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.

Ms. Ghelani, Ms. Noyes and the United Nations Resident Coordinator Ms. Amanda Khozi Mukwashi informed the Government that the acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator will release US$2 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to facilitate a joint, coordinated humanitarian response.

On 12 July 2024, the Government of Lesotho declared a state of National Food Insecurity Disaster after a historic drought triggered by El Niño led to the lowest crop yields since the 2018/19 agricultural season.

According to the Government, about a third of the population—approximately 700,000 people—will face hunger in the coming months. In rural areas, more than 400,000 people are expected to experience crisis levels of acute hunger through March 2025. Vulnerability assessments show that an additional 296,049 people are expected to become food insecure in urban areas. The drought has resulted in severe water shortages, with wells drying up.

“We must support vulnerable communities affected by the drought in Lesotho,” said Reena Ghelani. “This US$2 million allocation will help scale up humanitarian assistance for those most in need, but we also need to strengthen long-term resilience to prevent future crises.”

During her mission, Ms. Ghelani engaged with Government and partners on immediate needs, ongoing response, and strategies to build long-term resilience against climate shocks. She met with affected communities in Qacha’s Nek and Mafeteng to assess the impact of the drought on the most vulnerable.

“The situation is difficult. We met farmers who said the drought has led to crop failures, and we spoke to distressed mothers who told us they don’t have enough food for their children. This allocation will be critical to help people access sufficient food and other essential services. The time for action is now,” Andrea Noyes said. “OCHA is supporting the UN and partners in Lesotho to strengthen humanitarian coordination and scale up the response to complement Government efforts.”

“We stand with the people of Lesotho in this time of need,” said Amanda Khozi Mukwashi. “As demonstrated by the emergency allocation, the UN is committed to working closely with the Government of Lesotho and all partners to ensure a coordinated and effective response.”

The UN in Lesotho is actively supporting the operationalization of the recently launched National El Niño Response Plan, which requires approximately $212.9 million, with outstanding funding needs of $112.8 million.

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Leaders from some 50 African countries are expected to attend the Summit, which has been held every three years since 2000.

Debt hampers development

Mr. Guterres noted that they were gathering in China amid rising geopolitical tensions, raging conflicts and growing poverty and hunger.

He pointed to current challenges, including the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan, as well as the worsening climate crisis, inequalities and threats to global and African efforts to achieve sustainable development.

Meanwhile, many African countries are mired in debt and struggling to invest in sustainable development, he said.

Reform outdated systems

The UN Secretary-General recalled his proposals to reform “outdated, ineffective and unfair international financial architecture”, and to provide a stimulus plan for developing countries striving to make the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a reality.

Solutions include increasing the lending capacity of multilateral development banks and enabling them to massively scale up affordable financing for development.

He stressed that the support of China and Africa for these initiatives is critical.

Progress on shared goals

“In this context, South-South cooperation is essential to build capacities and drive progress on shared development goals – while in no way reducing the responsibilities of the Global North,” he said.

Mr. Guterres described China’s partnership with the African continent as a pillar of South-South cooperation. The process refers to the exchange of technology and skills between countries of the Global South.

“Your joint efforts, based on the United Nations Charter, can create a new momentum for African development,” he said.

He recalled that China is already Africa’s longstanding and largest trading partner.

“And we know that in Africa, as elsewhere, investments are game-changing when they respect national ownership and are financially sustainable, climate-sensitive and consistent with international human rights commitments.”

Partnership for transition

Furthermore, “China’s remarkable record of development – including on eradicating poverty – provides a wealth of experience and expertise”, he continued.

“The China-Africa partnership can drive the renewable energy revolution. It can be a catalyst for key transitions on food systems and digital connectivity,” he said.

“And as home to some of the world’s most dynamic economies, Africa can maximize the potential of China’s support in areas from trade to data management, finance and technology.”

Meeting today’s challenges

Mr. Guterres also used the speech to highlight the need to “correct some historic injustices”.

For example, it was “outrageous” that the continent of Africa has no permanent seat on the UN Security Council, he said.

In this regard, the Summit of the Future at UN Headquarters later this month “will be a pivotal opportunity for renewal and reform – anchored in solidarity and justice”.

