Tatar Approves Diagne as New UN Special Representative

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is preparing to seek the United Nations Security Council’s approval for the appointment of a successor to Colin Stewart, the Head of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and the Secretary-General’s Special Representative.

Senegalese diplomat Khassim Diagne, who previously served as UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs in Mali, is expected to take on this role.

According to sources, President Tatar approved Diagne’s appointment before the Greek Cypriot side.

UN sources describe Diagne as a diplomat with 25 years of experience in areas including migrant protection, political affairs, mission management, and oversight.

Diagne has also previously served as Director for West Africa and the Sahel, and as Deputy Special Representative for Protection and Operations at the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

Following approval from both sides, the Security Council’s ratification stage is largely symbolic.

Diagne is expected to visit Cyprus ahead of the UN General Assembly sessions beginning on September 23, during which a trilateral meeting with the Secretary-General is planned in New York.