Brussels, 9 September 2014/ ACP: The ACP Committee of Ambassadors in Brussels will hold its first regular session this month since appointing a new Chair and a new Bureau to coordinate its work.

The Ambassador and Former Minister for Mining of Guinea, H.E Ousmane Sylla took over as Chair of the Committee of Ambassadors, presiding over the organisation’s key decision-making body in Brussels for the period 1 August 2014 – 31 January 2015.

The Bureau of the Committee of Ambassadors is comprised of a representative of each of the six ACP regions, including H.E Mr. Johnson Weru of Kenya (East Africa), H.E Dr. Alfredo Lopez Cabral of Guinea Bissau (West Africa), H.E Mrs. Grace Kabwe of Zambia (Southern Africa), H.E Mr. Ousmane Matar Breme of Chad (Central Africa), H.E Dr. Dylan Vernon of Belize (Caribbean) and H.E Mr. Joshua Kalinoe of Papua New Guinea (Pacific). They are responsible for coordination and reviewing issues before they are addressed at the level of the Committee of Ambassadors.

The Troika includes the presiding Chair of the Committee, along with the outgoing (H.E Dr. Diodorus Kamala of Tanzania) and incoming chair (H.E. Sir Roy Mickey Joy of Vanuatu).

Appointments last for a term of six-months before the next representatives are selected on the basis of regional rotation.

The Committee of Ambassadors is assists the Council of Ministers in the performance of its functions. Based in Brussels, it comprises of one representative from each of the ACP Group’s 79 member countries. The Committee of Ambassadors is also responsible for monitoring the implementation of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, with a view to achieving its objectives.

(Photo: Chair of the Committee of Ambassadors Dr Ousmane Sylla (centre) with the ACP Secretary General Mr Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni and members of the incoming and outgoing bureau)

– ACP Press