New York-based Lubunga Mwendanababo  is a US citizen, a recent graduate of Georgia State University, and manager of a furniture store in New York.  But, as a small child, he had to flee a bloody conflict in DRC, and spent 14 years in a refugee camp along with over 140,000 others. He talks about his journey, and how the UN helped along the way.

A newly published volume of prison letters written by the former President of South Africa and global anti-apartheid icon, Nelson Mandela, reveal to the world the enduring “power of hope”, according to the South African journalist and author who edited the volume. For this edition of our UN and Africa podcast, Matt Wells talks to Sahm Venter, who was at UN Headquarters in New York to celebrate Nelson Mandela Day.

For this edition of our UN & Africa podcast, Sheila Keetharuth, ending her six-year mandate as the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea, talks to Daniel Johnson after presenting her last report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

For this edition of our podcast series UN & Africa, we’re in Mali, joining UN chief António Guterres and other top officials to mark the 70th year of peacekeeping, and honour the dedication and sacrifice of those who put their lives on the line to make the world a more secure place.