During a recent United Nations briefing, key discussions highlighted the Secretary-General's upcoming trip to Southern Africa and ongoing humanitarian issues in Yemen and Syria.

The Secretary-General will visit South Africa and Lesotho next week. In South Africa, he will meet with President Cyril Ramaphosa and other officials to discuss global and regional issues, particularly focusing on South Africa's G20 presidency. This visit is seen as a chance to advance Africa's priorities on the world stage. The Secretary-General will also visit Lesotho, where he plans to meet with the king and prime minister. His visit aims to show solidarity with African nations facing global injustices, especially those affected by climate change.

In Yemen, the Secretary-General called for the immediate release of humanitarian personnel detained by the Houthis. Over 50 individuals from various organizations have been held for six months, with the Secretary-General emphasizing that these detentions violate international law and hinder humanitarian efforts. He acknowledged the recent release of a few staff members but stressed that many remain unjustly detained.

Additionally, the Secretary-General announced the appointment of a group of experts to address the global debt crisis. This initiative aims to develop actionable policy solutions ahead of the upcoming international conference on financing for development in Seville, Spain, next summer. The group will be led by notable figures, including the UN special envoy on financing for the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

The briefing concluded with concerns about the ongoing situation in Syria, indicating that the humanitarian crisis there remains critical.