Disappointed by current European political leadership

Audacity combined with balance make the difference between leaders and run-of-the mill politicians. 

Syria´s deadlocked political process

The Syrian political process is completely dead in the water. There is no initiative on the table, after the failed attempt to create a temporary halt of hostilities in Aleppo, no room for any opening at this stage. There is also no clear strategy to move out of the deadlocked situation. It is just another crisis that will remain unresolved for a long time. Some people, on the different sides of the conflict, will benefit from that inaction. But not the millions that have been displaced and live today in horrifying conditions. Many of them know there will be no solution in the foreseeable future. That´s why they try to cross the waves, against all odds, and travel North. 

A bit tired of spineless leaders...

With so many human crises and violent conflict around us, this is no time to be kind on opportunists and other unprincipled leaders. 

The UN cannot remain silent about the Mediterranean tragedies

Pope Francis has been very clear about the immigration issue, particularly the massive loss of life and the incredible human costs of the illegal crossings of the Mediterranean Sea. We might disagree with the implicit policy proposals that one can guess behind his words, but we have to recognise that he has occupied the moral ground and been a loud voice in a sea of political silences.

We would like to hear some voices from the UN side as well. Not just the spokespersons of agency A or B, but people in leadership positions. They should come up and speak. Make proposals, suggest policy avenues, and offer their goodwill services. Some of them, like the Secretary-General or the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, are at the end of their mandates. That should give them more space to call a spade a spade and be daring.

Immigration: the pressure is on

The Foreign Ministers and other EU ministers met today to discuss the illegal crossings that constitute a daily human wave of despair coming from the Libyan shores. They called the meeting in the wake of the many deaths that have occurred these past few days.

I think we should recognise the merit of such a meeting. It is true there was no clear-cut decision but at least the matter is now on the agenda and it is recognised as an urgent issue that requires a multidimensional response.

And it also served to push the matter up, to the level of the heads of state and government. They will meet on Thursday on the subject. And let me be clear, in view of the gravity of the situation. Even if the measures that will be adopted at that summit could be seen as insufficient they will represent some progress when compared with the lack of clarity and action that has been the norm during the last year or so. 

Dying in Mediterranean

The question today, after the dramatic news about a major loss of life at sea, in Mediterranean, can only be a simple and direct one: what policy should the EU put in place to address the very complex issue of illegal immigration? I do not know the reply to this question. And I am not sure there is one. But I understand there has been a call for an urgent meeting of EU foreign ministers to discuss this major human crisis. I will be paying serious attention to the conclusions of such a meeting. 

The UN´s role: are we again ignoring it?

Are we witnessing, once more, a process of side-lining the UN and the Security Council when it comes to addressing new major conflicts, like the one taking place in Yemen, or when negotiating key political agreements, like the one regarding Iran´s nuclear programme?

This is a question that I will be raising soon and debating in a public forum. And I am a bit afraid the answer to it is could be too obvious.  

Mozambique´s enormous population growth challenges

After an agonizing day of hesitation and with great regret, I concluded I could not accept an invitation to deliver a talk in Maputo, at the end of May, on the vast population growth challenges Mozambique is confronted with. The date was not good as I have already a number of commitments around that time. I would have loved to do it. I was the first representative of the UN population agency (UNFPA) in that country, back in 1980. But besides that, Mozambique is a mirror of the situation many African countries face at present: very fast population growth rates, early marriage and teenage pregnancies, as well as very important internal migrations and unemployment issues.

The talk would be an opportunity to contribute to the reflection about the medium and long term implications of all these problems. It would also be an opportunity to acknowledge some of national efforts that the country is trying to implement. And it should also be another chance to call for deeper international partnerships with Africa in matters related to the links between population and development.

I hope these issues will come out loud and clear, in any case. 

Dying at sea, but invisible in the political capitals

Scores of desperate people drowned today at sea, when trying to cross the Mediterranean and enter the EU illegally. This is a recurrent drama that hardly gets the attention of the European public opinion. It´s no longer news, in many ways. And because it is not in the headlines any more, there is no real political attention that is given to the matter. Mass illegal immigration across the Mediterranean Sea, a daily occurrence, and the human tragedies associated with it, has become politically invisible. It is a major problem, it would require a clear-cut approach, but our leaders feel content the question is not burning on their desks.

That´s the way leadership is practised at present in our corner of the Earth.  

Fighting Boko Haram

The Chibok girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram a year ago. And many other Nigerian girls and women have also been taken hostage by this terrorist group. Everyone condemns these actions. But we should go beyond that and ask loud and clear how can that happen in a country that has one of the largest and better African equipped armies. How is it possible that a terrorist group has been able to capture people and territory? And then, we need to raise another question: where did they get the weaponry from?

Chad and Niger have now been engaged in the fight against Boko Haram, side by side with the Nigerian Army. There have been reports of some serious setbacks for the terrorists. But as of late one gets the impression that the anti-Boko Haram coalition is no longer making any tangible headway. Why is it?

The missing people and the memory of all those who have been executed by the savages under the banner of Boko Haram call for an answer to all the questions. They also call for clarity about the situation.