Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas is a distinguished Ghanaian diplomat, lawyer, academic, and global peace advocate with over four decades of service in conflict resolution, international diplomacy, and regional integration. He currently serves as the African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, leading continental efforts to promote peace, security, and stability across Africa.
Dr. Chambas has held numerous high-level positions in multilateral diplomacy. From 2014 to 2021, he served as the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), where he played a pivotal role in mediating political crises, supporting democratic transitions, and promoting regional cooperation in governance and security.
From 2013 to 2014, he was appointed Joint Special Representative (JSR) of the African Union–United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), as well as Joint Chief Mediator (JCM) for the Darfur peace negotiations. His leadership in the region contributed to international peacebuilding and humanitarian coordination in one of the most complex conflict zones on the continent.
Between 2010 and 2013, Dr. Chambas served as Secretary-General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, fostering South-South cooperation and partnerships for development across more than 70 countries.
Earlier, he made history as the first President of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 2007 to 2010, after having served as Executive Secretary of ECOWAS from 2002 to 2007. Under his leadership, ECOWAS transitioned from a secretariat to a commission, and he played a leading role in deepening regional integration, promoting peace processes in Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Guinea-Bissau, and enhancing regional responses to cross-border challenges.
Dr. Chambas’s exceptional diplomatic skills, legal acumen, and deep understanding of African geopolitics have positioned him as one of the continent’s most respected voices in mediation, governance, and multilateral engagement. He is widely sought after for his expertise on conflict resolution, democratic transitions, and international cooperation.