Department of Political Affairs

Governments bear the primary responsibility to ensure that natural resources do not fuel conflict by ensuring that land and mineral wealth are managed wisely, transparently and yield benefits for the people, senior United Nations officials stressed today in the Security Council.

With spiralling violence in Syria stoking tension in the Middle East, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said "we must not lose sight of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," whose resolution was no less urgent.

The United Nations envoy for Mali welcomed the signing today of an agreement between the Malian Government and Tuareg rebels that paves the way for inclusive peace talks as well as presidential elections next month.

Managing Libya's democratic transition is bound to be difficult given the legacy of decades of brutal rule, a senior United Nations envoy told the Security Council today, adding that the country could benefit from a national political dialogue on the way forward.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today congratulated Hasan Rowhani on his election as the next President of Iran, and commended the country's high turnout to the polls.

Strong support from the international community is needed to ensure ‘positive momentum' is sustained between Serbia and Kosovo, a United Nations envoy told the Security Council today.

The new United Nations envoy for Somalia arrived today in Somaliland, which he said has remained "an island of relative peace and stability" and could provide lessons for peace consolidation throughout the wider region.

The top United Nations political official today urged participants at an international counter-terrorism conference to work with the Organization to enhance regional coordination and coherence to overcome the threat of terrorism and extremism.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye as his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office for the Central African Republic (BINUCA) based in Bangui.

The spokesperson for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today that the UN chief is "encouraged" by the progress made in the multi-party political dialogue underway in the Guinean capital, Conakry.

With the second round of the Yemen's national dialogue under way, the political transition in the country is largely on course, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, urging continued cooperation and coordination among political parties, the Government and the donor community.

After meeting with the head of the Frente Polisario, one of the parties in the dispute over the status of Western Sahara, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today reiterated the United Nations' commitment to a mutually acceptable agreement to resolve the long-running conflict.

The top United Nations envoy in Iraq has welcomed today the first visit to Erbil of Iraq's Premier for a landmark meeting with officials from the country's Kurdish region as “a positive step in the right direction.”

While welcoming recent progress in Somalia, the Security Council today recognized that gains in security and other sectors ‘remain fragile' and urged the international community to support the efforts of the Somali Government to tackle outstanding issues vital for the country's long-term stability.

The top United Nations official in Iraq today condemned "in the strongest terms" the killing of at least 14 border guards and civilians in a "heinous, cold-blooded murder" on a main highway connecting the central cities of Ramadi and Kerbala.

The United Nations and the African Union today announced the appointment of Tanzanian Lieutenant General Paul Ignace Mella as Force Commander of their joint peacekeeping force in the Sudanese region of Darfur.

The head of the new United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) today pledged to support the Government and the people of the country in their quest for security and prosperity, as he arrived in the country's capital for the Mission's start of operations.

To open the way for progress, African countries must adopt proactive policies, and their partners must help forge an enabling international environment, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today told a panel in Tokyo on investment and development.

Lasting solutions in Africa must address the links between peace, security and development, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, urging participants at an international conference to work through global dialogue to address the socio-economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability on the continent.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced his deep appreciation for dedication and efforts of Francisco Dall'Anese, who has announced that he will step down as the head of the United Nations-backed commission charged with dismantling illegal armed groups and tackling impunity in Guatemala.