Issue N° 29– October2016

The Swiss Gazette

new humanitarian coordinator at the Embassy, with Content whom I visited Borno in July.

Editorial ...... 1 Switzerland also supports many initiatives on peace and security in , as well as programs in the Swiss National Day ...... 2 field of human rights with very active partners like the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Prisons Service, Portraits ...... 2 and NGOs. Politics ...... 4 This year we are celebrating the fifth anniversary of an Legal Affairs ...... 6 exemplary and very fruitful partnership in the field of Human Rights ...... 7 migration with our partners of the Nigeria Immigration Service and many others. Culture and Sports ...... 7 Now, we are in the full process of the negotiation for News from the Embassy ...... 8 the repatriation of 321 million USD of looted money that were not in Switzerland but that the Swiss justice Editorial gathered from other financial places in the world, to be given back to the Nigerian people and government, for Dear Swiss compatriots, development programs with the help of the World Dear friends of the Swiss Gazette, Bank.

I had the pleasure to meet some of you at our For new cases of investigation of corruption and celebration of the 725th anniversary of the Swiss stolen assets, the Honorable Minister of State, Confederation on the 1st of August at my Residence in Foreign Affairs and I signed a new Memorandum of and I would like to thank those who came to Understanding on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal share this evening with us. Matters on 29 July 2016.

It has been a long time since 1291 when the first Along with many Swiss companies operating in this Swiss Confederates promised each other mutual country, we are on the verge of creating a new Swiss- support and aid against any possible enemy or power Nigerian Business Council on 17 October, which will that could put their independence and freedom in hopefully boost our bilateral economic and danger. commercial relationship in the future.

It took a long time until our country reached the form As you can see, Switzerland firmly wants to contribute of the modern Swiss Confederation in 1848. to the achievement of President Buhari’s 3 priorities Switzerland has since remained neutral and for Nigeria: independent, and has escaped the major wars and conflicts that destroyed Europe and the world during - Bringing humanitarian support and security to the the 19th and 20th centuries. victims of the conflict in the north-east of the country. Today, Switzerland is a multicultural, multinational, - Actively contributing to the fight against corruption and multi-religious country comprising Swiss citizens by developing the bilateral legal assistance in and about 25% of foreign inhabitants that have freely criminal matters and bringing back looted assets. decided to live together and to share principles of - Supporting Swiss companies to develop their liberty, independence and humanity. activities in Nigeria.

However, neutrality, impartiality and independence do Together with all the Embassy and Consulate staff, not mean indifference to the world. Our peaceful some of them having just arrived in Nigeria, we are environment allowed us to be at the origin of working hard in favor of the development of this close humanitarian assistance with the foundation of the relationship between Switzerland and Nigeria. Red Cross movement, and at the origin of the international humanitarian law. You will find more information about our activities in all these fields in this edition of our Swiss Gazette. Enjoy Today in Nigeria, Switzerland is one of the main it! donors in humanitarian support for the victims of the terrible conflict in the north-east of the country and our Eric Mayoraz, support has since increased following the arrival of a Ambassador

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Swiss National Day Portraits Manuel Mutrux – Coordinator for Humanitarian Aid and Development Cooperation

“Nigeria is our 16th country on this continent, and Abuja – as my wife would say – our 36th address in 26 years, with living conditions fluctuating from a mosquito tent in South Sudan to our very nice apartment with a tremendous view in Abuja.”

I arrived in Nigeria early May 2016 to fill up the new position of Coordinator for Humanitarian Aid and Development Cooperation opened under the Swiss In the evening of the 1st of August, the Ambassador Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). My invited all our Swiss compatriots as well as main duties are linked to the crisis in North-East representatives of national and local authorities, Nigeria and I am working in coordination with two diplomats and friends of the Swiss Embassy for the Regional Humanitarian Coordinators covering Niger celebration of the 725th anniversary of the Swiss and Chad/Central Africa respectively. In 2016, SDC Confederation at the Swiss Residence in Maitama, has so far allocated some CHF 20 million to the Abuja. response to the regional conflict in Lake Chad Basin, half of it specifically for N-E. Nigeria. Projects are implemented through ICRC, UN agencies and NGOs.

