24 March 2014 - The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Guinea-Bissau, José Ramos-Horta, is on working visit to Tombali region, south Guinea-Bissau, between today and Wednesday, along with a UNIOGBIS delegation, thus honoring the invitation from Tombali's Governor, Bocar Seidi Lemos..

Below, the message by SRSG José Ramos-Horta, prior to his departure:

Once again, I move to the regions to watch closely the reality, the huge difficulties faced by the populations, the challenges local authorities are confronted with.

I have gone almost everywhere in the country, I visited most remote villages where some national political leaders, some international partners likewise have never gone.

Over there is live people, human beings, thousands of Bissau-Guineans. With same desires, their needs are bigger than of those who are, for instance, in the capital, Bissau.

Today, I initiate a visit in Tombali region at Governor's invitation and I am pleased that I will be with his people, listening to them, and with them trying to find small solutions to big problems they are confronted with.

Since the past three months, SRSG José Ramos-Horta has visited six regions, besides Bissau, including Quinará, Bafatá, Biombo, Cacheu, Oio and Bolama-Bijagos.