Denis Sassou N'Guesso Launches the United Nations Decade on Afforestation and Reforestation in Impani-Ignié

The village of Impani, in the Ignié district, made history on November 6, 2026. It was in this town that the entire country celebrated the 40th National Tree Day, coupled with the official launch of the United Nations Decade on Afforestation and Reforestation 2027–2036.
It was a celebration of international significance, marked by the presence of the Head of State, Denis Sassou N'Guesso; the President of Burundi and current Chairperson of the African Union, Évariste Ndayishimiye, the President of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, the Vice President of the Republic of Gabon, as well as the President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Khalilur Rahman.

In his address, Denis Sassou N'Guesso paid tribute to the heads of state in attendance and to the United Nations member states that voted on April 16, 2025, in favor of the Decade for Afforestation initiative. “This decade calls on us to reverse the trend, preserve biodiversity, and foster the emergence of new green economies,” he said. He noted that National Tree Day embodies a shared responsibility across generations. “Words alone are not enough,” he insisted, highlighting the central role of trees in African societies as symbols of harmony and hope.

A gift from Burundi marked a highlight of the ceremony: the symbolic presentation of an avocado sapling as part of a donation of 2,000 saplings offered by Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye to the Republic of the Congo. Denis Sassou N'Guesso personally planted the first sapling in this orchard.
For the reforestation project covering an area of 23 hectares, the technical plan followed strict guidelines, namely a spacing of 2 m by 2 m for forest species and 4 m by 6 m for fruit trees, including eucalyptus, pine, acacia, and avocado trees.
The president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly praised the Congo’s commitment before outlining three priorities for turning promises into action: achieving concrete results on the ground, securing increased funding at the upcoming COP 31, and placing youth at the center of efforts through access to employment and training.
The ceremony featured a performance by Congolese artist Patou Ngondo, also known as Oupta, who highlighted the urgency of protecting forests.