European Union

A sign outside the UN Secretariat building last year.

By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS, Mar 18 2026 (IPS)

As the world continues to be weighed down in political and military turmoil, drones are being increasingly used as weapons of war in a rash of ongoing conflicts—including Ukraine vs Russia, Israel vs Palestine, US vs Iran and Israel vs Lebanon, plus in civil wars in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sudan and Haiti.

Described as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), drones have fundamentally transformed modern warfare, “offering a low-cost, high-impact form of air power, challenging traditional military doctrines and giving rise to new tactics and ethical debates”.

Once limited to major military powers like the U.S. and Israel, drones are now being used by numerous state and non-state actors, including militant groups and even organized crime cartels.

The use of drones, particularly in targeted killings and with increasing autonomy, has raised significant international debate regarding accountability, civilian casualties, and compliance with international humanitarian law

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said last week he was “appalled by the devastating impact on civilians of increasing drone attacks”, amid reports that more than 200 civilians have been killed by drones since 4 March alone in the Kordofan region, and in White Nile state.

“It is deeply troubling that despite multiple reminders, warnings and appeals, parties to the conflict in Sudan continue to use increasingly powerful drones to deploy explosive weapons with wide-area impacts in populated areas,” said Türk.

“I renew my call on them to abide fully with international humanitarian law in their use of these weapons, particularly the clear prohibition on directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects and infrastructure, and against any form of indiscriminate attacks.”

Many homes, schools, markets and health facilities were damaged or destroyed in the attacks, compounding the impacts on civilians and local communities, he said.

Meanwhile drones are also being used in the politically-troubled Haiti and also in the conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda despite a peace agreement brokered by the US last year.

According to a report in Cable News Network (CNN) March 17, the war in Iran is continuing to disrupt travel across the Gulf after Iranian drone strikes triggered two major air incidents in recent days. Flights at Dubai International Airport were briefly suspended on Monday after a drone struck a nearby fuel tank, igniting a large fire.

The shutdown forced cancellations and diversions as aviation authorities closed the airport. Part of the UAE’s airspace was also closed for a few hours overnight after the country said it was responding to incoming missiles and drone strikes from Iran.

Meanwhile, the prices of many global airfares that bypass the Middle East are rising, as the conflict drives up oil prices and airlines warn of higher fuel costs ahead, said CNN.

Focusing on a military perspective, Siemon Wezeman, Senior Researcher, Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), told IPS more and more states, (and also non-state armed- rebel – groups) acquire drones of all sizes.

“Some of the numbers are quite amazing – Ukraine getting not a few 1,000, but far over 10,000 drones from various suppliers, and Russia, Ukraine and Iran each use drones by the 100s almost every day in the current conflicts.”

And different from some 10 years ago, when most of the drones where for reconnaissance roles, he pointed out, today many drones are armed and many more are ‘one-way attack drones’ (also called suicide or kamikaze drones). The latter are becoming a cheap alternative for long-range missiles against ground targets.

In the SIPRI arms transfers database (https://armstransfers.sipri.org), he said, “we record transfers of all armed drones, and reconnaissance drones with a weight of at least 150kg (we had to put a weight limit to be able to keep monitoring drone transfers with the resources and sources we have)”.

“And we clearly see in recent years that a) the total numbers of drones transferred between states has grown, b) several non-state actors (e.g. Houthis and Hezbollah) have also been supplied with drones, c) the number of states and non-state actors that have acquired drone has grown – most states in the world have now acquired drones, many of them from foreign suppliers, d) the number of producers and suppliers has grown – the simpler drones are offered by dozens if not 100s of large and very small companies and that number is growing, and e) drones, and especially armed drones.”

That is the picture for flying drones, Wezeman said.

But also, sea drones (surface or submarine) are starting to become popular – even if not yet transferred in any significant number. And land drones are also starting to become popular, he declared.

At a press conference March 10, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher said: “I’m really worried about drones in particular. I think the world has decided that it’s far more interested in spending enormous amounts of money developing these increasingly deadly weapons than it is on saving lives, and it seems to have decided that it hasn’t got time to work on ensuring that the rules that govern these weapons, these lethal autonomous weapons, keep up with the pace of technology.”

So you’ve got this dangerous alliance between very innovative technology and huge amounts of money and people’s desire to kill more people – and that’s a toxic combination, he said.

“And last year, 90 per cent of all deaths caused by drones were civilians, many of them humanitarians. And we’re seeing that across the crises on which we work – whether it’s Gaza, Sudan or in Ukraine, we’re seeing these bad practices move between crises”.

