UN appoints China’s Guang Cong as new Horn of Africa special envoy amid regional crises

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Guang Cong of China as his new Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, effective immediately.

The announcement, made on July 17, follows the departure of Hanna Serwaa Tetteh of Ghana, who held the position since 2022.

Guterres thanked Tetteh for her "leadership and dedicated service" during a challenging period marked by conflict, political instability, and humanitarian crises in the region.

Guang brings over 23 years of experience in United Nations peace operations, with a strong focus on the Horn of Africa.

Before this appointment, he served as Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs in South Sudan and Deputy Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Peacebuilding and reconciliation

Between 2016 and 2020, Guang was the Director of Civil Affairs at UNMISS, where he played a key role in peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts following South Sudan’s civil war.

He has also held senior political roles in the United Nations Special Coordinator's Office in Lebanon (UNSCOL) as Chief of Political Affairs and Chief of Staff (2012–2014), and earlier in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) from 2002 to 2009.

Guang's field experience includes work as Chief of Civil Affairs in the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), and postings in Blue Nile State, Abyei, and Jonglei State under the former United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS). He has also served in China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Shanghai International Studies University and a Graduate Certificate from the China Foreign Affairs University. He is fluent in Chinese and English.

Guang takes on the role at a critical time as the UN seeks to scale up efforts to address ongoing conflicts and promote peace and development across Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan.