United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma announced today the appointment of Mr.Mohamed Ibn Chambas of Ghana as their Joint Special Representative for Darfur, Head of the African Union and United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). His responsibilities include those of the African Union-United Nations Joint Chief Mediator.

Mr. Chambas replaces Mr. Ibrahim Gambari of Nigeria. The Secretary-General and the African Union Commission Chairperson would like to take this opportunity to reiterate their deep appreciation to Mr. Gambari for his dedicated service during his tenure with UNAMID.

Mr. Chambas brings to this position extensive experience after a long and distinguished career in both international and governmental fora, most recently serving as the Secretary General of the African, Caribbean, Pacific Group of States (ACP). Prior to this, Mr. Chambas was the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 2006 to 2009 and the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS from 2002 to 2005.

Mr. Chambas was a Member of Parliament and notably served in 1987 as Deputy Foreign Secretary of Ghana. He has also served as the Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education from 1997 to 2000. Prior to that, he was involved in the mediation efforts in Liberia, between 1991 and 1996.

Born in Ghana in 1950, Mr. Chambas holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Ghana, a Masters degree and PhD from Cornell University and a law degree from Case Western Reserve University.

New York
20 December 2012