PERMANENT OBSERVER MISSION OF
THE AFRICAN UNION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
OFFICE OF THE HEAD OF MISSION
AMBASSADOR MOHAMED FATHI EDREES
Head of Mission
Ambassador Mohamed Edrees is a seasoned Egyptian diplomat with extensive experience in multilateral affairs. A former physician, he joined the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1987 after earning a medical degree from Cairo University and a Master’s in Political Science from SOAS, University of London. He has served in key diplomatic posts, including Ambassador of Egypt to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union and UNECA, as well as Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations in New York. A former Chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission and member of the Secretary-General’s Advisory Group of the Peacebuilding Fund, he currently serves as Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations.
MS. MARIE BORE
ASSISTANT TO THE AMBASSADOR
Ms. Marie Bore is the administrative assistant of the Ambassador. Her role is to provide secretarial and administrative support to the Ambassador. She is also the liaison between the Head of Mission’s Office and Headquarters in Addis Ababa, as well as with the United Nations, and other Missions and organizations. She is well trained in the field of bilingual secretarial studies and has several years of experience in working with the African Union and other African Permanent Missions.
MRS. ESTHER AZAA YAMBOU TANKOU
Communication Advisor
Mrs. Esther Azaa Yambou Tankou, is Head of Media and Information within the Directorate of Information and Communication of the African Union Commission (AUC), Seconded as Communication Adviser to the African Union Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations (UN) in New York, USA. A native of Cameroon. Mrs. Tankou has over 25 years of experience in the field of Information, Media, Public Relations, Advocacy, Marketing and Communication with very good proficiency in French and English.
MRS. OUMOU DAOU-KOUMOUE
Communication Advisor
Ms. Oumou Daou Koumoue is a Communications and Outreach expert who leads all the communications activities of the Mission. She is responsible for social media and serves as the focal person for media inquiries and partnerships. Prior to this, she was a technical expert within the Silencing the Guns Unit, at the Department for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the AUC. Ms. Daou-Koumoue holds a masters degree in Political Science from Paris VIII Vincennes-Saint Denis University.
ECONOMIC & SOCIAL AFFAIRS
MRS. BENNI ASMAA
Advisor, Economic Affairs
Mrs. Benni Asmaa is a diplomat covering the economic and social issues at the African Union Mission. She has 6 years of experience as a Counselor in the Permanent Mission of Morocco, in Geneva, where she was in charge of the Human Rights Council of the UN, and WHO. She previously worked as a Counselor in the Cabinet of the Ministry delegate of the Moroccan Foreign Affairs, focusing notably on gender issues, peace, and disarmament. She was also teaching International Relations, at the University of Political Science in Lyon, and Geopolitics and geostrategy in the Middle East at the Institute of European Studies (IEE) in Paris, in parallel of preparing her PhD on terrorism, in the field of Political Science- International Security and defense.
MS. PUSELETSO ADELINAH MOLATO
Adviser, Economic and Social Affairs
Ms. Puseletso Adelinah Molato is an expert representing the Mission in dialogues and negotiations on the Third Commission. Ms. Molato's work covers social, cultural and humanitarian assistance, including social development, human rights, international drug control, trafficking in human beings, health, the elimination of racial discrimination , xenophobia and associated intolerance phenomena. Ms. Molato also advises the African Union Commission on the outcome of the UN plenary consultations in various bodies of the Third Committee and on the interests of African countries.
POLITICAL AFFAIRS
MR. SALEM MATUG
Adviser, Political Affairs
Mr. Salem Matug is a political affairs specialist for the UN Fourth Committee and a member of several United Nations bodies responsible for peacekeeping, including the Peacebuilding Commission and the C34 Committee. He was previously a Libyan diplomat in Ethiopia, the African Union Commission, and ECA. He holds a Master's degree in International Studies from the University of Exeter and has taken professional courses in Conflict Prevention and Management from the Institute of Diplomatic Studies in Libya, as well as Preventive Diplomacy from UNITAR.
PEACE AND SECURITY
MR. ZINURINE ABIODU ALGHALI
Senior Advisor, Peace and Security
Coordinator of the African members of the UN security Council (A3)
Mr Zinurine Abiodu Alghali coordinates peace and security issues, including the work of the African Members of the UN Security Council (A3). Previously, Mr Alghali led the Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD), at the AU Commission. He also led the Peacekeeping Unit and Managed the Training for Peace (TfP) in Africa Programme at the African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD). He holds a Masters in Gender Studies (Conflict and Human Rights), Bachelors in Philosophy and Politics and a Diploma in Mass Communication - all from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.
