SENIOR PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT
Senior personnel appointment to share with you, which will come as no surprise since the Secretary-General announced it informally last year, but that he has today formalized his prior announcement that Amina Mohammed of Nigeria will continue in her role as Deputy Secretary-General during his second term.
Ms. Mohammed’s leadership helped advance the conceptual shift from the UN that Member States called for in adopting the Sustainable Development Goals.  
The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for the Deputy Secretary-General’s leadership of the UN Sustainable Development Group and her determination to reinforce the collective results and maximize the impact of the UN development’s system on the ground.  From our robust response to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19; through a boost in climate action and unprecedented momentum for Financing for Development; to her strong emphasis on coherence across humanitarian, political and development action – her role was instrumental in keeping the SDGs alive at country level and protecting the Paris Agreement, despite significant headwinds.

NIGERIA
I have a statement on the situation in Nigeria.
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the appalling attacks perpetrated over the weekend in Nigeria’s Zamfara State in which scores of civilians were killed. He extends his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
The Secretary-General urges the Nigerian authorities to spare no effort in bringing those responsible for these heinous crimes to justice.
The Secretary-General reaffirms the solidarity and support of the United Nations to the Government and people of Nigeria in their fight against terrorism, violent extremism and organized crime.

ETHIOPIA
And you will have seen that on Friday, we issued a statement in which the Secretary-General welcomed the release from prison in Ethiopia of numerous detainees, including key opposition figures. 
He called upon the parties to build on this significant confidence-building step by agreeing a cessation of hostilities and a lasting ceasefire, as well as launching a credible and inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation process. He also said he will remain actively engaged with all stakeholders in assisting Ethiopia to bring an end to the fighting and restore peace and stability.

SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning in the Security Council, the members were briefed by Mahamet Saleh Annadif, the head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel. 
In his remarks which here delivered by videoconference, he reiterated that insecurity in the Sahel is compromising progress in the entire region. 
Large scale attacks against military objectives and civilians are continuing in Mali, in Burkina Faso and in Niger. He also added that our concern that the terrorist threat could expand from Sahel countries to the Gulf of Guinea is now a reality. 
As a result, the region is going through a complex humanitarian crisis, aggravated by the pandemic and drought. The UN system in the region continues to mobilize to support initiatives to reduce violence and promote development. 
Mr. Annadif also addressed the resurgence of coups d'état, saying it is often the consequence of political practices that are out of step with the aspirations of the populations. In this context, he added, the Economic Community of West African States, otherwise known as ECOWAS, should be commended for its active engagement with the crises in Mali and Guinea.
The UN office for West Africa and the Sahel supports and accompanies these efforts for a return to constitutional order as soon as possible.
The head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Ghada Waly, also spoke at the meeting. 

WORLD YOUTH FORUM
Today, the Secretary-General spoke by video message to the Opening Ceremony of the World Youth Forum, which is taking place in Sharm El-Sheikh, in Egypt. He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected us all, but its impact on young people has been especially heart-breaking.
At the same time, the Secretary-General said, young people have stepped up. He pointed out that in the streets, and online, they’re calling for change, demanding equality, peace, justice and action on the climate crisis.
The Secretary-General stressed that young people are an incredible source of ideas and innovative solutions and that their needs must come first in policy and investment discussions.

BRONX FIRE
A note on the tragic news here in New York City. In a tweet this morning, the Secretary-General said that he is deeply saddened by the lives lost in the apartment building fire in the Bronx yesterday, which took the lives of at least 19 people and wounded many others.
Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this tragedy, and with our host city, New York.

WIPO
The World Intellectual Property Organization has just joined the UN Sustainable Development Group, which gathers all UN entities working to fast-track the Sustainable Development Goals. 
The Deputy Secretary-General, as you know, who chairs that group, welcomed the new member saying that innovation and technology transfer will catalyse a swifter and greener recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that leaves no one behind.