UN Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres has appointed Rabab Fatima, a senior international official from Bangladesh, as the new head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
A career diplomat, Fatima has served in several capitals before representing Bangladesh at the United Nations. She is currently the UN’s high representative for least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states.
In a statement, Guterres’s spokesman said, “Ms. Fatima brings to the position over 30 years of experience in national and international civil service, encompassing bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, policymaking, advocacy, program planning and implementation.”
She succeeds Canadian Georgette Gagnon, UNAMA’s deputy special representative, who had been serving as acting head of mission.
Established in 2002, UNAMA has played a central role in coordinating humanitarian aid, facilitating political dialogue and monitoring human rights in Afghanistan, particularly since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
The UN Security Council renewed its mandate for one year in June, despite US reservations over its objectives and methods.
