Meet the Ghanaian diplomat appointed as UN envoy to South Sudan

The United Nations has appointed Ghanaian diplomat Anita Kiki Gbeho as its new Special Representative for South Sudan and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

The announcement was made by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in an official statement on April 11, 2026.

"United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Anita Kiki Gbeho of Ghana as his new Special Representative for South Sudan and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS," it noted.

Kiki Gbeho takes over from the late Nicholas Haysom, whose tenure was widely recognised for advancing peacebuilding efforts in the conflict-affected nation.

"Gbeho will succeed the late Nicholas Haysom of South Africa, to whom the Secretary-General is profoundly grateful for his dedication, effective leadership of UNMISS and distinguished service that he rendered to the United Nations in the cause of peace over the course of more than two decades," the statement said.

Here is a brief profile of her

With more than 25 years of experience, Kiki Gbeho has built a distinguished career working in complex and high-risk environments across Africa and beyond. Her work has taken her to countries including Somalia, Sudan, Iraq and Cambodia, establishing her as a seasoned expert in international diplomacy and crisis management.

Before the appointment, she served as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in South Sudan, while also holding dual roles as Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Coordinator.

In these positions, she led critical humanitarian responses and development programmes and, at times, acted as Officer-in-Charge of the mission.

Ghanaian diplomat Anita Kiki Gbeho gets top UN post in South Sudan

Her previous roles include senior leadership positions with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia and the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, where she contributed to stabilisation and peace support initiatives. She has also worked with the United Nations Development Programme in Namibia and held roles within the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and African Studies from State University of New York, USA, and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Ghana, Legon.

JKB/EB

Ex Black Stars player accuses family of 'stealing' his 8 bedroom house: