Biographical Note                                          

Secretary-General, African Union Commission Chair Appoint Ibrahim Gambari

of Nigeria as Joint Special Representative for Darfur

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping, have appointed Ibrahim Gambari of Nigeria as Joint African Union-United Nations Special Representative for Darfur, with effect from 1 January 2010. 

Mr. Gambari replaces Rodolphe Adada (Congo), who served as Joint Special Representative from the Mission’s inception until July 2009.  The Secretary-General and the African Union Chairperson pay tribute to the work of Mr. Adada in leading the mission through its challenging establishment phase.  They would also like to express appreciation to Henry K. Anyidoho, who has served as Officer-in-Charge of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) since Mr. Adada’s departure.

Mr. Gambari brings to this position extensive diplomatic skills, United Nations experience and knowledge of the Africa region.  Mr. Gambari is currently the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the International Compact with Iraq and Other Political Issues.  He has also served the Secretary-General in pursuing the good offices mandate on Myanmar. 

Previously he held the position of Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Africa.  From September 2002 to February 2003, Mr. Gambari served as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission to Angola.

Before joining the United Nations Secretariat in 1999, Mr. Gambari was the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations.  He also chaired the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid, which successfully saw the demise of apartheid and the establishment of democratic rule in South Africa.  Prior to his tenure as Permanent Representative, Mr. Gambari was the Minister for External Affairs of Nigeria.  He has also served as Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.

Born in Nigeria in 1944, Mr. Gambari attended Kings College, Lagos, as well as the London School of Economics, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in political science, with a specialty in international relations.  He received his Master of Arts in 1970 and his Doctor of Philosophy in 1974 in political science/international relations from Columbia University in New York.

Mr. Gambari is married and has three children.

* *** *

__________

*     This supersedes Press Release SG/A/1057-BIO/3860-IK/558 of 5 March 2007.

For information media • not an official record