By Issa Hussein - Reporter
June 27, 2026 - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Mohamed Yahya of Somalia as the new Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Yahya succeeds Joyce Msuya of Tanzania, who has served in the senior humanitarian leadership position.
The appointment places the Somali diplomat in one of the UN's top humanitarian roles, where he will support global emergency response efforts, humanitarian coordination, and crisis management in regions affected by conflict, disasters, and other emergencies.
According to the United Nations, Yahya brings more than two decades of experience in development, humanitarian action, and peacebuilding. His career spans leadership roles at UN headquarters, regional offices, and field operations across Africa and South Asia.
He currently serves as the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan, where he leads one of the UN's largest country operations in the Asia-Pacific region. In that capacity, he coordinated the UN's response to the devastating 2025 floods in Pakistan.
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Yahya's extensive experience in managing complex humanitarian operations and promoting sustainable development is expected to strengthen OCHA's efforts to coordinate international humanitarian assistance amid growing global crises.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is responsible for mobilizing and coordinating effective humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors to ensure timely assistance reaches people affected by emergencies worldwide.