New UN envoy named for Somalia

A former UN deputy envoy to Afghanistan and now senior researcher at the British think tank Chatham House was appointed on Monday to be the new UN envoy for Somalia.

Michael Keating, 56, will succeed Nicolas Kay who will wrap up at the end of December after two and a half years in the post to support Somalia's political transition.

The British national, who was born in Uganda, served as deputy envoy and humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2012.

He currently is associate director at Chatham House and is an advisor to the UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura.

"Mr. Keating brings to this position extensive experience in supporting political and peacebuilding transitions, as well as leading complex humanitarian and recovery programs in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Keating will serve as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's special envoy and as head of UNSOM, the UN assistance mission in Somalia, working to help rebuild the country after decades of turmoil.