UN in GENEVA

China, Benin ink deal on partial debt cancellation

China and Benin signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on partial debt cancellation Saturday during the visit of the Chinese top diplomat Qin Gang to the African country. Qin said his visit was to “identify more fields of action”, Africa News reports. “China intends to work together with Benin to implement the projects agreed by […]

Mali halts new artisanal mining permits for foreigners following deadly accidents

Mali, Africa’s second-largest gold producer, has suspended the issuance of new artisanal mining permits to foreign nationals after a series of fatal accidents in the country’s artisanal mining sector. The move follows a devastating mine collapse on 15 February in the western Kayes region, which claimed the lives of at least 43 people, mostly women. […]

Sahara: Belgium describes Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as good basis for resolving the issue

Belgium has joined the chorus of European countries that clearly support the Morocco-proposed autonomy plan, saying it considers the plan, presented in 2007, as “a good basis for a solution accepted by the parties” regarding the Sahara issue. This stance was expressed in a joint statement issued in Rabat Thursday after talks between the Belgian […]