United Nations Appointed New Transit Group Co-Chairs
Xavier Bettel, Nataša Pirc Musar, and Mokgweetsi Masisi were named to lead the High-Level Group on Freedom of Transit.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in People
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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel, along with Nataša Pirc Musar and Mokgweetsi Masisi, as co-chairs of the High-Level Group on Freedom of Transit. This group is tasked with addressing the unique trade barriers faced by landlocked developing nations.
Why it matters
Landlocked developing countries often struggle with prohibitively high transport and trade costs due to their lack of direct sea access. This new group aims to identify legal gaps in transit agreements to help facilitate better economic integration for these populations.
The initiative oversees policy for 32 landlocked developing nations that collectively account for a population of over 600 million. The group is currently tasked with auditing international legal instruments and identifying obstacles to regional transit.
The players
Antonio Guterres
He is the current Secretary-General of the United Nations who holds the primary authority to appoint leaders for high-level international working groups.
Xavier Bettel
He is the Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg and serves as one of the three co-chairs for the newly established High-Level Group on Freedom of Transit.
Nataša Pirc Musar
She serves as a co-chair of the group and is the President of Slovenia.
Mokgweetsi Masisi
He is the President of Botswana and was appointed as a co-chair to represent the interests of landlocked developing nations.
The details
The newly formed High-Level Group on Freedom of Transit operates under the framework of the Awaza Programme of Action. The co-chairs will examine international legal agreements to identify gaps in implementation and formulate actionable recommendations to reduce trade costs for landlocked states.
Timeline
The appointment of Xavier Bettel was officially announced on October 8, 2026.
The Awaza Programme of Action spans the decade from 2024 to 2034.
The group is scheduled to present its final recommendations during the 82nd session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Market Landscape
This appointment follows the mandate set by the 2024-2034 Awaza Programme of Action to formalize global diplomatic efforts for landlocked countries. It signals a move toward multilateral consolidation of trade transit rules to combat the competitive disadvantages these regions face.
This initiative seeks to lower logistics and transit costs that can inflate the price of imported goods in landlocked markets. Consumers in these regions may eventually see more stable pricing as trade agreements are modernized to improve supply chain efficiency.
The takeaway
The appointment of international leaders to this group highlights the persistent economic challenges faced by landlocked countries in a globalized trade system. Effective reform of transit agreements remains a critical hurdle for improving the economic stability of these 32 nations.
What happens next
The group will present its final recommendations to Member States during the 82nd session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Further reading
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