The Comoros Appoints First Honorary Consul-General For Nigeria

The Union of the Comoros has appointed is first Honorary Consul-General for Nigeria, Donald Roy Joseph Abed.

The island African nation opened its  honorary consulate in Nigeria following the approval granted to the country by the Federal Government.

This appointment is contained in a note sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Union of the Comoros to Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry (Protocol Department).

The note dated December 10, 2022, said the country is pleased with the approval for the opening of its consulate in Nigeria and its appointed consul, Mr Donald Roy Joseph Abed.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in charge of the Diaspora, of the Union of the Comoros presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Protocol Department) and further to its verbal note no. 42/153/2022 dated November 10, 2022 regarding the approval granted to the Union of the Comoros for the opening of the honorary consulate and the appointment of the honorary consul to the Republic of Nigeria,” part of the note from The Comoros read.

It said the gesture would further strengthen diplomatic ties between the two countries.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Union of the Comoros is pleased with this decision which will further contribute to the strengthening of the ties of friendship between our two countries,” it added.

Donald Roy Joseph Abed is an experienced diplomat with many years of expertise.

The Nigerian government had written to the Island nation on November 10, 2022, informing it that their requests sent in October 2021 has been granted.

The letter read: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Protocol Department) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in charge of the Diaspora and Francophonic of the Union of the Comoros and with reference to the latter’s Note No: 22-031/MAECI/CAB/Chancellerie/fai dated 29th October, 2021 has the honour to convey the approval of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the request for the establishment of an Honorary Consulate in Abuja, Nigeria.

“The Government of Nigeria has also assented to the nomination of Mr Donald Roy Joseph Abed as the First Honorary Consul of the Union of Comoros to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The nominee may now approach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for documentation and other necessary ceremony.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Protocol Department) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Union of the Comoros the assurances of its highest consideration.”

President Muhammadu Buhari had while meeting with Azali Assoumani, the President of the Union of Comoros in Addis Ababa, during African Union meeting, said he takes the existing good neighbourly relations between Nigeria and the Union of Comoros Islands very important, and would brief his successor on the need to maintain it.

Assoumani just took over as the Chairperson of the African Union for the year 2023.