In the DRC last week, a senior official of the UN children’s agency UNICEF and two civilians were killed in drone strikes.

Amplifying further Wezeman said all these drones and one-way attack drones have become more capable, especially in range (the simple Shahed, one-way attack drones used by Iran and sold to Russia have a range of up to 1500 to 2000km), changing them from tactical battlefield weapons to more strategic weapons.

Development is very rapidly continuing for all type of drones, including making them more autonomous and intelligent to be capable of independent targeting and other decision-making. AI plays a growing role in this process. This process leads to questions about control, but right now it seems the process is moving faster than the discussion on controlling the autonomous aspects (see also our programme on emerging technologies.

https://www.sipri.org/research/armament-and-disarmament/emerging-military-and-security-technologies.

Will they replace systems with a human on board or in the loop? The development goes certainly that way and for missiles and one-way attack drones that has already started. For the larger, more capable and more complex systems such as combat aircraft, warships and larger combat vehicles that is still a future – but not a distant dream as development of for example drone combat aircraft is already moving into prototypes in the USA, China, Australia and Europe.

There still is an element of doubt however – drones need navigation that now is largely based on GPS-type systems, something that is not free from the risks of being jammed or stopped.

The simpler drones, with their simple technology, cheap and easy to produce are also not as effective as hoped. Most of them are rather easy prey for air-defence systems (or jamming) – while Russia, Iran and Ukraine send every day dozens or 100s to attack their opponents, most do no reach their target but are shot down or lost due to jamming or other causes, declared Wezeman.

Meanwhile Human Rights Watch said last week its latest research on “how Haitian security forces and private contractors working with them have conducted extensive and apparently unlawful lethal drone strikes in densely populated areas killing and injuring residents who were not members of criminal groups, including children”.

“We call on Haitian authorities to urgently rein in the security forces and private contractors working for them before more children die”, said HRW.

According to data from multiple sources reviewed by Human Rights Watch, at least 1,243 people were killed by drone strikes in 141 operations between March 1, 2025, and January 21, 2026, including at least 43 adults who were reportedly not members of criminal groups, and 17 children. The data also shows that the drone strikes injured 738 people, at least 49 of whom were reportedly not members of criminal groups.

“Dozens of ordinary people, including many children, have been killed and injured in these lethal drone operations,” said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “Haitian authorities should urgently rein in the security forces and private contractors working for them before more children die.”

The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti has attributed the drone attacks in Haiti to a specialized “Task Force” established by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé that is operated with support from the private military company Vectus Global.

The US ambassador to Haiti has confirmed that the US State Department issued a license to Vectus Global to export defense services to Haiti.

Thalif Deen, Senior Editor, Inter Press Service (IPS) news agency, was a former Director, Foreign Military Markets at Defense Marketing Services; Senior Defense Analyst at Forecast International; military editor Middle East/Africa at Jane’s Information Group and UN correspondent for Jane’s Defence Weekly, London.

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Iranian protesters demonstrate in the centre of Manchester. Backed by Israel, Reza Pahlavi, the son of the king overthrown in Iran in 1979, has become the most visible face of the fragmented Iranian opposition. Credit: Karlos Zurutuza/IPS

By Karlos Zurutuza
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom, Mar 17 2026 (IPS)

Iranian and Israeli flags fill the centre of Manchester, in northern England. There are also portraits of a king overthrown almost half a century ago and of his son, now a claimant to the throne from exile. It is yet another march of Iranians calling for Reza Pahlavi as an alternative to the regime of the ayatollahs.

“The regime will not last much longer and Reza Pahlavi is the only one who can steer a transition and keep the country united,” Nazanin, a young woman who prefers not to give her full name or be photographed for fear of reprisals against her family in Iran, tells IPS.

The regime will die killing; then we will face a Libyan-style scenario in which everyone tries to extend as much control as possible over the territory. Civil war will be inevitable - Mehrab Sarjov
In fact, she does not know them either. Born in England, she has never visited the country her parents fled in 1982. It was three years after a revolution hijacked by clerics brought an end to almost four decades of an autocracy backed by the West.

Since then, Iran has been ruled by a Shiite Islamic theocracy that harshly punishes dissent. At the beginning of January, a wave of repression left a death toll that varies widely: about 3,000 according to government sources, but tens of thousands according to internal reports cited by doctors and journalists.

