CONTINENTAL DRIFT

Enough, Ethiopia

The UN has condemned the conflicts plaguing the northern parts of Ethiopia. UN high commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet called the situation “reckless” and emphasised that civilians’ lives be prioritised. “The risks are grave that, far from stabilising the situation, these extremely broad measures — which include sweeping powers of arrest and detention — will deepen divisions, endanger civil society and human rights defenders, provoke greater conflict and only add to the human suffering already at unacceptable levels,” she said.

Post-pandemic HIV fears

In a few years Central and West Africa could experience surges in HIV infections and Aids-related deaths, according to Unaids chief Winnie Byanyima. “We are quite worried when all the data comes in for [2021],” Byanyima said this week. “We are seeing across countries, a decrease in people receiving prevention, a decrease in people testing, and increasing numbers of people falling out of treatments. These are not good signs, but we don’t yet know what the impact will be on new infections and deaths.”

Not enough green action

Young African climate activists met UN secretary general António Guterres at COP26 this week. “I think the problem is not about the commitments,” noted Kenyan Elizabeth Wathuti. “The problem is that the gap between what needs to be done and what is being done right now keeps widening every day. This is not a time to say, ‘We will do this’, it is a time to begin making short-term targets, to begin doing things right now because the climate crisis is already impacting so many people.”