AU Commission Chairperson congratulates Mr. Wane Elghassim, appointed Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has congratulated Mr Wane Elghassim, African Union Commission Director for Peace and Security, for his appointment as Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations in the United Nations (UN). The UN Secretary-General announced the appointment on 3 December 2015.

The Chairperson of the AU Commission welcomed the appointment, both as a recognition of the extensive experience and dedicated services of Mr. Wane, but also a way to bring the African Union peace and security experience to share with the rest of the world in the UN System.

In this regard, the AU Commission Chairperson looks forward to more context-specific perspectives in UN Peacekeeping missions at a time when the AU and the UN are strengthening their coordination and collaboration on peace and security and development issues.

Mr. Elghassim Wane will be leaving the AU Commission after 21 years of dedicated and committed service to the organisation, the continent and humanity. He has been the Director for Peace and Security over the last six years.

In his current role as Director of Peace and Security in the African Union Commission, he has contributed to the development and implementation of key AU strategies and policies in the area of peace and security. This includes the planning, management and oversight of large operations and teams, as well as collaboration with Member States and partners towards organizational objectives.

He has also served in different capacities in the Commission, including as Head of the Conflict Management Division, Senior Political Officer and Officer in the Divisions for Conflict Management and Refugees, Displaced Persons and Humanitarian Affairs. In the course of his career at the AU, he contributed to the development of the African Peace and Security Architecture, namely the establishment of the AU Peace and Security Council, mediation processes, the planning and deployment of peacekeeping operations, the facilitation of political transitions and other AU initiatives, most notably the campaign to ban landmines and efforts to address the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. He has also served as Spokesperson of the AU on peace and security issues.

In 2012, the Africa Report Magazine named Mr. Wane among the 50 most influential Africans. He holds Masters Degrees in International Law and International Relations, and European Studies, from the Universities of Dakar in Senegal and of Lille II in France.

People within and outside the AU Commission have equally warmly welcomed his appointment.

Office of the Spokesperson of the Chairperson

African Union Commission