The Special Envoy for the Sahel concludes her official visit in Mali

DAKAR, Sénégal, July 2, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- As part of her first tour in the region of the Sahel, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Sahel, Mrs. Hiroute Guebre Sellassie, concluded today her first visit to Mali.

Mrs. Guebre Selassie, who took function as Special Envoy for the Sahel last May, conferred with the President of the Republic of Mali, Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, on the important role played by Mali as the Chairing State of the Ministerial Coordination Platform of the strategies for the Sahel and on the general prevailing situation in the region of the Sahel.

The President of the Republic of Mali congratulated Mrs. Guebre Sellassie on her appointment as Special Envoy for the Sahel and reaffirmed his personal support and the Government's commitment to supporting the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel.

The Special Envoy reiterated the engagement of the United Nations to continue to work with Sahelian countries and partners, in order to accelerate the implementation of projects within the framework of the United Nations Integrated Strategy.

The two officials also discussed the political and security situation in the Sahel region and the efforts of the international community to reduce the threat of terrorism affecting the Sahel and the surrounding regions.

In this regard, the Special Envoy stressed the importance to coordinate all existing initiatives in the Sahel to address the diverse needs of the region in an effective and timely manner.

During her visit, Mrs. Guebre Sellassie also met with the Prime Minister of Mali Mr. Moussa Mara, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Abdoulaye Diop, the Minister of Defense, Colonel-Major Ba N'dao, the Minister of Planning and Population, Mr. Cheikna Seydi Hahamady Diawara, as well as with other Malian and United Nations System officials.

The Special Envoy will leave today to Niger to meet with national authorities.