{"id":57454,"date":"2023-11-10T11:19:33","date_gmt":"2023-11-10T11:19:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/un-conference-due-in-rwanda-key-to-tackling-landlocked-countries-problems-official"},"modified":"2023-11-10T11:38:54","modified_gmt":"2023-11-10T11:38:54","slug":"un-conference-due-in-rwanda-key-to-tackling-landlocked-countries-problems-official","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/un-conference-due-in-rwanda-key-to-tackling-landlocked-countries-problems-official","title":{"rendered":"UN conference due in Rwanda key to tackling landlocked countries\u2019 problems \u2013 official"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>The third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) will be held in Kigali, in 2024.<\/p>\n

The global summit which will be held on the African continent for the first time, is key to addressing problems that landlocked countries face, especially for the African continent that accounts for the majority of such nations, a top UN official has said.<\/p>\n

Rabab Fatima, the UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), made the observation on Thursday, November 9, after meeting with Speaker Donatille Mukabalisa in the latter\u2019s office in Kigali.<\/p>\n

Rabab Fatima, the UN Under Secretary-General and High Representative for LDCs, SIDS, speaks to journalists in Kigali, on November 9, 2023 (Emmanuel Ntirenganya).<\/p>\n

In June 2023, Fatima said that such meetings take place every 10 years and bring together anywhere between 5,000 and more people. Participants include leaders from all 193 UN member states, leaders and other international organisations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis conference is particularly important because it is the first time it is taking place in Africa, but also for the fact that half of the 32 landlocked countries in the world \u2013 16 of them \u2013 are in Africa,\u201d Fatima said on Thursday.<\/p>\n

As a result, she pointed out, the challenges and issues of the landlocked countries are actually much present in Africa.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd this [conference] is also coming at a time when the world and landlocked countries, in particular, are also grappling with many challenges that come with landlockedness, starting with Covid-19 when borders were closed, ports were closed and all the challenges they face,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, with the many overlapping global crises, the challenges the landlocked countries are facing, this has been an opportunity to go over all those many issues to find solutions, to find recommendations, and to seek partnership with the transit countries, with the partner countries, with the rest of the world to see that the issues, and problems and challenges of the landlocked countries are addressed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fatima said she had \u201cvery fruitful discussions\u201d with the Speaker about the preparations and organisation of a parliamentary forum which will be held on the sidelines of the conference.<\/p>\n

Underscoring the important role of parliamentarians in running countries\u2019 affairs, she said, they want them to be part of the conference itself.<\/p>\n

The Speaker will invite her counterparts from all UN Member States to attend, and \u201cwe hope it is a very good forum \u2013 parliamentary forum \u2013 with a very good outcome and strong message.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mukabalisa said that they expect the meeting to discuss relevant topics and produce tangible resolutions toward the progress of landlocked developing countries by effectively connecting them along the supply chain.<\/p>\n

Speaker Donatille Mukabalisa speaks to journalists after receiving Rabab Fatima, the UN Under Secretary-General and High Representative, at Parliamentary Buildings in Kigali, on November 9, 2023<\/p>\n

\u201cParliaments play a role in the development of various countries because we enact laws, carry out oversight of government activities and operations. I think there are many outcomes [expected from that meeting] which will help the implementation of the conference decisions for the benefit of the people we represent,\u201d Mukabalisa said.<\/p>\n

Fatima was in Rwanda in line with the United Nations planning mission to discuss with the government the preparations for the third UN Conference on LLDCs. She arrived in Rwanda on November 6, with her mission expected to conclude on November 9.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very grateful to President [Paul] Kagame and the government of Rwanda for offering to host this very important once-in-a-decade conference,\u201d Fatima said.<\/p>\n

In line with the conference preparations, on November 7, Fatima met, separately, with President Kagame, the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, the Minister of State in charge of Regional Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, James Kabarebe, and the Minister of State for Youth at the Ministry of Youth, Sandrine Umutoni.<\/p>\n

On November 8, Fatima held talks with the Minister of Trade and Industry, Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze, and the CEO of the Private Sector Federation, Stephen Ruzibiza, among others.<\/p>\n\r\n