1 October 2014: The Secretariat of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is mourning the passing of Hama Arba Diallo, the Convention’s first Executive Secretary who served from 1993-2007. He passed away on 1 October 2014.

Prior to his leadership of the UNCCD, Diallo served as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) from 1990-1992.

Prior to UNCED, he served as Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1983 and as Ambassador of Burkina Faso to China, India and Japan from 1988-1989. He also was the Director of the UN Sudano-Sahelian Office (1979-1983). When he stepped down as UNCCD Executive Secretary, he served as a National Assembly parliamentarian in Burkina Faso and as Mayor of Dori, Burkina Faso.

The UNCCD Secretariat has offered to relay condolences to Diallo’s family. Messages should be sent to: secretariat@unccd.int. [UNCCD News Release] [CSO Tribute]