This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6304043.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
UN chief to begin Africa visit UN chief to begin Africa visit
(about 3 hours later)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is to begin a five-day tour of Africa - his first official foreign trip since he took office earlier this month.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is to begin a five-day tour of Africa - his first official foreign trip since he took office earlier this month.
Mr Ban will visit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has the largest deployment of UN soldiers anywhere in the world.Mr Ban will visit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has the largest deployment of UN soldiers anywhere in the world.
He will also join an African Union summit in Ethiopia - the key business part of his trip - and visit Kenya.He will also join an African Union summit in Ethiopia - the key business part of his trip - and visit Kenya.
Mr Ban has promised to keep Africa high on his agenda as UN chief.Mr Ban has promised to keep Africa high on his agenda as UN chief.
PeacekeepersPeacekeepers
The secretary general's first stop will be the DRC, where elections were successfully held last year following the end of a bloody civil war.The secretary general's first stop will be the DRC, where elections were successfully held last year following the end of a bloody civil war.
It is crucially important to help [the people of DRC] solidify their democratic path Ban Ki-moonUN secretary general The BBC's United Nations correspondent, Laura Trevelyan, who is travelling with Mr Ban, says the situation there is still very unstable. UN PEACEKEEPERS IN AFRICA DR Congo: 17,000Liberia: 15,500Eritrea/Ethiopia: 2,300Sudan: 10,000 in the south, proposal for 20,000 in Darfur, rejected by Sudan govtIvory Coast: 9,000Western Sahara: 200Somalia: Proposal for UN to take control of 9,000 African Union troops The BBC's United Nations correspondent, Laura Trevelyan, who is travelling with Mr Ban, says the situation there is still very unstable.
Mr Ban told her he wanted to send a message to the international community that DRC was still in need of help.Mr Ban told her he wanted to send a message to the international community that DRC was still in need of help.
"It is crucially important to help [the people of DRC] solidify their democratic path," he said."It is crucially important to help [the people of DRC] solidify their democratic path," he said.
"At the same time, I'm going to engage in dialogue not only with President [Joseph] Kabila of DRC, but also with members of the opposition urging them to go into dialogue.""At the same time, I'm going to engage in dialogue not only with President [Joseph] Kabila of DRC, but also with members of the opposition urging them to go into dialogue."
About 17,000 United Nations peacekeepers operate in the country, overseeing the peace process after the end of a bloody five-year war in 2002.About 17,000 United Nations peacekeepers operate in the country, overseeing the peace process after the end of a bloody five-year war in 2002.
Mr Ban said it would be "premature at this time to talk about withdrawal or reduction of the forces", adding that their future there depended on "how the situation develops".Mr Ban said it would be "premature at this time to talk about withdrawal or reduction of the forces", adding that their future there depended on "how the situation develops".
'Deep concern''Deep concern'
Mr Ban is also due to meet President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan at the AU summit, which opens in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Monday.Mr Ban is also due to meet President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan at the AU summit, which opens in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Monday.
Our correspondent says in theory the Sudanese leader has accepted the idea of a joint AU-UN peacekeeping force in the troubled region of Darfur, but it has not happened yet.Our correspondent says in theory the Sudanese leader has accepted the idea of a joint AU-UN peacekeeping force in the troubled region of Darfur, but it has not happened yet.
The UN chief said the situation in Darfur was "on the top" of his agenda.The UN chief said the situation in Darfur was "on the top" of his agenda.
"I... am deeply concerned about the continuing violence and the suffering of the civilians there. This time we need action and to make real progress," he said."I... am deeply concerned about the continuing violence and the suffering of the civilians there. This time we need action and to make real progress," he said.
He said he would urge President Bashir "to make a clear commitment" to accept the deployment of an UN-AU peacekeeping force in the war-torn region.He said he would urge President Bashir "to make a clear commitment" to accept the deployment of an UN-AU peacekeeping force in the war-torn region.
Nearly four years of fighting in Darfur has killed some 200,000 people there and more than two million people have been displaced.Nearly four years of fighting in Darfur has killed some 200,000 people there and more than two million people have been displaced.