The UN chief spoke of the proposed focus on the prevention of and joint approaches to new and emerging threats to global security, building on recent success in authorizing UN-assessed contributions for African Union-led peace operations.

“We are pushing for reforms so that the international financial architecture and institutions correspond to the realities of today’s world and can respond to today’s challenges – particularly those faced by developing countries, namely in Africa. Your full engagement will be critical to finding sustainable solutions,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, the Secretary-General underscored “the full engagement of the United Nations in support of a strong China-Africa partnership, towards our shared goal of peace, sustainable development and human rights on a healthy planet”.

On August 30, 2023, Congolese security forces killed at least 57 people in Goma, the capital of the North Kivu province. Most were members of a mystic religious group, the Natural Judaic and Messianic Faith Towards the Nations (Foi Naturelle Judaique et Messianique vers les Nations), who were preparing a protest against the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). A United Nations panel of experts and Human Rights Watch found that the actual death toll was most likely significantly higher. A military court in October found four soldiers, including a commanding officer, guilty of murder, but no further investigations appear to be ongoing and no victims have received compensation.

“One year on, Congolese authorities have successfully prosecuted several people for the 2023 Goma massacre, but the investigations have been severely limited, and no compensation has been paid to victims,” said Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Establishing command responsibility and appropriately punishing all those responsible is crucial to preventing similar abuses in the future.”

On July 30, 2023, Ephraim Bisimwa, the leader of the mystic religious movement, announced a protest against MONUSCO to be held on August 30 to demand the UN mission’s departure by the end of the year due to its inability to stem protracted fighting in the east.

On August 23, the mayor of Goma issued a communiqué banning the protest. Bisimwa called off the demonstration and asked his members to meet at his church on the morning of August 30. The UN panel reported that the military and police chain of command sent down reports that the group’s protests were connected to rumored plans by the M23 rebel group and its Rwandan backers to destabilize the city. Since late 2022, Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have committed unlawful killings, rape, and numerous other grave abuses in eastern Congo.

On August 30, between 3 and 4 a.m., Congolese soldiers raided a radio station affiliated with the movement in Goma’s Ndosho neighborhood. Bisimwa was at the station and used a WhatsApp message to inform his members of the raid. When soldiers took Bisimwa and eight others out of the station, his members arrived. Soldiers opened fire on them, killing six members outside the radio station, and then departed with Bisimwa and a colleague. Bisimwa later told Human Rights Watch: “They took us to the [Republican Guard]’s base where they tied us up, made us lie on the floor, then they threw water on us and beat us with sticks.”

Following the deadly raid, members of the group captured a police officer, bound his hands, and took him back to the group’s headquarters, commonly referred to as its temple.

In the confusion that followed, the police shot some members of the group, killing Bisimwa’s son. Some members then returned to the temple and killed the abducted police officer. Footage verified by Human Rights Watch shows the officer lying on the floor, hands tied, and curled up into a ball, while people beat him with sticks and threw rocks at him, killing him.

Soldiers arrived at the temple around 7 a.m. and Republican Guards followed. Col. Mike Mikombe, the Republican Guard commander in Goma, took over negotiations with a growing crowd. An officer who was there later told Human Rights Watch that once Mikombe arrived, tensions quickly arose.

Human Rights Watch verified a video filmed at the scene around 7 a.m. which shows Mikombe and Maj. Peter, commander of a Republican Guard special forces unit, addressing the members in an alley adjacent to the temple, flanked by special forces personnel. In the footage the soldiers are wearing full combat gear and carrying weapons. Witnesses said at least four drones were flying overhead.

Minutes after the arrival of the Republican Guard commanders, shooting began. “I don’t know what the colonel from the Republican Guard saw to give the order to shoot at us,” a group member said. Several witnesses reported that Mikombe lifted his handgun in the air and ordered Republican Guard soldiers to open fire. One man said Mikombe shouted, “Bofungola nzela!” (“Open the path!” in Lingala). Human Rights Watch research, including interviews with national army officials, indicated that the movement members were unarmed.

