Activities of Secretary-General in Rwanda, 23-24 May

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, together with the President of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, in the afternoon of Thursday, 23 May.

This visit to Rwanda was the second leg of a three-day United Nations-World Bank joint visit to the Great Lakes region of Africa to support the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region.

In Nyarugunga, the Secretary-General and the President of the World Bank met with disabled ex-combatants benefiting from physical and social rehabilitation.

Later in Kigali, they visited the Gisozi Genocide Memorial Site, which is the burial place of a quarter of a million victims of the 1994 genocide.  In his remarks at the site, the Secretary-General said that this was his third visit, and the second time as Secretary-General, and that each time he has been moved to tears.  He said that the memorial serves both as a warning and as a symbol of hope.  (See Press Release SG/SM/15042.)

Later, the Secretary-General and the President of the World Bank went to Rwanda National Police Headquarters, where they attended a ceremony for laying the foundation stone for the Centre of Excellence for the fight against violence against women and girls in conflict situation.

In his remarks, the Secretary-General said he counts on the Centre to galvanize stepped up action against violence across Africa.  He said that this Centre will enhance cooperation between security institutions across Africa and that it will strengthen mechanisms and policies to prioritize prevention and address violence against women and children, especially in conflict. (See Press Release SG/SM/15043.)

Later, the Secretary-General and the President of the World Bank held talks with President Paul Kagame and Cabinet Ministers at the Office of the President.

In the morning on Friday, 24 May, the Secretary-General and the President of the World Bank held a joint press conference in Kigali.  In his remarks, the Secretary-General said that Rwanda is critical to the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework’s success.  He said that he told President Kagame that he counts on his leadership to help bring peace and stability to the region.

He also held a town hall meeting with United Nations and World Bank staff.

Then, Ban Ki-moon and Jim Yong Kim departed Kigali to Entebbe, Uganda.