Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko Explained

Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko (1 November 1956) is a South African diplomat. She is currently the United Nations Ambassador for South Africa.^[1] For the Paris Agreement, Mxakato-Diseko was the leader of the G77 bloc during negotiations.^[2]

Early life and education

Mxakato-Diseko was born in Johannesburg on 1 November 1956.^[3] She attended Somerville College, Oxford and has a doctorate in philosophy which she earned in 1991.^[4]

Career

Mxakato-Diseko worked as a campaigner for the African National Congress (ANC) and also as an activist in Soweto for the ANC.^[5] She also raised money for the British Defence and Aid Fund.

Mxakato-Diseko began as a representative of South Africa at the International Atomic Energy Agency in the mid-1990s. She has been the South African negotiator since 2011.

In 2024, Mxakato-Diseko was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to co-chair the Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, alongside Ditte Juul Jørgensen.^[6]

Notes and References

1. News: US pulls out of 'biased' UN Human Rights Council - NewZimbabwe.com. 21 June 2018. NewZimbabwe.com. 5 July 2018. en-GB.
2. News: Climate Weekly: Petcoke, a looming public health threat. 29 September 2017. Climate Home News. 5 July 2018. en-GB.
3. Web site: Curriculum Vitae of Her Excellency Ms. Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of South Africa and Chairperson of the G-77 - Vienna Chapter 1998. G-77. 5 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20170602192523/http://www.g77.org/vienna/CVMXAKATO.htm. 2 June 2017. dead.
4. Web site: Les cinq Africains qu'il faut suivre à la COP21. Caramel. Laurence. 30 November 2015. Le Monde.fr. fr. 5 July 2018.
5. News: Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko La diva du climat ressuscite Mandela. 9 December 2015. L'Echo. 5 July 2018. fr.
6. https://press.un.org/en/2024/sga2286.doc.htm UN Secretary-General Appoints Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals