Vera Songwe et Paul Biya P R C
Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) cut short her official visit to Cameroon following the “tragic loss of two ECA staff members”
Dr. visited mourning families and staff in Rabat, Morocco Friday April 19, in support to them, following a tragic car accident in which two staff members of ECA office for North Africa lost their lives.
“Hind Jabir (31) and Samira Ezzine (54) have worked for ECA for several years. They are warmly remembered by UN colleagues and ECA partners for their generosity, dynamism and devotion,” an ECA statement read, adding that: “Upon receiving the shocking news while on a very successful official visit to Cameroon, Ms. Songwe quickly flew in to Rabat from Yaoundé, hours before her scheduled departure from the Central African country, which happens to be her home.”
In a message late on April 18, 2019 titled "Cancellation of press conference at Hilton, with regrets", Abel Akara Ticha, Communication Officer| Sub-regional Office for Central Africa|UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) said an emergency had forced the ECA boss to cut short her stay in Cameroon.
"The press conference with Ms Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa earlier scheduled for Friday 19 April at the Yaounde Hilton will unfortunately not take place due to an emergency. ECA highly regrets the inconvenience this may have caused," Akara said in a statement, but did not say what the emergency was.
It has now emerged that the death of two ECA staff in a car crash necessitated her unannounced departure from Cameroon.
ECA officials say arrangements are being made for staff to pay their respects to their “beloved colleagues Hind and Samira”.
The President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul Biya granted audience to Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, April 18, 2019 at the Unity Palace shortly before her departure from Yaounde for Rabat.
The Head of State and the Cameroonian-born economist discussed the following issues: economic growth in Cameroon, the need for the Cameroonian Government to ratify the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA), and the development of the digital economy, the Presidency has said.
Dr. Vera Songwe was decorated by President Biya with the medal of Grand Officer of the National Order of Valour.
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