Biographical Note

Secretary-General Appoints Roger A. Meece Special Representative

 

for Democratic Republic of Congo

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Roger A. Meece of the United States as his Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).  Mr. Meece will succeed Alan Doss of the United Kingdom.

The Secretary-General expresses his gratitude to Mr. Doss for his significant contribution to United Nations peace efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and for his effective leadership of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), where he has served since January 2008.  In accordance with Security Council resolution 1925 (2010), adopted on 28 May, MONUC will bear the title of MONUSCO.

Mr. Meece brings with him more than three decades of international experience with his country’s Foreign Service and as a member of the Peace Corps.  From 2004 to 2007 Mr. Meece served as his country’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  From 1995 to 1998 he also served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Kinshasa.  Mr. Meece’s previous experience in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has included involvement in conflict resolution efforts and support to elections.

Throughout his career, Mr. Meece has gained an in-depth knowledge of African issues and has served in several countries on the continent, including as Ambassador to the Republic of Malawi and in other posts in Cameroon, Nigeria and the Republic of Congo.

In addition to his diplomatic postings, Mr. Meece has served in Washington, D.C., as Director of Central African Affairs at the State Department from 1998 to 2000 and in the Office of the Vice-President from 1986 to 1988.  He has also held the post of Consul General in Halifax, Canada.

Mr. Meece holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Michigan State University, East Lansing, and has attended the National Defence College of Canada, Kingston, and the United States Foreign Service Institute, Arlington.

He was born in 1949 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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