UN peacekeeping

16 UN staff members abducted by S. Sudan refugees freed

Kinshasa, Congo - Arab Today

The UN said late Tuesday that 16 staff members taken hostage by unarmed South Sudanese refugees at a UN camp in eastern Congo have been released unharmed. The UN peacekeeping department said in a statement released at UN headquarters in New York that “the camp is quiet and under full control” of peacekeepers at the Munigi base in North KivuRead more

New UN peacekeeping chief named

United Nations - Arab Today

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday announced the appointment of Jean-Pierre Lacroix of France to head UN peacekeeping for a year pending a review of the world body’s functions and structure. The UN’s political affairs chief, Jeffrey Feltman of the United States, will remain at that post, also for a year. The two under-secretary-general positions are among the most high-profileRead more

Japanese troops tasked with new peacekeeping roles arrive in S.Sudan

Juba - Arab Today

A new batch of Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force troops arrived in South Sudan's capital Juba to participate in UN peacekeeping activities, tasked with fresh roles in line with the country's new security law. Some 130 GSDF members arrived in Juba as the first group of a 350-strong unit. Around 60 are in charge of security while another unit is responsibleRead more

Japan's defence Minister to make first visit to South Sudan

Tokyo - Arab Today

Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said Friday she will visit South Sudan on Saturday before Tokyo decides whether to continue sending Japan's Self-Defense Forces on UN peacekeeping operations there and assign them to controversial new missions, Japanese news agency Kyodo reported on Friday. Inada had been forced to cancel a planned visit to the country in September, about a monthRead more

11 Killed in Central African Republic After Official Shot

Bangui - Arab Today

The UN peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic says 11 people were killed and 14 injured in violence this week sparked by the killing of a military official, ABC News reported. Mission spokesman Herve Verhoosel said in a statement Thursday that calm had returned to Bangui's PK5 neighborhood, a mostly Muslim enclave where the violence took place. On Twitter, heRead more