Home  >  The Interview  >  Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General: Peace as a word is losing its value
The Interview
Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General: Peace as a word is losing its value
The Interview
Sep 23, 2025

‘Peace seems to be a word, a five-letter word, that is losing its value.’

Waihiga Mwaura speaks to Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, in a broad-ranging interview about the the UN at 80, and the state of the world today. The UN is currently hosting its annual General Assembly at its headquarters in New York. Leaders, senior politicians and diplomats from all over the world are meeting there to discuss and resolve a variety of the planet’s most pressing issues.

This is the General Assembly’s 80th such gathering since the United Nations was formed. This year’s theme is ‘Better together’, and sees a renewed urgency on delivering the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals: 17 interconnected global goals, first adopted by all UN member states in 2015, covering areas including ending poverty, improving health and education, and tackling climate change.

Before becoming the UN’s 5th Deputy Secretary-General, a role Ms. Mohammed took up in 2017, the Nigerian-British diplomat and politician previously served as Nigeria’s Minister for the Environment.

In this interview, she also reflects on the ‘price’ of war and how it diverts vital global attention and resources away from international development, as well as discussing the need for the UN’s Security Council to be more accountable amid growing calls to increase its size to include more member states.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Waihiga Mwaura Producers: Ben Cooper, Priscilla Ng’ethe and Lucy Sheppard Editor: Justine Lang

Get in touch with us on email [email protected] and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General Credit: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

More Episodes
Apr 5, 2026
Eric Idle, comedian: Nothing is off limits in comedy

“I think there's nothing off limits [with comedy] because it's subconscious, it's examining things. I find it quite interesting. And Monty Python was particularly good at not allowing ourselves to be censored, although people tried with ‘The Life Of Brian’... But that’s what made it a hit.”

John Wilson speaks to English comedian, writer, musician and actor Eric Idle about his life and career.

He’s best-known for being a founding member of the comedy troupe Monty Python, writing and performing across their four television series and their films, including ‘The Life Of Brian’ and ‘The Meaning Of Life’.

Idle is also behind the Tony Award-winning musical ‘Spamalot’, based on the film ‘Monty Python and The Holy Grail’. It ran twice in London’s West End and on Broadway, and has also been staged in 14 countries around the world.

Thank you to the This Cultural Life team for their help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Mexican actor Diego Calva, tennis champion Martina Navratilova, and global music icon Stevie Wonder. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: John Wilson Producers: Ben Cooper and Edwina Pitman Editors: Justine Lang and Damon Rose

Get in touch with us on email [email protected] and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Eric Idle Credit: Sarah Jeynes/BBC)


12min 28sec

Apr 2, 2026
Jeremy Hansen, astronaut: Moon mission shows best of humanity

“I hope humanity will stop for a moment when four humans are on the far side of the moon and be reminded that we can do a better job as humans of just lifting each other up. Not destroying, but creating together.”

Rebecca Morelle and Tim Peake speak to Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen ahead of the launch of Artemis II.

Hansen is one of four crew members of NASA’s latest mission into Space. Launching from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, Artemis II will be heading to the Moon and will circle it before returning home. Although they won’t be landing, it’s the first time in over half a century that humans have ventured to the Moon.

If the mission is successful, it’ll result in some historic firsts: Hansen will become the first non-American to leave low-Earth orbit with crewmates Christina Koch the first woman and Victor Glover the first person of colour to do so too.

Thank you to the 13 Minutes team for their help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro, former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and Ugandan human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenters: Rebecca Morelle and Tim Peake Producers: Ben Cooper, Alex Mansfield and Sophie Ormiston Editor: Damon Rose

Get in touch with us on email [email protected] and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Jeremy Hansen Credit: Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP via Getty Images)


22min 58sec

Mar 31, 2026
Winnie Byanyima, head of UNAids: I am somebody who fights for social justice and gender equality

Winnie Byanyima, head of UNAids. has devoted her life to advancing human rights and equality, first in her home country Uganda, and then on the global stage: “We live in a complex world, a challenging world. I am somebody who fights for social justice and gender equality, and I continue to do so. It's maybe a tough environment, but I do not change my position. I don't alter it at all.” Part of the pro-democracy movement in Uganda, she is now a critic of the country’s leadership and what she believes to be the wrongful arrest and detention of her husband Kizza Besigye. And as the leader of a global organisation charged with co-ordinating the response to HIV Aids, she is having to weigh up funding cuts, a loss of trust in the UN and increasing global conflict. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Joy Phumaphi of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance and artist Tracey Emin. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Catherine Byaruhanga Producers: Clare Williamson and Osman Iqbal Editor: Damon Rose Get in touch with us on email [email protected] and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Images: Winnie Byanyima Credit: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP)


22min 59sec

Mar 29, 2026
Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Information Minister: Stopping militant attacks

“I don't think they failed. I think that more work needs to be done. Nigerian security agencies are working around the clock to ensure that this does not happen again. We don't want to see people being attacked, we don't to see people denied sleep as a result of the activities of these criminals and religious extremists.”

Victoria Uwonkunda speaks to Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Information Minister, about renewed concerns over security following a wave of deadly suicide bombings in the country’s north-east, which killed more than 20 people and injured more than 100.

The violence has raised fresh questions about whether the authorities can prevent such attacks.

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and one of its largest economies, but it faces pressing challenges. From tackling brain drain and creating opportunities for a young and fast-growing population, to managing its role as a major oil producer in an uncertain global economy. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, and Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Victoria Uwonkunda Producers: Lucy Sheppard and Osman Iqbal Editor: Justine Lang and Damon Rose

Get in touch with us on email [email protected] and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Mohammed Idris Credit: REUTERS)


23min 09sec

Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General: Peace as a word is losing its value

--:--
--:--