Namibia's Mekondjo Kaapanda‑Girnus Appointed Deputy Director‑General of OPCW

Namibia’s Ministry of International Relations and Trade announced that former ambassador Mekondjo Kaapanda‑Girnus will become the deputy director‑general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). She will assume the role on 25 July 2026, becoming the second‑most senior official of the Nobel Peace Prize‑winning body that oversees the Chemical Weapons Convention for its 193 member states.

Kaapanda‑Girnus previously served as Namibia’s ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg and represented the country at the EU and the OPCW. Her appointment is presented as an honour for Namibia and a sign of confidence in the nation’s diplomatic expertise and commitment to global disarmament.

The ministry reiterated Namibia’s continued support for the OPCW’s mandate to uphold the global norm against chemical weapons and to promote international peace and security.