Ambassador Joseph Nourrice retires |17 November 2023
Mr Nourrice is welcomed by President Ramkalawan at State House(Photo: Joena Meme)
President Wavel Ramkalawan received Ambassador Joseph Nourrice for a farewell courtesy call at State House yesterday morning, as he retires from several years of service in the diplomatic arena.
On behalf of the people of Seychelles, the President conveyed his sincere appreciation to Ambassador Nourrice for carrying out his duties to the highest standard and for his unwavering commitment to putting Seychelles first in the international arena.
“Thank you for serving your country, for your dedication and tireless efforts to advance Seychelles’ agenda, and for the remarkable work that you have done by working closely with all SADC member states in furthering regional aspirations. I sincerely wish that with the vast leadership qualities and experience that you possess, you will extend your support and knowledge for the greater good of the country,” said President Ramkalawan.
Ambassador Nourrice’s most recent appointment was with the Secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as the deputy executive secretary in charge of institutional affairs.
He assumed the position of deputy executive secretary for Institutional Affairs (DES-CA) of the SADC Secretariat in Windhoek, Republic of Namibia, on August 17, 2018, during the 38th Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government.
For his part, Ambassador Nourrice thanked the President for receiving him and expressed how it has been a privilege for him to serve his country.
He also conveyed his appreciation for all the support provided to him during his career. He underlined that Seychelles is highly regarded and recommended by the SADC as an example in the region. Hence, the meeting was an opportunity for the Head of State and Ambassador Nourrice to discuss matters concerning the SADC, of which Seychelles is a member. Ambassador Nourrice had the opportunity to also share his experiences and future plans.
“It was an engaging journey. We reviewed Seychelles' progress within SADC and witnessed the country's active participation in SADC activities, earning recognition. Serving on SADC for five years has been a humbling experience,” shared Ambassador Nourrice.
Mr Nourrice was also recently honoured with a farewell ceremony at SADC, where Angèle Makombo N'tumba, deputy executive secretary of SADC for Regional Integration (DES-RI), praised Ambassador Nourrice's unwavering commitment to achieving the goals of the SADC Secretariat for integration and development in the region.
Dr Beatriz Antónia Manuel de Morais, President of the SADC Ambassadors Group and Ambassador of the Republic of Angola to Botswana, also expressed her appreciation for Ambassador Nourrice's exemplary cooperation, remarkable dedication, and close collaboration with all SADC member states in advancing regional aspirations.
During his farewell speech at SADC, accompanied by his wife, Jourdane Nourrice, Ambassador Nourrice expressed gratitude to the SADC Secretariat staff, member states, and international cooperation partners for their support and cooperation throughout his tenure.
He declared that he leaves the SADC Secretariat filled with gratitude for the honour of serving the SADC region in such a demanding position.
Described as a seasoned diplomat, Ambassador Nourrice held the position of Resident High Commissioner of Seychelles in South Africa before joining the SADC Secretariat. He also served as a non-resident Ambassador to several countries, including Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Angola, and COMESA. Additionally, he was appointed Ambassador to the SADC and served as Ambassador to the African Union with residence in Addis Ababa, as well as the Ambassador of Seychelles to Havana, Cuba.
Now retired, Ambassador Nourrice will take time to rest before deciding on his next steps.