The event gathered more than 500 guests, whom after listening to a brief welcome address by the Ambassador, enjoyed typical Swiss food (raclette, zürcher geschnetzeltes, würste, etc.), as well as Swiss wines. Swiss Folk Music leisurely played in the background, creating a beautiful ambiance. It was a big success, especially as it did not rain on the night.

Coordinator for Humanitarian Aid and Development Cooperation, Mr. Manuel Mutrux

I first left Switzerland at the end of 1990 and have since been working for 14 years for various international NGOs, mostly as Country or Regional

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Director and extensively in war zones and countries want to serve as Migration Adviser in Nigeria. The facing protracted crisis. With my wife, we had Migration Partnership covers on the one hand a broad assignments in Mali, Burkina-Faso, Djibouti, Somalia, spectrum of cooperation and projects with Nigeria in Chad, Kenya, South Sudan, Congo/Zaire, Uganda, the field of migration; on the other hand, Nigeria is a Mozambique, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. fascinating and diverse country, quite different from Switzerland, but there are also common features like Being a part of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit of the federalism. SDC since the mid-eighties (I was at the time a specialized nurse in intensive care and resuscitation, working in CHUV in Lausanne) I had a first opportunity to work for the SDC, not in the medical ground, but as Programme Officer in 2005. Seconded to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Guinea Conakry as a Senior Programme Officer, I then joined the Swiss Regional Cooperation Office in Sierra Leone as Deputy Director, followed by 18 months in Bern as Desk Officer and then an assignment back as number two of the Cooperation Office in Chad. The Ivorian Coast crisis in 2011 brought me back to Liberia and Cȏte d’Ivoire. My last assignment was in Zimbabwe as Deputy Head of Mission and Deputy Head of Cooperation.

Over this quarter of a century, we went through quite dramatic changes in terms of communications: In northern Mali, we were relying exclusively on the …almost …weekly postal truck to both deliver and take care of our written letters to families and friends; the first …most erratic …phone being located in a city over 200 km away from where we were living. My father once wrote that our letter had probably swum across the Mediterranean Sea, as all carefully handwritten pages were indistinctively ink blue. The truck driver shared that he had a storm on the road, which was a bit unfortunate as his tarpaulin was full of Migration Adviser Mrs. Jolanda Pfister Herren holes!

On arriving in Nigeria, what were your first In the last few years, mobile phones, e-mails, and impressions? Skype now allow us to keep in instant touch with I arrived mid-May of this year; my family joined me at friends and family, and almost at no cost. the end of July 2016. When I started work at the

Swiss Embassy at the beginning of the rainy season, I

was impressed by the tropical rains and Jolanda Pfister Herren – thunderstorms. Abuja is quite green, but I am yet to Migration Adviser experience the dry season. Abuja is a big and modern city. I specifically noticed the streets shaped in “I am impressed by the enormous potential of this crescents to which I first had to get used to while country and of its people.” driving. I have also had the chance to go to Lagos, the biggest and most populated city of Nigeria. The traffic What were your motives for coming to Nigeria? is denser there than in Abuja and the traffic jams more Nigeria is my first posting in an African Sub-Saharan frequent, but this huge metropolis is impressing. country. I previously served as diplomat in Lebanon, Egypt and Bern. In 2011, Switzerland and Nigeria So far, what has been your overall experience living in signed a Migration Partnership. As Deputy Head of Nigeria? the Humanitarian Policy & Migration Section at the As I just arrived only five months ago, and my family Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in Bern end of July, we are still discovering the life in Nigeria, from 2008 to 2011, I was involved in the preparation its people and food. I am here with my husband and and setting up of the Migration Partnership between my two kids, aged 8 and 13. My husband is a lawyer the two countries. It was therefore natural for me to and recently got his PhD from the University of

