Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday announced the appointment of Ana María Archila as New York City’s next Commissioner for International Affairs, replacing Aissata M.B. Camara, who had served as a Commissioner since July 2025, and was the highest-ranking African immigrant in city government.
Archila, a longtime immigrant rights advocate and co-executive director of the New York Working Families Party (WFP), previously ran for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 2022 and will now serve as the city’s chief liaison to the United Nations, the U.S. State Department and New York’s diplomatic community. In that capacity, she will oversee international engagement, advise city agencies on diplomatic matters and manage programs such as NYC Junior Ambassadors.
Camara, originally from the Republic of Guinea, led the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs through major global initiatives, including expansion of the Voluntary Local Review movement tied to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. She was the first African-born and Muslim woman to hold the commissioner post and one of the youngest individuals appointed to the role.
Mamdani praised Archila’s record in immigrant and economic justice organizing, noting that she “has helped lead a movement that puts working New Yorkers first.” He added that “she brings moral clarity and a deep commitment to the people who keep this city running.”
Archila expressed gratitude for the appointment, stating, “I’m deeply honored to join Mayor Mamdani’s transformative administration and to imbue into the Office of International Affairs his commitment to make New York a place where everyone can live with dignity.” She highlighted her experience building grassroots organizations and forging partnerships across communities.
The appointment also carries political significance. Archila played a critical role in Mamdani’s election campaign through her leadership in the WFP, highlighting her influence in local politics and connections within the progressive movement.
