MOGADISHU (SD) – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday appointed Anita Kiki Gbeho of Ghana as his new deputy special representative for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia.

In a statement, UN chief said Gbeho succeeds Raisedon Zenenga of Zimbabwe. Zenenga was appointed as assistant secretary-general and mission coordinator of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya.

The secretary-general expressed grateful for Zenenga’s dedicated service and contribution to the work of the United Nations in Somalia.

The statement said Ms. Gbeho brings over 25 years of experience in strategic planning, coordination and management in political, development and humanitarian affairs at United Nations headquarters and in field operations.

According to UN, her work has included establishing high level political and strategic relations with national authorities, regional bodies and partners in conflict and post-conflict environments and diverse settings such as Angola, Cambodia, Iraq, Namibia, Sudan and Somalia.

UN said since May 2018, Ms. Gbeho has served as deputy joint special representative of the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur where she led the development and implementation of the Mission’s transition strategy.

Ms. Gbeho holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in social sciences and African studies from the State University of New York and a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Ghana.