Online Program Enrolling Now - Seton Hall - United Nations Institute for Training and Research
Online Program Enrolling Now - Seton Hall - United Nations Institute for Training and Research

BLUE SMOKE: A monthly column, from PassBlue and UNA–UK, spotlighting senior appointments at the UN

UN Peacekeeping

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With the death of Yevgeny Prgozhin, the leader of the brutal Wagner Group, Russia seems determined to allow the mercenaries to operate in Africa, particularly in Mali and the Central African Republic. Murders, theft of resources and rape characterize the Wagner Group’s …

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The coup in Niger in late July sent shockwaves in West Africa and far beyond. Besides enormous consequences from the crisis in the region, it could also have a “negative impact” on the current withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping mission …

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As the United Nations Security Council plans to vote this week on the future of Minusma, its peacekeeping mission in Mali, the military officers in charge in Bamako will have their eyes on developments in Moscow, Minsk and the front …

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LONDON — One of the most powerful positions in the United Nations is the head of its peacekeeping wing. The post of under secretary-general oversees 100,000 peacekeepers and administers an annual budget of $6.5 billion, nearly double what the UN …

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In a follow-up to our recent analysis on the status of gender parity among United Nations senior-level appointments, which found that almost half of them replaced a woman with a man, we look now at the senior leadership of field …

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Last year was tough for United Nations peacekeeping operations, especially in Africa. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, local people demonstrated angrily against the perceived inability of peacekeepers to protect civilians in the east of the country. In Mali, …

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LAGOS — A little more than 11 years after a jihadist and Tuareg separatist alliance stormed northern Mali and wrested control of the main cities of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal from the Malian state, the two sides are set to …

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This week, we focus on UN reform (no joke!); visits by the UN peacekeeping boss to Lebanon, Syria and Israel; and glimmers of hope for Iraq. You are reading This Week @UN, summarizing the most pressing issues before the organization. …

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This week, we focus on the worsening violence in Haiti and a major firing of a UN official for corruption. You are reading This Week @UN, summarizing the most pressing issues before the organization. The information is gathered from UN …

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The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali is considering three distinct choices for its future operations, according to a new internal review. The analysis has been brought about by the mission’s “overstretched” status stemming from increased political and security challenges, …

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LAGOS — In January 2017, the Malian foreign minister under President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta organized Mali’s largest diplomatic event in years, the Africa-France summit. Thirty-five heads of state convened in the capital, Bamako, requiring close cooperation with the French presidency …

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This week, opinion seemed divided on the decision to expel Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women. You are reading This Week @UN, summarizing the most pressing issues before the organization. The information is gathered from UN …

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It’s a sad one this week as two girls were beheaded in a camp in Syria. You are reading This Week @UN, summarizing the most pressing issues before the organization. The information is gathered from UN press briefings, PassBlue reporting …

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In September, the presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda took their allegations against each other over the resurgence of conflict in the eastern Congo to the United Nations General Assembly. I recall vividly similar claims and …

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Four months ago, Russia was flagged for breaching international aviation law, and the United Nations has yet to replace dozens of grounded Russian-leased aircraft as a result of the violation. The UN’s response to the International Civil Aviation Authority’s warning …

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UNGA78: A quiz from PassBlue
Online Program Enrolling Now - Seton Hall - United Nations Institute for Training and Research

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