The UN secretary-general has appointed Bruno Georges Lemarquis of France as deputy special representative for Afghanistan and resident coordinator, the organization said in a statement.
Lemarquis will serve with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the UN’s political mission in the country. He will also assume the roles of resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator. He succeeds Indrika Ratwatte.
The appointment comes as Afghanistan faces worsening humanitarian and economic conditions, with millions relying on aid and restrictions continuing to affect key sectors, including education, health care and employment.
UNAMA, established in 2002, plays a central role in coordinating international assistance, monitoring human rights and facilitating political engagement in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the mission has operated in an increasingly complex environment, balancing humanitarian support with diplomatic engagement.
Lemarquis brings more than three decades of experience in humanitarian and development work, the UN said. Since 2022, he has served as deputy special representative of the secretary-general in the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo, where he also held responsibilities as resident and humanitarian coordinator.
He previously served in a similar role in Haiti and held senior positions at the UN Development Program, focusing on crisis response, recovery and peacebuilding. His field experience includes assignments in Somalia, the occupied Palestinian territories and Cambodia.
Before joining the UN in 1992, Lemarquis worked with an international nongovernmental organization in Haiti and Ethiopia.
In Afghanistan, he is expected to help oversee coordination of one of the world’s largest humanitarian operations. UN estimates indicate tens of millions of people require some form of assistance in Afghanistan, as economic pressures, climate shocks and limited public services continue to strain the population.
The role also involves navigating sensitive political dynamics, as the UN continues to engage with Taliban while advocating for human rights, including access to education and employment for women and girls.
