UNITED NATIONS TO SEND INTER-AGENCY MISSION TO WEST AFRICA

The Secretary-General has decided to dispatch an inter-agency mission to West Africa, from 6 to 26 March, led by Ibrahima Fall, Assistant Secretary-General, Department of Political Affairs.  The mission will visit Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

The primary objective of the mission is to take stock of the priority needs and challenges in West Africa and make recommendations on a coordinated United Nations response to the multifaceted problems confronting the region, taking into account initiatives already under way or being proposed by the various actors.

The inter-agency mission will include 10 United Nations departments, agencies and programmes.  A representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will also participate in the mission.

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