Top AU official optimistic about new Somalia peacekeeping mission
Following three days of high-level engagements with government officials, civil society members and Somalia’s international partners, the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security has said that the new AU mission will focus on stabilization and state building processes but with a clear end goal in sight.
Ambassador Bankole Adeoye was addressing the media in Mogadishu on Monday at the end of his three-day visit to Somalia.
“ATMIS is 100 percent aligned with the Somalia Transition Plan. This implies that the strategy of the Government of Somalia and (objective of) ATMIS will be aligned. This is the number one factor that will make a difference,” Ambassador Adeoye stated.
United Nations bodies call for further action to end seafarer crisis
Four UN organizations have called for continued global collaboration to address the crew change crisis that at times during the COVID-19 pandemic has left more than 400,000 seafarers stranded at sea.
In a joint statement issued on 28 February, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Health Organization (WHO) say new challenges and variants of concern like Omicron threaten to worsen the plight of the world’s seafarers, who play a vital role in global trade.
They note that as COVID-19 travel restrictions eased and vaccination rates increased among maritime personnel, the humanitarian crisis at sea showed signs of improvement before the Omicron variant appeared.
Integrated Youth Activity – ‘Kefeta’ launched
Amref Health Africa and its consortium of partners announced the launch of a $60 million ‘Integrated Youth Activity’ – called ‘Kefeta’, an Amharic word means ‘to elevate’ – that creates economic and social opportunities for millions of young people in Ethiopia. Through financial assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Kefeta aims to benefit at least two million young people from different walks of life in 18 urban cities, with a comprehensive approach to advancing youth’s economic, civic, and social development.
With youth between ages 15-29 accounting for 33.8% of the urban population, and another 32.8% of the population below the age of 15, Ethiopia is poised for a significant youth bulge. Readying the youth ecosystem to accommodate this growth and leverage on the demographic dividend is of paramount importance for the country’s socio-economic and political transformation.
In alignment with the Government of Ethiopia’s priorities, Kefeta will support young people in the target cities to strengthen their voices and agency and become a positive force for development in their country. This initiative complements the Government’s efforts to meet young people’s needs and ensure they have the capacity and ambition to contribute to a peaceful and prosperous future for Ethiopia.
