The Secretary-General spoke today with the President of the Republic of the Congo, H. E. Mr. Denis Sassou N’Guesso.

The Secretary-General thanked President Sassou N’Guesso for his engagement with the Central African Republic and looked forward to his continued support in the post-transition period.

The Secretary-General expressed concern about the Government’s ongoing security operation in the Pool region of the Republic of the Congo and its impact on the civilian population. He urged President Sassou N’Guesso to ensure that humanitarian and other relevant actors are granted access to the affected areas. He also called on the President to ensure that the security forces show restraint in the use of force and comply with the Republic of the Congo’s obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law.

The Secretary-General underscored the need for political dialogue to foster national unity following the recent elections. He emphasized the importance of President Sassou N’Guesso’s personal engagement and reaffirmed the United Nations’ readiness to support the Government and people of the Republic of the Congo in this regard.

New York, 18 May 2016