Equatorial Guinea assumes chair of UN African states group

NEW YORK, NY – Anatolio Ndong Mba, Permanent Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea to the United Nations, has assumed the rotating chairmanship of the African states group and will lead the permanent representatives from African nations during the group’s meetings, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) plenary meetings, and events that take place during the month of August.

The agenda for the upcoming meetings will focus on issues related to the Global Development Agenda Post 2015 and progress in reaching the Millennium Development Goals, progress in realizing international support for the draft Resolution for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, and special events and high-level meetings to be held during the 68th session of the General Assembly next September.

Last month, Vuk Jeremic, UNGA President, met with President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Agapito Mba Mokuy, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and the country’s Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations, Anatolio Ndong Mba to discuss issues affecting the country such as security and development.

This was the first time that a UNGA President visited Equatorial Guinea. “I took the opportunity of this meeting to congratulate President for the development that Equatorial Guinea has experienced. This development deserves the support of the United Nations,” said Vuk Jeremic.

Equatorial Guinea hosts a number of UN programs, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UNICEF, and the UN Development Programme, which has conducted a national census with funding from the government. Equatorial Guinea has also provided technical assistance to the local United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to improve the effectiveness of its assistance program and has implemented a host of health programs geared toward improving the health of Equatorial Guineans. The West African nation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently signed an agreement that called for the FAO to invest US$3 million over three years to develop poultry farming in rural Equatorial Guinea.