Biographical Note

SECRETARY-GENERAL REAPPOINTS BABACAR GAYE AS INTERIM FORCE COMMANDER OF UNITED

NATIONS ORGANIZATION MISSION IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

In light of the current ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Secretary-General has reappointed Lieutenant General Babacar Gaye ( Senegal) as the ad-interim Force Commander of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC).  Lieutenant General Gaye previously served as Force Commander of MONUC from March 2005 through to October 2008.

This current appointment, for a period of up to six months, is being made to give the Secretary-General the time necessary to find a replacement for the former Force Commander, Lieutenant General Vincente Diaz de Villegas of Spain, who resigned last week for personal reasons.

Lieutenant General Gaye led an extensive and distinguished military career, having served, among others, as the Chief of Staff of the Senegalese armed forces from May 2000 to August 2003, and Chief of Military Region from November 1997 to May 2000. 

He also served as the Commander of the Senegalese contingent in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from August 1979 to March 1980.  From July 1974 to February 1975, he served in the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF). 

Lieutenant General Gaye attended military courses at prestigious war colleges and military schools in France and Belgium.  He was born in 1951 in Senegal.

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For information media • not an official record