UN chief appoints Abiodun Bashua to investigate South Sudan mission

chika ebuzor

April 27, 2016 8:57 AM

The Nigerian also served as Secretary to the Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses the Conference on the Prevention of Violent Extremism at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, April 8, 2016. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Tuesday announced the appointment of Abiodun Bashua of Nigeria to lead the special investigation into the attack against the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) which is protecting civilians at Malakal.

The announcement is contained in a statement made available in New York.

According to the statement, the special investigation will undertake detailed examination of the circumstances which led to the incident from Feb. 17 to Feb. 18, in which at least 25 civilians died and an additional 144 injured.

It added that the investigation would complement the UN Headquarters Board of Inquiry announced on March 11, also conducting an in-depth investigation into the overall response of UNMISS in the attack.

Bashua recently concluded his assignment as Deputy Joint Special Representative of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, during which he also served as acting Joint Special Representative in 2014 and 2015.

In addition, he served at senior levels in Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Sudan.

He also served as Secretary to the Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

chika ebuzor