UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday appointed Major General Jean-Paul Deconinck of Belgium as the force commander of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said here.

Deconinck succeeds Major General Michael Lollesgaard of Denmark, who completed his tour of duty on Dec. 31, 2016, Dujarric said at a daily news briefing, adding that the secretary-general was grateful for his dedicated and exemplary service during his tenure with MINUSMA.

Deconinck brings to this position 38 years of national and international military experience with the Belgian Army, he said.

MINUSMA was established by the UN Security Council on April 25, 2013 to support political processes in the West African country and carry out a number of security-related tasks.

The UN mission was asked to support the transitional authorities of Mali in the stabilization of the country and implementation of the transitional roadmap.

Xinhua: Source