Arnauld Antoine Akodjènou

Arnauld Antoine Akodjènou (born in 1950), a native of Benin, is the Deputy Special Representative in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). Prior to this appointment of July 2014 by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Arnauld Antoine Akodjènou served as the Deputy Special Representative for Côte d’Ivoire for the United Nations Secretary-General. He was appointed to this position by Mr. Ban on 10 June 2011.

Akodjènou has extensive experience in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which he joined in 1986, and held various positions within the organization. Prior to his appointment as Deputy Special Representative, he served as Inspector General at UNHCR. He also held such positions as Director of the Division of Operational Services, as Director of Emergency and Security Services, as UNHCR Representative in Mali and Sierra Leone, as well as Regional Coordinator for Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, based in Ghana.

Akodjènou is a graduate from the University of Benin in Cotonou and obtained his post-graduate degree from the Institute of International Relations of Cameroon in Yaoundé. He also obtained a Ph.D in political science from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva. He is married and has three children.