The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for South Sudan, Anita Kiki Gbeho. (AMISOM Photo / Mukhtar Nuur)

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday announced the appointment of Anita Kiki Gbeho of Ghana as his new Deputy Special Representative in the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Replacing Sara Beysolow Nyanti of Liberia, Anita will double as the Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan.

The humanitarian official will be leading the UN’s efforts in recovery and stabilization in South Sudan.

A UN statement confirming her appointment said Ms. Gbeho has 25 years of experience in strategic planning, coordination and management in political, development and humanitarian affairs at United Nations Headquarters.

She has previously worked in diverse conflict and post-conflict settings, including Angola, Cambodia, Iraq, Namibia, Somalia and Sudan.

UN Secretary General Guterres had appointed her as his Deputy Special Representative (Political) in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) since 2021.

From 2018 to 2020, Ms. Gbeho served as Deputy Joint Special Representative of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) where she led the development and implementation of the mission’s transition strategy.

Between 2015 and 2018, she was Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Namibia.

She has also served as Chief of Section in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in New York and as Head of Office for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Somalia and South Sudan.

Ms. Gbeho holds a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.

Her predecessor, Sara Nyanti was appointed in December 2021 – succeeding Alain Noudehou of Benin.