Kenyan general named to head UN mission in Sierra Leone
31 October -- In a first move to reshape the military leadership of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), Secretary-General Kofi Annan has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Lt. Gen. Daniel Opande of Kenya as Force Commander of the Mission.
The Security Council has until 10:30 a.m. on Thursday to respond to Mr. Annan's letter informing the Council of his decision, a spokesman for the Secretary-General said today. Spokesman Fred Eckhard told a press briefing in New York that the naming of Gen. Opande is the first of three appointments in the overhaul of UNAMSIL's military leadership.
General Opande served as Deputy Force Commander in Namibia in 1989-1990, and represented his country in the Mozambican peace process as a key negotiator between the Renamo and the Government of Mozambique in 1990-1993. In 1993-1995 he served as the head of the UN Observer Mission in Liberia.
In a related development, UN officials said today that the Government of Ghana planned to contribute an additional battalion to UNAMSIL.
Meanwhile in Freetown, the Mission has reported a "generally calm" overall situation in the country, with the exception of some tension along the Guinea-Sierra Leone border.
UNAMSIL was established by the Security Council in October 1999 to cooperate with the Government and other parties in implementing the Lomé Peace Agreement and to help implement a disarmament plan.
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