Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, Visits Congo for CIAR

The first International Conference on Afforestation and Reforestation (CIAR) helped bring climate change back to the forefront of the global agenda, affirmed Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, during a press conference at the end of her visit to the Republic of the Congo.

Invited by the Government, Ms. Mohammed commended the country’s leadership for launching this initiative at COP27 in 2022 with the support of the African Union. She emphasized that CIAR brought political focus to combating forest loss while restoring livelihoods, creating jobs, and building resilience for a green economic transition.

As part of the summit, the Deputy Secretary-General took part in a closed-door session with heads of state and government to discuss the political declaration. The dialogue highlighted the need for local and national investments and alternative approaches to tackle the root causes of deforestation, including the illicit timber trade affecting value chains.

Ms. Mohammed praised the Republic of the Congo for its strong and capable women leaders, who successfully organized CIAR following last year’s Summit of the Three Basins. She also visited Conkouati-Douli National Park, a UNESCO-recognized site in Kouilou Department, where she witnessed national efforts to protect forests and wildlife. She noted that Congo has significant potential, which must be further developed through investment policies, youth employment, and inequality reduction.

During her mission, Ms. Mohammed met with high-level government officials, including H.E. President Denis Sassou Nguesso, and other leaders attending the conference. She also met with the UN Country Team to review collaboration with national counterparts and explore ways to strengthen UN support for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).