UNOWAS

West Africa
UN considers reform of its West African office

The United Nations' special envoy for West Africa has launched a wide-ranging strategic review of UNOWAS, against a backdrop of regional realignment and tensions with the Alliance of Sahel States.

West Africa
UN's West Africa head visited Élysée to talk junta sanctions

During a trip to Paris and Brussels, UNOWAS's Leonardo Santos Simao, held talks with officials, calling for a reduction in the sanctions against Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger's juntas.

Palace Intrigues
Alassane Ouattara, Patrice Talon and Faustin-Archange Touadera

Intrigues big and small: every Tuesday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

Ivory Coast IMF wraps up Ouattara's 2023 budget

Benin Ex-foreign minister Agbenonci's costly ambitions

CAR Opposition leader Dologuele's discreet campaign

West Africa
Mozambican ex-foreign minister tipped for top UNOWAS job

At UN headquarters in New York, the name Leonardo Santos Simão, Mozambique's former foreign minister under Joaquim Chissano, is doing the rounds as the potential next head of UNOWAS.

Somalia
UN special envoy to Somalia role draws seasoned applicants

Six candidates are in the running for the position of UN Special Representative for Somalia, which has been vacant since US diplomat James Swan left in October 2022. His replacement has to be approved by all the permanent members of the UN security council.

West Africa
New candidates mooted for leadership of UN's West Africa and Sahel office

An increasing number of potential candidates for the leadership of the UN's West Africa and Sahel regional office UNOWAS is being put forward.

West Africa
West Africa ponders choice of next UNOWAS head

The Dakar-based post UN post has been vacant since October and the names of several African diplomats are doing the rounds.

Senegal, Switzerland
Switzerland opts to hold violent extremism prevention conference in Dakar

The Swiss foreign affairs department is currently preparing a regional conference on dialogue and security in Africa, which will be held in Dakar in February 2023.

West Africa
Issoufou's Sahel report for AU faces high expectations

Following on from his participation in the United Nations General Assembly in September, the former Nigerien head of state Mahamadou Issoufou will present his report on the situation in the Sahel at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa in February.

Ghana
Akufo-Addo pulls out all the stops to secure AU number two job for Ghana

With Ghana looking set to lose two of its most strategically important posts at the UN and the African Union in 2021, Akufo-Addo is redoubling his efforts to get Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee appointed as deputy chair of the AU Commission.