Ban Ki-moon

The Secretary-General is closely monitoring developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as the mediation led by the Conférence épiscopale nationale des églises du Congo (CENCO) resumed today. 

Honorable Randy J. Dunn, President of the Southern Illinois University System, Honorable Brad Colwell, Interim Chancellor of SIU Carbondale, Mr. Jak Tichenor, Interim Director of the Paul Simon Institute, Ms. Sheila Simon, former Illinois Lt. Governor and daughter of the late Senator Paul Simon,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Thank you for your warm welcome.  I am grateful to Southern Illinois University for inviting me to be here.
 

   
The United Nations Peacebuilding Fund has approved $3 million for a pilot project that will provide peacebuilding and vocational skills to Somali refugees volunteering to return from Kenya to Somalia, where they will then be helped to settle down and contribute to a community dialogue and reintegration process, UN Peacebuilding announced Tuesday.

The Secretary-General applauds the Government and the people of Côte d’Ivoire for the peaceful and inclusive legislative elections of 18 December. He congratulates Ivorian political parties for their active participation in the elections and the Commission électorale indépendante for its efforts in ensuring the people''s right to vote. He also appreciates the positive role of international and national electoral observation teams, as well as the engagement of Ivorian civil society, which enhanced the transparency and credibility of the elections.

The Secretary-General shares the concern expressed by the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on 17 December over the prolonged political and institutional crisis in Guinea-Bissau, which continues to negatively impact the people of the country.