Victoria: Ms Kevita Belani, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative for Southern Africa, met with Mr Barry Faure, Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, at Maison Qu©au de Quinssy, where she formally presented her Letter of Credence.
According to African Press Organization, following the accreditation formalities, Minister Faure and Ms Belani discussed areas of opportunities for further cooperation between Seychelles and UNHCR. Particular attention was given to the potential for Seychelles to benefit from UNHCR's expertise and capacity-building support, including in the development of a country-specific asylum strategy.
The two sides also exchanged views on cooperation in addressing development priorities and challenges that are of particular relevance to Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including Seychelles.
During her visit to Seychelles, Ms Belani is also scheduled to meet with representatives of non-governmental organisations to discuss the regional refugee situation in Southern Africa and explore opportunities to strengthen support for this vulnerable group of individuals.
Ms Belani, who is based in Pretoria, covers Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles, and South Africa.