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Meet Aïchatou Mindaoudou Souleymane, Special Representative for Côte d’Ivoire

Gain a brief insight into the professional experience of Aïchatou Mindaoudou Souleymane, a Senior Leader with the United Nations. In May 2013, the United Nations former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Ms. Mindaoudou of Niger as his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI).

The Security Council of the UN, under resolution 1528 (2004) established the UNOCI mission with a mandate to facilitate the implementation by the Ivorian parties of the peace agreement signed by them in January 2003. The UN peacekeeping mission is currently in drawdown mode with an anticipated exit in mid-2017.

In addition to a previous mandate related to support to the national elections, the transitioning mission is responsible for supporting the protection of civilians, assisting the Ivorian Government in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of former combatants, as well as providing support to security sector reform; and monitoring and promotion of human rights in the area.

Prior to her deployment to Cote d’Ivoire, Ms. Mindaoudou served as the Deputy Joint Special Representative (Political) for the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).  From August 2012 to March 2013, she was also Acting Joint Special Representative and Acting Head of UNAMID, as well as Joint Chief Mediator ad interim.

Ms. Mindaoudou has more than 20 years of experience and a distinguished career in the Government of Niger, as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Minister for Social Development, Population and Promotion of Women’s Rights.

During her country’s chairmanship of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), she presided over the ECOWAS Ministerial Council for Mediation and Peace and led the engagement of ECOWAS in advancing peace and reconciliation in Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau and Togo (2005-2007).

She earned a PhD in international law at the University of Paris, La Sorbonne, in France, and both her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in international law at the University of Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire.


This article is published as part of the global call for Nominations to the Generic Pool of SRSG and DSRSG Candidates, click here to learn more.

Please note: This text is reproduced in part from an official text of the official United Nations website. Click here to read the official press release of the nomination of Ms. Mindaoudou

Photo: Aïchatou Mindaoudou Souleymane, now the Special Representative for Côte d’Ivoire, previously served as Acting Joint AU-UN Special Representative and Acting Head of UNAMID. Photo by UNAMID.

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This article was developed in partnership with the United Nations and serves to increase the dissemination and visibility of the Global Call for nominations.
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