(credit: au.int)  Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat (left) and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres.

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

UNITED  NATIONS  –  NEW  YORK –  Africa has so far registered more than 2,200,000 cases of COVID-19  and more than 53,000 deaths, according to data by the UN.  There are serious concerns that many low-income countries, especially in Africa, may not be able to access successful vaccines due to multiple challenges including a lack of funding.  The Secretary-General of the UN  António Guterres is calling for a COVID-19 vaccine to be available to everyone, everywhere, particularly in Africa.  The Secretary-General addressed the COVID-19 situation and other issues impacting Africa speaking at the Fourth United Nations-African Union Annual Conference on Wednesday.  UN Secretary-General Guterres reiterated that the partnership between the two organizations has never been stronger in a joint virtual conference with Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat.  The Secretary-General also added that it is critical that vaccines, diagnostics and treatments are considered a global public good, available to everyone, everywhere. 

“We are committed to further developing our cooperation to serve the people of Africa. I reiterate my call for a COVID-19 vaccine to be a global public good available to everyone, everywhere and particularly, available in Africa. Most African countries lack the financing to adequately respond to the crisis, due in part to declining demand and prices of their commodity exports.  It’s true we are seeing vaccine nationalism moving with full speed, and the only way to guarantee to the African continent… the vaccines that the African continent needs and we all needs… because if Africa is not properly supported, we will not be able to fight the pandemic anywhere effectively.”

-Secretary-General of the UN  António Guterres

ETHIOPIA Military Conflict a Growing Concern of  the UN and African Union

The dire shortage of food, water, fuel and cash in the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia is seriously affecting people there, including aid workers, the United Nations reported this week.  Fighting between the Ethiopia national army and regional forces began a month ago, and since then, many people have been living with no electricity, running water, banking or communications.  The fighting in Tigray has forced nearly 50,000 Ethiopians to seek safety in neighbouring Sudan. 

“In our discussions today, we highlighted the importance of a peaceful Ethiopia for the prosperity of its people and the Horn of Africa region. I reiterated the full support of the United Nations to the African Union initiative and the work of the three Envoys mandated by President Ramaphosa as Chair of the African Union. Our immediate priority is the well-being of the people of Tigray and ensuring those in need urgently receive humanitarian assistance, and we are mobilizing the full capacities of the United Nations. Once again, I wish to insist on:

– unfettered access of humanitarian assistance, and

– the swift resumption of the rule of law, in a secure environment and in full respect for human rights, paving the way for a true and lasting reconciliation.

Together with our African Union partner, and others in the region, we stand ready to provide full support to Ethiopian-led initiatives to encourage inclusive dialogue and foster reconciliation.

-UN Secretary-General Guterres

QUESTION from Al Jazeera:

‘Almost exactly a year ago, the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. As ever, that award took place on Human Rights Day; yet one year on, his government has been accused ‑‑ and I quote the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ‑‑ “of gross human rights violations and abuses.” Is it time to get tougher on Ethiopia and time for the Security Council of the UN to act?:

“I think this is the moment to have a serious discussion with the Ethiopian authorities on, as I mentioned, re‑establishment of the rule of law, full respect for human rights, active reconciliation and unimpeded humanitarian access. This is what we are doing.  And I have to say that, in my last discussion with the Prime Minister, there was a full acceptance by the Prime Minister of the need to move into this direction. This has been discussed in the Security Council. It’s up to the members of the Security Council to decide whatever action they will want to launch. But our main objective is to establish with the Ethiopian Government a functional relationship, allowing for these objectives to be achieved.”

-UN Secretary General Guterres, answer . 

QUESTION:   Does  UN have any proof of Eritrean troops fighting inside Ethiopia?

“First of all, in relation to Ethiopia, we have no proof of the presence of Eritrean troops inside Ethiopia. I confronted the Prime Minister with that question, and he guaranteed to me that they have not entered Tigrayan territory, that the only area where they are is the area that corresponded to the disputed territory between the two countries that, in the peace agreement, was decided to give back to Eritrea. So, this was the testimony that was given to me by the Prime Minister when I confronted him exactly with that question.”

-Secretary-General Guterres

AFRICA   SAHEL  SITUATION:

“When we see the situation today in the Sahel, it is clear that the G5 Sahel would be in a much better situation if it would have a Chapter 7 mandate and assessed contributions allowing it to fight much more effectively the terrorist organizations that have started in Mali and then spread to Niger and Burkina Faso and now are starting to threaten even the countries of the African coast.”