NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF NIGER PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF NIGER PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

(Based on information received from the Protocol and Liaison Service.)

Aboubacar Ibrahim Abani, the new Permanent Representative of the Niger to the United Nations, presented his credentials today to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

At the time of his appointment, Mr. Abani was diplomatic adviser to the presidency of his country after serving for two years as Technical Adviser to Niger’s Foreign Affairs Minister (2001-2003), preceded by service as Chief of the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Office of Multilateral Legal Affairs in 2000-2001.  In 1998-1999, he held an internship at the American University in Washington, D.C., after holding a position (1997-1998) as Chief of the Consular Division in the Foreign Ministry’s Directorate for Citizens of Niger Living Abroad.

From 1992 to 1997, Mr. Abani served as First Secretary with his country’s Embassy in Ethiopia while also holding that position with his country’s Mission to the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in Addis Ababa.  The position put him in charge of matters relating to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and other United Nations bodies.  Postings with his country’s Foreign Ministry also included positions as Chief of the Office for Inter-African Institutions (1990-1991), Chief of the Section for United Nations Specialized Agencies (1989-1990), and Chief of the Consular Office for the Protection of Citizens of Niger (1988-1989).

Mr. Abani’s early education focused on philosophy and arts before he earned a Diploma in Basic Legal Studies from the University of Niamey in 1985.  He also received a bachelor’s degree in law (1986) and a master’s degree in public law (1988) from the University of Niamey, and in 1999, he earned a Diploma in International Relations and Legal Studies from the School of International Service at the American University in Washington, D.C.  He has additional certification and internship experience in areas related to foreign policy, negotiation, social and sustainable development, as well as language training.

Fluent in French and English, Mr. Abani has been named an honorary citizen and goodwill ambassador for the State of Arkansas in the United States.  He is married and has two children.

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