The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has reiterated its commitment to restoring peace and security in Somalia.

During a recent field visit to Jowhar and Baidoa, the administrative capitals of Hirshabelle and South West States, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, the Special Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson (SRCC) for Somalia and Head of ATMIS, along with Lt. Gen. Sam Kavuma ATMIS Force Commander pledged to enhance the capacity of the Somali Security Forces and intensify military offensives against Al-Shabaab.

“The African Union will never abandon Somalia and its people in their quest for peace and stability,” said Ambassador Souef, during a meeting with local leaders in Dinsoor district, Bay region.

He commended ATMIS troops for their immense contributions to peace and security in Somalia and urged continued collaboration with the Somali Security Forces (SSF).

Lt. Gen. Kavuma stated, “We will conduct offensive operations against Al-Shabaab and ensure there are no more attacks on ATMIS positions.” “We need to support the Federal Member States and the Federal Government to build the capacity of the Somali Security Forces to secure the country,” he added.

In Baidoa and Jowhar, the SRCC and ATMIS Force Commander, met with the contingent commanders, Col. Oscar Hatungimana of Burundi and Brig. Gen. Besfat Fente Tegegn of Ethiopia, who briefed them on the prevailing security situation. They also engaged with the local authorities, the Somali Security Forces and civil society members.

Lt. Gen. Kavuma described the meetings as productive and insightful and expressed satisfaction with the preparedness of ATMIS troops in their respective Areas of Responsibility (AoR).

“I checked the combat readiness of the troops, and I must say they have really prepared well and have a very cordial relationship with the local population,” he noted.

The Dinsoor District Commissioner (DC), Osman Moalim Abdi, thanked ATMIS’ leadership for engaging with the SSF and the local community and called for more consultation meetings.

“The meeting was fruitful because we briefed the delegation about the security situation in the district, including our needs, the challenges we face and the humanitarian situation,” said the DC.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

The town of Renk, in northern Upper Nile, was a bustling hub for trade between Sudan and South Sudan. But, today, the traffic is mostly people, and it’s all one way.

More than 780,000 people have fled the fighting that erupted in Sudan in April 2023, crossing the southern border into Renk where many have sought sanctuary while others are gradually being relocated to join family in other parts of the country.

Bathurs Ongo Nyikaig is among the refugees living in the transit camp in Renk after losing family members, his home, and livelihood in Sudan.

“I come from Blue Nile in Sudan, but I ran with my family to Renk because of the fighting in Sudan. There is nothing there for us but death and destruction,” he says. “We came here because we need help. We need peace.”

Humanitarians are working tirelessly to meet escalating needs despite funding already being stretched to breaking point. State authorities acknowledge the support from international partners but say more is needed to prevent a slide into a deeper crisis.

“There are two communities that came here after the war broke out in Sudan, one is refugees, and the other is returnees. For returnees, they came here seeking ways to get to their final destinations to reconnect with family in other parts of the country,” explains Renk County Commissioner, Akoch Jol Achiek.

Unfortunately, despite best efforts, many are still waiting to travel due to a lack of resources. He says local authorities are doing their best, but more support is needed.

“For those that need to stay in Renk county, if they come officially to the authorities and ask for land, they will be given land, they will be given help if they want to stay. There is no problem.”

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has deployed peacekeepers to Renk to help ensure the safe delivery of aid, provide protection, and deter violence between diverse communities forced to live together in congested conditions. They are faced with what their Force Commander describes as a “cocktail” of challenges.

“The humanitarian situation, dwindling resources, inability to relocate people as much as we’d like, a contest over scarce resources, deteriorating economic situation – all this combined creates a cocktail in which any small thing, like a difference of opinion between diverse communities, could trigger a conflict,” explains Lieutenant General Mohan Subramanian.

“We acknowledge the tremendous efforts of local forces in maintaining security, and we hope that won’t happen, but we always prepare for the worst-case scenario.”

That preparation must now include a new threat of extraordinary flooding.

“If the rains pick up, then the condition of people in the transit center, refugee camp and other displacement sites will become far worse,” says the Force Commander.

“When the misery keeps increasing and the numbers of people coming from Sudan keeps increasing, there will come a point when there will be serious security concerns, which is what we are trying to prepare in advance for in collaboration with our partners.”

One of those already experiencing the misery of escaping the Sudan conflict is 19-year-old Stephen Deng who fled to Renk in June 2024.

