Secretary-General Appoints Abiodun Oluremi Bashua of Nigeria to Lead Special Investigation into Malakal Incident in South Sudan

The Secretary-General today announced the appointment of Abiodun Oluremi Bashua of Nigeria to lead the Special Investigation into the attack against the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) protection-of-civilians site in Malakal.

The Special Investigation will undertake a detailed examination of the circumstances that led to the incident, which occurred on 17 and 18 February and in which at least 25 civilians at the site were killed and an additional 144 injured.  The investigation will complement the United Nations Headquarters Board of Inquiry announced on 11 March, which is conducting an in-depth investigation into the overall response of UNMISS to the incident.

Mr. Bashua recently concluded his assignment as Deputy Joint Special Representative of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), during which time he also served as Acting Joint Special Representative in 2014 and 2015.  He has extensive experience in several United Nations peacekeeping operations in Africa, having held senior positions in Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Sudan.  Mr. Bashua has also served as Secretary to the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

__________

*     This supersedes Press Release SG/A/1508-BIO/4636-PKO/437 of 17 September 2014.