4 Countries in 8 Days
Travelling with UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to travel with UN Secretary-General António Guterres to the Middle East and North Africa where I covered his trip as part of my job working for the UN social media team. It was an intense and gratifying journey that I wish more United Nations staffers could experience to directly witness the impact our day-to-day work has on people around the world.
The trip took us to Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Jordan — four countries in eight days. That might sound exciting for some, and exhausting to others. The reality is — it’s both — especially when you’re working a whirlwind of 18 to 20 hours a day.
The SG — as he is affectionately called by his staff — is a practical and humble man, who insists on carrying his own luggage and refuses to be addressed by titles like “Your Excellency.” In fact, I overheard him tell one of the student groups we met: “There are no Excellencies here. You can call me António, if you like.”
The trip had multiple destinations and a wide variety of objectives. Here’s a quick overview.
Tunisia
In Tunisia, the Secretary-General called for unity at the Arab Summit, visited the Bardo Museum to pay tribute to the victims of the 2015 terror attack, and met with university students to exchange views and hear their concerns.
Egypt
After a couple busy days in Tunis, we traveled to Egypt, where the Secretary-General met the Grand Imam of Al Azhar in Cairo to express his respect for Islam and his solidarity with its followers. It was fascinating to sit in on their meeting and watch the two men connect through their common quest for peace and a better world for all, despite their religious, cultural and language differences.
At the Grand Egyptian Museum the SG — a big enthusiast of museums and culture — was afforded a behind-the-scenes tour of the conservation center and saw first-hand how the museum restores and preserves invaluable cultural heritage.
Libya
The next leg of our trip saw a marked shift in our focus and was considerably more challenging. We traveled to Libya to express support for the country’s peace process and solidarity with the Libyan people.
I watched as the Secretary-General worked tirelessly in the name of peace; holding numerous meetings with political leaders in Tripoli, Tobruk and Benghazi and spending countless hours on the phone with key players in the hopes of supporting a Libyan-led political process.
Unfortunately, despite those efforts, the military mobilization around Tripoli continued, even as we were on the ground trying to support the negotiations. Hearing gunshots throughout the night, even from the relative safety of the UN compound, it became all too clear how urgently a peaceful solution is needed.
In Tripoli, the Secretary-General also visited a detention centre for refugees and migrants. The centre was filled with people who had fled their own countries in search of a better future, but were now stuck in Libya after being sent back from Europe or having been rescued from drowning while trying to cross the Mediterranean.
For me, the images I saw at the centre were heart-breaking: young women and small children sitting on thin mattresses on the floor, stranded indefinitely with no real control over their fate. With tears in their eyes, they told the SG their emotional stories of trauma and shattered hopes and dreams.
When we left, the Secretary-General promised to appeal to the international community once again to safeguard the lives and human rights of these refugees and migrants, who have been failed by the existing system.
Jordan
Jordan was our last stop, where the Secretary-General called for increased climate action at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa.
My favorite part of our time in the country was our visit to a school for Palestinian refugees. As a former teacher, visiting children in an UNRWA school and seeing their enthusiasm for learning, warmed my heart.
During all our stops, António Guterres met not only political leaders, but also civil society representatives and young people, as well as our UN colleagues working in these countries. I lost count of the number of selfies and group photos that the SG took with colleagues and which are now, no doubt, proudly displayed in offices and on cell phones in all four countries.
As for me, I came back exhausted and in awe of the way in which the Secretary-General and his team spare no effort in their tireless work to make the world a better place. I learned a great deal about the world, the UN and myself on this trip — and am more committed than ever to the mission of the United Nations.
