Former Iraqi President Salih elected new UN High Commissioner for Refugees

GENEVA - The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday elected former Iraqi President Barham Salih as the new UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Salih, born in 1960, served as president of Iraq from 2018 to 2022. He previously held posts including deputy prime minister of Iraq and prime minister of the Kurdistan regional government.

He will take office on Jan. 1, 2026, to succeed Filippo Grandi as head of the Geneva-headquartered UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), with a five-year term. Grandi assumed office as UN High Commissioner for Refugees in January 2016. His 10-year term will end on Dec. 31, 2025.

In a statement issued following his election, Salih said that at a time of record displacement and severe pressure on humanitarian resources, delivering on UNHCR's mandate requires a renewed focus on impact, accountability, and efficiency.

He said that UNHCR will build on the important reforms undertaken in recent years to strengthen operational effectiveness and value for money.