Biographical Note
SG/A/810
AFR/440
BIO/3435
24 July 2002
Secretary-General Appoints Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah As His Special Representative for West Africa
NEW YORK, 23 July (UN Headquarters) -- The Secretary-General announced on 19 July the appointment of Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah (Mauritania) as his Special Representative for West Africa.
Mr. Ould-Abdallah is currently the Executive Director of the Global Coalition for Africa, a Washington-based intergovernmental forum. He has served with the United Nations in a number of capacities, including as the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Burundi and Special Coordinator for New and Renewable Sources of Energy and Energy Issues. Mr. Ould-Abdallah also held a number of positions with the Government of Mauritania, notably as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Ambassador to the United States.
Since 1968, he has served as Director-General of Mauritanian Industries; Minister of Commerce and Transportation; Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands and to the European Economic Community; and General Director of the Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière.
Mr. Ould-Abdallah obtained a bachelor's degree in economics and a Diploma in Graduate Studies from the University of Grenoble, France, in 1966. He received a Diploma in Advanced Studies in Economics from the University of Paris, as well as a Diploma in Graduate Studies in Political Science from the University of Paris, Sorbonne, in 1967.
Born on 21 November 1940, Mr. Ould-Abdallah has one son.
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