The soldiers fired with military assault rifles on the demonstrators and bystanders, killing and wounding dozens while others ran for cover. Many took refuge in neighboring houses or inside the temple around the corner. The gunfire was continuous for several minutes. Human Rights Watch verified a video filmed at the scene showing clouds of dust filling the alley as automatic gunfire is heard. Walls of surrounding houses and the temple were struck, killing and wounding people who were taking cover inside both. Human Rights Watch examined bullet holes in the walls of many houses at the scene.

A woman who took cover in her house with her younger brother said a woman and a boy were killed inside her compound, where they had sought safety. “I didn’t know them, and they didn’t seem to know each other either,” she said. “They had come to hide when the shooting began.”

Some people taking cover in houses filmed the immediate aftermath of the shooting on their cell phones. Several videos show numerous bodies on the streets. A man who witnessed the killings from a house near the temple said the soldiers walked among the bodies to check if anyone was still alive. “They would shoot at the wounded to kill them once and for all,” he said.

Immediately after the shooting stopped, soldiers loaded bodies onto at least one military truck. Video footage verified by Human Rights Watch shows soldiers dragging bodies along the street, pulling them by the legs or arms in a degrading manner. Additional footage shows them throwing bodies onto the trucks, piled onto one another. Several wounded people were also forced onto the same truck.

The soldiers rounded up dozens of people, including children, in the temple courtyard. Many were later arrested. Footage verified by Human Rights Watch shows members of the Republican Guards walking away with looted goods, furniture, and livestock on a street near the temple. Between 9:30 and 10 a.m., Republican Guards and other soldiers set the temple on fire. Human Rights Watch verified a video that shows the temple on fire.

In September and October, a military court tried Mikombe and five other soldiers. Three were sentenced to ten years in prison, while two others, including Mikombe’s deputy, were acquitted. On October 2, Mikombe was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death.

The case against Mikombe did not address the role played by higher-ranking officers who might have ordered or otherwise be criminally liable for the crimes committed. The authorities did not establish an exhaustive count of the dead. They did not investigate allegations that soldiers executed wounded people or burned the temple. In its final report, the UN panel of experts raised doubts about the investigation.

Further investigations should be conducted to establish whether officers senior to Mikombe were liable for these crimes, Human Rights Watch said.

Because the North Kivu province is under military rule, a military court tried Bisimwa and 63 other movement members for killing the police officer. All were sentenced to 10 or more years in prison or to death. The UN panel of experts said no evidence was presented at the trial to link the defendants with direct participation in killing the officer. Bisimwa had been in military custody for several hours prior to the killing.

The government commuted all death sentences to life in prison.

Victims or their families should receive prompt and adequate compensation for their loss, Human Rights Watch said. A movement member whose wife was killed said: “I would like us to be compensated for the damage that has been done to us. Looking after seven children without their mother is something that is very difficult for me. We need assistance.”

In addition to expanding their investigation of those responsible for the government killings and providing compensation to victims, the Congolese authorities should address its crowd control measures. The military generally should not be used for law enforcement, a function for which the police are better trained. Any security forces used for crowd control should receive proper training, equipment, and oversight. The Congolese government should seek international support to ensure that its security forces abide by regional and international standards on the use of force.

“The victims of the Goma massacre still await accountability,” Mudge said. “All those responsible, regardless of rank or standing, should be prosecuted, and those harmed promptly and fairly compensated.”

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As General Manager of GHOne TV, Nana has emerged as a leading advocate for gender equality, health reform, and youth empowerment, transforming from a celebrated media personality into a dynamic agent of change and an influential voice in Ghana.

Ms. Anamoah’s journey into journalism began with a childhood fascination with television, fueled by her father’s love for news and shows like Larry King Live.

“My father introduced me to Larry King Live at a very young age,” she recalled. “By the time I was nine, I knew I wanted to be on TV – not just to be seen, but to make a difference.”

This desire to make a difference has driven Nana to tackle some of Ghana’s most pressing social issues. Among her most impactful efforts is her advocacy for kidney disease patients, many of whom struggle to afford life-saving dialysis treatments.

“I received a letter from a group of patients who couldn’t afford the treatment, and I knew I had to do something,” said Nana. She mobilized resources and raised awareness, not just to fund treatments but also to highlight the systemic discrimination these patients face in the workplace.

