Secretary-General Appoints Colin Stewart of Canada Special Representative, Head, United Nations Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara

United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Colin Stewart of Canada as his Special Representative for Western Sahara and Head of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

Mr. Stewart succeeds Kim Bolduc of Canada, who completed her assignment on 22 November.  The Secretary‑General is grateful to Ms. Bolduc for her strong leadership and perseverance over the course of her tenure.

Mr. Stewart brings to the position demonstrated management and leadership, with more than 25 years of experience in peace and security and international affairs.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Head and Chief of Staff of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) in Addis Ababa.

He has held appointments in a number of United Nations field missions, including as Acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Political Affairs at the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor‑Leste (UNMIT) (2007‑2009).  From 1999 to 2004, he served successively with the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) and the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET).  From 2004 to 2006, he represented The Carter Center in the West Bank and Gaza and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  He was a Canadian diplomat and foreign service officer from 1990 to 1997.

Born in 1961, Mr. Stewart obtained his bachelor’s degree from Laval University in Canada.