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Geneva in Switzerland. We are enjoying Nigeria and Conference on Peacebuilding and Reconstruction of are confident that we will have an exciting time in this the Chad Basin”, where Switzerland was invited “in country. recognition of the positive role the Embassy has been playing in finding non -military conclusions to the What do you do professionally? conflict and efforts at restoring peace”. The trip was I am the new Migration Adviser and my main duties also an opportunity to call on the Executive Governor include the implementation, facilitation and further and the Lamido of Adamawa, to engage humanitarian development of the Migration Partnership between agencies supported by Switzerland (notably the ICRC) Nigeria and Switzerland. As Switzerland also and to visit a small-scale development project funded participates in the European Return Liaison Officers by the Embassy in 2015 and successfully Project, I have been designated to support this project implemented by the American University of Nigeria. in Abuja with 10% of my time. Moreover, I am in Nigeria. charge of the cultural activities in Abuja, the small scale Embassy projects, and the scholarships, with the support of my local program officer.

What has been your main challenge so far being in Nigeria? It takes time to settle down. My kids just started the new school and we hope that we soon can move to our house. Moreover, a few weeks after I took up my new role in Abuja, the country started to face an economic crisis: the price of petroleum went up, the Naira began to lose its value and the economy started to struggle. This crisis has made things rather difficult for everyone. I was however impressed on arrival by the enormous potential of this country and of its people and hope therefore that Nigeria will overcome its economic shortcomings very soon.

Politics Ambassador visits

Ambassador Mayoraz and the Lamido of Adamawa Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa

Launch of Crisis Group Report

On 3 June 2016, International Crisis Group (ICG) organized the official Nigeria launch of its flagship report “Exploiting Disorder: al-Qaeda and the Islamic State”. H.E. Eric Mayoraz giving his speech

On 25-28 September 2016, Ambassador Eric Given Switzerland’s longstanding support to ICG and Mayoraz visited Yola, accompanied by Political the good relationship between its Nigeria team and Adviser Pascal Holliger and Humanitarian Coordinator the Embassy, ICG proposed a partnership on the Manuel Mutrux. Ambassador Mayoraz responded to occasion of this launch. an invitation by the Modibbo Adama University of Technology to speak at an important “Regional

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Engaged participants at the 2nd Political Forum

The forums seek to bring together relevant national and international stakeholders to champion discussions on ways to enhance understanding of the pull and push factors of violent extremism, thereby enriching plans to prevent this phenomenon within the Nigerian context. Forums two (on “Options to End Violent Extremism in North-eastern Nigeria”) and three (on “Amnesty vs Justice: Reconciliation in the Context of the North-East”) held at the Swiss Top: Mr. Pascal Holliger addressing participants, as Residence on 3 May and 6 September respectively. OSIWA's Mr. Jude Ilo, ICG's Dr. Comfort Ero, Ambassador Mayoraz, ICG’s Mr. Vincent Foucher and Mr. Nnamdi Obasi On each occasion, more than 120 decision-makers, look on policy-makers, academics, activists, diplomats and international civil servants engaged on policies and The event, organized jointly, took place at the Swiss desired responses. The final forum of the series took Residence in the presence of Dr. Comfort Ero, place on 6 October (on “Disarmament, Demobilization Director of ICG’s Africa Program, and approximately and Reintegration of ex-Violent Extremists, Survivors, 60 invited guests from government, the diplomatic and Militias”). corps, civil society, and academia.

Swiss Political Forum on Addressing Violent Extremism

The Embassy of Switzerland, in collaboration with Centre for Democracy and Development, is currently organizing a series of four Forums on “Approaches to dealing with violent extremism: the case of North- eastern Nigeria” (see Swiss Gazette of April 2016).

3rd Political Forum: Dr. Daniel Cavegn, Dr. Ukiwo Ukoha, Engr. Zana Madu Usman Chibok, Ms. Idayat Hassan, Mr. Pascal Holliger, Dr. Chidi Odinkalu

Meeting of the “Sahel Platform”

From 18-20 July, Caux, in Switzerland, was the venue for the third “Sahel Platform” organized by our Department of Foreign Affairs’ Desk which works on the nexus between religion, politics, and conflict. This meeting brought together about 20 senior

Hon. Aliyu Gebi personalities working on peace building in the Sahel- Sahara region through inclusive dialogue, inter and intra-religious relations, and reducing violent

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extremism towards effective conflict transformation. Three participants from Nigeria attended the event: renowned Sheikh Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, as well as professor of Islamic Law Mansur Isa Yelwa and researcher Bulama Bukarti. All three are contributing to a project aimed at analysing and countering the narratives used by violent extremists across the Sahel.

