United Nations Radio

UN and Africa - a weekly 15-minute radio programme on political, social, economic and other developments related to Africa.

Nelson Mandela

- The General Assembly this week designated July 18 as Nelson Mandela International Day to be observed each year starting in 2010. This is in recognition of Mandela's contribution to the creation of a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic South Africa and to democracy internationally, as well as to the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world.

Prosecutors start cross examination of Charles Taylor

Charles Taylor (centre)

- Prosecutors at the Special Court for Sierra Leone have started to cross examine former President Charles Taylor of Liberia who is charged with crimes committed during the civil war in Sierra Leone. Jeremy Waiser, Special Assistant to the Prosecutor of the court says the trial in The Hague is sending a message that no one is above the law.

Floods and lack of funding exacerbate crisis in Somalia

Somalis displaced by floods

- The people of Somalia continue to suffer as a result of conflict which has displaced many of them. Now the crisis is exacerbated by floods. The UN humanitarian agency is concerned that while the number of people in need of assistance has doubled, humanitarian funding has dropped by nearly 40 per cent.

Producer/Presenter:Derrick Mbatha
Editor:Bissera Kostova
Production Assistant:Florence Poblete-Enriquez
Studio Engineer:Rosie Starr