“It’s not just about raising money – it’s about changing the policies that allow this kind of injustice to continue.”

Her commitment to health advocacy extends to her fight against the misuse of drugs that have wreaked havoc in Ghanaian communities. Through her reporting, Nana and her team exposed the widespread abuse, particularly among young people. This led to the establishment of Ghana’s first national addiction center.

“Seeing the extent of the problem was shocking,” she said. “But it was even more rewarding to see real action being taken to address it.”

Nana also played a key role in the successful separation of conjoined twins in Ghana, using her platform to raise awareness and mobilize resources for the life-saving surgery.

Gender equality is another area where Ms. Anamoah has made significant strides. At GHOne TV, she has prioritized the promotion of women into leadership positions, ensuring that they are well-represented in the newsroom and beyond.

“When I became General Manager, one of my main goals was to ensure that women had more opportunities to lead,” said Nana. “These women have proven that they are not just capable – they excel.”

Her commitment to inclusion also extends to individuals with disabilities. Ms. Anamoah has been instrumental in bringing persons with disabilities into the newsroom, believing that their voices are crucial for balanced reporting.

“We often tell the stories of people with disabilities without truly understanding their experiences,” she noted. “By having them in the newsroom, we ensure their stories are told with authenticity and empathy.”

Nana’s passion for empowering women led her to create the “Women of Valor” platform, which brings together women from across Africa annually to share their experiences and find solutions to the challenges they face.

Nana’s passion for empowering women inspired her to create the ‘Women of Valor’ platform, which brings together women from across Africa each year to share their experiences and find solutions to the challenges they face.

“One of the most powerful moments was when a young woman shared her story of surviving sexual abuse by her father,” said Nana. “Her courage inspired others to come forward, and it reminded me of the strength and resilience of women everywhere.”

With millions of followers across various social media platforms, Nana Aba Anamoah has leveraged her influence to inspire change and amplify the voices of the marginalized. Her tireless work in advocating for health, combating drug abuse, and promoting women’s leadership continues to drive progress in Ghana.

“I’ve always wanted to do something that matters, something that will outlive me,” she noted. “I believe that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

Nana expressed hope that world leaders meeting in New York this September for the Summit of the Future will prioritize the issue of gender inequality in their discussions.

“If we truly want a better future, we have to start by making sure everyone has a seat at the table – especially women.”

Ms. Anamoah was speaking during an interview for the Sustainable Africa Series, a production by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, focusing on how African celebrities and personalities utilize their platforms to uplift humanity and advance the Sustainable Development Goals.

The authorities have employed incommunicado detention, abusive pretrial detention, and unsubstantiated terrorism-related charges against the critics. The family of one detainee alleged that he was tortured. Harsh repression has stymied freedom of expression and independent media in recent years, despite the government’s claims that it is pursuing reforms.

“Egypt cannot turn a new page without respecting freedom of expression, which is part and parcel of promoting other political and economic rights,” said Bassam Khawaja, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Egypt should urgently cease targeting critics and immediately release those unjustly detained.”

Authorities detained Ashraf Omar, a political satire artist, on July 22, 2024. Al-Manassa, an independent news site where Omar publishes cartoons, and his family said that security forces belonging to the Interior Ministry’s National Security Agency (NSA) arrested him during a late-night home raid. Omar’s wife, Nada Moogheeth, said in public statements that CCTV video showed a group of people in civilian clothes and others in police uniforms arriving in two minibuses, raiding the house, and leaving with Omar blindfolded 40 minutes later. They then took him to an undisclosed location where he was held for more than 48 hours. Omar’s wife later declared that NSA officers had tortured him, including by threatening to subject him to electric shocks.

On July 24, security officials brought Omar to the Supreme State Security Prosecutors Office in Cairo, a branch of Egypt’s public prosecution known for its abuses and responsible for keeping thousands of peaceful activists and journalists in pretrial detention for months or years without evidence of wrongdoing. Omar’s lawyer and prominent human rights defender Khaled Ali said that prosecutors ordered Omar detained on charges of “joining a terrorist group,” “misusing social media,” and “spreading false news,” charges that the prosecution frequently uses to lock up actual or perceived critics.

