Activities of Secretary-General in Cameroon, 9-10 June

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Madam Ban Soon-taek arrived in Yaoundé, Cameroon, close to midnight on Wednesday, 9 June 2010, after a flight from Burundi.

On the morning of Thursday, 10 June, the Secretary-General first met the United Nations country team and then United Nations staff.

He then travelled to the Presidential Palace for a meeting with President Paul Biya and senior advisers.  The President awarded the National Order of Valour to the Secretary-General, who accepted it on behalf of the United Nations.

After an official lunch hosted by the President, the Secretary-General visited project sites linked to the Millennium Development Goals, notably a water project and a radio station, Femmes de Mbalmayo, run by women for women.

On returning to Yaoundé from Mbalmayo, the Secretary-General addressed the National Assembly and met its President.  In his speech to Parliament, he congratulated the country on 50 years of independence and 50 years of its growing presence on the international stage.  He also applauded Cameroon’s accomplishments in implementing the Millennium Development Goals, notably in reducing extreme poverty and working to ensure that every child attends primary school.  (See Press Release SG/SM/12951)

The Secretary-General then gave a news conference.

He later left Yaoundé on an overnight flight to Johannesburg, South Africa.