Dakar, 08 July 2014 – The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Sahel, Mrs. Hiroute Guebre Sellassie, concluded today her two day-visit to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
The Special Envoy conferred with the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and current President of the African Union, Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, on issues related to peace and security in the Sahel.
Mrs. Hiroute Guebre Sellassie congratulated President Ould Abdel Aziz for his recent re-election, as well as for his efforts to improve the security situation in Mauritania and in the region. She also praised the work undertaken by the President of Mauritania and his Government to ensure peace and stability in the region, including his collaboration with the United Nations to resolve the Malian crisis.
While encouraging Mauritania to maintain an active role to address regional challenges the Sahel is facing, the Special Envoy commended the efforts made to promote regional cooperation. The two officials stressed the need to coordinate existing initiatives for the Sahel, particularly the implementation of the initiatives of the G - 5 Sahel and of the Coordination Platform for the Sahel.
During this visit, Mrs. Guebre Sellassie also met with the Prime Minister, Mr. Moulaye Ould Mohamed Fasseh, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, Mr. Sidi Ould Tah, and the President of the National Assembly, Mr. Mohamed Ould Asad, as well as with other Mauritanian leaders and representatives of the United Nations system in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
The Special Envoy will continue her consultations with the leaders of the region and will travel to Burkina Faso for a two day official visit on 9 July.
