UN Secretary-General re-appoints James Swan as acting UN envoy to Somalia
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has re-appointed James Swan as the Acting Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).
Mr. Swan was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 2006 to 2008, and Director of African Analysis in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research from 2005 to 2006. Prior to holding these assignments, Mr. Swan held various assignments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Congo, Somalia, Cameroon, Nicaragua and Haiti.
According to a statement from the United Nations, Mr. Swan will serve as the Special Representative for a temporary period following the departure of Catriona Laing of the United Kingdom.
The Secretary-General expressed gratitude for her dedicated service in UNSOM and Somalia during a challenging time.
Recall that the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on 3 May 2023 the appointment of Catriona Laing of the United Kingdom as his new Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).
She succeeds James Swan of the United States, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedication and steadfast leadership of UNSOM during his tenure.
Following her departure, the Somali government called for the dissolution of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) when its mandate expires in October 2024.
