Brussels, 20 November 2020/OACPS: The Committee of Ambassadors of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) extended a warm welcome to two new arrivals from Angola and Rwanda during their 933rd virtual session meeting on 17 November 2020.

H.E. Mário de Azevedo Constantino of the Republic of Angola replaces the former ambassador, H.E. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, who is currently the Secretary-General of the OACPS.

A seasoned diplomat, Ambassador Constantino has served his country remarkably, both in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at several diplomatic missions for more than 30 years. His postings include assignments in Geneva to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Angola to the United Nations (UN) Office where he was responsible for working with a number of UN offices.

Before his appointment in Brussels as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Angola to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Head of the Diplomatic Mission to the European Union, Ambassador Constantino held the post of Director of Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of his country.

Pledging the willingness of his embassy to be actively involved with the work of the OACPS, H.E. Constantino, in his remarks, congratulated the Central Negotiating Group, on their excellent work with the Negotiations, stating, “…the road travelled is a clear demonstration that we are a strong and decisive organization, in the search for solutions and in the face of the many increasingly complex challenges which confront the national communities”. He also reiterated his country’s engagement vis à vis the plan of action of the Nairobi Nguvu Ya Pamoja Declaration.

The new ambassador from the Republic of Rwanda, H.E. Dr. Dieudonné R. Sebashongore is an accomplished academic and specialist in applied organic chemistry and environmental science. A former Dean of the College of Science and Technology of the University of Rwanda, Dean of the Faculty of Science and a Senior Lecturer at the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, he has extensive experience in the areas of education and the environment and has as well, held other posts in his country, such as that of Project Manager for the Climate Change Project.

Prior to his appointment as Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union, Ambassador Sebashongore served as Director of Teaching and Learning Enhancement and a Senior Lecturer at the College of Science and Technology of the University of Rwanda.

In his maiden address to the CoA, Ambassador Sebashongore, expressed his country’s engagement to continue to work with the organization, stressing that “In this particularly difficult period, it is important to continue our cooperation efforts towards areas of common interest.” During his remarks, he made the very pertinent observation that it is only through dialogue that we can remind ourselves about what unites us, rather than what divides us.