Facts about United Nations mission in Somalia also detailed included
Who is Nicholas Kay? Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Nicholas Kay as his Special Representative for Somalia on 29 April 2013. Mr. Kay took up his post on 3 June at the start of the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).Mr. Kay previously served as Africa Director at the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Prior to this, he served as Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2007 to 2010 and Sudan from 2010 to 2012. He was the United Kingdom’s Regional Coordinator for Southern Afghanistan and Head of the Provincial Reconstruction Team for Helmand Province from 2006 to 2007.In his earlier career with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr. Kay served in policy and country positions in London, as well as overseas in Spain and Cuba.
Who is his deputy? On 30 October 2013, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Fatiha Serour from Algeria as his Deputy Special Representative for Somalia. The Secretary-General extends his sincere thanks to Peter de Clercq of the Netherlands, who served as Deputy Special Representative since the establishment of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), and was recently appointed Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).Ms. Serour is currently Director of Serour Associates for Inclusion and Equity, an association focused on supporting inclusive approaches to economic development. She previously served in senior advisory positions with the Department of Social and Economic Affairs (2000-2001 and 2003-2006) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) from 2001-2002 and as Director for Youth at the Commonwealth Secretariat (2006-2010). In her most recent position as Regional Director for Europe, North Africa and the Middle East at the United Nations Office for Project Services from 2010-2012, she led national and international teams to implement projects for the United Nations system, international financial institutions, Governments and other partners in world aid. Ms. Serour holds a Doctor of Philosophy in development strategies for Africa from the University of Aberdeen, in the United Kingdom, and a Master of Arts in international relations from the University of Lille, in France. She is fluent in English, French and Arabic.
Who is Deputy Special Representative, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Somalia. On 30 December 2013, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Mr. Philippe Lazzarini of Switzerland as his Deputy Special Representative, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Somalia. Mr. Lazzarini has extensive experience in humanitarian assistance and international coordination in conflict and post-conflict areas, including in Somalia, where he has been the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative since March 2013.Prior to this assignment, Mr. Lazzarini held a number of senior positions in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, including as Deputy Director of the Coordination and Response Division (2011 to 2013), and in various field positions in Iraq, Angola, Somalia, and the occupied Palestinian territory. Prior to joining the United Nations, Mr. Lazzarini served as a delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in southern Sudan, Beirut, Amman and Gaza. He led ICRC operations in Bosnia, Angola (UNITA controlled areas) and Rwanda, and also held the position of Deputy Head of the Communications Department of ICRC. Mr. Lazzarini graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Neuchatel and holds an MBA from the University of Lausanne
UNSOM’s headquarters are in Mogadishu with offices deployed across Somalia as requested by the Federal Government and as security conditions permit.
The mission already has a presence in Mogadishu, Garowe and Baidoa while a presence will be established in Beletweyne taking into account security and logistical conditions. Hargeisa office is agreed to be opened.
Formation and mandate. on 2 May 2013 by the UN Security Council, UNSOM was launched on 3 June 2013. UNSOM’s core role is to act as an enabler, helping to create and galvanize the political and strategic environment in which stabilisation and peace-building can proceed, including by leveraging other parts of the UN system and international partners. UNSOM supports the Federal Government of Somalia’s agenda of peace, security and nation-building and will help the country move towards free and fair elections in 2016. It exercises its mandate guided by the principles of Somali ownership, flexibility, collaboration and partnerships. In close cooperation with key partners such as the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), it also fulfils the Government’s wish for “a single UN door to knock on”. It exercises its mandate guided by the principles of Somali ownership, flexibility, collaboration and partnerships. In close cooperation with key partners such as the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), it also fulfils the Government’s wish for “a single UN door to knock on the new mission replaced the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), which completed its mandate on 2 June 2013.
Sources of the information, United Nations assistance mission official web page.