António Guterres Appointed Toily Kurbanov to UN South Sudan Mission
The United Nations announced that Toily Kurbanov will serve as the new Deputy Special Representative in South Sudan.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in People
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed diplomat Toily Kurbanov to lead as the Deputy Special Representative for the UN Mission in South Sudan. Kurbanov will also oversee his new duties as the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in the region.
Why it matters
This leadership transition brings a seasoned diplomat into a critical role for the United Nations as it manages humanitarian and coordination efforts in South Sudan. Kurbanov steps into the position vacated by Anita Kiki Gbeho, marking a change in the administrative oversight of the international mission.
Toily Kurbanov brings 30 years of experience in international diplomacy to his new role. He previously managed operations across 10 Pacific states during his tenure as a UNDP official.
The players
António Guterres
He is the Secretary-General of the United Nations who oversees the organization's missions and official appointments.
Toily Kurbanov
He is a career diplomat from the Russian Federation who has held multiple leadership roles within the United Nations and UNDP.
Anita Kiki Gbeho
She is the official being succeeded by Toily Kurbanov in his new capacity as Deputy Special Representative.
The details
Kurbanov, a diplomat from the Russian Federation, previously served as the Executive Coordinator of United Nations Volunteers since 2021. He holds master's degrees from Harvard University and the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, and he has held various UNDP leadership roles in Myanmar and Fiji.
Timeline
September 24, 2026: UN officials announced the appointment in New York.
2016-2020: Kurbanov served as the Deputy Executive Coordinator of UNV.
2012-2016: Kurbanov worked as the UNDP Country Director in Myanmar.
2007-2012: Kurbanov acted as the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Fiji.
2004-2006: Kurbanov held a position at UNDP headquarters in New York.
Market Landscape
This leadership appointment impacts the administrative hierarchy of the UN Mission in South Sudan. It reflects a broader institutional trend of rotating seasoned international diplomats into complex, high-stakes humanitarian coordination roles across global conflict zones.
This appointment changes the high-level diplomatic oversight and humanitarian coordination leadership for aid efforts in South Sudan. The move ensures continued management of regional UN programs, which impacts how international resources are prioritized for local residents.
The takeaway
Kurbanov brings a diverse background from previous UNDP postings in Myanmar, Fiji, and UN headquarters to his new role. His transition highlights the mobility of senior UN officials as they move between various international humanitarian and diplomatic assignments.
Further reading
Learn more about international leadership changes in our People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Radio Tamazuj.
