United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of El-Ghassim Wane of Mauritania as his new Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
Mr. Wane succeeds Mahamat Saleh Annadif Khatir of Chad, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his invaluable contribution to peace and reconciliation efforts in Mali.
With 25 years of experience in conflict prevention, mediation and peacekeeping, Mr. Wane served as Chief of Staff and Chief Adviser of the African Union Commission Chairperson between 2017 and 2019 and Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations from 2016 to 2017.
He has held several leadership positions with the African Union, including as Director of the Commission Peace and Security Department and Head of the Conflict Management Division. He contributed to the development of the African Union’s key strategy and policy on conflict prevention and resolution, and engaged in prevention, mediation and peacebuilding processes across the continent.
Mr. Wane served as visiting Professor of International Affairs at George Washington University in the United States, lectured at Sciences Po University in Paris and served as visiting senior research fellow at the African Leadership Centre at King’s College, London.
He holds a master’s degree in international public law and international relations and a post-graduate degree in international and European studies from the University of Dakar in Senegal and the University of Lille II in France, respectively.
