UN chief appoints commission to probe human rights violations in Mali

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday announced his decision to establish the International Commission of Inquiry envisioned by the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali.

He appointed Lena Sundh of Sweden, Vinod Boolell of Mauritius and Simon Munzu of Cameroon as commissioners and selected Sundh as chair, Guterres' press office said in a note to reporters.

The commissioners will investigate serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed in Mali since January 2012 and submit a report to the secretary-general within one year, said the note.

Established at the request of the signatory parties to the Malian peace agreement, the commission will advance national reconciliation and support the Malian authorities' efforts to fight impunity, it said.

Sundh has held several ambassadorial positions and served as deputy special representative of the secretary-general in the Democratic Republic of Congo and head of office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal. Enditem