United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on Tuesday (2 May) the appointment of Leonardo Santos Simão of Mozambique as Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and President of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission.
Santos Simão succeeds Chadian Annadif Khatir Mahamat Saleh, to whom the Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for his dedication and action at the head of UNOWAS and the Joint Commission.
With a Masters in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, the new Special Representative has over 30 years of experience in public administration and international affairs.
Before serving as special envoy of the Government of Mozambique, from 2021 to 2022, he was Minister of Health from 1988 to 1994, then Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation from 1994 to 2005.
Between 2009 and 2014, he chaired the Technical Peace Mediation Team for Madagascar of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). He was also Executive Director of the Joaquim Chissano Foundation (Mozambique) and chairman of several boards and committees.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1156 of 03/05/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
