Nairobi, 2 April 2019 – The newly-appointed United Nations Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, Huang Xia, took office on 1 March 2019. The UN Secretary-General appointed Mr. Xia of the People’s Republic of China on 22 January 2019 to succeed Said Djinnit.

“Mr. Xia brings over 30 years of diplomatic experience across the world, with experience in Africa, having served in several high-level positions,” reads the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on the appointment of Mr. Xia. Most recently, he served as the Ambassador at large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. Prior to that he served as ambassador of China to Gabon, Niger, Senegal and the Republic of Congo.

Mr. Xia is the third envoy to be appointed to the Great Lakes region of Africa after Mary Robinson of Ireland and Said Djinnit of Algeria.