Eritrea

In Sikikede and in Sam-Ouandja — both in north-east Central African Republic — the national disarmament body launched new disarmament and demobilization operations, with the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) providing logistical, technical and security support.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Nahla Valji of Canada as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Eritrea, with the host Government’s approval. She took up her post on 21 January and will also serve as the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Amakobe Sande of Kenya as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Eritrea, with the host Government’s approval.

On International Women’s Day, peacekeeping colleagues report that Bangladesh, for the first time, is deploying four justice government-provided personnel, all women, to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), later this month.

The period following the start of Afghanistan’s peace negotiations in September 2020 has witnessed a sharp rise in the number of human rights defenders and media professionals killed in the country, a new report issued today by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) says.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is appealing for calm and an easing of tensions on Turkey’s borders with the European Union, following a recent increase in movements of people.  Groups arriving at Turkey’s borders have included Syrians, Afghans, Iranians, Sudanese and other nationalities.

The following statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres was issued today:

Sophia Tesfamariam Yohannes, the new Permanent Representative of Eritrea to the United Nations, presented her credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

In Paris, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is having three days of events to mark World Philosophy Day, including a Night of Philosophy, a presentation of digitized philosophy archives and a talk about Barbara Cassin, initiator of the International Network of Women Philosophers.