United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma announced today the appointment of Jeremiah Nyamane Kingsley Mamabolo of South Africa as Acting Joint Special Representative for Darfur and Head of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).
Mr. Mamabolo succeeds Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi of Nigeria, to whom the Secretary-General and the Commission Chairperson are grateful for his service during his tenure with UNAMID.
Mr. Mamabolo brings to the 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 has been serving UNAMID as Deputy Joint Special Representative for Pillar I, overseeing political, human rights, and legal aspects of the Mission’s activities. From 2013 to 2016, he served as Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during which he also acted as Chair of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China. In 2009, he was appointed High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria. Previously, Mr. Mamabolo facilitated peace processes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi as his country’s Special Envoy to the Great Lakes region (2006-2009). He also served as Deputy Director-General for African Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2002-2006).
Mr. Mamabolo held other senior positions, such as the Permanent Representative to the African Union, accredited also to Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti (1999-2002). During that time, 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).
Mr. Mamabolo holds a Master’s degree in public administration from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and a diploma in journalism from Harare Polytechnic College, Zimbabwe.
Born in 1955, he is married and has four children.
Distributed by APO on behalf of United Nations – Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
