Biographical Note

Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Horst Köhler, former President of the Federal Republic of Germany, as his Personal Envoy for Western Sahara.

Following consultations with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, and with her concurrence, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres re-appointed David M. Malone of Canada as Rector of the United Nations University (UNU).

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Ruby Sandhu-Rojon as his new Deputy Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed the appointment of Michèle Coninsx of Belgium as Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) at the Assistant Secretary-General level, following the concurrence of the Security Council.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Alison Smale of the United Kingdom as the next Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, Department of Public Information.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat today announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Leonard Muriuki Ngondi of Kenya as Force Commander for the African Union‑United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).  He succeeds Lieutenant General Frank Mushyo Kamanzi of Rwanda, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedication and effective leadership as head of UNAMID’s military component.

The new Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, Vassily Alekseevich Nebenzia, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

The new Permanent Representative of Tuvalu to the United Nations, Samuelu Laloniu, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

The new Permanent Representative of Maldives to the United Nations, Ali Naseer Mohamed, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

The new Permanent Representative of Somalia to the United Nations, Abukar Dahir Osman, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.