New UN advisers on Africa and disarmament affairs announced

The United Nations today announced a number of senior-level appointments, including a new Special Adviser on Africa, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs and head of the Economic Commission for Europe.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has selected Maged Abdelaziz of Egypt, who has served as that country’s Ambassador to the UN since 2005, as his new Special Adviser on Africa.

Mr. Abdelaziz, who brings to the position over 30 years of experience in multilateral diplomacy, will focus on “revitalizing the agenda of the special needs of Africa,” according to the announcement.

For the position of High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Mr. Ban has selected Angela Kane, who since 2008 has served as the Under-Secretary-General for Management. The German national has more than 35 years of experience at the Organization, including relating to political and disarmament areas.

Sven Alkalaj, a national of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been appointed as the new Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), which is located in Geneva. Mr. Alkalaj served as Foreign Minister of his country and Ambassador in Washington and Brussels, and has dealt with political and economic issues at the national, regional, European, and international levels.

Mr. Ban has also appointed Jacqueline Carol Badcock, a national of the United Kingdom, as the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General at the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).

It was also announced that Nicholas Haysom of South Africa will move from his current post within the Executive Office of the Secretary-General to the post of Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Political) for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

In addition, Yeocheol Yoon of the Republic of Korea, also of the Secretary-General’s Executive Office, has been selected as the new Chief of Protocol.

Today’s announcements are in keeping with the Secretary-General’s intention, announced prior to beginning his second five-year term in January, to roll out changes while ensuring the right mix of change and continuity in the senior leadership team. Additional announcements on senior adviser positions are expected in the coming weeks.