JOHAN SVENSSON

Johan Is a highly respected expert in peacebuilding and reconciliation in the Horn of Africa, with deep expertise in the Somali region. His extensive experience spans over 30 years, including significant time spent in Somalia both before and during the civil war. In 1995, he established the Life & Peace Institute’s regional office in Kenya, serving as the Resident Representative for more than a decade. Subsequently, he joined Interpeace, where he worked for another ten years, five of which were as the Regional Director for East and Central Africa. The peacebuilding work with Interpeace also involved support to civil society partners and intergovernmental organizations in the Great Lakes region and within Kenya, in particular northern Kenya and the border areas with Somalia. Later, he served as a diplomat with the Swedish Embassy in Nairobi, focusing on Somalia. During this tenure at the embassy, he represented the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs during Sweden’s membership in the United Nations Security Council (2017–2018) and later the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) as a Senior Peace and Reconciliation Advisor until January 2025.