South Sudanese basketball star Wenyen Gabriel has been appointed a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, becoming the first professional basketball player to take on the global humanitarian role.
The 29-year-old, who fled conflict in Sudan as a child before building a career in the NBA and representing South Sudan at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, was unveiled as an ambassador in Geneva during celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Gabriel’s appointment reflects both his personal journey from refugee to international athlete and his growing advocacy for people displaced by conflict.
Through the role, he will work with the UN refugee agency to raise awareness of the challenges facing refugees and help mobilise support for displaced communities around the world.
Ahead of the announcement, Gabriel travelled to Maban County in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State, where more than 220,000 people who fled the war in neighbouring Sudan have sought refuge.
During the visit, he met refugee families, listened to their experiences and officially opened a community basketball court aimed at providing young people with a safe space for sport and recreation.
Speaking about his new role, Gabriel said his own life had been shaped by the support his family received after fleeing conflict, adding that he wanted to use basketball to inspire hope and give a voice to people forced from their homes.
UNHCR said Gabriel’s story demonstrates the resilience and potential of refugees, describing him as a powerful advocate whose experience on and off the court will help draw global attention to one of the world’s fastest-growing displacement crises.
His appointment is also a landmark moment for South Sudan, highlighting the country’s rising influence beyond sport as its athletes increasingly take on international leadership and humanitarian roles.
