While in the region, the Deputy Secretary- General had the opportunity to also stop in Kenya and Tanzania and meet with the heads of state and ministers of foreign affairs in both countries.

The first stop on the trip was Nairobi, where the DSG met with H.E. President Kenyatta, senior government officials, the heads of the UN’s entities in Nairobi; Environment Programme; Habitat; and the Resident Coordinator, the Special Envoy on Food Systems, the visiting Global Advocate for Every Woman Every Child (H.E. Ms. Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia) as well as the UN country team and staff.

During her meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta, the DSG thanked him for the partnership with UN in establishing a COVID-19 hospital and for being a site for UN medical evacuations from around the globe. The meeting covered a range of issues including regional peace and security with a focus on the cessation of hostilities in Ethiopia and Somalia (AMISOM transition), COVID-19 economic response and recovery, the need to address vaccine inequity, UN support for peaceful and credible elections, and the preparations for upcoming COP 26 with a focus on the importance of keeping the promises from the Paris Agreement.

In a stopover in Tanzania, the Deputy Secretary-General met with H.E. President Samia Suluhu Hassan. In line with the trip’s focus on women’s political participation, she noted the importance and leadership of the President as the only African executive woman head of state. Discussions covered the partnership between the UN and government on the 2030 Agenda, efforts to stimulate domestic investments and resource mobilisation for development, the prioritization of women and young people, the impact of COVID-19 and the roll out of the national vaccination programme, regional peace and security issues with a focus on Mozambique, protection of rights and rule of law, treatment of refugees and migrants, and the President’s participation in the upcoming high-level week of the UN General Assembly and Secretary-General’s climate action roundtable. While in Tanzania the DSG also met with the UN Country Team and staff.

The DSG then continued on to Somalia, where she met with a range of stakeholders, including the President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmaajo’, Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble and the National Consultative Council comprised of the leaders of all the federal member states, as well as elders and women leaders and advocates from a range of areas. In her meetings, the Deputy Secretary-General highlighted the country’s parliamentary elections as an opportunity to build on the progress the country has made in women’s political participation. She also emphasized that women’s full inclusion in all sectors of society will contribute to greater resilience, peace and stability in Somalia.

“Somalia achieved a milestone at its last elections in 2016/17 with 24 per cent of parliamentary seats filled by women, and I am hopeful that the country will build on this by expanding women’s participation even further – ensuring the 30 per cent quota is met is an important first step to full representation and an inclusive society. The peace dividend will not happen without women,” Ms. Mohammed said.   With regards to the prevailing political discord threatening gains made in the country, the DSG called on “Somalia’s leadership to de-escalate any tensions and avoid action that could lead to violence and further delay the elections or undermine its credibility.”

For further information, please contact:

Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General
Daniela Gross: daniela.grossdealmeida@un.org, tel.: +1 718-594-3274