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Senior diplomat from New Zealand named head of UN mission in South Sudan

Xinhua, December 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday announced the appointment of David Shearer of New Zealand as his new special representative for South Sudan and head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Shearer succeeds Ellen Margrethe Loj of Denmark, who completed her assignment at the end of November 2016, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

"The secretary-general is grateful for Ms. Loj's dedication and excellent leadership of UNMISS over the past two plus years,under extremely challenging political, security, humanitarian and human rights circumstances in South Sudan."

Shearer brings to this position extensive political and humanitarian experience. Currently a member of Parliament in New Zealand, he will take up his new position as the secretary-general's special representative in 2017, following his resignation as a member of parliament effective Dec. 31, 2016.

Prior to taking up elected office in New Zealand in 2009, Shearer served as the secretary-general's deputy special representative, resident coordinator, and humanitarian coordinator in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) from 2007 to 2009. Endit