António Guterres

The Secretary-General is following developments in Burkina Faso with deep concern. He is particularly worried about the whereabouts and safety of President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, as well as the worsening security situation, following the coup carried out on January 23rd by sections of the armed forces. 

The Secretary-General strongly condemns any attempt to take over a government by the force of arms. He calls on the coup leaders to lay down their arms and to ensure the protection of the physical integrity of the President and of the institutions of Burkina Faso.

The Secretary-General condemns the airstrikes launched earlier today by the Saudi-led Coalition against a detention center in Saada city.  Initial reports indicate at least 60 deaths and over 100 injured among the inmates. Further airstrikes have been reported elsewhere in Yemen, also with reports of deaths and injuries among civilians, including children. An airstrike on telecommunications facilities in Hudaydah has also significantly disrupted vital internet services across much of the country.
 

Good afternoon.
 
Today I briefed the General Assembly on what I see as I scan today’s global landscape.
 
I did not pull any punches.  It’s not a pretty picture.
 
I see a 5-alarm global fire.
 
You heard the speech.  I won’t repeat it.
 
The essence of my message is simply this:  we don’t have the luxury to just catalogue our challenges.
 
We must do something about them – and we can do something about them.
 
So my message was stark – because that is the state of our world.