Tanzanian general tapped as next military chief of African Union-UN mission in Darfur
| Publisher | UN News Service |
| Publication Date | 4 June 2013 |
| Cite as | UN News Service, Tanzanian general tapped as next military chief of African Union-UN mission in Darfur, 4 June 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/51b1cc454.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The United Nations and the African Union today announced the appointment of Tanzanian Lieutenant General Paul Ignace Mella as Force Commander of their joint peacekeeping force in the Sudanese region of Darfur.
Established in July 2007, the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), has civilian protection as its core mandate, but is also tasked with contributing to security for humanitarian assistance, monitoring and verifying implementation of agreements and assisting with an inclusive political process, among other responsibilities.
Mr. Mella will replace Lieutenant General Patrick Nyamvumba of Rwanda, who completed his assignment on 31 March.
"The Secretary-General would like to take this opportunity to express his deep appreciation to Lieutenant General Nyamvumba for his dedication and invaluable service during his tenure in UNAMID," a UN spokesperson said in a statement.
Mr. Mella has a long and distinguished career with the Tanzanian military. Most recently, he served as Chief of Defence Intelligence Organization in Dar es Salaam. Prior to this, he held a number of important operational, command and staff positions, including as Director of Foreign Intelligence in the Tanzania Peoples' Defence Forces, Commanding Officer of an Infantry Battalion in the UN Mission in Liberia, and Defence Adviser at the Tanzania High Commission in Uganda.
