Alexander Ivanko
SRSG and Head of MINURSOAlexander Ivanko of the Russian Federation is the Special Representative for Western Sahara and Head of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). He succeeded Colin Stewart of Canada.
Having served as Chief of Staff of MINURSO since 2009, Mr. Ivanko brings to the position more than 30 years of experience in international affairs, peacekeeping and journalism. He previously served as Director of Public Information for the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (2006-2009) and as the United Nations Spokesperson in Bosnia-Herzegovina (1994-1998).
Mr. Ivanko began his career in journalism, working as a correspondent in Afghanistan and the United States for a Russian newspaper. He was also Senior Adviser to the Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (1998-2005).
He holds a Master’s degree with honors in Journalism from the Moscow State University and is fluent in Russian and English.
Ron Misty Kamwendo
Chief of Mission SupportRon Misty Kamwendo of Malawi is the Chief of Mission Support of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). He succeeded Veneranda Mukandoli-Jefferson of the United States of America.
Mr. Kamwendo brings 25 years of experience in the public and private sectors, including 12 years with the United Nations Secretariat. He previously served as Chief of Mission Support for the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel and The Cameroun-Nigeria Mixed Commission (2022-2026), Chief of Risk Management and Compliance with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) (2021-2022) and as Head of Finance, Administration and Partnerships at the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa from (2014-2021).
A Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Mr. Kamwendo holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Financial Services from the University of East London, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Mathematics from the University of Malawi. He is fluent in English and French.