UN chief to visit three African countries: spokesman

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon is scheduled to start a visit to Namibia, Equatorial Guinea and Kenya Monday.

He is scheduled to attend a series of African Union and United Nations meetings, UN spokesperson Stephane Dejuarric told reporters here Friday.

"The secretary-general will travel to Windhoek, Namibia, on Monday 23 June, before going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, for the African Union Summit, and Nairobi, Kenya, for the closing session of the United Nations Environment Assembly," Xinhua quoted the official as saying in a daily news briefing here.

Dejurarric said in Namibia, the secretary-general will meet with President Hifikepunye Pohamba and other government officials.

Ban will also participate in the commissioning of the UN House in Windhoek, home to 12 Agencies, Funds and Programmes, the official added.

On Wednesday, Ban will leave Namibia for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, for the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union, he said. "The secretary-general will address the summit on June 26 and hold bilateral meetings with heads of states and other high officials."

On Friday, he will leave for Nairobi, Kenya, to attend the closing session of the first United Nations Environment Assembly. This Assembly is the UN Environment Program's governing body and the highest-level global platform for environmental policy making.

While in Kenya, the UN chief will hold bilateral meetings with government officials, including President Uhuru Kenyatta, the spokesman said.