UN secretary-general António Guterres’s special envoy for Somalia, Catriona Laing, will leave the post towards the end of next month after “completing her one-year assignment”, the global body said today, April 22.
“I have full confidence that Somalia will succeed and that the African Union and United Nations, along with our international partners, will continue to play a crucial role in supporting Somalis on their path to peace and stability,” Laing was quoted as saying in a statement by the UN.
The British diplomat described Somalia as “a place of hope and friendship”.
“I will continue to support and advocate for Somalia wherever I am,” she added.
Laing also leads the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).
“Somalia first drew me into its embrace in the 1990s and my latest stint here has reinforced my respect and admiration for its people – their country is place of hope and friendship, of progress and promise, and I will continue to support and advocate for Somalis wherever I am,” she said on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.
She was appointed the UN envoy to Somalia in May last year and has previously served as the UK’s ambassador to Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
