By Kemo Cham
Burundian Seraphine Wakana has been named as the new United Nations Resident Coordinator for Sierra Leone.
Ms Wakana was unveiled on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, according to a statement from his office. She replaces Nigerian Babatunde Ahonsi, who has been redeployed to Turkiye as new UN Resident Coordinator.
A statement from the UN announcing Ms Wakana’s appointment said it was done with approval of the Sierra Leonean government.
Ms. Wakana, a former cabinet Minister of Burundi, has more than 28 years of experience in coordination, political engagement, economics and development planning, serving the UN at various level, including as consultants and then resident representative.
She was Minister of Development Planning and Reconstruction for her country from 2002 to 2005.
Prior to her new appointment, she was UN Resident Coordinator in Gambia, where she led UN efforts in supporting the national development priorities of the country to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda.
“Under her leadership and guidance, the UN Country Team in the Gambia has provided technical support and strategic guidance through the different UN agencies operational in the country,” the statement notes.
Previously, Ms. Wakana also served as UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Guinea from 2014 to 2018 and as Senior Economist, Regional Office of the African Development Bank in the Democratic Republic of Congo, among a host of international assignment spanning stints at the African Development Bank, World Bank and UNDP.
