Mr. François-Xavier de Donnea, Belgium Minister of State (Member of the Crown Council) and member of the Belgian House of Representatives, has been nominated President of the Sahel and West Africa Club by the SWAC's Strategy and Policy Group (SPG). He is taking up his new functions in January 2009 for a three-year period. Mr. de Donnae succeeds Mr. Charles Goerens, former Minister of Co-operation, Humanitarian Action and Defence of Luxembourg.
The President represents the members of the SWAC's Strategy and Policy Group, its governing board. He ensures that the Secretariat implements the policies and other decisions adopted by the SPG members. The President can represent the Club in international fora at high level meetings. In regular contact with the Secretariat’s Director, the President provides suggestions and advice on work orientations as well as support for the mobilisation of resources.
