By Merve Aydogan
HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday appointed Khassim Diagne of Senegal as the new special representative and head of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
"He succeeds Colin Stewart of Canada, to whom the Secretary-General is deeply grateful for his strong leadership and dedicated service throughout his tenure," said a statement by Guterres' spokesperson.
"Mr. Diagne brings more than 25 years of experience in international affairs and senior leadership within the United Nations system," it said, adding he is "currently serving as Ad Interim United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Mali, a role he has held since October 2024."
Previously serving as the ad interim deputy envoy of the Secretary-General in the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Diagne also acted as the deputy envoy of the secretary-general for protection and operations with the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
He also "served as Director of the Political, Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Human Rights Unit in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (2017-2021)," said the statement, which highlighted his roles at UNHCR from 2027 - 2013.
Diagne is fluent in English and French, and speaks Wolof.