The grand return of James Swan to Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Seasoned American diplomat James Swan will make a grand return to Somalia, but this time as the United Nations Special Representative in an acting capacity, over two years after his exit, having laid ground for the state-building process of the country.

Swan, was appointed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and will now head the UN Assistance Mission (UNSOM), which has embarked on transition, after a request by the government of Somalia, which wrote to the United Nations over the exit process.

Mr. Swan will act as Special Representative for a temporary period following the departure of Catriona Laing of the United Kingdom, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her dedicated service in UNSOM and Somalia at a challenging time, UN said in a statement.

The career diplomat has been the face behind solutions to many complex problems in Africa, spearheading transitions at critical junctures. He served as Special Representative for Somalia and Head of UNSOM from 2019 to 2022.

Prior to that, he served in the United States Government as Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2013 to 2016, Special Representative for Somalia from 2011 to 2013, and Ambassador to Djibouti from 2008 to 2011, the profile in Wikipedia shows.

In his earlier career, Mr. Swan was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 2006 to 2008, and Director of African Analysis in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research from 2005 to 2006. Prior to holding these assignments, Mr. Swan held various assignments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Congo, Somalia, Cameroon, Nicaragua, and Haiti.

Mr. Swan holds a B.Sc. degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, an M.A. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a Master’s degree in Security Studies from the National War College, all in the United States. He is fluent in English and French, the UN acknowledged.

UNSOM has been helping the country to stabilise for the last 16 years but Mogadishu is calling for its exit as local forces take over security responsibilities of the country. Besides internal political tussles, Somalia is actively fighting Al-Shabaab and IS-Somalia militants.

GAROWE ONLINE