The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, as the African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns. The appointment is pursuant to the AU's objective to end all conflicts, gender-based violence, terrorism and prevent genocide in the continent by 2030.

The High Representative will primarily, promote and energize advocacy, mediation and preventive diplomacy as mandated by the Chairperson of the Commission, within the framework of implementing the AU Master Roadmap on Practical Steps to Silence the Guns.

Dr Chambas, a Ghanaian national, served as the Under-Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) from 2014-2021, and Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of the UN-AU Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). Also a former Secretary-General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and former President, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, the new High Representative brings with him, decades of rich mix of political experience and resourceful institutional leadership at national, regional, continental and global levels.

The Chairperson of the Commission is optimistic that Dr Chambas' impeccable credentials and commitment to Pan-Africanism and Agenda 2063, will contribute to his success in this new role. The Chairperson therefore invites all stakeholders and the international community to extend the necessary support to the High Representative, as he commences his duties from March 2023.

The Chairperson of the Commission takes this medium to equally convey profound gratitude to H.E. Ramtane Lamamra, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria and immediate past AU High Representative for Silencing the Guns, for his notable contributions and meritorious service to the Continent in Silencing the Guns.