Parfait Onanga-Anyanga appointed as UN chief's AU special representative

United Nations, Feb 22 (Xinhua) — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday announced the appointment of Gabon’s Parfait Onanga-Ananga as his Special Representative to the African Union and the head of the United Nations Office on the African Union. UNOA).

He will replace Hanna Serwa Teteh of Ghana, to whom the Secretary-General has expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation for his dedicated service.

Onanga-Ananga brings extensive experience in conflict-affected areas and headquarters with the United Nations with over 25 years of progressively responsible experience at the national, regional and international levels. According to a press note issued by the Office of the Secretary-General, he brings to the fore his well-honed skills in building consensus among stakeholders and his knowledge of the organization to strengthen the partnership between the United Nations and the AU in the field of peace and security. ,

He served as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa since 2019. Prior to this, he served as Special Representative to the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Multidisciplinary Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

In his previous capacities, he was the Coordinator of the United Nations Headquarters Response to the Boko Haram Crisis, as well as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of Burundi and the Head of the United Nations Office in Burundi.

Prior to this, he served as Chef de Cabinet to the President of the 59th Session of the General Assembly and as Special Adviser to the President of the 60th and 61st Sessions of the General Assembly.