From the centre of Manchester, Nazanin says she has placed all her hopes in the bombing campaign launched by Israel and the United States against Iran on February 28.

So far, the bombs have claimed the lives of more than a thousand Iranians, including the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. The fact that his son is taking over the role reflects the regime’s determination to resist. Military targets and key infrastructure on which a population of more than 90 million people depends have also been struck.

“The clerics have always responded to peaceful protests and legitimate demands with violence. It is sad, but there is probably no other way to end the regime,” the young woman says.

Remains of a bombed residence in Tehran, allegedly belonging to a nuclear scientist. The joint bombing campaign by Washington and Tel Aviv has resulted in over a thousand deaths, the vast majority of them civilians. Credit: Mirza Reza/IPS

Fragmentation

In a report published on February 24 titled “Tsunami of arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances,” Human Rights Watch denounced tens of thousands of arrests following what it described as massacres across the country on January 8 and 9.

Opposition to the clerical regime has in fact been growing for almost a decade. In 2017 and 2019, massive protests erupted over the country’s precarious economic situation, eventually turning into calls for the government’s downfall.

Between 2022 and 2023, the Woman, Life, Freedom movement shook the country for months after the killing of a young Kurdish woman by security forces for not wearing the Islamic veil.

Although portraits of Reza Pahlavi have become a recurring feature of protests both inside and outside Iran, fragmentation remains the word that best describes the Iranian opposition.

Monarchists, republicans, federalists and reformists all share a common enemy, yet they have been unable to coordinate among themselves.

“Yemen is a hero,” reads this mural in central Tehran. Despite the ongoing conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has yet to activate its Houthi allies. Credit: Mirza Reza/IPS

“There are several self-proclaimed leaders in exile, but they have no real roots in the country. Pahlavi is Israel’s preferred option, and it is true that he has attracted some well-known reformists who have abandoned the regime, but it is not enough,” Mehrab Sarjov, an analyst originally from Iran’s Baluch southeast, tells IPS from his residence in London.

Sarjov also points to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK), an organization founded in 1965 that helped bring down Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1979.

“They are highly organized inside the country, run intelligence networks and have the capacity to carry out sabotage operations, but Washington and Tel Aviv appear to have ruled them out,” the analyst says.

The situation is far more complex. Although the Persian majority makes up roughly half the population, Iran is a mosaic of peoples that includes Azerbaijani Turks, Kurds, Baloch and Arabs, among other ethnic groups.

Sarjov points to what he calls the “diversity of the periphery versus the Persian centre,” noting that many advocate decentralization toward a kind of federal model. Neither the ayatollahs, nor Pahlavi, nor the MEK, nor most of the Persian political core are willing to consider such an option.

How would the borders of those new federal entities be drawn? Along ethnic lines, historical ones or geographic ones? The lack of consensus leads the analyst to outline a scenario in which violence drags on over time.

“The regime will die killing; then we will face a Libyan-style scenario in which everyone tries to extend as much control as possible over the territory. Civil war will be inevitable.”

A daily scene in Iranshar, in southeastern Baluchistan, Iran. Sistan and Baluchestan is the most underdeveloped province, as well as the most affected by violence in the entire country. Credit: Karlos Zurutuza/IPS

Uncertainty

At the moment, Washington and Tel Aviv seem focused on the short term, with their strategy revolving around toppling the regime through a bombing campaign. Analysts worldwide have noted that this approach has never succeeded in achieving such a goal.

The US-Israeli offensive is now concentrating on clearing the Strait of Hormuz to restore the flow of oil from the Arabian Peninsula. Washington is keen to mitigate the impact on energy prices caused by the conflict in this crucial oil transit route.

American outlets such as CNN and The New York Times have reported that the CIA may be working to arm Kurdish guerrillas with a view to taking part in a possible ground offensive.

Recently formed amid growing instability in the country, the Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan brings together five clandestine political parties with military capabilities.

So far, they have not explicitly endorsed Washington’s alleged plan. However, they have reiterated their goal of overthrowing the regime and fighting for democratic rights that include the right to self-determination.

They have also expressed willingness to cooperate with other actors inside the country, including Azerbaijani Turks, with whom they maintain historical territorial disputes in places such as Urmia and Tabriz, in the northwest of Iran.

Dünya Başol is a researcher who holds a PhD in Middle Eastern Studies from Bar-Ilan University in Israel with a dissertation on Iran’s Kurds. He admits he finds it difficult to feel optimistic.

