Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas of Ghana has been appointed by the United Nations (UN) and Africa Union (AU) as their Joint Special Representative for Darfur.

As Head of the AU and United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), his responsibilities include those of the AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator.

A statement issued by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and AU Commission’s Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma said Dr Chambas replaces Mr Ibrahim Gambari of Nigeria.

Dr Chambas brings to the position extensive experience after a long and distinguished career in both international and governmental levels and most recently serving as the Secretary General of the African, Caribbean, Pacific Group of States.

Prior to this, he was the President of the Economic Community of West African States from 2006 to 2009 and the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS from 2002 to 2005.

Dr Chambas was a Member of Parliament and served in 1987 as Deputy Foreign Secretary of Ghana.

He has also served as the Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education from 1997 to 2000.

He was involved in the peace mediation efforts in Liberia, from 1991 to 1996.

Born in Ghana in 1950, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Ghana, a Masters degree and PhD from Cornell University and a law degree from Case Western Reserve University.

The UN Secretary-General and the AU Commission’s Chairperson expressed their appreciation to Mr Gambari for his dedicated service during his tenure with UNAMID.