On July 16, security forces raided the home of journalist Khaled Mamdouh in Cairo and arrested him late at night. The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, an independent organization, said members of the security forces searched Mamdouh’s apartment and seized his electronic devices without revealing their identity or presenting a judicial warrant.

Mamdouh’s lawyer, Fatma Serag, said authorities kept Mamdouh in secret detention for five days and then presented him to the prosecutors on July 20, recording the official date of his arrest on that same day. She said in an August 8 news conference that the home raid was “terrifying” and that security forces surrounded Mamdouh’s apartment for six hours and briefly detained his son.

The prosecution has kept Mamdouh in pretrial detention since July 20. His lawyer said prosecutors have not presented any evidence of criminal wrongdoing but charged Mamdouh with belonging to an unnamed “terrorist group” and “spreading false news.”

Serag said Mamdouh is being held in Abu Za’abal prison, where prosecutorial hearings for pretrial detention renewal are conducted through a video conference system. Human Rights Watch documented that this abusive method of renewing pretrial detention – without bringing the detainee before a judge – severely undermines due process. It prevents a judge from assessing the legality and conditions of detention as well as the detainees’ wellbeing, and violates several fair trial guarantees, including the right to legal counsel.

Human Rights Watch spoke to a third journalist, who previously worked with Mamdouh for the Arabic Post, who said he fled the country in the last week of July for fear of arrest after Omar and Mamdouh were detained. He said security forces were looking for him and raided his home after he fled. The journalist had already been arbitrarily detained in 2018 for over two years in a case stemming from his legitimate work as a journalist.

In early July, the prosecution referred Abdelrahman Mahmoud Abdou, a researcher and journalist also known as Abdelrahman Ayyash, to trial. The indictment states that Ayyash was charged, alongside four others, with “leadership of a terrorist group,” while 41 others were charged with joining or financing the unnamed group.

Ayyash, who is living in exile, said human rights lawyers obtained the case file and notified him, but that he has not received formal notice of the charges. The indictment describes Ayyash as a “supervisor” at the Arabic Post even though he said he quit his job there in 2018. Ayyash was employed as a senior research assistant at Human Rights Watch between August 2018 and September 2021. After leaving Human Rights Watch, Ayyash joined the Washington, D.C.-based Freedom Initiative, and he currently serves as an independent consultant for the Middle East Democracy Center. Ayyash has also contributed to publications at several organizations, including the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Century International, and the Arab Reform Initiative.

Security forces previously raided Ayyash’s family home in July 2022 and detained his father, after questioning him about Ayyash’s human rights and political activism. His father was referred to trial on unsubstantiated charges of possessing printed materials and information undermining the constitution, and was detained for several months. A court acquitted him in November 2022.

On July 16, the Interior Ministry stated it had detained a man it claimed was responsible for displaying criticism of President al-Sisi on a billboard screen in Giza, which went viral on social media. Such criticism is protected peaceful free expression that should not be penalized, the organizations said.

Under the government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, freedom of expression, including media freedom, has faced relentless attacks for years. Egypt regularly ranks among the countries with the most journalists in detention, with the International Committee to Protect Journalists finding it accounted for more than 13 percent of the world’s detained journalists as of 2023. Mainstream media are severely curtailed in Egypt, and the few remaining media websites face government restrictions and harassment. Egyptian authorities have previously abused terrorism laws to prosecute journalists, activists, and critics.

Egypt is a state party to international instruments guaranteeing the right to freedom of expression, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (article 19) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (article 9).

“Attacks on freedom of expression in Egypt must end,” said Said Benarbia, Middle East and North Africa director at the International Commission of Jurists. “Instead of muzzling independent, critical, and dissenting voices through arbitrary detentions and prosecutions, the Egyptian authorities must ensure that all individuals are able to participate in public debate and openly express their opinions and criticism of State institutions and officials without intimidation or reprisal.”

Signatories:

1. Human Rights Watch
2. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
3. DAWN
4. EuroMed Rights
5. International Commission of Jurists
6. FairSquare
7. IFEX
8. Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC)