Catriona Laing, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia

Catriona Laing is the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of UNSOM. Appointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 3 May 2023, Ms. Laing brings to the position over 35 years of experience in diplomacy, development and international relations, including having held United Kingdom government policy roles in various departments at the national and international levels. Most recently, from November 2018 until April 2023, she served as British High Commissioner to Nigeria. Prior to that, she was the British Ambassador to Zimbabwe from 2014 until 2018.

In addition to her diplomatic roles, Ms. Laing has held several positions in government policy and international development, notably as Deputy Head of the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit (2000-2004), Director for Human Rights at the Ministry of Justice (2009-2012) and as the Head of the Department for International Development in Sudan (2006-2009). She headed the UN Development Office in Somalia from 1993 to 1994.

Ms. Catriona Laing holds a Master of Science degree in economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Master of Business Administration from Cranfield University, both in the United Kingdom.

Anita Kiki Gbeho, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia

Anita Kiki Gbeho is the United Nations Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia. She oversees the work of the Political, Human Rights, Electoral, and Rule of Law and Security components of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). She is currently serving as the Officer-in-Charge of UNSOM.

Appointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in December 2020, Ms. Gbeho brings more than 25 years of experience in strategic planning, coordination and management in political, development and humanitarian affairs at United Nations Headquarters and in field operations. Her work has included establishing high level political and strategic relations with national authorities, regional bodies and partners in conflict and post-conflict environments and diverse settings such as Angola, Cambodia, Iraq, Namibia, Sudan and Somalia.

Prior to UNSOM, Ms. Gbeho served as Deputy Joint Special Representative of the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), where she led the development and implementation of the Mission’s transition strategy. Previously, she was Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative with the United Nations Development Programme in Namibia.  She has also served as Chief of Section in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in New York and as Head of Office for OCHA in Somalia and Southern Sudan.  

Ms. Gbeho holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and African Studies from the State University of New York, and a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Ghana.

George Conway, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, a.i.

George Conway is the United Nations Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and also serves as the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator.     

He has more than 20 years of experience in development, crisis prevention and recovery, and humanitarian affairs with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other UN entities.

Prior to his current post, he served as Deputy Director at UNDP’s Crisis Bureau in New York and previously worked in Somalia as UNDP Country Director (2013–2019).

He has also served in various roles in South Sudan, Indonesia and Canada on peace and conflict issues, including as UNDP’s Strategic Advisor for Africa, Country Director a.i. in South Sudan, and Head of Programmes in Juba. In Indonesia he assisted in crisis prevention and recovery following the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Before UNDP, he was an analyst on peace and conflict issues in Ottawa and a civilian expert for peace-keeping operations.

Mr. Conway holds a Master’s degree in international affairs from Carleton University in Ottawa, an interdisciplinary Master’s degree from the University of Western Ontario, and a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Winnipeg.