Secretary-General Appoints Benito Andión of Mexico Special Envoy to Facilitate Dialogue in El Salvador

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Benito Andión of Mexico as his Special Envoy to facilitate dialogue in El Salvador.  The new facilitator has the mandate to facilitate dialogue among Salvadorians and to address the key challenges affecting their country.

Before his latest appointment, Mr. Andión was Ambassador of Mexico to Israel from March 2015 to December 2016.  He is a career diplomat with 40 years of experience.  From 2012 to 2015, he served as Mexico’s Ambassador to Portugal.  Between 2009 and 2012, he served in different positions within Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Relations, including Head of the Western Europe Department, Assistant Director General for Europe, and Director for South America and Coordinator for International Security Cooperation in the North America Division.

Mr. Andión was Mexico’s Consul General in Milan, Italy, from 2005 to 2008; Ambassador to Jamaica from 2001 to 2005; Ambassador to Honduras from 1998 to 2001; and Consul in Miami from 1991 to 1992.  He also served as Ambassador to El Salvador from 1992 to 1995, and in that capacity, represented the Government of Mexico in the El Salvador Peace Process.  At the end of his tenure, the Government of El Salvador awarded Mr. Andión the Order José Matías Delgado.

Born in 1952, he holds a master’s degree in military administration from the Ministry of Defence University and a bachelor’s degree in law from La Salle University.