Former Iraqi president Salih picked as new UNHCR chief

Former Iraqi president Barham Salih is set to become the next United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, according to a document on Friday, taking over an agency tackling swingeing budget cuts. Salih  was president of Iraq from 2018 to 2022.

He will replace Filippo Grandi, who is leaving at the end of December after 10 years as the UN refugees chief. A letter from UN chief Antonio Guterres said he would propose Salih for approval by the UN General Assembly -- typically a routine procedure -- for a five-year term starting on January 1.