Key Points
- Barham Salih selected to lead UNHCR for a five-year term starting January 1, 2026
- Appointment communicated in a letter from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
- Decision awaits formal approval from the UNHCR Executive Committee
GENEVA: Former Iraqi president Barham Salih has been chosen as the next head of the UN refugee agency, according to a document shared with member states and confirmed by a UN source.
According to AFP, the UN’s choice signals a rare break from Europe’s long-established hold on the position.
A letter dated December 11 and signed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres informed states that Salih has been selected to serve a five-year term as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, effective from January 1, 2026. His appointment still requires endorsement by the UNHCR Executive Committee before it becomes official.
If confirmed, Salih will replace Filippo Grandi of Italy, who has led the agency since 2016. Humanitarian officials say the leadership transition comes at a time of historic displacement pressures, funding shortfalls, and growing demands on host countries across multiple regions.
Salih, a Kurdish statesman and former prime minister of the Kurdistan Region, served as Iraq’s president from 2018 to 2022. Observers note that his selection reflects a broader push within the UN for more geographic diversity in senior roles after decades in which Europeans were routinely appointed to head UNHCR.
Humanitarian analysts say Salih will inherit one of the UN’s most challenging portfolios, with global displacement reaching unprecedented levels due to conflict, economic instability, and climate-linked crises.
