Canberra, ACT

On Friday 13 October 2017, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General, General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd), received from His Excellency Mr Ali Illiassou, Letters of Credence accrediting him as the Ambassador to the Republic of Niger.

Afterwards, the Governor-General received the Ambassador to the Republic of Niger, Mr Paul Lehmann. Later, the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove hosted a Ceremonial Welcome for the President of the Republic of Niger, His Excellency Mr Issoufou Mahamadou.

Then, the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove met with His Excellency Mr Issoufou Mahamadou, and received: Minister, Director of the Cabinet of the President, His Excellency Mr Mahamadou Ouhoumoudou; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Nigeriens Abroad, His Excellency Mr Ibrahim Yacoubou; Permanent Secretary of the High Council for Investment in Niger, Mr Wargo Boubacar Zakari; Special Adviser to the President, Head of Communications, Mr Mahamadou Mahamadou Sani; Communications Adviser to the President, Ms Marie Luce Skrabursky; Ambassador of the Republic of Niger, His Excellency Mr Ali Illiassou; Director-General of the Judicial and Consular Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Nigeriens Abroad, Mr Laouali Labo; and Director of State Protocol, Mr Alhassane Ide.

In the afternoon, the Governor-General and Lady Cosgrove hosted a State Lunch in honour of His Excellency Mr Issoufou Mahamadou. Guests included: Mr Fred Alale and Mrs Claire Alale; Mr Abdouramane Alilou; Vice Admiral Ray Griggs AO CSC RAN; Mr Don Blackmore AM; Professor the Honourable Gareth Evans AC QC; Mr Robin Evans; Mr William Fisher and Mrs Kerry Fisher; Her Excellency Mrs Jeanne Guehe; Squadron Leader Moussa Harouna; His Excellency Mr Bello Kazaure Husseini and Mrs Aishatu Bello Husseini; Mr Alhassane Ide; His Excellency Mr Ali Illiassou; Ms Gita Kamath and Dr Mathieu O'Neil; Mr Laouali Labo; His Excellency Mr Nabil Lakhal; Captain Mr Paul Lehmann; Ms Sarah Mackenzie; Dr Alirou Mahamadou; Mr Ian McConville and Ms Libby McCutchan; Senator Claire Moore; Mr Matthew Neuhaus and Mrs Angela Neuhaus; His Excellency Mahamadou Ouhoumoudou; Mr Michael Pettersson MLA; Mr Andrew Phelan and Mrs Monica Phelan; Mahamane Laouali Robert; Mr Mahamadou Mahamadou Sani; Senator the Honourable Zed Seselja; Ms Lisa Sharland; Ms Marie Luce Skrabursky; Mr Issaka Souleymane; Mr Boubacar Issa Tankari; Ms Mary Wiley-Smith; His Excellency Mr Ibrahim Yacoubou; and Mr Wargo Boubacar Zakari;

Earlier, the Governor General met with students from Carrington Public School, NSW, and The Glennie School, QLD, as they undertook a tour of Government House as part of their visit to Canberra.