Newly Appointed IOM Chief of Mission Presents his Credentials to Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Mogadishu - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) office in Somalia is pleased to announce the arrival of its newly appointed Chief of Mission, Mr. Richard Danziger, who arrived in Mogadishu on 19 June 2020.

Mr. Danziger will take leadership of the organization’s office and programmes operating in coordination with governmental and non-governmental partners across Somalia. The organization currently employs more than 400 individuals working across all six states of Somalia with a focus on improving the life of displaced families, migrants and people in hard to reach areas.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Mr. Danziger presented his credentials virtually to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Ahmed Awad.

“I am honoured to join the IOM Somalia team and will continue to support the efforts taken by the Government of Somalia to deliver the National Development Plan and to address migration challenges, including responding to humanitarian needs in the country, whilst working to promote dialogue among migrants and communities and finding durable solutions to protracted displacement.” 

Prior to his arrival in Somalia, Mr. Danziger, a UK national, served as IOM’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa (WCA). In that capacity he chaired the WCA Regional UN Development Group in 2017 and 2018 and led the recalibration of the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel.  He has previously served as Chief of Mission in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia and Sri Lanka and the Maldives. He also previously headed IOM’s Migrant Protection and Assistance Division in Geneva, chaired the World Economic Forum’s Council on Illicit Trade and Organized Crime, and he has also been a member of their Future Council on Migration. 

Mr. Danziger is regularly involved in research projects and is currently on the board of a PRIO/ODI-led multi-year research on migration and development which counts Somalia as one of the target countries.