ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) has congratulated Bience Gawanas of Namibia, on her nomination to serve as the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Africa.

The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, on Tuesday announced the appointment of Gawanas as Special Adviser on Africa, and she will succeed Maged Abdelaziz of Egypt.

The Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and his Deputy, Kwesi Quartey, together with the entire AU family have extended warmest congratulations to Gawanas on her nomination to serve at her position, according to an AU statement.

"I wish to warmly congratulate our sister Bience Gawanas for being appointed to this important position to which she brings her formidable continental experience as a former Commissioner of Social Affairs and as a legal scholar and an advocate for social justice and equity in her native Namibia," said Faki.

"Africa will be well served and we look forward to working with Ms Gawanas and the rest of the United Nations family to further our common agenda for Africa," he added.

Gawanas is currently Special Adviser to Namibia's Minister of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, and prior to this, she was Special Adviser to the Minister of Health and Social Services.

A champion of women's health and rights in Africa, she has been commended for her role in initiating far-reaching campaigns, such as the continental Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA), recalled a UN statement released in connection with her appointment.

Gawanas has served as Commissioner for AU Social Affairs, whereby she was responsible for advocacy, as well as the harmonization and coordination of regional and continental policies and programs promoting social development.