“We were very afraid. There was a lot of trouble. My brother died. My friend died. We knew we had to leave everything behind and come here to Renk so we could at least be safe,” he says, acknowledging the UNMISS peacekeepers as “brothers” who provide that safety.   

Stephen has been scraping together an income by selling pots and pans in the transit camp. But while food, water, and shelter are critical, he sees a greater need – for schools to reopen – so that he can achieve his dream of being a doctor and, not only survive, but thrive.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Recent “unilateral acts” by rival sides in Libya have led to a rapid deterioration in political and economic stability coupled with rising insecurity, a senior UN official in the country told the Security Council on Tuesday. 

Stephanie Koury, Deputy Special Representative and Officer-in-Charge of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), said these developments “have increased tension, further entrenched institutional and political divisions and complicated efforts for a negotiated political solution.”

UNSMIL is working to promote de-escalation, and she stressed the need for the Council’s support.

“The status quo is not sustainable,” she said. “In the absence of renewed political talks leading to a unified government and elections, you see where this is heading – greater political financial and security instability, entrenched political and territorial divisions, and greater domestic and regional instability.”  

One country, two governments

Libya remains divided between two rival administrations.  The internationally recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) is based in the northwestern city of Tripoli and led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, while the Government of National Stability (GNS) is based in the east.

The GNU receives advisory support from the High Council of State (HSC), and the eastern government is backed by the House of Representatives (HoR) and the so-called Libyan National Army (LNA).

Ms. Koury said the past two months have seen unilateral security moves by both the LNA and forces affiliated to the GNU, sparking mobilization by the other side.

Heavy armed clashes

Additionally, heavy clashes between two armed groups broke out in Tajoura, east of Tripoli, on 9 August, resulting in deaths, injuries to civilians and the destruction of property. Local mediation efforts were able to defuse the situation.

“Unilateral actions by political and security figures are also undermining stability in other ways,” she added. 

“Unilateral attempts to unseat the Central Bank Governor are met with countervailing attempts to maintain him.  Attempts to unseat the Prime Minister and his Government are met with attempts to maintain him.”

Similar actions are also causing problems and instability in the economic sphere.

Budget battle

Following months of efforts to develop a unified budget – with representatives from the east, west and south participating – the HoR adopted a supplementary budget allocation last month that was “submitted unilaterally by the House of Representatives-designated government,” she said, which western leaders denounced.

She noted that efforts to change the Central Bank Governor continue. Libya’s Presidency Council recently issued a decision to name a new Governor and form a Board of Directors, which the HoR rejected.

“These efforts are fueled by the perception that the Central Bank is not acting in a manner transparent and with fair governance to both east and the west in terms of allocation of resources,” she said.

De-escalation and dialogue

Ms. Koury reported that UNSMIL and UN Member States have been actively working to diffuse the situation.

“As a first step, UNSMIL is working to help facilitate an overall de-escalation and is proposing talks to develop a set of confidence building measures between all parties to bring an end to unilateral actions and create a more conducive environment for resuming the political process,” she said.

“Among other things, these types of measures would aim at ending unilateral actions and commitment to that, restoring confidence in the Central Bank, ensuring that moves by military and security actors are coordinated so as to prevent mobilization and fears among others.”

Libyans frustrated and fearful

Meanwhile, Libyans are frustrated with the status quo in their country and the toll it is taking on their lives.

“Many express fear now about war once again erupting around clashes between armed groups. They also express fear about their ability to speak, share their political views, in a space free from threats. Youth do not see a future, except to try to leave.  This is not acceptable.”

She told the Council that UNSMIL is using its good office’s role with focus on helping to de-escalate tensions, preserving stability and fostering confidence building measures, and preparing for the convening of Libyan-led political talks. 

“Advancing the political process, while maintaining stability, is the key priority for UNSMIL”, she said, telling ambassadors, “I count on your support to take this forward.”

Local elections progressing

Despite the difficult context, local elections are moving forward and expected to take place in mid-October. Roughly 210,000 people have registered to vote and distribution of voter cards, as well as registration of candidates, began on 18 August.  

“Unfortunately, female turnout remains relatively low, constituting only 30 per cent of the registered voters,” Ms. Koury said. 

“I am also concerned there will be low participation of women as candidates,” she added, calling for more proactive measures to address the “many hurdles” they face, including intimidation, online violence and verbal attacks.

