African leaders en route to New York for UN General Assembly [Photos]

World leaders are trooping to New York in the United States of America for the 71st General Assembly of the United Nations which opened on September 13, 2016.

Heads of State, Heads of Government and representatives of the 193 UN Member States will participate in the events starting Monday, September 19 with a Summit for refugees and Migrants and then from September 20 to 26, will be the general debate where the leaders will speak on the subject: The Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform our World.

Cameroonian president Paul Biya is already in New York after leaving Yaounde on Friday. He was accompanied by his wife.

Kenyan Vice President William Ruto will represent President Uhuru Kenyatta at the general Assembly. He is already in New York after arriving on Sunday.

In New York for the #UNGA where issues on refugee crisis, sustainable dev, US-Africa bus, among others will feature. pic.twitter.com/yDSuxr8bCY

— William Samoei Ruto (@WilliamsRuto) September 18, 2016

Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari has also landed in New York on Sunday for the Assembly.

President MBuhari has arrived New York ahead of the opening of the High Level Segment of #UNGA . #NigeriaUNGA pic.twitter.com/JSpaIh7Ay6

— Nigeria MFA (MFA_Nigeria) September 18, 2016

Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara also joined the world leaders in New York on Sunday with his wife.

Photos de l'arrivée du Président de la République, S.E.M. Alassane OUATTARA, à New York (USA). pic.twitter.com/vWERj5CAzU

— Presidenceci (@Presidenceci) September 18, 2016

South African president Jacob Zuma arrived in New York on Saturday night via the national airline.

President Jacob Zuma arrives in New York pic.twitter.com/h9cD28eV8X

— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) September 17, 2016

Rwandan president also expects a busy week in New York during the General Assembly.

In New York for UNGA.+ + going to be busy week!

— Paul Kagame (@PaulKagame) September 17, 2016

Senegalese president Macky Sall passed through Canada for the 5th Global Fund Conference against AIDS held in Montreal. He is expected to cross the border on Sunday to New York for the General Assembly.

En marge du GlobalFund, Macky_Sall​ ​a ​accordé ​une série d’audiences à des autorités canadiennes. pic.twitter.com/JiWQSDkvtN

— Présidence Sénégal (@PR_Senegal) September 18, 2016

Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe is expected to be in New York from Venezuela where he participated in the Non-Alligned Movement Summit. Mugabe will face a #ThisFlag demonstration led by Pastor Evan Mawarire in New York against his regime.

Latest: Mugabe flies to Venezuela NAM Summit, UN General Assembly in US https://t.co/mADYUUqBAi pic.twitter.com/rKfHsm9aDA

— Zimbabwe Lates News (@ZimbabwesNews) September 15, 2016

#ThisFlag Protest march UN General Assembly in NY from 17-22 Sept 2016. Mugabe will b there. No ZRP, NO Teargas! pic.twitter.com/siQxzm3nIP

— mmatigari (matigary) September 1, 2016

Among the issues to be tackled are finding a solution to the global refugee crisis, the threat of antimicrobial resistance, implementation of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to end world hunger.

The new President of the General Assembly, Peter Thomson, after taking his oath of office opened the General Assembly with a call for an expedited implementation of the SDGs.

Get to know Peter Thomson of Fiji (ThomsonFiji) who took the oath of office as new #UNGA UN_PGA this week. pic.twitter.com/Kuj35LwXsw

— United Nations (@UN) September 15, 2016

“But make no mistake, the great majority of humankind has yet to learn of the Agenda; it has yet to embrace the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, that if successfully implemented will bring an end to poverty and secure a sustainable place for humanity on this planet,” he said.

Outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also called for the implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement. “This first year is crucial. It is a time when all Member States should align their policies, programmes and spending behind the 17 goals,” he said.

Ban noted that his successor, the ninth UN Secretary-General, will be introduced on January 1, 2017.