Ambassador Matete Nena, a career diplomat with over two decades of service, has held several senior positions within Lesotho’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, overseeing bilateral and multilateral engagement in Africa and beyond. He has also played key roles in national crisis coordination and reform initiatives. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Political Science from the National University of Lesotho.
In his meeting with Secretary-General Carvalho, Ambassador Nena affirmed Lesotho’s commitment to advancing inclusive, science-driven approaches to seabed governance that safeguard marine biodiversity and uphold the principles of intergenerational equity.
Secretary-General Carvalho welcomed the active engagement of a landlocked developing country (LLDC) in ISA’s work, highlighting that all stakeholders, including LLDCs, are equal partners in stewarding the common heritage of humankind.
The discussions focused on key areas of collaboration and capacity-building. Ambassador Nena proposed a workshop between ISA experts and Lesotho ministries to enhance understanding of seabed governance and advocated for regional advocacy platforms within the Southern African Development Community.
Welcoming these proposals, Secretary-General Carvalho suggested exploring the convening of a Landlocked Countries’ Summit, with Lesotho as a potential host, to champion LLDC participation in seabed governance. She also informed the Ambassador about ongoing ISA initiatives, including the African Academy for Deep Sea Diplomacy and the Deep-Sea Biobank Initiative. She extended an invitation to Lesotho to join upcoming capacity-building and training opportunities offered by the ISA and its stakeholders.
The Secretary-General further noted that ISA will conduct a feasibility study for hosting the proposed Landlocked Countries’ Summit in 2026 and affirmed the ISA’s commitment to expanding partnerships with regional and continental bodies, including the African Union. Ambassador Nena welcomed these initiatives and expressed interest in hosting the proposed summit, noting Lesotho’s recent strengthening of its political and security standing in the Southern African Development Community region.