Foreign News
Inclusion Fundamental to Sustainable Peace, Rebuilding Societies in Wake of War – Guterres
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday said inclusion was fundamental to ensuring sustainable peace and rebuilding societies in the wake of war.
Guterres said this when he addressed an open debate on diversity, statebuilding, and the search for peace, organised by Kenya.
Kenya holds the rotating Security Council presidency in the month of October.
Guterres told world leaders, ambassadors, and prominent global citizens meeting in the Security Council in New York that “for countries emerging from the horrors of conflict and looking to a better future – indeed for all countries – diversity must not be seen as a threat.
’’“It is a source of strength,” the secretary-general added.
While stressing that “peace is not found in a piece of paper”, but in people, the UN chief spoke of how inequalities and weak governance could create the space for intolerance and extremism capable of sparking violent conflicts.
According to him, inclusion on the other hand has the opposite effect.
By opening the door to inclusion and participation, “we take a giant step forward in conflict-prevention and peacebuilding,” he said.
“As countries look to build sustainable peace, they need to include and involve all segments of the population in the process of rebuilding communities and sustaining peace,” he added.
The meeting, chaired by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, was held because most situations on the Security Council’s agenda arise from internal conflicts in which identity issues—whether ethnic, racial, religious or socioeconomic–play a part.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, former South African President Thabo Mbeki, and the first woman Deputy Speaker of Afghanistan’s Parliament, Fawzia Koofi, were among those briefing.
The secretary-general emphasised three areas for action, beginning with ensuring national institutions and laws work for all people, through protecting and promoting human rights.
“It means implementing policies and laws that protect vulnerable groups, including laws against discrimination based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity,” he said.
Countries emerging from instability cannot afford to ignore the views of entire segments of their populations, which could fuel future resentments, the UN chief warned. Instead, they should explore ways to give greater voice to subnational regions.
“Governments must find ways to move people forward together, as one, through constant dialogue – recognising and respecting differences – even if this means devolving some areas of authority,” Guterres said.
UN operations on the ground, he said, work to keep dialogue open and flowing between state institutions and local populations “so that everyone can have a hand in shaping their country’s future.”
For his third point, the secretary-general stressed the importance of including women and young people because “building and sustaining peace requires their voices and actions.”
This is something which UN peacekeeping operations and special political missions strongly emphasise, he said.
For example, the UN mission in Somalia, UNSOM, has trained budding politicians from different political parties in the country. It also supported the authorities and women leaders in implementing a 30 per cent gender quota in national elections.
“As a global community, we must continue encouraging and supporting the full and active participation of women and young people in this journey,” the secretary-general said.
In his address, President Kagame of Rwanda underscored how peacebuilding is an ongoing process. While it will be impossible to prevent all conflicts, their intensity and impact can be minimised by remaining attentive to local needs and expectations.
“This means investing in the capacity of institutions and individuals so they can deliver the results that citizens expect and deserve,” he said, speaking via videoconference.
Peacebuilding is also not purely technical but deeply political and human, he further stated, and consideration must be given to the emotions and memories that various parties bring to the negotiating table.
“Multilateral organisations such as the United Nations and the African Union have a central role in many situations. Civil society groups, particularly those led by women also have a key role, as do business leaders.”
President Kenyatta of Kenya offered several recommendations for the international community, which included reviewing whether global institutions currently are “fit for purpose” in building a more inclusive world.
He also called for governments, the UN and social media companies to collaborate on combating hate speech and incitement.
“This can include an agreed global code of conduct by companies, and the development of early warning tools to detect escalation trends and to facilitate pre-emptive measures,” he said. (NAN)
Transport operators in Kenya have suspended their nationwide strike following talks with the government over rising fuel prices.
The operators said the suspension will remain in place until next Tuesday to allow for further negotiations with the government.
The move comes after the nationwide strike, which brought the capital Nairobi and other cities to a standstill, entered a second day on Tuesday.
At least four people were killed and 30 injured in Monday’s protests, with more than 700 arrested nationwide, according to the authorities.
On Tuesday, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said the deal to end the strike came after consultations with public transport representatives, and negotiations “at a higher level” would be conducted within the next week.
“We have had a breakthrough not because we are satisfied, but because we want to give negotiations a chance,” said Edwin Mukabane, the national chairman of the Federation of Public Transport Sector.
“If this is not taken seriously within the seven days, the strike will be back on,” he added
Major roads in Nairobi were still largely empty on Tuesday morning with businesses shut and schools closed.
Like the previous day, many Kenyans were forced to walk to their destinations, although a small number of public transport vehicles reportedly resumed services on some routes.
Police were patrolling parts of the city to maintain security amid reports of protesters blocking some routes.
Police urged demonstrators to remain peaceful, and not to loot and destroy properties.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said investigations into Monday’s demonstrations were ongoing, with many of the suspects already arraigned in court.
Kenyan rights group Vocal Africa denounced “the use of lethal force by law enforcement”.
The state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) called for immediate investigations into the violence and destruction of property, and urged the police to exercise restraint.
