United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Carlos G. Ruiz Massieu of Mexico as the new Special Representative for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).
Ruiz Massieu succeeds María Isabel Salvador of Ecuador, who had served in the role since 2023. Guterres expressed gratitude for her dedication and service during a particularly turbulent period in Haiti.
A seasoned diplomat with over three decades of experience, Ruiz Massieu previously served as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Colombia, where he led the UN Verification Mission. In that role, he was instrumental in overseeing the implementation of Colombia’s peace agreement with the FARC-EP and supporting ongoing peace talks with other armed groups, including the National Liberation Army.
Before that, Ruiz Massieu chaired the UN General Assembly’s Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions from 2013 to 2018. His earlier career includes senior roles within the Mexican government and diplomatic service, including a post at Mexico’s Permanent Mission to the UN.
Fluent in Spanish, English, and French, Ruiz Massieu holds a law degree from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City and a Master’s in Politics, with a focus on Latin America, from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom.
His appointment comes at a time of deepening crisis in Haiti, where BINUH continues to play a central role in promoting stability, human rights, and good governance in partnership with national and regional actors.
