Off the wire
• Worrying signals from US offering trade opportunities for EU: commissioner  • Some 15,000 Iraqi children flee west Mosul over past week, UN agency says  • UN chief to visit Kenya to discuss regional issues: spokesman  • Infantino says video assistant referees to be used at Russia Conferations Cup  • Brazilian economy shed over 40,000 jobs in January  • U.S. dollar falls after Yellen's comments  • Pemex, BHP Billiton sign deal to explore Trion oilfield  • Israeli army gunfire wounds 3 Palestinians in northern Gaza: medics  • Chicago agricultural commodities settle higher  • U.S. stocks rise amid Yellen speech  
You are here: 　 Home

UN chief names new force commander for UN mission in Mali

Xinhua, March 4, 2017 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday appointed Major General Jean-Paul Deconinck of Belgium as the force commander of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said here.

Deconinck succeeds Major General Michael Lollesgaard of Denmark, who completed his tour of duty on Dec. 31, 2016, Dujarric said at a daily news briefing, adding that the secretary-general was grateful for his dedicated and exemplary service during his tenure with MINUSMA.

Deconinck brings to this position 38 years of national and international military experience with the Belgian Army, he said.

MINUSMA was established by the UN Security Council on April 25, 2013 to support political processes in the West African country and carry out a number of security-related tasks.

The UN mission was asked to support the transitional authorities of Mali in the stabilization of the country and implementation of the transitional roadmap. Endit