Embassy visits Kano

On 13-14 September, the Deputy Head of Mission, Dr. Daniel Cavegn, and the Political Adviser, Pascal Holliger, were in Kano at the invitation of the Kano Emirate Council to witness the extraordinary royal and cultural spectacle of the Hauwan Daushe Durbar celebration on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir.

Presentation of Swiss gifts; beautifully adorned horses and riders; the grounds of the Durbar celebration; the spectacular palace with the Emir on the throne

Legal Affairs Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Mutual Legal Assistance between Nigeria and Switzerland

Muhammad Sanusi II Emir of Kano

Together with colleagues from the French, Irish, and Spanish Embassies, this was an opportunity to spend time with His Highness Muhammad Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano, whose clear vision of Nigeria’s Ambassador of Switzerland H.E. Eric Mayoraz and the Honorable Minister of State, Foreign Affairs Hajia Khadija economic situation and commitment to reengineer Bukar Ibrahim ’s economic prosperity and social development were impressive. The trip also included On 29 July 2016, the Swiss Ambassador and the courtesy visits to the Executive Governor of Kano Honorable Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, signed a State and the Kano State Chamber of Commerce, Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Legal Industry, Mines and Agriculture. Assistance in Criminal Matters. This MoU is the result of a bilateral negotiation that was finalized in February this year in Abuja between the Swiss and Nigerian ministries of Justice after years of delay.

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Fighting international crime, in particular corruption is Standards in the treatment of prisoners has been an important issue for the Swiss government, and this constantly strengthened, and a stronger human rights MoU marks the starting point into a new era of emphasis into NPS training syllabus was successfully bilateral cooperation between our two countries in the integrated and mainstreamed. Switzerland supported field of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, by and funded the development of a human rights allowing direct contact through central authorities of trainers guide and manual, and workshops offered both countries on criminal investigations. It will allow a across the country to allow the entire NPS and its faster and more direct treatment of all mutual legal structure to be fully empowered and to make the most assistance requests in all kinds of criminal offences effective use of the manual. The most recent from both countries in the future. workshop took place in Owerri, , in August 2016, during which 30 female and male NPS staff were trained in human rights and how to make use of the human rights trainers guide and its manual.

The cooperation between the NPS and the Embassy is a success story, and the NPS is uniquely positioned to promote human rights, peace and justice and ensure accountability, to demonstrate leadership and systematically and vigorously endeavor to uphold the core protection of human rights standards.

Daniel Cavegn, Amb. Mayoraz, Hajia Bukar Ibrahim, and an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Human Rights Human Rights Training with the Nigerian Swiss Embassy's Mr. Roman Hunger addressing NPS officials Prisons Service (NPS)

Switzerland and Nigeria can look back to many years of diverse and sustainable cooperation, and the Culture and Sports successful work with the NPS on Human Rights is one Classical Music Recital in Lagos key part of that cooperation. In 2011, the Nigerian and Swiss governments jointly decided to strengthen their collaboration in the field of Human Rights, by holding A recital of classical music was organized by the annual rounds of bilateral Human Rights Consulate General of Switzerland on 9 September Consultations. Thematic priorities have to date 2016 at the MUSON (Music Society of Nigeria) primarily been set on key civil and political rights on Centre, Lagos. mutual interest, enabling constructive exchanges between the two countries on human rights It was the first cultural activity that the Consulate challenges and best practices. The human rights General was organizing since its opening in the dialogues are complemented by technical support, in beginning of this year. Many people attended and it the form of operational projects carried out in was of course an encouragement for the future. partnership with Nigerian government agencies, parastatals and civil society organizations. It is Beside the activities of promoting the Swiss economy through these increased ties that the NPS and the in Nigeria, the Consulate will also try to develop Embassy have developed a strong and sustainable cultural activities and cultural exchanges between partnership. Nigeria and Switzerland. Culture is very important and allows very tight relationships between people and Ensuring that Human Rights are mainstreamed as a different origins. natural and integral part of the operations by the NPS is a very important endeavor. Over the last years the capacity of NPS staff to comply with International

