Africa

I thank President Obiang and the Government of Equatorial Guinea for hosting this Summit.

I am honoured to be with you today to reaffirm our enduring partnership.

Last year, I was in Addis Ababa to celebrate 50 years of African unity and achievement.

I said then that I saw a confident new narrative of hope.

The past year has consolidated that perception.

Across most of Africa, we saw stability, economic growth and continued progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.

Buenas tardes, y mucho gusto.

I am honoured to be here to inaugurate this new UN House.

I thank, on behalf of the United Nations system, the Government of Equatorial Guinea for generously donating this building.

The Government has also dedicated more than $4 million for initiatives under the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for the period 2013 to 2017. I understand that an additional $10 million has also been approved for development.

I thank the Government of the Republic of Namibia for the invitation to officially inaugurate the UN House in Namibia together with His Excellency President Hifikepunye Pohamba.

On behalf of the United Nations, I would like to thank the people and the Government of Namibia for this gift to the United Nations. The UN has a valuable history with the Namibian people. I am pleased to be here today to write another chapter in our cooperation. I am also here to show my personal commitment to strengthening UN engagement with the country.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for your patience.

It is less than three years since I was here to celebrate the independence of South Sudan.

The air was full of joy and hope and excitement at that time. The birth of this new nation had widespread international support and goodwill. All wanted it to succeed.

The people of Sudan had suffered for too long and fought so hard for freedom. They deserved a better future. Peace, prosperity and human rights.

Today, these dreams lie in gathering ruins.

I have visited Juba at this time. Thank you for your leadership and for your hospitality and also for receiving me at such a short time.

As you may remember, I was here three years ago at the time of independence ceremony. It was full of joy, excitement and hope for the better future of South Sudan. The whole international community was full of support and united.

Mr. Jean de Dieu Mucyo, Executive Secretary of the Commission for the Fight Against Genocide,
Professor Anastase Shyaka, CEO of the Rwanda Governance Board,
Dear Members of the families of our fallen colleagues,
Mr . Lamin Manneh, UN Resident Coordinator,
Ms. Gisele Rutayisire, Chair of the Staff Association,
Dear colleagues and friends,

Today has been a profoundly moving day of reflection, remembrance and renewal for the people of Rwanda and, indeed, the international community.

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Kuri jye, ni icyubahiro cyinshi kuba ndi kumwe namwe kuri uyu munsi ukomeye mu mateka y'u Rwanda.

[I am deeply honoured to be here on this important day for Rwanda.]

I am profoundly honoured and humbled to join the people of Rwanda and so many leaders from around the world.

The genocide in Rwanda that targetted the Tutsi was one of the darkest chapters in human history.

More than 800,000 people were systematically killed – overwhelmingly the Tutsi, and also moderate Hutu, Twa and others.

It is a great pleasure for me to visit Rwanda many times, but this time, I am visiting with much more solemn and firm, determined will to learn more and to disseminate the lessons of Rwandan Genocide which happened 20 years ago.

Tomorrow, in the ceremony, I am going to pay my deepest tribute to the families and relatives of those victims. At the same time, I am going to reaffirm the international community’s strong commitment that “never again” - this should never happen in human history.

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Mbi bala ala kwe.

I am concluding a very moving visit to the Central African Republic. I thank the leaders and people of this country for their welcome.

I am encouraged by the resolve of the new Head of the Transition and her team.

I have come here on my way to Rwanda for a reason. I want to shine a spotlight on what is happening here.

I leave here with three messages.

The first is to the people of this country: You are not alone.

The United Nations is honoured to be by your side.

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Thank you for your welcome.

Thank you for helping to lead your country to recovery and reconciliation.

I come to the Central African Republic at a time of great upheaval.

There is a hole in the heart of Africa.

Every day, I wake up thinking about your trials and troubles.

Everywhere, I have called on leaders to step up their efforts.

Some say this is a forgotten crisis.

I am here to help make sure the world does not forget.