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The new Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) and head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Khassim Diagne, has arrived in Cyprus to officially begin his duties.
Diagne succeeds Colin Stewart, whose term ended in August 2025. Upon his arrival, he said, “It is an honor and a privilege for me to be here in Cyprus as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. I look forward to working with all our partners across Cyprus.”
He steps into the role at a sensitive moment, following the recent “elections” in the Turkish Cypriot community, with Tufan Erhürman emerging as the new leader. Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Angela Holguin, has yet to be appointed. Observers are watching to see whether these developments could revive long-stalled peace talks on the island.
Who is Khassim Diagne?
A Senegalese career diplomat, Diagne brings over 25 years of experience in international affairs and senior UN leadership positions, including humanitarian, peacekeeping, and political roles.
- Mali (2024–present): UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance and Resident Coordinator.
- West Africa & Sahel (2024): Deputy Special Representative, UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (2021–2024): Deputy Special Representative for Protection and Operations, MONUSCO.
He has also held senior roles with UNHCR, including Regional Representative for the U.S. and Caribbean, Representative in Cameroon and Liberia, and Deputy Representative in Pakistan. Early in his career, he worked in Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Kenya, and Somalia.
Diagne holds a master’s in modern languages from Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar and a master’s in international relations from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. Fluent in English, French, and Wolof, he is widely regarded in diplomatic circles as a skilled negotiator with expertise in human rights and conflict resolution.
