ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, November 6, 2015/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission delegated H.E. Dr. Aisha L. Abdullahi, Commissioner for Political Affairs to undertake an assessment mission to the Saharawi Refugees Camps in the Tindouf area of Southern Algeria to assess the damage caused by the recent flooding.
On the first day of the visit, H.E. the Commissioner for Political Affairs met with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, H.E. Mr. Abdelhamid Senouci Bereks.
During the official lunch organized by the Secretary General before proceeding to Tindouf, the Commissioner for Political Affairs thanked the Government and the people of Algeria for the hospitality and the warm welcome. She also expressed the appreciation of the African Union of the Algerian support provided to the Saharawi people for over 40 years and the additional support provided after the recent flooding in the area.
The Secretary General welcomed the Commissioner for Political Affairs to Algeria and thanked the African Union Commission for the quick response to the crisis. He also expressed his hope that the recent flooding will remind the word and the international community of the Saharawi people and their rights to self-determination.
H.E. Commissioner for PA and her delegation visiting martyrs’ memorial site in Algiers
The Commissioner informed H.E. the Secretary General of the Algerian Ministry of the Foreign Affairs that the African Union Commission has donated a total $200,000 and another $50,000 was also donated by the African Union Staff Association.
The Secretary General was accompanied by Amb. Sofian Emimouni, Director of African Affairs, Amb. Mohamed Lamine Laaba, Director of Multilateral Relations and Ms. Menal Elayoubi Deputy Director of External Communications.
Commissioner Abdullahi was accompanied by H.E. Amb. Lamine Baali, Ambassador of the Saharawi Republic to the African Union and Chairperson of the PRC-Sub Committee on Refugees, Returnees and IDPs, Amb. Salah S. Hammad and Mr Yusuf Mohammed from the Department of Political Affairs.
During the three-day assessment visit, H.E. the Commissioner for Political Affairs is expected to visit the affected areas and meet with the Saharawi government officials including H.E. the Prime Minister of the Republic of Saharawi.