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Swiss tennis stars play Abuja tournament

Mid-April, two of the most promising young Swiss tennis professionals, Siméon Rossier (ranked ATP 786 in singles) and Luca Margaroni (ranked ATP 196 in doubles), were in Nigeria for two weeks to play tournaments of the ITF Pro-Circuit – Futures, organized by Tombim and Dayak at Abuja’s National Stadium. The level was extremely high with a number of players ranked in the 200 to 500 ATP bracket. The experience of a first professional tournament in Sub- Saharan Africa made up for the disappointment of early defeats for our two Swiss rising stars, who Merita Balliu, Ranti Ihimoyan, Guchi Egbunine, Katherine promised to come back in 2017. Chioma, and Teuta Nicolet

The concert featured two European artists: the Swiss Soprano singer Teuta Nicolet, and an Albanian pianist Merita Balliu, with the excellent participation of Nigerian artists, Guchi Egbunine (Tenor), Ranti Ihimoyan and Katherine Chioma (Soprano).

The Consulate used the opportunity of the first visit of Mrs. Balliu to Nigeria to organize a masterclass for the piano students of the MUSON. We are convinced that cultural exchanges will always bring satisfaction to both parties.

The cash proceeds realized from the evening was donated to the NGO “Livebridge Charitable Foundation” for its project: “Vine Heritage Home”. The Vine Heritage Home is a rescue shelter for children rescued from communities where cultural beliefs require kids who are born twins, albinos, physically handicapped, or kids whose mothers die at child birth or while lactating to be killed or buried alive. L-R: Pascal Holliger, Luca Margaroni, Simeon Rossier, Ambassador Mayoraz The Consulate appreciates the MUSON Centre and all artists for the collaboration. This signifies the beginning of a close and productive cooperation News from the Embassy between the MUSON Centre and the Consulate. Swiss seconded to OCHA in

On 1 September 2016, the Embassy welcomed Mr. Thomas Bollinger, secondment of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) to UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Sub- Office in Maiduguri. He will serve OCHA in as Humanitarian Affairs Officer Protection.

Personnel Changes at the Embassy

In May 2016, the Embassy welcomed Mrs. Jolanda Pfister Herren, and Mr. Manuel Mutrux as they arrived Guests at the recital to take up their new tasks (See Portraits).

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The Embassy further welcomed Mr. Roman Hunger in June 2016 as the new Human Security Adviser. Contacts Embassy of Switzerland Mr. Lionel Rochat followed shortly in July, with his family, to be part of the consular staff of the Embassy. N° 157, Adetokumbo Ademola Crescent P.O.BOX 5162 Wuse II Abuja 90003 – Nigeria www.eda.admin.ch/abuja [email protected]

Landline phone: +234 (0)9 220 04 00/01/02 Mobile phone: +234 (0)810 411 99 43/44/45/46 Satellite phone: +41 (0)31 324 18 61/62 Satellite fax: +41 (0)31 324 18 64

Office hours: Monday-Thursday: 07:30-12:15 / 13:00-17:00 Friday: 07:30-12:30

Visiting hours: Monday-Thursday: 09:00-11:00 (outside these hours only upon appointment)

Visa Section: Monday-Thursday 14:00-16:00 Email: [email protected] Phone: +234 (0)9 220 04 04

Submission hours: Editorial team: Monday -Thursday: 09:00-11:00 (upon appointment only) Eric Mayoraz, Daniel Cavegn, Yves Nicolet-Dit-Felix, Manuel For appointments call +234 810 071 81 41 Mutrux, Jolanda Pfister Herren, Pascal Holliger, Roman Hunger, (Monday-Thursday 14:00-15:00 Ruth Zumbühl, Babatunde Ajala, Ojoma Ali Passport collection: (no appointment needed) For suggestions and recommendations, please write to: Monday-Thursday: 14:00-15:00 [email protected] Friday: 10:30-11:30

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