Azerbaijan Ambassador to Kenya, Sultan Hajiyev, has been appointed Secretary-General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) for the 2026–2030 term.
The appointment was approved during CICA’s Seventh Summit, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on October 15, 2026.
According to the CICA Secretariat, member states unanimously backed Hajiyev’s candidacy, which had been put forward by Azerbaijan. He takes over from Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, whose six-year term ended in 2026.
The appointment puts Hajiyev at the head of a regional organisation that brings together Asian countries to promote dialogue, build trust and strengthen cooperation on security and other shared issues.
Hajiyev has experience in multilateral diplomacy. His previous roles include chairing the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Committee of Permanent Representatives and co-chairing working groups at UN-Habitat.
Following the appointment, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs congratulated him and expressed confidence in his ability to advance CICA’s objectives.
CICA was established following an initiative proposed by Kazakhstan in 1992. It provides a platform for member states to discuss regional challenges and build cooperation through dialogue and confidence-building measures.
Unlike a military alliance, the organisation focuses on diplomatic engagement and peaceful cooperation. Its work covers areas including economic cooperation, environmental protection, human development and regional security.
The CICA Secretariat is based in Astana, Kazakhstan, while Azerbaijan hosted the organisation’s seventh summit in Baku under its chairmanship.
Hajiyev’s appointment comes as Kenya and countries across Central Asia continue to pursue diplomatic engagement and cooperation. However, his new role will focus on CICA’s work among its participating Asian states.