UN chief names new deputy special representative in South Sudan

JUBA — The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday announced the appointment of Ms. Sara Beysolow Nyanti of Liberia as his new Deputy Special Representative in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan.  

Ms. Nyanti succeeds Alain Noudéhou of Benin to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his leadership and dedicated commitment to the people of South Sudan. Noudéhou was appointed Deputy Special Representative in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, Resident Coordinator, and Humanitarian Coordinator in Mali in April.

Ms. Nyanti brings more than 20 years of experience in international development and humanitarian affairs including in conflict and post-conflict settings, most recently serving as Resident Coordinator in Nepal (2021). She also served as United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Yemen (2019-2020) and in The Gambia (2015-2017). 

Prior to her senior-level representational roles, she served in numerous technical capacities in UNICEF and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) related to setting up systems for large scale grant management, social protection/cash transfers, HIV/AIDS, health and education. 

Ms. Nyanti holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the New Charter University, USA. She most recently completed a second Master’s in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University, USA; and is an accredited Broker with the United Kingdom-based international Partnership Broker Association managing and developing collaboration processes. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Transformational Leadership.