SPECIAL ENVOY & CHIEF MEDIATOR TO THE DARFUR CONFLICT, FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF TANZANIA & PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCES HIS ENDORSEMENT OF DANETTE MEYERS FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY

DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA

Today His Excellency Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, former Prime Minister of Tanzania, President of the United Nations Security Council, and Special Envoy to the Darfur Conflict announced his endorsement of  Danette Meyers for District Attorney.

Dr. Salim began his political career in international diplomacy in the 1960’s, serving as Ambassador to Egypt at age 22, the youngest African Ambassador in the history of the continent.   Later he served as the Tanzanian Ambassador to India, China, and Korea and was a Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

A leading figure in the fight against apartheid, Dr. Salim served as Chairman of the United Nations Security Council Commission on Sanctions against Rhodesia, President of the International Conference on Sanctions against South Africa and President of the Paris International Conference on Apartheid. Chairing the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization, he helped entrench a new era of independence across the continent of Africa.  He was elected President of the United Nations Security Council in 1976 and went on to serve as President of the 34^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 1979.  While at the UN Dr. Salim served on the Palme Independent Commission of International Security Issues as well as on the Independent Commission on International Humanitarian Issues.

Between 1980 and 1989 Dr. Salim held various posts in Tanzania including Foreign Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Prime Minister.  He was elected Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), overseeing its transformation into the African Union and serving an unprecedented three successive terms.

In 2004 Dr. Salim became the African Union Special Envoy and Chief Mediator to the Darfur Conflict.  He played a crucial role in bringing international attention to and finding solutions for peace in Darfur.  Dr. Salim, widely considered to be Africa’s top diplomat, stated “Ms. Danette Meyers’ credentials and role are very rich, impressive and outstanding. I am delighted to endorse Ms. Danette Meyers as the next District Attorney of Los Angeles.”