“Turkish nationalism in Iran feeds not only on the aggression of Persian nationalism but also on ethnic ties with neighbouring Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as on the complex Kurdish-Turkish dynamics in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region,” the Turkish analyst tells IPS by phone from Ankara.

“Both Azerbaijani Turks and Kurds are beginning to draw their internal borders in maximalist terms, so all those calls for dialogue and coexistence will not prevent conflict from erupting between them,” he adds.

Başol warns that ethnic conflict could spread across the rest of the country and recalls that it already flared up after the revolution that brought the clerics to power in 1979. That episode, he says, was only contained by the war with Iraq between 1980 and 1988.

“There will be ethnic borders within the country, but what will happen in the large cities where the population is mixed?” the expert asks.

He points to an “unpredictable scenario.”

“If the regime collapses, only a strong government in Tehran will be able to avoid chaos. For now, nothing suggests that either Pahlavi or any of the other options will be capable of achieving that.”

Between now and April 30, U.N. member states have a narrow window to publicly support the explicit inclusion of gender apartheid in the draft Convention on Crimes Against Humanity.

Au lendemain du premier tour des municipales, quels enseignements peut-on tirer des résultats ? Y a-t-il réellement une percée des extrêmes à gauche comme à droite ? Les alliances entre les insoumis et les socialistes, alors qu’Olivier Faure avait rejeté toute "alliance nationale", vont-elles fracturer le PS ? Roselyne Febvre et Frédéric Rivière posent ces questions à Frédéric Dabi, directeur général Opinion de l’Ifop.

By External Source
Mar 17 2026 (IPS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Kofi Time – The Podcast

Join a journey of discovery as Ahmad Fawzi interviews some of Kofi Annan’s closest advisors and colleagues, including Dr Peter Piot, Christiane Amanpour, Mark Malloch-Brown, Michael Møller, Mark Suzman, Alicia Bárcena and more.

In each episode, Ahmad Fawzi, a former spokesperson and Communication Advisor to Kofi Annan, examines how Annan tackled a specific crisis and its relevance to today’s world and challenges.

Kofi Annan’s call to bring all stakeholders around the table — including the private sector, local authorities, civil society organisations, academia, and scientists — resonates now more than ever with so many who understand that governments alone cannot shape our future.

Brought to you by the Kofi Annan Foundation and the United Nations Information Service.
 

 

Ep. 10 | Kofi Annan Up Close With Special Guests

The final episode in our special 10-part series welcomes a variety of guests who worked closely with Kofi Annan during his tenure as the head of the United Nations and as Founder and Chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation. What was it like to work with him, and what made him such an extraordinary leader?

Kofi Time: The Podcast · Kofi Annan: Up Close | Kofi Time with Special Guests

 

Ep. 9 | Democracy in Africa: Then & Now

In episode 9, Ahmad Fawzi welcomes Mohamed Ibn Chambas to discuss democracy in Africa. Together, they discuss the reasons why democracy seems to have lost some of its shine on the continent, especially among young people. And yet, surveys show that a great majority of people reject autocrats and military takeovers. Drawing on Kofi Annan’s leadership, how can we enhance democratic resilience and promote the participation of civil society, women, and young people?

Kofi Time: The Podcast · Democracy in Africa: Then & Now | Kofi Time with Mohamed Ibn Chambas

 

Ep. 8 | Ending Poverty: Then & Now Part 2

In episode 8, part 2, Ahmad Fawzi welcomes Alicia Bárcena, former Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, to continue the discussion on eradicating poverty. Alicia and Ahmad deplore weakened multilateralism, the lack of political will and the economic policies that can undermine development progress. They discuss the need for collective action and for a comprehensive vision to tackle poverty. How can Kofi Annan’s spirit inspire us to push development further and finally make poverty history?

Kofi Time: The Podcast · Ending Poverty Part 2: Then & Now | Kofi Time with Alicia Bárcena Ibarra

 

Ep. 8 | Ending Poverty: Then & Now Part 1

In episode 8, part 1, Ahmad Fawzi welcomes Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to discuss how we can advance the fight against poverty. Mark discusses how Kofi Annan’s concept for the Millennium Development Goals was a necessary milestone in reducing poverty and brought unprecedented progress in development. Mark and Ahmad discuss Kofi Annan’s approach to sustainable development: combining a long-term vision with short-term goals. How can we reignite Kofi Annan’s global endeavour to eradicate poverty once and for all?

