MONROVIA – The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia, Mr. Yacoub El Hillo, has been reassigned as Deputy UN Representative in Libya, where he will also as Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator.
His new portfolio was announced by the Secretary-General António Guterres Friday, June 20.
Mr. El Hillo succeeds Maria do Valle Ribeiro of Ireland, to whom the Secretary-General expressed gratitude for her outstanding contribution and dedicated service in supporting the implementation of the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and coordinating the activities of the United Nations system in Libya.
Mr. Hillo was instrumental in mediating alongside ECOWAS, AU and other international bodies to bring the Council of Patriots and the Government together in coming to terms to ensure the peacefulness of the June 7 protest. The protest was the biggest post-war anti-government demonstration.
Mr. El Hillo brings to his new position a wealth of experience in the field and at the UN Headquarters. Since 2016, he has served as Resident Coordinator in Liberia, where he also served until 2018, as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
From 2013 to 2016, Mr. El Hillo served as the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Syria. He served as the Director for the Middle East and North Africa in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva (2010-2013); UNHCR Regional Representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, based in Riyadh (2009-2010), UNHCR Representative in the United Republic of Tanzania (2006-2009); Deputy Reconstruction and Humanitarian Coordinator, United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) (2005-2006); UNHCR Chief of Mission in Iraq (2003-2005); and Chef de Cabinet at UNHCR Headquarters (2001-2002).
Mr. El Hillo holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree, he graduated from the University of Khartoum, Sudan, in 1986.