By Abbas Nazil
The United Nations has reaffirmed the vast potential of the blue economy in Africa, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea, while simultaneously sounding the alarm over worsening humanitarian conditions in Sudan.
At the International Conference on the Blue Economy held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed emphasized the urgent need to harness the ocean’s economic potential while ensuring its protection and reinforcing maritime security.
Representing Secretary-General António Guterres, Mohammed highlighted the blue economy’s integral role not only in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 — Life Below Water — but also as a critical enabler of the entire 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
During her visit to Cameroon, the Deputy Secretary-General held bilateral talks with key government officials, including Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute.
Discussions centered on strengthening cooperation between Cameroon and the UN and fast-tracking progress toward achieving the SDGs in the region.
Mohammed’s message underscored the importance of inclusive development through ocean governance, sustainable fisheries, marine conservation, and equitable economic benefit-sharing from marine resources.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to deteriorate, with renewed violence in North Darfur and Kordofan regions forcing thousands of civilians to flee.
UN spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, reported that on Tuesday, shelling struck a market area in the Abu Shouk displacement camp, killing three civilians and injuring several others.
The camp, already suffering from famine confirmed last year, is home to thousands of displaced people.
The incident underscores the escalating toll the ongoing conflict is inflicting on Sudan’s civilian population.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 3,200 people have fled Abu Shouk and parts of El Fasher between June 26 and July 6, seeking refuge in As Serief, Tawila, and At Tina.
In North Kordofan, ongoing clashes have displaced another 800 individuals from Bara, who are now sheltering in White Nile state.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that humanitarian access is increasingly constrained, even as agencies struggle to maintain basic services.
In North Darfur alone, over 1.7 million people are receiving healthcare support through a mix of remaining facilities and mobile clinics, but medical supplies are rapidly depleting.
The situation is further compounded by severe flooding in Kassala state, triggered by heavy rains and dam water releases, threatening aid delivery routes.
The UN’s $4.2 billion humanitarian response plan for Sudan remains critically underfunded, with only $917 million secured — less than 25 percent of the required amount — as the crisis deepens mid-year.
