Haile Menkerios
Encyclopedia
Haile Menkerios is a former Eritrea
n diplomat and currently the United Nations
Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs.
Studying in the United States
, Menkerios earned a bachelor's degree
from Brandeis University
and a master's degree
from Harvard University
. During the period from 1991 to 2000, Menkerios was Eritrea's Ambassador to Ethiopia
and the Organisation of African Unity, its Special Envoy to Somalia
and the African Great Lakes
region, and was Eritrea's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Later, as Senior Adviser to Moustapha Niasse
, the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General to the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, he assisted Niasse in the mediation process that led to the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement, which was signed on December 17, 2002 and marked the end of the Congolese Civil War
.
At the UN, he was Director of the Africa
I Division in the Department of Political Affairs from June 2003 to June 2005. On September 26, 2005, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
announced his appointment as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo
; he assumed this post in October 2005. Subsequently, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
announced his appointment as UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs on May 16, 2007, and he assumed this post on July 1, 2007.
On June 5, 2008, the United Nations announced that it was sending Menkerios to Zimbabwe
to discuss how the UN could assist in the electoral process leading to the second round of Zimbabwe's presidential election
. At the UN food summit in Rome
a few days earlier, Ban had suggested to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe
the idea of sending Menkerios to Zimbabwe and Mugabe agreed.
Menkerios was sent to Madagascar
in February 2009 to help resolve a political crisis there. He met separately with President Marc Ravalomanana
and opposition leader Andry Rajoelina
on February 9, and both of them agreed to engage in dialogue.
On February 2, 2010, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced Haile Menkerios (South Africa) as his Special Representative for the Sudan.
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
n diplomat and currently the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs.
Studying in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Menkerios earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
and a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. During the period from 1991 to 2000, Menkerios was Eritrea's Ambassador to Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
and the Organisation of African Unity, its Special Envoy to Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
and the African Great Lakes
African Great Lakes
The African Great Lakes are a series of lakes and the Rift Valley lakes in and around the geographic Great Rift Valley formed by the action of the tectonic East African Rift on the continent of Africa...
region, and was Eritrea's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Later, as Senior Adviser to Moustapha Niasse
Moustapha Niasse
Moustapha Niasse is a Senegalese politician and diplomat. He served in the government of Senegal as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1978 to 1984 and again from 1993 to 1998. He was Prime Minister of Senegal for a few weeks in 1983, and he held that position again from 2000 to 2001.-Political...
, the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General to the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, he assisted Niasse in the mediation process that led to the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement, which was signed on December 17, 2002 and marked the end of the Congolese Civil War
Second Congo War
The Second Congo War, also known as Coltan War and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power; however, hostilities continue to this...
.
At the UN, he was Director of the Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
I Division in the Department of Political Affairs from June 2003 to June 2005. On September 26, 2005, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
announced his appointment as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
; he assumed this post in October 2005. Subsequently, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
announced his appointment as UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs on May 16, 2007, and he assumed this post on July 1, 2007.
On June 5, 2008, the United Nations announced that it was sending Menkerios to Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
to discuss how the UN could assist in the electoral process leading to the second round of Zimbabwe's presidential election
Zimbabwean presidential election, 2008
The Republic of Zimbabwe held a presidential election along with a parliamentary election on 29 March 2008. The three major candidates were incumbent President Robert Mugabe of the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front , Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change , and...
. At the UN food summit in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
a few days earlier, Ban had suggested to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
the idea of sending Menkerios to Zimbabwe and Mugabe agreed.
Menkerios was sent to Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
in February 2009 to help resolve a political crisis there. He met separately with President Marc Ravalomanana
Marc Ravalomanana
Marc Ravalomanana is a Malagasy politician who was the President of Madagascar from 2002 to 2009. A member of the Merina ethnic group, Ravalomanana served as Mayor of Antananarivo before becoming President in 2002...
and opposition leader Andry Rajoelina
Andry Rajoelina
Andry Nirina Rajoelina , born May 30 1974, is the former mayor of Antananarivo who became transitional head of state of Madagascar on March 21, 2009 after the 2009 Malagasy political crisis....
on February 9, and both of them agreed to engage in dialogue.
On February 2, 2010, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced Haile Menkerios (South Africa) as his Special Representative for the Sudan.