UN Secretary-General Appoints James Swan as Acting Special Representative for Somalia

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has announced the appointment of James Swan as the Acting Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).

Swan, an experienced diplomat with a distinguished career in African countries facing complex political transitions assumes his temporary role, following the departure of United Kingdom’s Caterina Liang.

The diplomat who previously served as the Special Representative for Somalia and Head of UNSOM from 2019 to 2022 brings extensive expertise in diplomatic affairs, having served as Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Special Representative for Somalia, and Ambassador to Djibouti in various capacities.

Swan has also previously held various key roles within the United States government including; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and Director of African Analysis in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research.

His appointment comes as Somalia navigates political transitions and ongoing challenges and at the same time underscores the United Nations’ commitment to supporting Somalia during this critical period.

His wealth of experience in African affairs positions him well to lead UNSOM and support Somalia in addressing its pressing issues, including security, political stability, and development.

The Secretary-General expressed gratitude to Catriona Laing for her dedicated service in UNSOM and Somalia, recognizing the challenging environment in which she operated.