Activities of Secretary-General in Madagascar, 10-11 May
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, accompanied by his wife Ban Soon-taek, arrived in Antananarivo, Madagascar, from Mauritius on Tuesday afternoon, 10 May, where they were greeted by the President, Hery Martial Rajaonarimampianina Rakotoarimanana.
The Secretary-General met with the United Nations country team and held a Town Hall meeting with United Nations staff in Madagascar.
Later, he met with representatives of several Malagasy civil society organizations active in various areas, including human rights, youth and women empowerment. He highlighted the importance of the partnership between the United Nations and civil society organizations. He also expressed concern over the human rights situation in Madagascar and encouraged the organizations to continue their advocacy.
That evening, the Secretary-General was awarded a National Decoration of Madagascar before attending a State dinner hosted by President Rajaonarimampianina Rakotoarimanana.
On Wednesday, 11 May, the Secretary-General held a breakfast meeting with United Nations development partners in Mauritius. He then met with the Groupe international de soutien à Madagascar and discussed the political and human rights situations and the multifaceted challenges facing the country.
The Secretary-General then addressed a joint congress of the Senate and the National Assembly and urged parliamentarians to fight corruption and the illegal trafficking of endangered species. He said Madagascar needed to sustainably manage its wondrous biodiversity and ensure that all people benefited from those riches. He also called for dialogue and inclusiveness. (See Press Release SG/SM/17743.)
Following a visit to a lemur park, the Secretary-General had lunch with representatives of the private sector in Madagascar.
The Secretary-General then met with President Rajaonarimampianina Rakotoarimanana at the Presidential Palace. They discussed the human rights and humanitarian situation in the country, the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals agenda, climate change challenges, and the internal political situation, as well as peacebuilding efforts in Madagascar.
Speaking to the press afterwards, the Secretary-General said that in his meetings during this visit, he had discussed the political situation in the country, the need to promote inclusive development and the primacy of human rights. He added that it was critical that Madagascar stay on the path of national reconciliation and build lasting peace.
The Secretary-General then visited the Conseil de développement d’Andohatapenaka, a United Nations-supported development project through which adults acquire skills and are taught about their fundamental rights and children are kept in school. (See Press Release SG/SM/17745.)
The Secretary-General and his wife departed Madagascar for Portugal on Wednesday evening, 11 May.