United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Russian diplomat Toily Kurbanov as the new Deputy Special Representative for South Sudan.
Kurbanov will also serve as the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in the country.
He succeeds Anita Kiki Gbeho, who held the position from 2024 before being appointed in April this year as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Kurbanov brings nearly three decades of experience in diplomacy, humanitarian affairs, sustainable development and public policy.
Since 2021, he has served as Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers programme.
Before that, he held senior positions with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Myanmar, Fiji and other Pacific island countries.
Earlier in his career, Kurbanov served as an ambassador and held senior government positions in Turkmenistan.
In his new role, he will be responsible for supporting the UN’s work in South Sudan, including coordination of humanitarian, development and other UN activities.
His appointment comes as South Sudan continues to face significant humanitarian and political challenges ahead of the country’s planned December 2026 elections.
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