Africa: Martin Kimani Named UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa

What the report says

Kenyan diplomat Martin Kimani has been appointed Assistant Secretary-General for Africa at the United Nations, according to a report distributed by AllAfrica from Capital FM in Nairobi. The appointment was announced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and places Kimani in the UN Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations.

The report says Kimani takes over from Ghanaian diplomat Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee. In the new post, he will be involved in UN work aimed at preventing conflict, supporting peace efforts and advancing stability in Africa and other regions facing insecurity.

Capital FM’s report highlights Kimani’s prior experience in the UN system. He served as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 2020 to 2024 and previously worked on conflict prevention and climate-security issues within UN forums. He also led the Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS in 2023.

The article also notes his earlier Kenyan government roles, including leadership at the National Counter Terrorism Centre and service as the president’s special envoy on countering violent extremism. The appointment is significant because the role sits at a senior level in UN peace and political operations, with responsibilities tied to crisis prevention and peacebuilding across the continent.