MDG Africa Steering Group

Nnamdi Mbawike (Leadership)- The United Nations has set up Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Africa Steering Group to address the special problems of Africa, Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary-general has said.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York in an interview that the steering group would address the poverty that affected millions of people in the continent.

"I established the MDGs Africa Steering Group to address the special problems of Africa, who have largely been left behind by rising global economic growth.

"I have focused attention on the progress we have made and highlighted the areas where we must do better," Ban said.

On geopolitics and security, the UN chief said: "I have visited half a dozen of our peacekeeping missions, from MONUC in DRC Congo to MINUSTAH in Haiti.

"The Special Tribunal in Lebanon is on track and we are helping the country’s leaders resolve their constitutional crisis.

"The UN has expanded its role in Iraq and responded effectively to humanitarian disasters in Bangladesh, Congo, Sudan and the occupied Palestinian territories".

He said he had worked to help launch the recent Annapolis peace talks in the Middle East, particularly in convincing regional leaders to attend.

"But no geopolitical issue has absorbed more of my time than Darfur. A year ago, there was no movement toward peace in Darfur.

"Today, peace talks are underway in Sirte, Libya, and a joint AU-UN peacekeeping force is about to be deployed," Ban stated.

Ban said the UN would continue to work with the Sudanese government and other stakeholders to ensure peace.

Ban, a South Korean diplomat, assumed duty on Jan. 2, 2007 as the eighth UN secretary-general.

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