Secretary-General Appoints Moustapha Soumaré of Mali Deputy Special Representative (Political) in Republic of South Sudan

United Nations Secretary‑General Ban Ki‑moon today announced the appointment of Moustapha Soumaré of Mali as his Deputy Special Representative (Political) for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

He will succeed Raisedon Zenenga of Zimbabwe, who will be taking up the post of Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).  The Secretary‑General is grateful for Mr. Zenenga’s dedicated service and outstanding contribution to the work of the United Nations in the Republic of South Sudan.

Mr. Soumaré brings to the position extensive peace, development and leadership experience.  He is currently the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary‑General for the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), where he also serves as the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a position he has held since October 2012.  Prior to this appointment, he also served as the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary‑General for Recovery and Governance in the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) from 2009 to 2012.

Mr. Soumaré has served as Deputy Assistant Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and Deputy Regional Director for the Regional Bureau for Africa in New York from 2007 to 2009.  He was United Nations Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative in Rwanda from 2005 to 2007, and held a similar position in Benin between 2000 and 2005.  Before joining the United Nations, Mr. Soumaré held senior positions in the Government of Mali.

Mr. Soumaré holds a doctorate degree in soil and water conservation from the University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

He is married and has three children.

*     This supersedes Press Release SG/A/1368 dated 6 September 2012.