U.S. suspends ban on military assistance to Uzbekistan (02.02.2012)

(Quelle:RFE/RL)

The United States has temporarily waived a ban on providing military assistance to Uzbekistan because of the country's crucial role in transiting supplies to forces in Afghanistan, according to U.S. officials.

Britain appoints first ambassador to Somalia in 21 years (02.02.2012)

(Quelle:The Daily Star)

Britain appointed Thursday its first ambassador to war-torn Somalia for 21 years, with an embassy to open in anarchic Mogadishu when the security situation allows, officials said.

Kabila party loses seats in Congo parliament – results (02.02.2012)

(Quelle:Reuters AlertNet)

Democratic Republic of Congo’s ruling party has lost more than 40 percent of its legislative seats to rivals but will remain the largest bloc in parliament, according to full results from a Nov. 28 vote released on Thursday.

New report of the Secretary-General on the UN Operation (02.02.2012)

(Quelle:S/2011/807)

The report covers major developments since the report of 24 June 2011 (S/2011/387), including the holding of the legislative elections.

Panetta says U.S. to end Afghan combat role as soon as 2013 (01.02.2012)

(Quelle:New York Times)

In a major milestone toward ending a decade of war in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said Wednesday that American forces would step back from a combat role there as early as mid-2013, more than a year before all American troops are scheduled to come home.

Diplomats at U.N. haggle with Russia toward a compromise on Syria (01.02.2012)

(Quelle:New York Times)

Security Council ambassadors on Wednesday began trying to negotiate a compromise resolution on Syria, with the bartering focused in good part on the conditions under which President Bashar al-Assad could be asked to cede power.

In Middle East, Ban urges stepped-up efforts to resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflict (01.02.2012)

(Quelle:UN News)

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on Israelis and Palestinians to take steps that will build trust and ensure an environment conducive to sustained negotiations, voicing his hope that the nascent talks begun last month between the two sides will continue.

UNAMID chief told to avoid unnecessary contact with Bashir (01.02.2012)

(Quelle:Sudan Tribune)

The United Nations on Wednesday disclosed that it asked the head of the Darfur Peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) Ibrahim Gambari to avoid repeating unnecessary encounters with the Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir.

Kiir explains South Sudan’s refusal to sign oil deal with Khartoum (01.02.2012)

(Quelle:Sudan Tribune)

South Sudan president, Salva Kiir Mayradit, on Tuesday told fellow heads of state at the (AU) summit that his country refused to sign a proposed deal on oil with neighboring Sudan because the deal failed to comprehensively address the fundamental causes of the crisis.

Guinea-Bissau free of all known anti-personnel mines (01.02.2012)

(Quelle:Reliefweb)

Guinea-Bissau has become the latest country to declare that it has cleared all known mined areas according to its obligations under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, or Ottawa Convention. … The landmine problem in Guinea-Bissau dated as far back as the 1963-1974 liberation war with additional landmines and explosive remnants of war laid during the 1998-1999 civil war and the March 2006 Casamance conflict.

UN disarmament operation continues near Abidjan (01.02.2012)

(Quelle:UN News)

A United Nations voluntary disarmament operation began today in a suburb north of the Ivorian city of Abidjan, aiming to collect illegal weapons still in circulation among the civilian population. The operation, conducted by the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) and national authorities, is part of a wider national campaign which began in June … .

Kosovo seeks full independence in 2012 (01.02.2012)

(Quelle:Balkan Insight)

Kosovo's parliament has adopted a resolution calling for the international community to permit full independence by the end of this year.

UN condemns Al-Shabab's ban on ICRC (31.01.2012)

(Quelle:Reliefweb)

The UN has expressed concern over a ban by Somalia's Al-Shabab insurgents on aid distributions by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), with the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia saying the move would reverse gains made in the country's food security. … The ICRC was one of the last aid agencies operating in areas under Al-Shabab’s control.

UN mission hails new strategy to defeat Congo militia groups (31.01.2012)

(Quelle:VOA News)

The United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) is welcoming as a positive step a U.S. military strategy to defeat armed insurgents in the Great Lakes region.

UN mission hails new strategy to defeat Congo militia groups (31.01.2012)

(Quelle:VOA News)

The United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) is welcoming as a positive step a U.S. military strategy to defeat armed insurgents in the Great Lakes region.

Afghan officials consider own talks with Taliban (30.01.2012)

(Quelle:New York Times)

Concerned that it is being left out of potential peace talks between the United States and the Taliban, the Afghan government is pushing to open its own direct negotiations with the insurgent group in Saudi Arabia, Afghan officials said on Monday.

Afghanistan to press Pakistan for access to Taliban (30.01.2012)

(Quelle:Reuters)

Afghanistan will press Pakistan for access to Taliban leaders during a one-day visit to Kabul by Pakistan's foreign minister, with Afghan officials hoping to ease cross-border strains and lay the ground for peace negotiations with the insurgents.

More needs to be done to enhance Darfur’s peace process – UN official (30.01.2012)

(Quelle:UN News)

A strong political will, adequate financial resources and strengthened operations to help Darfur’s vulnerable population are needed to accelerate the peace and reconciliation process in Sudan, a senior United Nations official said today.

AU, Kenyan forces move to squeeze rebels out of Somalia (30.01.2012)

(Quelle:Reuters)

African Union and Kenyan troops aim to squeeze Somali rebels linked to al Qaeda by pursuing a coordinated war on two fronts, the U.N. chief's special envoy in Somalia said Monday.

Ethiopia opens new front against Somalia's al-Shabab (30.01.2012)

(Quelle:VOA News)

Witnesses in Somalia say columns of Ethiopian troops have crossed into the country and are marching toward key al-Shabab strongholds, apparently opening a new military front against the Islamist militant group.

Arab League suspends Syria mission as violence rages (29.01.2012)

(Quelle:Reuters AlertNet)

The Arab League suspended its monitoring mission in Syria because of worsening violence, a move Damascus said was an attempt to encourage foreign intervention as it struggles to quell a 10-month revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.

Iraq bloc to end parliament boycott (29.01.2012)

(Quelle:Al Jazeera)

The largest political alliance in Iraq's government has said that it would end its boycott of parliament.

The decision by Iraqiya on Sunday, backed by much of the country's Sunnis and some secular Shias, could ease an ongoing political crisis in the government of Nuri al-Maliki, Iraq's Shia prime minister.

France, breaking with NATO, will speed Afghan exit (27.01.2012)

(Quelle:New York Times)

President Nicolas Sarkozy announced on Friday that France would break with its allies in NATO and accelerate the French withdrawal from Afghanistan, pulling back combat troops a year early, by the end of 2013.

DRC army's loyalties uncertain around election (27.01.2012)

(Quelle:IWPR)

Recent elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, have highlighted the continuing power struggles between former rebel groups integrated into the Congolese army, prompting concerns about future stability and the government’s lack of control over military units in the east of the country.