The U.N. General Assembly on Thursday elected former Iraqi President Barham Salih as the next U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.
Salih, 65, served as Iraq’s president from 2018 to 2022 and earlier held posts including deputy prime minister and prime minister of the Kurdistan regional government.
He will take office Jan. 1, 2026, for a five‑year term, succeeding Filippo Grandi, whose decade at the Geneva‑based agency ends Dec. 31.
In a statement, Salih said record displacement and strained humanitarian resources demand a renewed focus on impact, accountability and efficiency.
He pledged to build on reforms aimed at strengthening UNHCR’s operations and value for money.