“Peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of compassion. When we care for animals, we care for each other, which is a powerful catalyst for peace.”

This was the powerful and passionate message from Lieutenant Colonel Manoj Yadav, the Deputy Commander of the Indian peacekeeping battalion serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in the conflict-affected Upper Nile region.

He was speaking about the unique approach to promoting peace taken by Indian peacekeeping veterinarians who are treating a diverse range of animals belonging to communities at dedicated camps throughout the region.

“These camps are instrumental in disease surveillance, supporting early warning systems, and preventing potential outbreaks. By focusing on maintaining healthy livestock, veterinary camps contribute to food security. This, in turn, enhances the prospects of peace and development,” says Lt. Col. Yadav.

In South Sudan, cattle are both a valuable commodity and part of the cultural identity. They represent wealth, fertility and even a spiritual connection. However, they can also be a driver of conflict, as communities struggling with the dire economic and humanitarian situation as well as extraordinary flooding, fight over access to land and water and raid cattle from each other.

To tackle this problem, the UNMISS peacekeepers have treated nearly 15,000 cattle in the past nine months as well as countless other animals precious to the people of South Sudan.

“These events are not merely about animal care, but also serve as a platform for encouraging cooperation among different communities, aiming to reduce tensions and promote mutual understanding,” said Lt. Col. Yadav.

As an example, John Marten, from the Shilluk community, attended the Malakal Veterinary Center with Aben Mirial, a member of the Dinka community. While these two communities have a history of conflict, the two cattle herders came with a collective desire to improve the health of their livestock by learning international best practices in animal husbandry. This illustrates the power of harnessing common interests to build trust and confidence between diverse communities.

The peacekeepers also provide training to Community Animal Health Workers which empowers local communities to be self-reliant and reduces dependency on external aid. This contributes to long-term stability by strengthening local capacities and resilience.

The motto of the Indian battalion is that “even in the darkest of times, the simplest acts of compassion and kindness can have a profound impact.”

These peacekeepers believe that by bringing communities together, fostering trust and promoting cooperation, the veterinary camps can play a transformative role in building a harmonious society in a country ravaged by conflict and instability.

“By healing the animals, we truly believe we are healing the hearts of the youngest nation in the world, which will lead to a more peaceful, more prosperous, and more united South Sudan,” said Lt. Colonel Yadav.

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

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), warring parties responsible for widespread war crimes and other atrocities in the current conflict in Sudan, have newly acquired modern foreign-made weapons and military equipment, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The United Nations Security Council should renew and expand the arms embargo and its restrictions on the Darfur region to all of Sudan and hold violators to account.

“Sudan’s conflict is one of the world’s worst humanitarian and human rights crises, with warring parties committing atrocities with impunity, and newly acquired weapons and equipment are likely to be used in the commission of further crimes,” said Jean-Baptiste Gallopin, senior crisis, conflict, and arms researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Fighters from both the SAF and the RSF have since mid-2023 posted photos and videos of new foreign-made kits, such as armed drones and anti-tank guided missiles.”

Human Rights Watch analyzed 49 photos and videos, most apparently filmed by fighters from both sides, posted on the social media platforms Facebook, Telegram, TikTok, and X (formerly known as Twitter), showing weapons used or captured in the conflict. The apparently new equipment that Human Rights Watch identified, which includes armed drones, drone jammers, anti-tank guided missiles, truck-mounted multi-barrel rocket launchers, and mortar munitions, was produced by companies registered in China, Iran, Russia, Serbia, and the UAE. Human Rights Watch was not able to establish how the warring parties acquired the new equipment.

The new visual evidence of equipment not known to previously be in the possession of Sudanese actors, and evidence that it is being used, suggests that the warring parties acquired some of these weapons and equipment after the start of the current conflict in April 2023. In one case, lot numbers indicate the ammunition was manufactured in 2023.

Since the conflict between the SAF and the RSF began in Sudan in April 2023, countless civilians have been killed, millions have been internally displaced, and millions face famine. The SAF and the RSF may use such weapons and equipment to continue to commit war crimes and other serious human rights violations not just in Darfur, but across the country.

The United Nations Security Council is expected to decide on September 11 whether to renew the Sudan sanctions regime, which prohibits the transfer of military equipment to the Darfur region. The sanctions regime was established in 2004, when Darfur was the epicenter of a conflict with widespread human rights abuses, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing. Since April 2023, the new conflict has affected most of Sudan’s states, but Security Council members have yet to take steps to expand the arms embargo to the whole country.

