The African Union Commission has appointed Ms. Fiona Lortan as the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) to Somalia and Deputy Head of Mission.

Ms. Lortan takes a wealth of experience to the position and will play an important role in the transition phase of the African Union's commitment to ensuring a stable and secure Somalia.

She joined the African Union Commission in May 2002 and has worked in various roles in ensuring Peace and Security around the continent. She was most recently the Acting Director for Conflict Management in the Political Affairs Peace and Security Department (PAPS) and worked assiduously on AMISOM. She previously worked in Khartoum, Sudan, as a member of the AU High Level Implementation Panel on Sudan and South Sudan, headed by former South Africa President, President Thabo Mbeki.

The African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, underscored the importance of the next few months for AMISOM as the mandate ends on 31st March 2022.

"I would like to thank Ms. Fiona Lortan, for accepting the role as Deputy SRCC during this interim period. Among many other tasks, she will work to help the African Union to deliver on all that is required to end AMISOM and follow through on ongoing preparations for the mandate,  composition,  size,  and  structure  of  a  proposed  new  mission  in  Somalia," Ambassador Adeoye explained.

Ms. Lortan is a South African national and has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Philosophy degrees in Social and Political Theory from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal in Durban, South Africa and the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.

For further information please contact:

1. Ms. Wynne Musabayana | Head of Communication Division | Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission | E-mail: musabayanaw@africa-union.org
2. Mr Paschal Chem-Langhee, Communication Officer | Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department | African Union Commission | Tel: +220 759 1464 | E-mail: Chem-LangheeP@africa-union.org
3. Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communications Directorate, African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
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