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Secretary-General Statements

Secretary-General's remarks at the high-level meeting on Mali and the Sahel

26 Sep 2018
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the high-level meeting on Mali and the Sahel, in New York today: Before I begin, please join me in a moment of silence for all those who sacrificed their lives for peace in Mali and the Sahel.  Thank you. In May, I had the honour of visiting Mali.  I was there to express my solidarity with the Malian people during Ramadan — and our MINUSMA [United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali] forces on Peacekeepers Day.

Secretary-General's remarks to High-Level Meeting on Peacekeeping [bilingual, as delivered]

25 Sep 2018
[scroll further down for all-English version] It is a pleasure to welcome you to this high-level meeting on Action for Peacekeeping, that also marks the 70th anniversary of United Nations peace operations. Last year, I visited Bangassou in the Central African Republic and laid a wreath in memory of the Moroccan and Cambodian peacekeepers who were killed there. It was a humbling experience. I feel a personal responsibility for the loss of every peacekeeper. Many of you here today have taken part in similar ceremonies. You understand the pain of every loss.

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on Mali's presidential election [scroll down for French version]

28 Jul 2018 | New York, 28 July 2018
The Secretary-General is closely following developments in Mali ahead of the presidential election scheduled to take place on 29 July 2018.  

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on attack against MINUSMA in Timbuktu, Mali (scroll down for French)

15 Apr 2018
The Secretary-General conveys his condolences to the Government of Burkina Faso, and the family and loved ones of the deceased, and wishes a swift recovery to the injured. He pays tribute to the courage of the men and women serving in MINUSMA, Malian and international forces at great personal risk and sacrifice.

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the killing of a UN peacekeeper in the Central African Republic

10 Apr 2018
The Secretary-General condemns the killing of a Rwandan peacekeeper and the wounding of eight others of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) on 10 April, in Bangui during an exchange of fire with armed elements.   The incident follows a joint operation launched on 8 April by MINUSCA and the Central African forces and police to disarm and arrest heavily armed criminal groups.  

Secretary-General's remarks to Security Council High-Level Debate on Collective Action to Improve UN Peacekeeping Operations

28 Mar 2018
Mr. President, I thank the Kingdom of the Netherlands for organizing this important debate and I thank you Prime Minister Mark Rutte for presiding it. I have addressed this Council several times over the past year on peacekeeping reform.   It is now time to take action together.   At its best, UN peacekeeping is a remarkable enterprise of multilateralism and international solidarity.  

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the Democratic Republic of the Congo

27 Jan 2018 | New York
The Secretary-General condemns the killing of a peacekeeper from Pakistan deployed with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) following an ambush by members of an armed ‪group today near Lulimba, 96 km south west of Baraka, in South Kivu Province. At least one other peacekeeper was wounded in the attack.    

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on Western Sahara

6 Jan 2018 | New York
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about recent increased tensions in the vicinity of Guerguerat in the Buffer Strip in southern Western Sahara between the Moroccan berm and the Mauritanian border. The Secretary-General underlines that the withdrawal of Frente Polisario elements from Guerguerat in April 2017, together with the earlier withdrawal of Moroccan elements from the area, was critical to creating an environment conducive to the resumption of dialogue under the auspices of his Personal Envoy Horst Kohler.

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo [scroll down for French]

31 Dec 2017 | New York
The Secretary-General expresses concern about reports of the violent dispersion of protests by national security forces in Kinshasa and a number of cities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, resulting in the death of at least five people, the wounding of several others and the arrest of over 120 persons. The Secretary-General calls on the Government and national security forces to exercise restraint and to uphold the rights of the Congolese people to the freedom of speech and peaceful assembly.

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on Liberia

29 Dec 2017 | New York
The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement by the National Elections Commission on 29 December of the final results of the presidential run-off election in Liberia. He congratulates Mr. George Weah on his election as the next President of the Republic of Liberia and commends Vice President Joseph Boakai for conceding defeat.   The Secretary-General applauds all Liberians for the successful completion of the elections process, which was conducted in a peaceful environment. He commends the work of the national, regional and international electoral observation teams.