Swedish foreign affairs official named new deputy UN envoy to Somalia

The United Nations today announced the appointment of Per Lindgarde, a longtime Swedish foreign affairs official, as Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, where the world body’s diplomatic efforts are focused on fostering dialogue between the country’s Transitional Federal Government and the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts, whose forces recently took over the capital, Mogadishu.

Mr. Lindgarde has had an extensive career with the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, serving most recently with the Swedish Embassy in Nairobi as Minister and Deputy Head of the Mission. Previously, he held the post of Deputy Director and Head of the Section for the Horn of Africa and Eastern Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The new deputy will support the efforts of François Lonseny Fall, a former Prime Minister of Guinea who has been serving as Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Representative to Somalia since May of last year.