Kofi Time: The Podcast · Ending Poverty Part 1: Then & Now | Kofi Time with Mark Suzman

 

Ep. 7 | Youth & Peace: Then & Now

In episode 7 of Kofi Time, Ahmad Fawzi welcomes two special guests, Hajer Sharief and Jeremy Gilley, to discuss the importance of youth inclusion in global challenges and peacebuilding. Sharing their experiences of meeting and working with Kofi Annan, Hajer and Jeremy highlight Kofi Annan’s ability to connect with young people, giving them a voice and treating them as true counterparts. Kofi Annan knew young people can be powerful agents of change. What can we learn from the ‘Kofi Annan way‘ and how can we ensure youth are included in decision-making?

Kofi Time: The Podcast · Youth & Peace: Then & Now | Kofi Time with Hajer Sharief & Jeremy Gilley

 

Ep. 6 | Human Rights: Then & Now

In episode 6 of Kofi Time, our special guest is Zeid Raad Al Hussein. Zeid discusses his friendship with Kofi Annan and how they worked together to protect human dignity and promote human rights. Through the creation of the Human Rights Council and the International Criminal Court, Kofi Annan played a critical role in establishing the mechanisms we have today to protect human rights and combat impunity. How can we uphold Kofi Annan’s legacy and ensure that respect for human rights is not just an abstract concept but a reality?

Kofi Time: The Podcast · Human Rights: Then & Now | Kofi Time with Zeid Raad Al Hussein

 

Ep. 5 | Leadership: Then & Now

In episode 5, Ahmad Fawzi interviews diplomat Michael Møller about Kofi Annan’s unique leadership style. A respected leader among his peers and the public, Kofi Annan served the people of the world with empathy and tolerance. Embodying moral steadfastness and acute political acumen, his leadership was one of a kind. What drove him, and how can we emulate his leadership style to face today’s global challenges?

Kofi Time: The Podcast · Leadership: Then & Now | Kofi Time with Michael Møller

 

Ep. 4 | Fighting Hunger: Then & Now

In episode 4, Ahmad welcomes special guest Catherine Bertini. Ms Bertini discusses how she worked with Kofi Annan to combat hunger and malnutrition worldwide. Not only is access to food far from universal, but it is also severely impacted by conflicts and climate change. As food prices rise and access becomes even more challenging, how can we replicate Kofi Annan’s approach to improving food systems to ensure no one is left behind on the path to global food security?

Kofi Time: The Podcast · Fighting Hunger: Then and Now | Kofi Time with Catherine Bertini

 

Ep. 3 | Health Crises: Then & Now

In episode 3 of Kofi Time, our special guest is Dr Peter Piot. Dr Piot shares with Ahmad Fawzi how he and Kofi Annan worked together to reverse the HIV/AIDs tide that swept through Africa in the 1990s. Dr Piot explains how they used patient yet bold diplomacy, innovative partnerships, and an inclusive approach to bring previously marginalised communities to the table.
Can this approach be replicated today as the world enters the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic and must prepare for future health emergencies?

Kofi Time: The Podcast · Health Crises: Then and Now | Kofi Time with Dr Peter Piot

 

Ep. 2 | Making Peace: Then & Now

In episode 2 of Kofi Time, host Ahmad Fawzi interviews renowned journalist Christiane Amanpour. Together, they discuss a world in turmoil, and what would Kofi Annan – who did so much for peace – do today?

Christiane shares her thoughts on the ‘Kofi Annan way’, the difficult job mediators and peacebuilders face, and the courage they must show. Together, they deliberate whether there is a type of ‘calling’ for those who work in this field.

Kofi Time: The Podcast · Making Peace: Then and Now | Kofi Time with Christiane Amanpour

 

Ep. 1 | Multilateralism: Then & Now

In our first episode of Kofi Time, Ahmad Fawzi speaks with Lord Mark Malloch Brown about multilateralism.

Lord Malloch Brown shares insights on how Kofi Annan strengthened the United Nations through careful diplomacy and bold reforms, and on the significant advances made during his tenure as Secretary-General. He comments on the state of multilateralism today, as the organisation is buffeted by the crisis in Ukraine and the paralysis of the Security Council.

Kofi Time: The Podcast · Multilateralism: Then and Now | Kofi Time with Lord Mark Malloch-Brown

 

Derrière ses palais, ses cafés et ses orchestres symphoniques, la capitale autrichienne a la réputation d’être, depuis la guerre froide, un nid d’espions. Siège de nombreuses organisations internationales, Vienne héberge une vaste ambassade russe dont les activités intriguent. Des habitants ont décidé d’enquêter. Reportage de Céline Béal.

