On December 21, 2015 during an official ceremony, witnessed by Dr Ouayara Koné, Technical Counselor at the Ministry of Rural Development and Dr Traoré Halimatou Koné, OIE Delegate for Mali, Dr Yacouba Samaké handed over the office to Dr Karim Tounkara, the newly appointed OIE Regional Representative for Africa.
To mark Dr Samaké’s retirement, a reception was held at the OIE Regional Representation for Africa. The event was attended by officials of Government of Mali, technical partners, friends and the staff of the regional representation.
Dr Yacouba Samaké, the third OIE Regional Representative for Africa, took up his position in April 2011 in Bamako, Mali. His responsibilities covered the 54 OIE Member Countries of the African continent.
Dr Samaké, a Malian national, graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Leipzig (Germany). He began his professional veterinary career with the Government of Mali in 1979 working in one district followed by assuming numerous responsibilities.
From 1981 to 1991 Dr Samaké worked as the Director of Veterinary Paraprofessionals School and from 1991 to 1993 he was appointed as the Deputy National Director for Livestock of Mali. In November 2002 He assumed the duties of Technical Counselor at the Secretariat in charge of Food Security until his appointment as the Under Secretary at the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries in May 2004 for four years.
Dr Yacouba Samaké began his international career in January 2008 with his recruitment by OIE as The Deputy Regional Representative for Africa. He was appointed as the OIE Regional Representative for Africa in April 2011 until his retirement on December 2015.