Islamabad (TDI): Malick Ceesay, the Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan’s (UNAMA) Liaison Office in Islamabad, was honored with the prestigious Global Ambassador Award during a ceremony on Wednesday.
The recognition highlights his extensive contributions to peacebuilding, diplomacy, and international cooperation across more than three decades of service with the United Nations.
Ceesay has served as the head of UNAMA’s Liaison Office in Islamabad since April 2023, where he has played a pivotal role in advancing dialogue and fostering constructive engagement between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the broader international community.
Under his leadership, the Liaison Office has strengthened channels of communication and promoted a climate of mutual respect, an achievement colleagues say reflects his deep cultural understanding and steady diplomatic hand.
His longstanding connection to Afghanistan spans more than 20 years. Before his current post, Ceesay served as Political Affairs Team Leader for UNAMA’s Eastern Region in Jalalabad and earlier as Civil Affairs and Governance Team Leader in Mazar-i-Sharif.
His work in the country began in 2003, when he was first deployed as a UN Volunteer Regional Electoral Supervisor, helping to lay the groundwork for Afghanistan’s early democratic processes.
Ceesay’s career also includes service as a US Foreign Service Officer in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, and Washington, during the Bush and Obama administrations, experience that broadened his engagement with global security, governance, and diplomatic initiatives.
Across his UN postings in Afghanistan, East Timor, Gambia, Iraq, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Liberia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda, Ceesay has held senior managerial roles in peacekeeping and special political missions.
He has supported governance reforms, rule-of-law programs, electoral systems, and institutional capacity-building in regions emerging from conflict.
His contributions include supporting the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan and South Sudan, as well as serving on the UN’s advanced mission in East Timor in 1999 ahead of the historic Popular Consultation.
Academically, Ceesay brings a strong foundation to his diplomatic work. He holds two master’s degrees—one in Diplomacy and International Relations and another in Development Sociology, from Brandeis University in the United States.
Coming from a lineage of Islamic scholars and Imams, he is also recognized for his ability to bridge cultural divides and promote reconciliation in complex environments.
Established in December 2008, The Diplomatic Insight is Pakistan’s premier diplomacy and foreign affairs magazine, available in both digital and print formats.
