- Governments that come to power through coups d’état should be banned from participating in all United Nations institutions. Namibia’s Foreign Minister told the General Assembly today, urging member states to take a tougher line against undemocratic transfers of power.
Speaking on the fifth day of the high-level debate, Marco Hausiku said the 192-member General Assembly should “urgently pass a resolution” that prohibits unelected regimes from participating in UN activities.
“There is a need for the UN to support the African Union (AU) principle position of not recognising governments that come to power through military coups,” he said.
On Friday, the assembly voted to deny a delegation from Madagascar, where the president was ousted earlier this year following violent political unrest, permission to address the high-level segment.
Today, Mr Hausiku called for closer cooperation between the UN and the AU, especially on issues of peace and security.
“Such cooperation should also include the areas of financing, logistics, transfer of technology and training,” he added.
Mr Hausiku also welcomed the recent joint communiqué of the UN Security Council and the AU’s Peace and Security Council on strengthening the capacity of the AU in peacekeeping operations.
Currently the AU and UN have a joint peacekeeping operation in the Darfur region of western Sudan (known as UNAMID) that is working to quell the fighting and alleviate humanitarian suffering.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.