Extremist groups and organized crime

Turning to other matters, Ms. Khoury said extremist organizations maintain access and presence in Libya by leveraging their connections with local and transnational organized crime. 

This growing relationship is particularly concerning as weapons have reportedly been coming into the country, in violation of an arms embargo.

On the humanitarian front, she reported that flooding in southwestern Libya on 16 August displaced an estimated 5,800 people.  The UN Country Team has responded, dispatching humanitarian supplies, in coordination with the authorities.

The number of Sudanese refugees in Libya has also risen to 97,000 following the outbreak of war in April 2023.  Most are arriving in al-Kurfa, where they face challenging conditions, however a UN plan for the refugees is only 21 per cent funded. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

Mpox is “not the ‘new COVID’” and European governments need to show strong political commitment to eliminate it, while standing in solidarity with Africa, a top official of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

Briefing journalists in Geneva, Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, insisted that the risk from mpox to the general population was “low”.

He rejected comparisons between the fast-spreading viral disease which the agency declared an international public health emergency last week, and the COVID-19 pandemic, “regardless of whether it’s mpox clade 1, behind the ongoing outbreak in east-central Africa, or mpox clade 2, behind the 2022 outbreak that initially impacted Europe and has continued to circulate in Europe since”.

“We know how to control mpox – and in the European region – the steps needed to eliminate its transmission altogether,” Dr. Kluge continued. 

Transmission pattern

Current scientific knowledge about the virus indicates that it primarily transmits through skin-to-skin contact with mpox lesions, including during sex. The UN health agency official’s reply to questions about whether Europe would experience COVID-like lockdowns was an unequivocal “no”.

Speaking via video link from Copenhagen, Dr. Kluge recalled that the 2022 European mpox outbreak was brought under control “thanks to the direct engagement with the most affected communities of men who have sex with men”.

He cited “behaviour change, non-discriminatory public health action and mpox vaccination” as factors of success in Europe in 2022. However, the region “failed to go the last mile” to quash the disease and is currently seeing some 100 new mpox clade 2 cases every month, he said.

Mutation discovered

Last week, Sweden became the first country outside Africa to record a case of the mpox clade 1 variant at the centre of the latest outbreak, which has been spreading from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to neighbouring countries. The Swedish case concerned a person who had travelled to an affected area of Africa.

The current state of alert due to clade 1, which is considered to be more severe, gives European health authorities the opportunity to also strengthen focus on clade 2 and eliminate it “once and for all,” Dr. Kluge urged.

Smallpox vaccines work

The UN health agency representative called specifically for European solidarity with Africa, notably regarding equitable access to vaccines.

WHO recommends the use of MVA-BN or LC16 vaccines, or the ACAM2000 vaccine when the others are not available. These have originally been developed against the now-eradicated disease smallpox.

WHO spokesperson Tarik Jašarević said that the producer of MVA-BN, Bavarian Nordic, “has capacity to manufacture 10 million doses by end of 2025 and can already supply up to two million doses this year”. As for LC16, which is a vaccine produced on behalf of the Government of Japan, he underscored that there is a “considerable” stockpile of this vaccine.

“Japan has been very generous in the past with donations” and is currently in negotiations with the DRC Government, he said.

The DRC has reported more than 15,600 mpox cases so far this year and some 540 deaths.

International response triggered

Last week, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus triggered an “Emergency Use Listing” process for mpox vaccines, designed to accelerate access for lower-income countries which have not yet issued their own regulatory approval.

The measure also makes it possible for UN health agency partners such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to procure vaccines for distribution.

Dr. Kluge mentioned that the European Union (EU) is already donating vaccines, which made him “optimistic”, but that this generosity will be put to the test if more vaccines are needed in the EU.

And although vaccines are essential, they are “just some of the tools,” said WHO’s Mr. Jašarević, alongside contact tracing, strong surveillance, public health measures and adequate clinical care for those who need it.

He mentioned that a positive legacy of the COVID-19 response was improved laboratory capacity around the world allowing to better detect various viruses.

Building on health lessons from the recent pandemic, global coordination will be key to defeating mpox. “We can, and must, tackle mpox together – across regions and continents,” Dr. Kluge insisted. “Will we choose to put the systems in place to control and eliminate mpox globally? Or will we enter another cycle of panic and then neglect?”

“How we respond now, and in the years to come, will prove a critical test for Europe – and the world,” Dr. Kluge concluded.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.