Addis Ababa, 25October 2012:The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. NkosazanaDlamini-Zuma, has today appointedthe former President of the Republic of Burundi, Mr. Pierre Buyoya, as the AU High Representative for Mali and the Sahel. This decision follows the announcement made yesterday, 24 October 2012, by Dr. Dlamini-Zuma in her opening statement at the meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC), held at ministerial level, during which the PSC adopted the Strategic Conceptfor the Resolution of the Crises in Mali and Other Related Aspects.

Supported bythe Office that the AU intends to establish very soon in Bamako, the High Representative will have ashis main task the enhancement of the AU’scontribution to the ongoing effortsto address the situation in the northern part of Mali and complete the process to resolve fully theinstitutional crisis. He will endeavor to ensure a closer coordination with ECOWAS and the countries of the region, including the core countries, as well as with the international partners. In so doing, he will assist in addressing the multifaceted challenges confronting the Sahel region, with particular emphasis on the coordination of efforts aimed at dealing with theroot causes of the crises facing Mali. The implementation of the AU strategy for security and development in the Sahel region is also included in the mandate of the High Representative.

 

Mr. Pierre Buyoya was the President of the Republic of Burundi from 1987 to 1993 and from 1996 to 2003, and has a vast experience in conflict management and resolution. Since 2009, former President Buyoya has been a member of theAU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) on Sudan and South Sudan. He will assume his function as High Representative concurrently with his responsibilities as member of the AUHIP.

COMMENTS