Plan will focus on European clean tech and sustainability, EU transport commissioner says

Pour la première fois depuis sa création, le Lycée militaire de jeunes filles de Natitingou est dirigé par une femme. Depuis septembre 2025, la direction générale de cet établissement d'excellence est assurée par Silifatou Amanké Bouari, une nomination qui marque une étape symbolique dans l'histoire de cette institution réputée du nord du Bénin.

Situé à Natitingou, dans le département de l'Atacora, le Lycée militaire de jeunes filles accueille chaque année les meilleures élèves du pays. L'établissement se distingue par une formation rigoureuse, combinant excellence académique, discipline militaire et leadership, afin de préparer ces jeunes filles à occuper demain des postes de responsabilité.

À la tête de cette institution exigeante, Silifatou Amanké Bouari mesure l'ampleur de la mission qui lui est confiée. « Je sens le poids de la responsabilité. Cela m'exige beaucoup de rigueur, de discipline, d'abnégation, et parfois même des sacrifices »,a-t-elle déclaré à France 24.

Pour les jeunes pensionnaires de l'établissement, la présence d'une femme à ce poste constitue un signal fort. La directrice générale se veut d'ailleurs une source d'inspiration pour ces élèves appelées à devenir les élites de demain. « Je les rassure, ça n'a pas toujours été facile. Il y a eu des moments où j'ai eu des doutes, il y a eu des moments où j'ai trébuché, il y a eu des moments où j'avais envie de repartir chez moi, mais je n'ai jamais abandonné », confie-t-elle.

Selon Silifatou Bouari, l'accès des femmes à des postes de commandement reste un défi qui demande souvent davantage d'efforts et de persévérance. « Lorsqu'on est une femme à ce genre de poste, on doit travailler deux fois, sinon plus qu'un homme pour prouver que cette nomination a été méritée », souligne-t-elle.

Silifatou Amanké Bouari est une ancienne élève du Lycée militaire des jeunes filles de Natitingou. Elle appartient à la première promotion d'enfants de troupe admise en 2000. Après sa formation à l'École royale militaire de Bruxelles, où elle obtient un master en sciences sociales et militaires, elle occupe plusieurs postes au sein de la Marine nationale et de l'état-major des Forces armées béninoises. Elle participe aussi à une mission de paix de l'ONU avec la MONUSCO en République démocratique du Congo.

Sa nomination à la tête du Lycée militaire des jeunes filles de Natitingou apparaît ainsi comme un symbole fort pour la promotion du leadership féminin au Bénin. Elle incarne pour de nombreuses jeunes filles la preuve que la détermination, la discipline et le travail peuvent ouvrir les portes des plus hautes responsabilités.

A. A. A

Le président de l'Assemblée nationale, Joseph DJOGBENOU a reçu ce mardi 17 mars 2026, Hideki UEZONO, ambassadeur extraordinaire et plénipotentiaire du Japon près le Bénin. Le diplomate japonais est allé exprimer ses félicitations au nouveau président du Parlement béninois pour son élection, et examiné avec lui, la coopération bilatérale entre le Bénin et son pays.

Hideki UEZONO, ambassadeur du Japon au Bénin au cabinet de Joseph DJOGBENOU ce mardi 17 mars 2026. Au cours de cette visite de courtoisie, il a exprimé ses félicitations au nouveau président de l'Assemblée nationale du Bénin. « C'est une visite de courtoisie. Je suis venu exprimer toutes mes félicitations ainsi que celles du Japon au professeur Joseph DJOGBENOU pour sa brillante élection à la tête de l'Assemblée nationale du Bénin », a-t-il confié à sa sortie d'audience.
Les deux personnalités ont également abordé au cours de leurs échanges, les relations bilatérales entre le Bénin et le Japon. A ce propos, Joseph DJOGBENOU selon Hideki UEZONO, a souligné l'importance du renforcement de la diplomatie parlementaire entre les deux pays. Après un bref bilan de la coopération entre le Bénin et le Japon, l'ambassadeur a réitéré sa volonté d'œuvrer à renforcer davantage les relations de coopération entre les deux pays pour le bonheur des deux peuples.

F. A. A.

Reported deaths of two Tehran security chiefs raise questions over regime stability

Length of video : 210'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The Connecting Europe Facility has been limited to necessary cross-border projects that aren’t getting national funding, so far. But should domestic grid connections be eligible?