William Lacy Swing is the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). He has held the office of Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of Congo (2003–2008) and Western Sahara (2001–2003), and headed the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. This followed a long career in the United States Department of State, during which he served as ambassador six times.
* The interview was held on 6 July 2009 by Toni Pfanner, Editor-in-chief of the International Reiew of the Red Cross, and Deborah Casalin, assistant editor.