24 February 2014 - The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Guinea-Bissau held a working visit to Quinará, southern Guinea-Bissau, where he was warmly welcomed by local authorities and thousands of people in Buba, Fulacunda, Gampara, Gamdjabela, Nova Cintra and Empada.

In Buba, José Ramos-Horta was hosted by Governor Mamadu Aliu Camara, who accompanied him along with local administrators, officials of the Armed Forces, National Guard and Public Order Police, civil society, local chiefs, members of the Elders Council and religious leaders.

Were also part of the delegation representatives of the African Union and UN agencies such as the World Food Program (WFP), United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF), United Nations Fund for Population (UNFPA), the United Nations Fund for Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO), as well as from Rule of Law and Security Institutions (ROLSI) Section and Public Information Unit of the United Nations Integrated Office for Peacebuilding in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS).

The two-day visit carried out under the mandate of UNIOGBIS, for the restoration of constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau, departed on Thursday from Buba to the Sector of Fulacunda, where José Ramos-Horta was welcomed with a sabadora (male Muslims white costume), a pano di pente symbolizing the seven sections of the region, a set of trousers and white shirt, and an honorary certificate.

The Nobel Peace laureate said: "It's a surprise; I thought this would be just another visit to the region and never expected to find such a warm welcome from thousands of people. I am very touched. "

He added: "The UN is in Guinea-Bissau to work in order to bring the country out of transition with a new parliament, government and president, helping the people to get out of the crisis, in peace, on the way to future of development.”

Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) made a stop to visit a school in Sector Gã Para, accompanied by the Representative of WFP for Guinea-Bissau, Osama Osman, to whom was shown the rice store - in sufficient quantity, to 200 grams ratio per day / person - for feeding more than one thousand students.

In Fulacunda, he congratulated the population for the civic effort that culminated with the high percentage achieved in voter registration.

"The UN and the international community do not want, nor can replace Guineans and their leaders, they are present as friends and partners to support the authorities and people to return to constitutional order after two years of uncertainty, with an electoral process that will bring back the country to the concert of nations, "said the Nobel Peace.

And he stressed: "Guineans have ahead too big challenges to tackle extreme poverty, but should hope because the country is rich and believes that there will be a new phase, with confidence and hope for a better life."

After the elections, “there will be a conference with the new government to mobilize resources with the support of the African Development Bank (ADB), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP, Portuguese acronym), the European Union (EU), African Union (AU), the UN and friendly countries", he added.

In Gampara, there were l dance shows before the dignitaries sitting in a stand and more gifts, including plenty of baskets with vegetables and fruits, one radi (local rice shovel) and even a white goat.

The cadi (Muslim judge) Mamadou Mané, 74 years old, said: "In our life time we have never received such an important visit, meaning a joyful day for all the farmer population of this isolated village, that can be reached only after great fatigue".

In the locality of Gamdjabela, the SRSG laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Quemo Mané.
Already in Nova Cintra, José Ramos-Horta was welcomed with traditional dances, garden gifts and an invitation from the president of the National Council of Local Youth, on behalf of the population of Bolama and Bijagós, to visit the region.

The SRSG appreciated his "learning trip": "The Secretary-General of the UN has sent me to serve the cause of peace, freedom and democracy. And throughout the year I spent among Guineans, I learned as in university, because they are good, peaceful, tolerant and welcoming people", he stressed.

With the restoration of constitutional order and the return of Guinea-Bissau to the concert of nations, José Ramos-Horta promised international aid to improve health, nutrition, education and transport for the farmers, as well as the situation of military and police, “a process that will be led by the elected government, which will inherit a bankrupt treasury, in a very difficult economic environment."

“Malnutrition is very high in the country and the future depends on healthy children and the State's obligation is to respond to the aspirations of the suffering people, so often deceived”, he said.

The Nobel Peace Laureate on Friday visited Empada, where he was chosen by administrator Romualdo Bubacar Candé to be godfather of the village. The speeches of “Great Men” (from the Council of Elders) followed, as well as a new delivery of gifts from the field, fruit and vegetables.

The SRSG heard complaints like lack of roads and, as a consequence, a spoil of agricultural products - especially palm oil - which cannot be exchanged with other villages or disposed of for the city market.

The Governor of the region asked support for the rebuilding of roads and promised the revitalization of weekly markets in villages (Lumu), to get the people out of isolation.

The visit ended with a test of José Ramos-Horta to the students: “I was wondering if anyone knows who are UN Secretary-General, the Presidents of the United States and Portugal, the capital of France and the most populous country on the planet, without forgetting the name of the best football player of the world”. The Winners were much applauded.

There was still time to make a jump to Cubissecu and go through the facilities of the local school.

The SRSG promised to come back to observe the final preparations for the elections and the participation of political parties, civil and military authorities, and the people in Empada village which shall have by then lighting solar panels in the main street and square, a project supported by UNIOGBIS.