UN News Today 20 February 2025 |

UN chief outlines peacekeeping proposal for Haiti to end gang terror

To counter the deadly gang violence that continues to terrorize the people of Haiti, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has announced a plan to establish a peacekeeping force there that will “create conditions for democracy to thrive”.

Mr. Guterres unveiled the initiative at a meeting of Caribbean country leaders in Barbados late Wednesday.

“We must keep working for a political process – owned and led by Haitians – to restore democratic institutions through elections”, he insisted.

The island nation is the poorest country in Latin America and the Caribbean; its people continue to face a deep humanitarian and development crisis after recurring natural disasters and years of political and economic turmoil.

The UN chief called for unity for peace and security among Caribbean nations, “particularly to address the appalling situation in Haiti – where gangs are inflicting intolerable suffering on a desperate and frightened people”.

A Security Council-backed multinational force is already in Haiti assisting the national police. The Secretary-General’s plan will increase international support further, giving the UN responsibility for setting up a new peacekeeping mission.

DR Congo violence has pushed 35,000 to Burundi, says UN refugee agency

To the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where UN humanitarians report that thousands more people have now fled the violence to neighbouring countries.

UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, reported on Thursday that 35,000 Congolese nationals have reached Burundi since the beginning of February, as Rwanda-backed M23 fighters continue to advance across South and North Kivu provinces in the DRC.

UNHCR spokesperson Olga Sarrado told UN News that the arrivals are entering Burundi via its northwestern border.

“The vast majority are women and children, they are arriving exhausted, tired. Many of them tell our teams on the ground that they have lost family members, sometimes children, while they were fleeing.”

Inside DR Congo, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that it has partially resumed food assistance to parts of Goma, which fell to M23 rebels three weeks ago.

But as fighting between M23 and national troops continues to worsen, WFP expressed alarm at “soaring hunger” caused by people fleeing displacement camps.

South Sudan: UN force urges respect for peace deal

To South Sudan, where UNMISS, the UN peacekeeping mission there, has condemned violent clashes in Upper Nile and Western Equatoria states that have caused death, property destruction and displacement.

UNMISS reported that heavy weapons including mortar fire were deployed in exchanges between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and armed youths in Nassir, Upper Nile. An unknown number of civilians were killed and a UN peacekeeper was injured.

Head of UNMISS Nicholas Haysom called for restraint and said that the incidents demonstrated the need for the “full and rapid deployment” of unified South Sudanese forces in line with the terms of a revitalized peace agreement.

In a related development, the Commission on Human Rights for South Sudan highlighted ongoing grave abuses against civilians in Wau, in the country’s north.

Here’s Chair of the Commission, Yasmin Sooka:

“The Commission’s visit to Wau highlighted the ongoing violence, including deadly clashes, mass displacement, killings, abductions, sexual violence and child recruitment… The National Security services continues arbitrary arrest, detentions and torture despite reform promises.”

Ms. Sooka, an independent rights expert appointed by the Human Rights Council, also warned that South Sudan’s economic crisis continues to deepen owing to mismanagement and corruption.

She maintained that the diversion of resources “cripples essential services like justice, education and healthcare” and that without urgent accountability, justice and governance, the country risks further ongoing violence.

Daniel Johnson, UN News

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