BRIGADIER GENERAL ISHMEEL BEN QUARTEY OF GHANA TO SERVE AS ACTING FORCE COMMANDER

IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO PENDING APPOINTMENT OF NEW COMMANDER

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

Lieutenant General Vicente Diaz de Villegas y Herrería of Spain, who was recently appointed as Force Commander for the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), has indicated that for personal reasons he will not be able to continue with his assignment as planned.  The Department of Peacekeeping Operations is pursuing arrangements to ensure continuity of command and to replace General Diaz as quickly as possible.  In the interim, Brigadier General Ishmeel Ben Quartey of Ghana will serve as Acting Force Commander pending the appointment of General Diaz’s successor.

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For information media • not an official record