For the past several months, media reports abounded about Mrs Clinton having been overshadowed by the special envoys she had appointed, including Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke.
On 22 December 2006, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed his Deputy Special Representative for Burundi, Youssef Mahmoud of Tunisia, as his Executive Representative for Burundi and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB), which was established on 1 January 2007, following the conclusion of the mandate of the United Nations Operation in Burundi (ONUB) on 31 December 2006.