarks highlighting the pivotal role of the ECOWAS Judicial Council in fostering legal cooperation and ensuring access to justice for all ECOWAS citizens.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the ECOWAS Judicial Council, Honorable Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, emphasized the Council’s dedication to enhancing judicial efficiency and strengthening the legal framework across member states.

He said the Council is committed to promoting respect for human rights within the sub-region.

The ECOWAS Resident Representative in The Gambia, H.E. Ambassador Miatta Lily FRENCH, echoed ECOWAS’s commitment to promoting legal excellence and regional integration, emphasizing the significance of the Judicial Council in advancing these objectives.

This Committee meeting in Banjul was established in Abuja’s meeting of the Council and made of five Member States comprising Benin, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, and Sierra Leone to review its rules and submit recommendations to the Council for improving the rules of procedure and legal framework relating to the Council.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).