Sierra Leone’s Ambassador Gberie Elected New Chairman IOM Bureau
Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday 29 November 2021 - The IOM’s Council meeting at its 113th Session in Geneva unanimously elected Ambassador to Switzerland and Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations, Dr Lansana Gberie, as the New Chairperson of its governing bureau on 29 November 2022, at the opening session of the council.
The 113th Session of Council will be held from 29 November to 2 December 2022 in a hybrid format in-person.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) meets in regular session once a year and in special sessions at the request of one-third of its members, the Director General or the Chairman of the Council in urgent circumstances.
At the beginning of each regular session, the Council elects, from among the representatives of member States, a Chairperson, a First Vice-Chairperson, a Second Vice-Chairperson and a Rapporteur. The officers are elected for a one-year term and are eligible for re-election.
Again, Sierra Leone among dozens of Member States is recognized in the global community with a golden star. In recent years in Geneva, Ambassador Gberie has been elected President of the Arm Trade Treaty, which ended with major achievements, Chairman of the World Trade Organisation's TRIPS Council, First Vice Chairman of IOM’s governing bureau at its 112th Session in Geneva, and now Chairperson of its governing bureau.
Ambassador Gberie was nominated by three regions (Africa, Europe and Asia) - the Nigerian Ambassador to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland, H.E. Mr. Abiodun Richards Adejola, was first in-nomination and seconded by the United Kingdom Ambassador to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland, H.E Mr. Simon Manley and supported by the Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland, H.E. Chen Xu.
In his short statement as New Chairperson of the Governing Bureau, His Excellency, Ambassador Gberie, congratulated and thanked members of the Bureau on their election to lead the 113th Session of the IOM Council, and thanked the outgoing Chairperson H.E. Francisca Elizabeth Mèndez Escobar, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Mexico, for her leadership of the 112th IOM Governing Bureau as well as for her brilliant stewardship during the past year. Other officers were also elected unanimously.
Ambassador Gberie also thanked Mr. António Vitorino, the Director-Genera of IOM, for his steady leadership and commitment to IOM’s drive in helping thousands of migrants and displaced people by supporting countries to create the conditions for safe, orderly, and regular migration for over seven decades.
He added, ‘’as the new chairperson of the governing bureau, Sierra Leone would remain effective, operational and fit for purpose during his tenure’’, Ambassador Gberie concluded.
In his short statement, the Director-Genera of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Mr. António Vitorino congratulated and wished the New Chairperson of its governing bureau, H.E, Ambassador Lansana Gberie a productive chairmanship.
He noted that Ambassador Gberie brings to the organization a wealth experience in the field of Journalism, diplomacy, Peace, Security among others.
With all sanctities, the Chairman will promulgate IOM’s Continental Strategy for Africa 2020-2024 and its effective implementation thus far has been a mark of true leadership and vision. The renewed and strengthened cooperation with the African Union and A.U. Member States on migration issues and the effort to foster inclusive and sustainable development in Africa will be critical.
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio’s agenda, emphasizes the need for constructive engagement in intergovernmental negotiations on the adoption of a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration. Effective implementation and follow-up of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) continues to remain crucial in making migration work for all. His government believes that migration and development should be addressed comprehensively.
In Sierra Leone, the National UN Network on Migration was launched on 1 June 2021, and the government under President Julius Maada Bio has been working with the network to integrate migration into the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), in alignment with and as part of the implementation of these two frameworks.
The unanimous election of Ambassador to Switzerland and Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations, Dr Lansana Gberie, as the New Chairperson of IOM’s governing bureau was conceded with his birthday. What a wonderful blessing!!
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Sheriff
Information Attaché, Geneva, Switzerland
+41791756648
Email: m.sheriff@slmge.ch