About the Author

A native of Afghanistan, Saber Azam left Kabul at the age of 22 for Switzerland to study at the prestigious « École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne« , where he obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Ph.D. in advanced nuclear technology.

Following the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, he mobilized support for the Afghan Resistance, refugees, and internally displaced persons while pursuing his academic endeavors. He contributed significantly to sensitizing Western capitals on the deplorable plight of Afghan people under the Red Army occupation and advocated a wide-ranging discussion on Afghanistan’s post-Soviet withdrawal scenarios. He also presided over the « Comité Afghan d’Aide Humanitaire » in Geneva and promoted Swiss public and private sectors’ involvement in reconstructing war-torn countries.

In 1994, he joined the United Nations (UN), devoting his life to peace and security and supporting victims of conflicts. He served with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya before becoming the Deputy Special Envoy of this world body for Southeast Europe. In 2001, he moved to the UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and assumed senior functions in the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Kosovo. In 2006, he returned to UNHCR and served as representative of the organization in Côte d’Ivoire, Bangladesh, and Rwanda, as well as regional representative and coordinator for Central Asia. His assignments have given him an in-depth knowledge of the world’s affairs, particularly the West, East, and the Great Lakes region of Africa, Southwest and Central Asia, the Balkans, and the Rohingya situation. He authors historical fiction based on his professional experience. So far, he has authored SORAYA: The Other Princess and Hell’s Mouth: A Journey to the Heart of West African Jungles.