Real Audio      Requires Real Player

MP3

29th December 2005 - Programme Number 80

HIGHLIGHTS / REVIEW OF THE YEAR

Today's edition highlights some of the important developments on the African continent this year. Africa continued to grapple with issues of economic development, refugees, diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS, conflict and political turmoil, to count just a few. Although familiar problems persisted on the continent, there was also cause for optimism.

The year 2005 started with a reminder that Africa might not be able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Many countries including some of the poorest and least developed are making real progress in achieving them but many others, particularly in Africa are not moving fast enough. - KOFI ANNAN

On the humanitarian front, the continent continued to face crises caused mainly by conflicts. There is too little attention and too little investment. It is too uneven our global attention and we're trying to desperately get attention to the forgotten and neglected crises.- JAN EGELAND

The crisis continued in Darfur, positive and negative developments happened in the southern part of the country. After twenty one years of conflict, the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army, led by John Garang, finally reached an agreement to end the war. We, the Sudanese, have ourselves voluntarily negotiated a unique comprehensive peace agreement, which for the lack of better terminology prescribes a one country, two systems model. - Dr. John Garang

On the political front, Africa continued to face new crises. One was in Togo.

The good news from Liberia this year was the election of Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first African woman to be elected to that office on the continent. We want to make sure that the fragile peace which we have is supported by continuation as much as possible at an appropriate level of the peacekeeping force. - Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

UN Mission in Sierra Leone is coming to an end this year. On 22 October 1999, the Security Council established UNAMSIL to cooperate with the Government and the other parties in implementing the Lome Peace Agreement and to assist in the implementation of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration plan.

Security Council this year sent a mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo the year is coming to an end with United Nations peacekeepers supporting government troops in their efforts to clear armed militias and extend government control to the eastern part of the country.

One important issue that will continue to be a major concern to the African continent in the coming year is the HIV/AIDS pandemic which is threatening economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Transcript

Inquiries / Comments