Guinea-Bissau, a small country in West Africa, is plagued by chronic political instability. The lack of strong economic development and the bitter struggle for state control contribute to this situation. In addition, the experience of the war of liberation and the role of the military in society fueled political conflicts. Drug trafficking, as a hub between Latin America and Europe, reinforces political rivalries. It is essential to find lasting solutions to get the country out of this instability and guarantee a stable and prosperous future.

This article extract highlights the exclusion of Niger from the list of speakers at this year’s United Nations General Assembly. The ruling military government in Niger accused the UN of collusion with France and some ECOWAS countries, following the prevention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs from participating in the event. However, the UN says it is acting in accordance with its rules and has only recognized Bazoum’s legitimate government. This situation raises questions about the role of the UN in the event of a coup and the representation of putschist governments in the General Assembly.

During the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the First Lady of the DRC, Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, met with the United Nations Under-Secretary for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, Pramila Patten. This meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the challenges and actions undertaken in the fight against sexual violence in the DRC. Pramila Patten is committed to supporting FONAREV in its repair actions and to sharing good practices with other experts. The Director General of FONAREV presented the actions already undertaken, including the commemoration of Genocost and roaming in five provinces of the DRC. This meeting marks an important step in the fight against sexual violence in the DRC and opens the way to closer international collaboration. The presence of the First Lady and the discussions with the United Nations demonstrate the Congolese government’s commitment to fighting sexual violence. This strengthened collaboration will make it possible to put in place reparation and support measures for victims, contributing to the pacification of the country and the protection of human rights.

This week, African news has been full of significant events. The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, has called for an accelerated withdrawal of peacekeepers from his country. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, has announced his candidacy for a fourth term in next year’s presidential election. In Libya, flooding from Storm Daniel hit the town of Derna, but communications were restored. In Ethiopia, violence is on the rise and NGOs are calling for the renewal of the mandate of UN investigators. In Libya, Saddam Haftar, son of Khalifa Haftar, is gaining power, worrying many Libyans. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the violent repression of a demonstration in Goma caused the death of nearly 60 civilians. In Sudan, obtaining a passport has become difficult for those seeking to flee war or seek medical treatment. Finally, Benin was named world champion of school canteens thanks to its program encouraging children to stay in school. These events highlight the challenges facing African countries and the efforts being made to address them.

The recent rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia towards “historic peace” is a key event in the Middle East region. This development comes in addition to recent normalizations of relations between Israel and other Arab countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is optimistic about the progress and believes it would encourage other countries to follow suit. However, he emphasizes that the Palestinians should not have the power to veto these peace treaties. Netanyahu also reaffirms Israel’s desire to counter Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Despite this, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas insists on the need to take Palestinian rights into account in the search for lasting peace. Ultimately, it is essential to find a comprehensive solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while strengthening regional stability.

Argentina claim a crucial victory against Samoa at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Despite a difficult start, the Pumas rallied to win 19-10. This victory gives the team confidence before the next match against Chile. Difficult weather conditions did not prevent Argentina from dominating thanks to solid play and well-thought-out tactical choices. Samoa were handicapped by their open play and made errors which allowed the Pumas to control the match. This victory puts Argentina back into the competition and suggests a possible qualification for the final stages. The Pumas will nevertheless have to improve their level of play to hope to reach the semi-finals.