A former refugee himself, Barham Salih has taken leadership of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), pledging significant reforms to an agency grappling with record global displacement and severe financial pressure. His election by the UN General Assembly marks a pivotal moment for the international humanitarian system.

The appointment is profoundly significant as over 100 million people worldwide are forcibly displaced from their homes. Salih, a former president of Iraq, emphasized that his own experience of being a refugee will inform a leadership style rooted in "empathy, pragmatism, and a principled commitment to international law." He succeeds Italy's Filippo Grandi, who led the agency for a decade.

A Kenyan Perspective on a Global Challenge

For Kenya, which hosts over 830,000 refugees and asylum seekers, the change in leadership at UNHCR is critical. The country is home to some of the world's largest and most established refugee camps, including Dadaab and Kakuma, where nearly 85% of the refugee population resides. These communities, primarily from Somalia and South Sudan, face immense challenges exacerbated by recent cuts in humanitarian funding.

Salih's commitment to strengthening "operational effectiveness and value for money" directly addresses the urgent needs on the ground. In Kenya, funding shortages have already led to fragile socioeconomic conditions in camps, including rising malnutrition and tensions with host communities. The new High Commissioner's agenda will be closely watched for its impact on delivering essential services like food, shelter, and education to these vulnerable populations.

Navigating a Complex Landscape

Salih's tenure begins on January 1, 2026, at a time when UNHCR and other aid organizations face deep budget cuts from major donor nations. Outgoing commissioner Filippo Grandi noted that these financial constraints have already cost lives and were intended to weaken the agency's mission. Salih acknowledged these pressures, stating that delivering on UNHCR's mandate requires a renewed focus on impact and efficiency.

His priorities include:

• Protecting the rights and dignity of refugees.
• Strengthening accountability and value for money in operations.
• Working with governments to deliver durable solutions to displacement.

As the first leader from the Middle East to hold the post in nearly 50 years, Salih's appointment is seen by some as a message about the need for the UN to become more globally representative. His leadership will be crucial in navigating the complex political and humanitarian challenges ahead, not just globally, but for the hundreds of thousands of lives that depend on the agency's work within Kenya's borders.