It also reviewed UN assistance in helping States in conflict reform their security sector within the framework of the rule of law, and strengthening the Organization's role in mediation and settlement of disputes. The Council took measures to strengthen the Department of Political Affairs so as to make it more effective in supporting UN peace efforts in countries emerging from conflict.

The Peacebuilding Commission enhanced its involvement in that regard by establishing a country-specific configuration for the Central African Republic, bringing to four the number of countries emerging from conflict under consideration by the Commission. The Commission also conducted biannual reviews of the Burundi and Sierra Leone configurations and conducted missions to Guinea-Bissau to assess that country's needs. During the year, the United Nations maintained 12 political and peacebuilding missions and offices. The scale and frequency of international terrorist acts increased during the year, especially in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and reached countries previously untouched by the scourge.

Concerned at the escalating situation, the Security Council, on 9 December, held a debate on threats to Africa caused by terrorist attacks around the world.

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The Council called upon all Member States to redouble efforts to tackle global terrorism by dedicating attention to bringing to justice the perpetrators, facilitators and masterminds of terrorist acts. The Council pledged to continue following developments in order to organize as efficiently as possible its efforts in combating terrorism, reaffirmed the importance of its resolutions and statements on terrorism, and stressed the need for implementing them. The year marked the sixtieth anniversary of UN peacekeeping. The series also highlights how authoritative institutions such as the libraries of Oxford and Yale promote the Yearbook as an authoritative reference for expanding knowledge of United Nations activities and concerns.

The Yearbook of the United Nations —published by the Department of Public Information—stands as the authoritative reference work on the activities and concerns of the Organization. Based on official UN documents, the Yearbook provides comprehensive coverage of political and security matters, human rights issues, economic and social questions, legal issues, and institutional, administrative and budgetary matters.

The sixty-seventh volume of the Yearbook of the United Nations records the work of the Organization in as the United Nations responded to the sharp rise in violent extremism and terrorist attacks around the world; worked to end violence and alleviate suffering in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere; adopted the landmark Arms Trade Treaty in April; and laid the foundations for a legally binding treaty to ban nuclear weapons that came to fruition in These covers have regularly reflected the culture of their time, while alluding to the wealth of information on UN activities and concerns contained within each volume.

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The earliest Yearbook covers were fairly conservative, often depicting little more than the United Nations logo and the title of the book The quarterly UN Chronicle magazine--the Organization's flagship periodical--explores issues of global concern from a United Nations perspective. The political situation in the Horn of Africa continued to be adversely affected by conflicts and other forms of insecurity within and between States. The Sudan accused Chad of supporting the attack and severed diplomatic ties.

In May, tensions between the Sudanese armed forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Army in the town of Abyei erupted into full-scale fighting that continued until 20 May. Following several weeks of consultations, the parties finalized a road map agreement to resolve the situation in Abyei, and referred the dispute over the Abyei borders to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. That same month, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court requested that the Court issue an arrest warrant against President Al-Bashir on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Yearbook of the United Nations, 2008. Indices

Meanwhile, relations between Chad and the Sudan improved, and the two countries exchanged ambassadors in November. Nevertheless, UNAMID deployment progressed slowly and faced significant challenges, including insufficient troops and equipment. The Government began a military campaign in September and engaged in further operations in October.


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Despite a unilateral declaration of a cessation of hostilities by the Government on 12 November, its forces conducted aerial bombings in Northern and Western Darfur during that month. Southern Darfur also experienced an upsurge in violence, as Government patrols were attacked.

Inter-tribal fighting continued in Northern and Southern Darfur, and targeted attacks against humanitarian workers hindered the provision of assistance to the civilian population.

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IN Somalia, coordinated attacks by anti-Government elements took place in Mogadishu, and Ethiopian Army and Transitional Federal Government operations to eradicate those elements increased. In January, an integrated task force headed by the UN Department of Political Affairs deployed an assessment mission to Somalia to develop a comprehensive UN strategy for the country.

The assessment outlined a three-track approach consisting of political, security and programmatic dimensions. The Department also led a fact-finding mission to the region in January to update contingency plans for the possible deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission.

Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law, Volume 12 (2008)

In March, the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia unveiled its reconciliation strategy, which included proposals to promote peacebuilding and reconciliation between the Government and opposition groups. On 19 August, the Government and the Alliance signed the Djibouti agreement for the cessation of hostilities.


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The Somali parties signed an agreement on the cessation of armed confrontation during a third round of talks in Djibouti on 26 October. On the same date, the Government and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia adopted a declaration on the establishment of a unity Government. On 29 October, suicide bomb attacks targeted the UNDP compound in Hargeysa, as well as the town of Boosasso in northern Somalia; two UN staff members were killed and six others were injured. In June, the Security Council authorized States cooperating with the Transitional Federal Government to enter Somalia's territorial waters to repress acts of piracy and armed robbery.

The Organization's efforts to address the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea changed dramatically during the year. In February, the Secretariat informed Eritrea of the decision to relocate Mission personnel to Ethiopia, and requested that it extend to the Mission the necessary cooperation.

However, the Eritrean Defence Forces hindered the cross-border movement of personnel and equipment. No progress was made towards the construction of boundary pillars between the two countries in the manner foreseen by the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission. The Commission reported that since it had concluded all administrative matters connected with the termination of its mandate, it considered itself functus officio.

On 11 June, Djibouti stated that Eritrean armed forces had launched unprovoked attacks on Djibouti an army positions the previous day.

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On 12 June, the Security Council condemned Eritrea's military aggression and called on the parties to commit to a ceasefire. A UN fact-finding mission that visited Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Djibouti in July and August established that a stalemate had developed between Djibouti and Eritrea that could only be resolved by diplomatic means.