In the coastal city of Mombasa, a sense of normality was reported to have returned, with public transport services resuming.
On Monday, groups representing the transport sector held a meeting with the government.
Energy Minister Opiyo Wandayi announced they had agreed to reduce the price of diesel, which had risen to a high of 242 shillings ($1.8; £1.4).
The energy regulator subsequently reduced its cost by 10 shillings while retaining the cost of petrol at 214 shillings.
The reduction, however, fell short of protesters’ demands and the transport sector representatives insisted the strike would continue.
At the end of a subsequent meeting on Tuesday morning, Wandayi said the government would continue to be “sensitive to the plight of petrol consumers” and thanked the transport operators for agreeing to suspend the strike.
The operators are calling for a fuel price cut of up to 46 shillings, to levels last seen before the US-Israel war with Iran that began on 28 February.
Like many other African nations, Kenya relies on fuel from the Gulf, which has been disrupted by the conflict.
Although a ceasefire has been declared, prices remain high as the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the global oil supply passes through, remains blocked.
Last month, the government cut VAT on fuel from 16% to 8% until July but there have been calls for it to do more.
Thousands of Kenyan commuters have been stranded and businesses paralyzed as public transport operators went on a nationwide strike to protest against recent increases in the cost fuel.
Key roads in the capital Nairobi remained largely empty, forcing some commuters to walk to work, with other parts of the country also affected by the transport crisis.
Businesses in parts of Nairobi remained shut and schools asked students to stay at home.Protesters have been barricading roads and lighting fires on the roads as the protests continue.
The strike comes days after the authorities raised petroleum prices to record levels, with costs increasing by more than 20%.
Kenya, like many other African countries, relies heavily on fuel imports from the Gulf, a supply route disrupted by the US-Israel conflict with Iran that began on 28 February. Even though a ceasefire has been declared, fuel prices have remained high as the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil passes through, is still blocked.
In parts of Nairobi and elsewhere across the country, police clashed with protesters, using tear gas to disperse them. This came amid reports of demonstrators stopping and harassing some motorists.
Ahead of the strike, the police assured Kenyans that security measures would be in place and warned against any disruptive conduct.
The association representing transport operators had earlier urged all vehicle users, including private motorists, public transport buses (locally known as matatus) and truckers, to stay off the roads as part of a coordinated shutdown.
“This action is not only for transport operators, but for every Kenyan citizen,” the Transport Sector Alliance (TSA) said in a statement.
The alliance has accused the government of not doing enough to shield Kenyans from the rising fuel prices, amid a broader high cost-of-living crisis.
It has called for the reversal of the price increases announced last week, and for fuel prices to be reduced by about 35%.
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) on Thursday raised prices to a high of 242 shillings ($1.8; £1.4) a litre for diesel and petrol to $1.65.
Treasury Minister John Mbadi told local NTV station on Monday that the increase in fuel prices was “unfortunate” and acknowledged that it was hurting the economy.
He however said the strike was “completely uncalled for” and the government would only make decisions that are “informed and not emotional”.
“Why are we trying to solve a global problem using domestic means?” he asked.
The high cost of fuel is being blamed for increases in the price of food and other basic goods and services, with public service vehicles already raising commuter fares.
Last month, the government cut VAT on fuel from 16% to 8% until July but there have been calls for it to do more.
Ghana says it will evacuate 300 citizens from South Africa following a recent wave of protests against foreign nationals.
Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said in a post on X on Tuesday that the Ghanaian president had granted approval for their “immediate evacuation”.
He said the “distressed” Ghanaians had registered at the country’s embassy in Pretoria to be rescued in response to an advisory by the foreign ministry “Following the latest wave of xenophobic attacks”.
Last week, South African authorities denied that anyone had been attacked, saying the widely circulated videos were fake.
On Monday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the recent “protests and criminal acts directed at foreign nationals” did not reflect government policy, describing them as “isolated acts of criminality”.
He added that South Africa would “regulate migration, secure our borders and enforce our laws”.
Thousands of South Africans joined protests against illegal immigration, demanding the mass deportation of undocumented foreign nationals. Protesters say illegal immigration has had an impact on jobs, housing and crime.
On Tuesday, the Ghanaian embassy in South Africa advised nationals to be highly cautious and prioritise their safety by avoiding public gatherings and shut their shops or businesses in the port city of Durban ahead of a protest planned on Wednesday.
Ghana and Nigeria have recently summoned the South African envoys to their respective countries over the mistreatment and harassment of their citizens.
Ghana has also written to the African Union (AU) asking it to discuss the issue, saying it posed a “serious risk to the safety and wellbeing” of Africans in South Africa.
South Africa responded by saying it had “nothing to hide”. The government has condemned the circulation of what it called “fake videos and images” described by some as recordings of attacks on foreign nationals.
Other countries that have warned their citizens in South Africa include Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
According to official figures, South Africa is home to more than three million foreigners, or about 5% of the population, but there are believed to be many more without papers.
Xenophobia has long been an issue in the country and has been accompanied by occasional outbursts of deadly attacks.
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