This week, UN Security Council renews Haiti mission. Youth dialogue initiative aims to enhance peace in Nigeria. Over 1,000 Israelis gather to call for ceasefire and hostage deal.
UN Security Council renews Haiti mission
On Monday, the UN Security Council renewed the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti for another year, emphasizing the urgent need for increased action against rampant gang violence. Initially authorized last October, the mission, led by Kenya, currently deploys around 410 police officers, with plans to expand to approximately 2,500 personnel. The Council’s unanimous resolution called for expedited deployment and additional voluntary contributions from member nations to support the mission.
Haiti’s transitional President Edgard Leblanc Fils recently described the nation’s security situation as “unprecedented,” noting the pervasive fear among citizens, particularly in Port-au-Prince, where gang violence has worsened. Over half of Haiti’s population faces acute hunger due to the ongoing crisis. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield reaffirmed international support, calling for a collaborative approach to restoring stability and paving the way for future prosperity.
Haitian Ambassador Antonio Rodrigue welcomed the mission’s extension but insisted on transforming it into a full UN peacekeeping operation to effectively address security challenges. Meanwhile, Kenya’s Ambassador highlighted the need for quick reinforcement and substantial resources to achieve the mission’s objectives and support Haiti’s recovery efforts.
This development comes after Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary last week urged the UN to extend its mission to Haiti.
Youth dialogue initiative aims to enhance peace in Nigeria
Mercy Corps hosted a two-day youth dialogue in Nigeria’s Katsina State on Wednesday to foster awareness and promote Youth Peace and Security (YPS), Voice of Nigeria reported. This initiative, in collaboration with the state government, Centre for Democracy Development, International Organisation for Migration, and funded by the European Union, aimed to address pressing security issues affecting the region.
During the dialogue, Alhaji Lawal Aliyu, the state’s Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, discussed the importance of involving youth in discussions about security, noting that security challenges cannot be resolved solely through force. He urged participants, who were mostly from frontline areas, to contribute solutions to the ongoing security crisis.
Philip Ikita, Mercy Corps’ Senior Programme Manager, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the crucial role of youth in promoting peace. He acknowledged that many conflicts, including banditry, are perpetuated by young people and asserted that they must play an active role in conflict resolution.
Over 1,000 Israelis gather to call for ceasefire and hostage deal
Over 1,000 Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv to demand a ceasefire and hostage deal. The ralliers demanded that the government work towards a deal that would bring Israeli hostages home from Gaza.
The number of rallies surpassed Israel’s maximum limit of 1,000 people in public gatherings, which the country has enforced since Israel killed Lebanese Hezbollah leader Narallah in an airstrike last week. Since Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, the region has been experiencing conflict. Israel has recently been focusing its efforts on weakening the Iran-basked militant group Hezbollah, including with its pager explosions last month. In the past few weeks, over 1,200 have been killed across Lebanon, as well as eight Israeli soldiers.
Meanwhile, the one-year anniversary of October 7 is approaching. Despite the death and destruction, Israelis critical of their government are calling for their government to focus more on freeing the hostages than on fighting with Hezbollah.
