Africa

I am delighted to be here at the launch of this Global Media Campaign against female genital mutilation. It recognizes the critical role of media around the world in adding their voices and reach to help end FGM in a generation.

With its anti-FGM campaigns in the United Kingdom, the United States, The Gambia, and now Kenya, The Guardian has demonstrated its commitment to bringing an end to this brutal practice. I commend the Kenyan Government for intensifying its efforts to end FGM.

It is a pleasure to join you today. I am glad that my visit to the Horn of Africa has enabled me to take part in this important gathering. Thank you for your invitation and this opportunity.

I thank the Kenyan Government for hosting this inaugural Forum. I also thank the World Bank for working with UN-Habitat and the UN Environment Programme in supporting this effort.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is always a great pleasure for me to be here in Nairobi, which is also home to UNON and so many of our dedicated United Nations staff. As the President just said, I have become a regular and frequent visitor and I am very happy to visit Nairobi as often as possible.

Your Excellency Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, thank you for your warm welcome and hospitality and I highly commend your leadership.

As the President just said, I was in Mogadishu in December 2011, just about three years ago. It is good to be back in Somalia and meet many Government leaders and the people of Somalia. Even though my visit is very brief today, I can already see and feel how the country has made remarkable progress since my last visit.

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Merci de votre accueil chaleureux et de votre hospitalité.

Merci de me donner l’occasion de célébrer la Journée des Nations Unies à Djibouti. Je suis très heureux d’être ici avec d’autres membres de la famille des Nations Unies et avec nos partenaires. Nous sommes ici pour montrer notre solidarité avec Djibouti et avec la région. Nous sommes à vos côtés pour promouvoir des avancées globales sur les plans de la paix, du développement et des droits de l’homme.

I am pleased to be here with the African Union Commission to discuss an issue of national, regional and global concerns to us all -- the world’s response to Ebola.

With Dr. Zumba and President Kim and other partner organizations, we had extensive discussions on how our three organizations our three organizations - the United Nations, AU and the World Bank -- and other partners organizations and multilateral banks, development banks can help the international community's efforts to address the Ebola outbreak.

The opening of the New Office Facility [NOF] is a milestone for the United Nations and for its already close partnership with Ethiopia and with people across Africa.

Being together under one roof means common services, economies of scale and the harmonization of our operations. Most of all, it means the United Nations is better placed to deliver better results.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It’s a great pleasure to visit Addis Ababa again at this time. I am very pleased to be joined by Dr. Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group; and I also appreciate our partners from the African Union, the Islamic Development Bank and the European Union.

Our organizations are united in our determination to support the Horn of Africa.

Dear Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Mohammed Sha’ib
Dear Mr. Fathi Bashagha
H.E. Ms. Federica Mogherini, Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs
Mr. Jonathan Powell, Special Envoy of the United Kingdom
Mr. Giuseppe Buccino Grimaldi, Ambassador of Italy to Libya and Special Envoy
Mr. Denis Gauer, Special Envoy of France
Mr. Joe Mangion, Special Envoy of Malta

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Assalamu alaykom, peace be upon you,

I am very honoured to be in Libya once again on my second visit after the revolution.

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Good afternoon,

I am happy to be back in Tunisia.

I thank the Tunisian Government and people for their warm welcome.

I have come to show the UN’s solidarity with this important country at a critical time in the history of Tunisia and the region.

The United Nations has been proud to support the Tunisian people in the democratic transition. I am here to discuss how we can do more to advance this process.

Ladies and gentlemen,