Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
Mr. Khassim Diagne (Senegal)
Mr. Diagne served as Director of the Political, Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Human Rights Unit in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (2017-2021). He was also Regional Representative, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to the United States and the Caribbean (2017), UNHCR Representative in Cameroon (2015-2016) and Liberia (2014-2015), and Deputy Representative in Pakistan (2009-2011). Between 2011 and 2013, he was Head of the Governance and Partnership Service and Secretary of the Executive Committee at UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva. Earlier in his career, he worked with UNHCR in Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Kenya and Somalia.
He holds a Master of Arts in Modern Languages from Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal, and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, United States. He is fluent in English, French and Wolof.
UNFICYP Senior Adviser
Aderemi Adekoya (Nigeria)
Aderemi Adekoya joined the United Nations in 2002 and has served in four peacekeeping missions at different capacity, namely, United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), United Nations Mission in Darfur, Sudan (UNAMID), United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), United Nations Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) including support to African Union for the deployment of African Union peacekeeping forces in Somalia (AMISOM).
Mr. Adekoya holds a Ph.D. degree from University of Delhi. His professional experiences are in the areas of political affairs, diplomacy, policy formulation and implementation; institutional development; mediation; terrorism and counterterrorism; security arrangements; security sector reform including integration of forces and disarmament; programme development, management and coordination; resource planning and mobilization.
Past Heads of Mission /Special Representatives
| 24 | Mr. Colin Stewart (Canada) | December 2021 - August 2025 |
| 23 | Ms. Elizabeth Spehar (Canada) | June 2016 - November 2021 |
| 22 | Ms. Lisa Buttenheim (USA) | June 2010 - June 2016 |
| 21 | Mr. Taye-Brook Zerihoun (Ethiopia) | May 2008 - April 2010 |
| 20 | Ms. Elizabeth Spehar (Canada) | 30 March 2008 – 07 May 2008 |
| 19 | Mr. Michael Moller (Denmark) | January 2006 - March 2008 |
| 18 | Mr. Zbiniew Wlosowicz (Poland) | 2005 - 2006 |
| 17 | Mr. Alvaro de Soto (Special Adviser, Peru) | 2000 - 2004 |
| 16 | Mr. James Holger (Acting, Chile) | 1999 - 2000 |
| 15 | Dame Ann Hercus (New Zealand) | 1999 - 1999 |
| 14 | Mr. Diego Cordovez (on a non resident basis) | 1997 - 1999 |
| 13 | Mr. Han Sung - Joo (Republic of Korea) | 1996 - 1997 |
| 12 | * Mr. Joe Clark (on a non-resident basis) | 1993 - 1996 |
| 11 | Mr. Oscar Camilion (Argentina) | 1988 - 1993 |
| 10 | Mr. James Holger (Acting, Chile) | 1984 - 1988 |
| 9 | Mr. Hugo J. Gobbi (Argentina) | 1980 – 1984 |
| 8 | Mr. Reynaldo Galindo Pohl (El Salvador) | 1978 - 1980 |
| 7 | Mr. Remy Gorge (Acting) | 1977 - 1978 |
| 6 | Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar (Peru) | 1975 - 1977 |
| 5 | Mr. Luis Weckmann-Muñoz (Mexico) | 1974 - 1975 |
| 4 | Mr. Bibiano Fernandez Osorio - Tafall | 1967 - 1974 |
| 3 | Mr. P.P. Spinelli (Acting) | 1967 - 1967 |
| 2 | Mr. Carlos A. Bernardes (Brazil) | 1964 - 1967 |
| 1 | Mr. Galo Plaza Lasso (appointed as Mediator in September, Ecuador) | 1964 - 1964 |
* In August 1994, in connection with the change of command from Major-General Minehane to Brigadier-General Vartiainen, Mr. Clark became Chief of Mission. The function of Chief of Mission reflects a unified arrangement for the United Nations operation in Cyprus and includes UNFICYP. In the absence of the Special Representative, the Deputy Special Representative assumed this function.
Past Force Commanders
| 22 | Major General Erdenebat Batsuuri (Mongolia | March 2024 – January 2026 |
| 21 | Major General Ingrid Gjerde (Norway) | May 2021 – July 2023 |
| 20 | Major General Cheryl Pearce (Australia) | January 2019 – December 2021 |
| 19 | Major General Mohammad Humayun Kabir (Bangladesh) | August 2016 - July 2018 |
| 18 | Major General Kristin Lund (Norway) | August 2014 - July 2016 |
| 17 | Major General Chao Liu (China) | January 2011 - August 2014 |
| 16 | Rear Admiral Mario Sánchez Debernardi (Peru) | April 2008 - December 2010 |
| 15 | Major-General Rafael Jose Barni (Argentina) | March 2006 - March 2008 |
| 14 | Major-General Hebert Figoli (Uruguay) | January 2004 - January 2006 |
| 13 | Lieutenant-General Jin Ha Hwang (Republic of Korea) | January 2002 - December 2003 |
| 12 | Major-General Victory Rana (Nepal) | December 1999 - December 2001 |
| 11 | Major General Evergisto Arturo de Vergara (Argentina) | February 1997 - December 1999 |
| 10 | Brigadier-General Ahti Toimi Vartiainen | August 1994 - February 1997 |
| 9 | Major-General Michael F. Minehane (Ireland) | April 1992 - August 1994 |
| 8 | Major-General Clive Milner (Canada) | April 1988 - April 1992 |
| 7 | Major-General Gunther G. Greindl (Austria) | March 1981 - April 1988 |
| 6 | Major-General J. J. Quinn (Ireland) | December 1976 - March 1981 |
| 5 | Lieutenant-General Dewan Prem Chand (India) | December 1969 - December 1976 |
| 4 | Lieutenant-General I A E Martola (Finland | May 1966 - December 1969 |
| 3 | Brigadier A. J. Wilson (Acting, United Kingdom) | December 1965 - May 1966 |
| 2 | General K. S. Thimayya (India - died in Cyprus) | June 1964 - December 1965 |
| 1 | General Gyani (India) | March 1964 - June 1964 |