UN appoints Kenyan diplomat Martin Kimani to senior Africa affairs post

Wednesday 16 - 09:47

By: Azzat Manal

UN appoints Kenyan diplomat Martin Kimani to senior Africa affairs post

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Kenyan diplomat Martin Kimani as Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the UN’s departments responsible for political and peacebuilding affairs and peace operations.

Kimani succeeds Ghanaian diplomat Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee in the position, which places him at the center of the United Nations’ engagement with political, peace and security issues across Africa.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric announced the appointment during his daily press briefing on Tuesday. According to the United Nations, Kimani brings more than 25 years of experience in international relations, diplomacy, peace and security, and multilateral affairs.

His previous diplomatic career includes serving as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2020 to 2024. During his time in New York, he represented Kenya in a range of multilateral discussions and worked within the UN system on issues linked to international cooperation and development.

In 2023, Kimani chaired the executive boards of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Office for Project Services. The role gave him additional experience in overseeing major UN institutions and coordinating international development priorities.

Before entering government service, Kimani also held senior positions outside the diplomatic sector. He served as chief executive officer of The Africa Center in New York, an institution focused on Africa-related cultural, social and policy issues.

He also served as executive director of the Center for International Cooperation at New York University, where his work focused on international policy and cooperation. Earlier in his career, he was deputy director of the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank specializing in international affairs.

His appointment comes at a time when the United Nations continues to deal with a wide range of political and security challenges across Africa, including armed conflicts, peacekeeping operations, humanitarian crises and efforts to strengthen regional cooperation.

The Assistant Secretary-General for Africa works within the UN’s political and peacebuilding structures and is involved in supporting the organization’s engagement with African governments, regional institutions and other international partners. The position also contributes to coordinating UN approaches to conflict prevention, mediation and peacebuilding.

Kimani’s background in both multilateral diplomacy and international policy is expected to provide him with experience relevant to the role. His previous work at the United Nations and in international institutions has exposed him to the complex relationships between diplomacy, development and security.

The appointment also maintains a strong African representation within the UN’s senior leadership structure, as the organization continues to work closely with the African Union and regional bodies on conflict prevention and peace initiatives.

As he takes up the new position, Kimani will inherit a portfolio covering a continent facing diverse political, economic and security challenges. His responsibilities will include supporting UN efforts to prevent conflicts, promote political dialogue and strengthen peacebuilding initiatives in cooperation with African and international partners.