Biographical Note

Secretary-General Appoints Hilde F. Johnson of Norway

 

Special Representative for Republic of South Sudan

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Hilde Johnson of Norway as his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan.

Ms. Johnson brings with her significant experience in crisis and conflict response, including in the Horn of Africa, Sudan, Great Lakes region, Afghanistan, Timor-Leste and Guatemala.  Having served most recently as the Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), she led the agency’s humanitarian operations, crisis response and post-crisis transition programmes. 

Ms. Johnson served as Minister and member of the Norwegian Government Cabinet for seven years (1997-2000 and 2001-2005) and was Member of Parliament from 1993 to 2001.  During this time, she played an instrumental role in the negotiations leading to the completion of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement in 2005.

A citizen of Norway, Ms. Johnson speaks Norwegian, English and Swahili, and has a working knowledge of French and German. 

Ms. Johnson was born in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania.

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