MS. FATOU SOMBIE KABORE
Advisor, Women Peace and Security and Focal Point of African Women Leadership Network
Ms. Fatou Sombie Kabore is a WPS Policy Analyst, a United Nations Security Council Focus expert and the Focal Person of the African Women Leaders Network at the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations. Ms. Fatou has over 8 years of experience delivering results in Peace and Security, WPS and Political Affairs, within which over 4 years of experience in the UN Security Council system. Ms. Fatou provides policy analysis on AWLN thematic pillars of peace and security; Governance and political participation; financial inclusion and entrepreneurship; social mobilization; women in rural area and agriculture; and young women leadership.
MR. SID BAOUCHE
Senior Adviser, Political Affairs
Bio
Mr. DAMILOLA OLUFEMI ABIKOYE
Adviser, Political Affairs
Mr. Damilola Olufemi Abikoye is a Political, Peace and Security Advisor at the African Union Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations. He supports the African Group, A3+ activities, and AU-UN cooperation, and serves as Focal Person on the First Committee, disarmament affairs and counterterrorism. Prior to this role, he served as a Foreign Service Officer with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, including as Deputy Head of the West Africa Desk, handling political and consular issues and developing policy positions on regional matters. He previously served as Head of Consular and Immigration Unit at the Nigerian Embassy in Cote d'Ivoire and worked in the Minister's Office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Abikoye is a lawyer and holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in Computer and Telecommunications Law from Queen Mary University of London. He completed professional diplomatic training at the Nigeria Foreign Service Academy.
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
MR. SESHIME DOVLO
Head of Finance and Administration
Mr. Seshime Dovlo is responsible for all financial and administrative affairs of the Mission. His responsibilities include managing the Mission's finances and expenditures related to operations, human resources, and procurement. He advises on administrative policies and human resources. He coordinates the financial and operational reports of the Head of Mission, the Directorate of Human Resources Management at Headquarters and the Programming and Budgeting Directorate. He holds an MBA in Finance from the Institute of Management and Public Administration of Ghana.
MR. YOSEF DEGU
Administrative Officer
Mr. Yosef Degu is a Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA), UK with a wide range of accounting, auditing and administration experience. He holds Bachelor of Art in Economics and Diploma in Accounting from Addis Ababa University. He has more than fifteen years of work experience and more than 10 years in the African Union Head Quarters. He is now in charge of all administrative aspects which mainly includes Human Resources, IT and Procurement among others, and gives hands to finance whenever necessary.
MRS. ANNA ABEBE
Administrative Assistant
Ms. Anna Abebe is an administrative assistant. She coordinates the activities of the African Group of Ambassadors, the group of African experts in the Main Committees and the Nominations Committee of the African Group. She participates in the organization of conferences and meetings. She also leads the protocol activities and is responsible for the mission internship program. She received training in Administration and management related issues.
MR. ABDUL DIAWARA CADRIME NATHALI
Driver/Messenger
Mr. Abdoul D. C. Nathali provides transportation services to the Permanent Representative and other delegates of the AUC. It also facilitates the distribution of letters and documents to the UN and other stakeholders.
MR. TESFAYE TAMRAT
Courier & Logistics
Mr. Tamrat provides transportation services to staff members and delegates, as appropriate. In addition, he assumes administrative support tasks, including the filing, sending and receiving of mail and parcels, and the purchase of office supplies.
CONFERENCE & DOCUMENTATION
MRS. MIRRIAM OMALA-GAUVIN
Adviser, Meetings and Conference Management
Ms. Mirriam Omala-Gauvin is responsible for the management and interpretation of the conferences. She leads meetings for the African Ambassadors Group and serves as a focal point for the group of African ambassador spouses and the diaspora. She is an experienced advisor in the fields of diplomacy, government and business. She holds a degree in Education from the University of Nanterrre and a Master's degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Fairleigh Dickson University.
MR. SIMON YOROU RAPHAEL
Adviser, Conference Management & Documentation
Mr. Simon Yorou Raphael is responsible for the documentation and archives of the mission. He prepares and administers documentation for the African Group, experts and other partners at high-level meetings and conferences. He also manages the dissemination of information between the African Union Mission and the United Nations and manages the mission database. He is a multi-lateral professional with 12 years of experience in records management, documentation and project management. He holds a Masters in Project Evaluation and Management from the University of Parakou.