United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has announced the appointment of Mette Knudsen of Denmark as his new Deputy Special Representative (Political) for Afghanistan. She will serve in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
Ms. Knudsen succeeds Ingrid Hayden of Australia. She brings to the position over 28 years of professional experience. Most recently, she served as Ambassador of Denmark to Afghanistan.
Career
She has held several senior positions with Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This includes Ambassador of Denmark to Kenya, Seychelles, Eritrea and Somalia (2015 – 2020), Greece (2012-2015) and Cyprus (2014-2015), Ethiopia (2004-2007). Furthermore Ms.Knudsen was the Deputy Head of Mission in Zambia (2002-2004). She also served as the Ministry’s Head of Africa Department (2007-2012). In addition, she was the Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Nairobi (2015-2020 and to the African Union and ECOWAS (2004-2007). Ms. Knudsen is a member of the Nordic Women Mediators – Denmark.
Ms. Knudsen holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from Aarhus University in Denmark. She also has a supplementary degree in Modern Greek language. She is fluent in Danish, English, and Greek.
