Nicolas Bwakira: a pan-Africanist committed to serving the continent’s people

As a long-standing ISS Trustee, Bwakira’s incisive mind and contribution to the institute’s work will be sorely missed.

Pretoria, South Africa – The Board of Trustees and management of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) learnt with great sadness of the passing of ISS Trustee and friend, Ambassador Nicolas Bwakira.

Bwakira served Africa in many capacities including as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and as former Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union in Somalia. As an international civil servant and pan-Africanist, he worked in Namibia, Angola, Somalia and more recently in the Lake Chad Basin. Bwakira was also a long-standing member of the Crisis Management Initiative and, after retiring, served at the University of South Africa.

As a long-standing member of the ISS Board of Trustees he consistently reminded us of our obligations towards those in Africa who are marginalised and vulnerable. His inquisitive mind and energy inspired us all and we will miss his meticulous preparations, incisive mind and contribution to the work of the ISS.

The ISS Trustees and management offer our sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and the people of Burundi.

For further information, contact:

Jakkie Cilliers, ISS: [email protected]; +27 83 644 6883

Photo: ISS