UNGA President-elect Shahid appoints Nagaraj Naidu as Chef du Cabinet, Thilmeeza as Special Envoy

President-elect of the 76^th United Nations General Assembly, Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has appointed Indian Deputy Permanent Ambassador to the UN, Nagaraj Naidu Kumar as his Chef du Cabinet, and Maldivian Ambassador to the United States and Canada and Permanent Ambassador to the the UN, Thilmeeza Hussain as Special Envoy to the PGA.

Shahid announced the appointments in a tweet on early Thursday.

“Today, I have appointed Ambassador Thilmeeza Hussain as Special Envoy of the PGA, and Ambassador Nagaraj Naidu Kumar as my Chef du Cabinet,” said Shahid.

“They will be instrumental in delivering my vision for the #PresidencyOfHope,” he added.

Shahid became the President of the 76^th UNGA during the election held at the UN headquarters in New York last Monday.

He won the election with 143 votes, beating his rival, former Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul​, who received 48 votes.

In his speech after his election victory, Shahid said vowed to select a team that achieves gender parity, and represents all geographical regions, made up of both developing and developed nations.

Noting that the beginning of his term comes as the world continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, Shahid said that his main priority will be vaccine equity.

Shahid’s election marks the first time Maldives will be occupying office of the President of UNGA.