Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, President, Centre for Strategy and Security in the Sahel Sahara

Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah has devoted himself to African development and conflict management throughout his career. Between 1969 and 1984 he held several posts with the Mauritanian government, including foreign minister, ambassador to the US and the European Union. In 1984 he began work within the UN as the special coordinator for Renewable Energy for Africa and the least developed countries, and from 1993 to 1995 Ould-Abdallah was the special representative of the UN Secretary-General in Burundi. He has authored many publications, including ‘La Diplomatie Pytomane’ (1996) and ‘Burundi on the Brink’ (2000). He has been Executive Secretary for the Global Coalition for Africa, a forum for promoting political and economic reforms. He is a Member of the International Advisory Board, Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life, Brandeis University, Transparency International, Search for Common Ground. He has served as special representative of the UN Secretary-General in West Africa based in Dakar and is the President of the Centre for Strategy and Security in the Sahel Sahara.