Press Statement For Immediate Release
Cairo, Thursday 13th June, 2024
Zambia’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mubita Nawa, the African Union endorsed candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) visited the Arab Republic of Egypt on 10th June, 2024 to seek support for his candidature. Mr. Nawa’s candidature was endorsed by the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union on 18th February, 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The campaign team was led by Ambassador Lazarous Kapambwe, in his capacity as Special Envoy for the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema. The team held high-level meetings with the Ministry of Public Security officials led by the Assistant Minister of Public Security and Head of the Public Security Sector, Major General Mahmoud Abou Amra, and the senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, namely Ambassador Ihab Awad -Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for African Affairs, Ambassador Mohamed Negm, Deputy Assistant Minister for Specialised Agencies and Ambassador Dr. Aiyaa Borhan, Assistant Minister for Southern Africa.
During both meetings, Ambassador Kapambwe expressed gratitude to the Arab Republic of Egypt for endorsing the candidature of Mr. Nawa through the African Union. He delivered a special message from President Hichilema and indicated that he had been sent to Egypt to underscore the value attached to the candidature. He highlighted the special significance of the election as an opportunity for Africa to be at the decision-making table.
“It’s the first time that Africa has a candidate for Secretary-General of INTERPOL since the institution was founded about 100 years ago. The candidate does not only represent Zambia but Africa as a whole,” Ambassador Kapambwe noted.
Ambassador Kapambwe further pointed out that Mr. Nawa’s candidacy offers a rare opportunity for INTERPOL to embrace meaningful changes, making the organization more robust and inclusive.
Mr. Nawa shared his vision for INTERPOL which is “A strong and resilient INTERPOL united against crime.” This is informed by his vast experience in global law enforcement having held strategic leadership positions in a wide range of Police organisations including the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force, the United Nations Missions in Kosovo, Sudan and Liberia and INTERPOL’s Regional Bureau for Southern Africa.
Mr. Nawa noted the urgent need for structural reforms to align INTERPOL with contemporary demands to ensure that the organisation better serves its member countries while embracing diversity at a strategic level.
In both meetings, the Egyptian side undertook to support Mr. Nawa’s candidature in line with the African Union position. General Mahmoud Amra stated that as a country, Egypt would support the African Union stance on Mr. Nawa’s candidature. Deputy Assistant Minister Mohamed Negm observed that giving Africa a position at the decision-making table will help the continent to fully participate at a strategic level in setting the agenda.
INTERPOL Elections for the position of Secretary-General are scheduled to take place in November, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. Four candidates are vying for the position of Secretary General. The other three candidates are Mr. Stephen Kavanagh – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Mr. Faisal Shahkar, Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Mr. Valdecy Urquiza, Federal Republic of Brazil.
Issued by the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia
Cairo
Egypt