These findings demonstrate both the inadequacy of the current Darfur-only embargo and the grave risks posed by the acquisition of new weapons by the warring parties. A countrywide arms embargo would contribute to addressing these issues by facilitating the monitoring of transfers to Darfur and preventing the legal acquisition of weapons for use in other parts of Sudan.

The Sudanese government has opposed an expansion of the arms embargo and in recent months has lobbied members of the Security Council to end the sanctions regime and remove the Darfur embargo altogether.

The prevalence of atrocities by the warring parties creates a real risk that weapons or equipment acquired by the parties would most likely be used to perpetuate serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law, harming civilians.

Two verified videos filmed by drones and posted on pro-SAF social media accounts show the drones attacking unarmed people in civilian clothes in Bahri (Khartoum North), one of Khartoum’s twin cities. One video, posted to X by a pro-SAF account on January 14, shows a drone dropping two mortar projectiles on apparently unarmed people in civilian clothes as they cross a street in Bahri, killing one person on the spot and leaving four others motionless after the explosions.

Another video, posted to a pro-SAF account on March 19, 2024, shows a drone dropping a munition on people wearing civilian clothes who are loading a truck with apparent sacks of grain or flour in the busy courtyard of the Seen flour mills in Bahri, injuring or killing a man who lies motionless on the floor. No weapons or military equipment are seen near the targeted areas in either video.

Ending the arms embargo would end the work of the Panel of Experts on the Sudan. The panel is one of the few entities that provides the Security Council with regular, in-depth reporting on the conflict in Sudan since the SAF-aligned government successfully demanded the closure of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan in December 2023.

In recent weeks, the discussion around renewal at the Security Council has shifted toward a renewal of the Darfur embargo and associated sanctions regime, which means, if adopted, the status quo would continue.

The Sudan sanctions regime has faced challenges since its inception. The Panel of Experts and Amnesty International have documented that the governments of Belarus, China, and Russia violated the embargo for years, yet only one individual has ever been sanctioned for violating the embargo. In a report published in July, Amnesty International found that “recently manufactured weapons and military equipment from countries such as Russia, China, Türkiye, and the UAE are being imported in large quantities into Sudan, and then diverted into Darfur.”

At a minimum, the Security Council should proceed with the planned “technical rollover” and maintain the existing Sudan sanctions regime, which, despite its limitations, provides the UN and Security Council members with crucial reporting and tools for sanctions. It should also take more robust actions in the face of violations of the existing embargo, notably by sanctioning the individuals and entities violating it.

“The Security Council should expand the Darfur arms embargo to all of Sudan to curb the flow of arms that may be used to commit war crimes,” Gallopin said. “The Security Council should publicly condemn individual governments that are violating the existing arms embargo on Darfur and take urgently needed measures to sanction individuals and entities that are violating the embargo.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Today, we celebrate African Union Day—a day that stands for Africa’ strength, resilience, unity, and the promises of its people’s irrepressible aspiration to freedom and agency.

The African Union has been at the forefront of championing peace, security, and sustainable development across the African continent.

From its tireless work in conflict prevention and resolution to its groundbreaking initiatives in peace support operations, peacebuilding and reconstruction, while advancing Africa’s economic integration.

The AU continues to be a beacon of hope for our shared future.

As the United Nations Special Representative to the African Union, I am honoured, on behalf of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to renew the United Nations’ commitment to support the AU’s leadership and mission in every way possible. 

Together, we are addressing the challenges of our time—conflicts, inequality, poverty, climate change and violence extremism,—turning them into opportunities for progress and shared prosperity.

Africa’s greatest asset is its people—its resourceful women, its talented youth and its skillful innovators. On this African Union Day, let us reaffirm our dedication to empowering every African, ensuring that no one is left behind.

As we look ahead, let us do so with the confidence that together, the United Nations and the African Union will continue to make history—writing a new chapter of peace, unity, and prosperity for all.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU).

HM King Mohammed VI sent a message of congratulations to the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, on her country’s national day.

In this message, the Sovereign expresses His warmest congratulations to Siljanovska-Davkova, as well as His sincere wishes for further progress and prosperity to the Macedonian people.

HM the King takes this opportunity to reiterate His determination to work with Siljanovska-Davkova to strengthen close friendship between the two countries and to give fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation in all sectors, for the mutual interest of the two friendly peoples.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.