James Christopher Swan (born December 10, 1963) is an American diplomat. He was the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Somalia from May 2019 to October 2022.[1]

James C. Swan
Special Representative for Somalia
In office
May 30, 2019 – October 27, 2022
Secretary-GeneralAntónio Guterres
Preceded byNicholas Haysom
Succeeded byAnita Kiki Gbeho
United States Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
In office
November 1, 2013 – December 30, 2016
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byJames F. Entwistle
Succeeded byMichael A. Hammer
United States Ambassador to Djibouti
In office
November 10, 2008 – June 30, 2011
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Barack Obama
Preceded byStuart Symington
Succeeded byGeeta Pasi
Personal details
Born
James Christopher Swan

(1963-12-10) December 10, 1963 (age 60)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
EducationGeorgetown University
National War College
Johns Hopkins University

Early life and education

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Swan was born on 10 December 1963 in Washington, D.C.[citation needed]

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, a Master of Arts from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, and a Master of Arts in National Security Studies from the US National War College, where he was a 2005 distinguished graduate.[2]

Career

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Prior to assuming his role with the United Nations in Somalia, Swan had a nearly three-decade career with the US Foreign Service. Most of this diplomatic work focused on African countries.[citation needed]  

In his bilateral diplomatic career, Swan held positions related to Somalia and the Horn of Africa. These include US Special Representative for Somalia (2011-2013), Ambassador to Djibouti (2008-2011), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East and Central Africa (2006-2008), Africa Director in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (2005-2006), and Political Officer in the Office of the Special Envoy for Somalia (1994-1996).[citation needed]  

He also served as the US Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2013-2016),[3][2] in addition to prior staff assignments in the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Nicaragua, and Haiti.[4]

United Nations

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James Swan meeting with Minister of Women and Human Rights Development Her Excellency Haniifa Mohamed Ibrahim on 26 January 2021

UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Swan to lead the UN team in Somalia on May 30, 2019.[5][6] He was responsible for UN operations in Somalia, including two UN missions and 23 agencies, funds, and programmes that together had approximately 2,000 national and international staff and an operating budget around $2 billion.[7]

Swan served concurrently as the Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). This UN special political mission operates under a UN Security Council mandate to support Somali institutions, strengthen Somali coordination with international partners in the security sector, help Somalis advance in reconciliation and democratic governance, and promote the rule of law and human rights.[8]

Assassination attempt

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On 24 July 2019, a female suicide bomber entered and blew herself up inside Mogadishu Mayor Abdirahmean Omar Osman's office, killing six government officials and injuring nine of Osman's staff. Swan was the target of the attack, but Swan had met the mayor earlier and departed prior to the blast. Osman was critically wounded in the attack and succumbed to his injuries a week later, on 1 August 2019, after having been transported to and hospitalised in Doha, Qatar. The attack was claimed by Al-Shabaab.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Leadership". UNSOM. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  2. ^ a b Official Biography, state.gov; accessed March 26, 2018.
  3. ^ "Ambassador to Democratic Republic of Congo: Who Is James Swan?".
  4. ^ "Swan, James C." U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  5. ^ "Secretary-General Appoints James Swan of United States Special Representative, Head of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
  6. ^ "Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia". United Nations Secretary-General. 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
  7. ^ "Leadership". United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia. 13 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  8. ^ "UNSOM mandate". United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Suicide bomber kills six in attack on Mogadishu mayor's office". BBC News. 2019-07-24. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
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Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Djibouti
2008–2011
Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
2013–2018
Succeeded by