Team

Shola Jonathan Omoregie

Shola Omoregie is currently the founder and Chief Operating Officer of Africa Peace Support, LLC, an international consulting firm with a focus on political and security consultancy.

He was the Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Guinea-Bissau and Head of the United Nations Peace-building Support office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS), from 2006 – 2008. In this capacity, he provided, amongst others, mediation and facilitation services to key national actors, with a view to reducing political tensions and promoting constructive approaches to conflict management and transformation; assisted the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission in its engagement with Guinea-Bissau; promoted capacity building of national institutions, including law enforcement and criminal justice systems, supported an all-inclusive national reconciliation and political dialogue process; supported and facilitated the implementation of Security Sector Reform (SSR); extended cooperation to national authorities in their efforts to combat drug trafficking and organized crime; assisted with the promotion and institutionalization of respect for the rule of law and human rights; and facilitated efforts to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

Prior to this, he was Chief of Branch of the United Nations Security Council Practices and Charter Research Branch in the Security Council Affairs Division of the Department of Political Affairs, at the UN headquarters in New York, providing advise to the President and members of the Security Council.

A former career international civil servant at the United Nations, Mr. Omoregie is an expert on the United Nations Security Council and peace operations having had a dedicated and distinguished service at the United Nations spanning over three decades. From January to March 2010, he led an International Team of Consultants to review ten African Union Political Liaison Offices/Missions in Africa. As a member of the United Nations Task Force on Assistance to the African Union (from 2003 – 2005), he assisted the African Union in the establishment of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC), including the drafting of the rules of procedure and preparation of the working methods of the PSC.

Mr. Omoregie joined the United Nations system in 1978 as the first Resident Representative of the United Nations Commissioner for Namibia in Botswana. He subsequently served in various capacities at the United Nations, including as Representative of the United Nations Commissioner for Namibia in Angola (1988-1990); Secretary of the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (1992-1994); and he was also Secretary of two subsidiary organs (Libyan and Somali Sanctions Committees) of the UN Security Council (1992-1995).

In 1992, he accompanied Mr. Cyrus Vance, Special Representative of UN Secretary-General for South Africa, on Security Council mission to South Africa to assist in bringing an end to the violence and in creating a peaceful transition to a democratic, non-racial and united South Africa. He subsequently served as one of the first UN Observers during the African National Congress (ANC) Mass Action week in South Africa; and in 1994, he served as a United Nations electoral observer during the first multi-party and democratic elections in South Africa.

He joined the foreign service of Nigeria in 1972. In recognition of his contribution to Nigeria’s diplomacy, he was appointed as ambassador-in- situ. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria. He is the author of a new book, Witness to Transformation – My Years at the United Nations; and co-edited Nigeria and the United States - Twists and Turns through Five Decades. He is also the publisher of Africa Peace and Security Monitor, a quarterly political and security analytical newsletter.