United Nations
latest news & developments
Navi Pillay becomes fifth South African to win Nobel Peace Prize
South African human rights jurist Navi Pillay has made history by winning the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, honoured for her lifelong fight for international justice and accountability.
UN Peacekeeping in Crisis
As global conflicts surge to historic highs, UN peacekeeping operations face severe strain from unprecedented financial cuts, US arrears, and geopolitical gridlock in the…
Global war on women through SA's eyes
With South Africa facing soaring femicide rates, the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York highlights the urgent need to address the global crisis and backlash against women's…
The Quiet Majority for Human Rights
UN High Commissioner Volker Türk highlights the Global Alliance for Human Rights, a united global movement connecting cities, youth, and civil society to champion dignity,…
The 81st United Nations UNGA and future of UN Peacekeeping
As the 81st UN General Assembly convenes, UN peacekeeping faces a pivotal crisis marked by Council deadlock, budget shortfalls, and a twelve-year absence of new mission…
The case for United Nations leadership on AI
As frontier AI systems advance rapidly, voluntary guardrails are failing to keep pace. The United Nations must step in with global governance to protect the Global South and…
Ramaphosa puts Gaza at centre of BRICS call for equal justice
At the BRICS summit in New Delhi, President Cyril Ramaphosa called for the equal application of international law, demanding accountability for atrocities in Palestine, Sudan,…
Africa is bigger than we think
A historic UN resolution calls for the adoption of accurate map projections, challenging centuries of Mercator distortion to reflect Africa's true scale and global significance.
The world is ready for a woman-led UN
As the United Nations edges closer to electing its first female Secretary-General, Africa's failure to nominate qualified women from its own ranks highlights a missed opportunity…
UN committee urges South Africa to dismantle racist vigilante groups
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has called on South Africa to dismantle racist vigilante groups amid rising xenophobic violence, migrant killings,…
Next UN secretary-general must be a woman
For eight decades, the UN has championed equality, yet its highest office has remained closed to women. This article argues that the next UN Secretary-General must be a woman to…
UN urges calm as migration tensions draw international attention
The United Nations urges calm and respect for the rule of law in South Africa amidst escalating migration-related tensions, condemning violence, vigilantism, and hate speech. The…
UN climate chief calls for faster action as Bonn climate talks begin
Opening the UN’s mid-year climate talks in Bonn, Simon Stiell urged governments to focus on implementing climate commitments, warning that fossil fuel dependence was driving…
Africa: The only continent in all four hemispheres; global role still undecided
Its cities are expected to absorb hundreds of millions of new residents in the coming decades, making urban governance, infrastructure planning and service delivery central to…
Africa cannot afford to watch as Congo sleepwalks into collapse
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is drifting towards a dangerous precipice and far too few seem willing to acknowledge it. By arming violent militias, the government in…