Secretary-General, African Union Commission Chair Appoint Jeremiah Mamabolo of South Africa Joint Special Representative For Darfur

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki announced today the appointment of Jeremiah Nyamane Kingsley Mamabolo of South Africa as Joint Special Representative and Head of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).

Mr. Mamabolo has been serving UNAMID as Acting Joint Special Representative since the departure of Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi of Nigeria on 4 January.  He brings his new position first-hand experience in dealing with the situation in Darfur, as well as expertise from his distinguished career in the diplomatic service.  Since 2016, he served the mission as Deputy Joint Special Representative for Pillar I, overseeing political, human rights and legal aspects of UNAMID’s activities.

Before his appointment as South Africa’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations between 2013 and 2016, Mr. Mamabolo served as High Commissioner to Nigeria in 2009, having previously helped to facilitate peace processes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi as Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region from 2006 to 2009.  He was Deputy Director-General for African Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2002 to 2006.

Mr. Mamabolo has held other senior positions, including Permanent Representative to the African Union, accredited also to Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti (1999-2002).  During that period, he led efforts to promote dialogue in post-war Sierra Leone in his capacity as Special Envoy of the African Union to Sierra Leone and the Mano River Basin (2001-2002).  He also served as High Commissioner to Zimbabwe (1995-1999).

Holding a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Pretoria in South Africa, Mr. Mamabolo also has a diploma in journalism from Harare Polytechnic College in Zimbabwe.

Born in 1955, he is married and has four children.

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*     This supersedes Press Release SG/A/1698-BIO/4919-PKO/620 of 12 January 2017.