UN chief appoints new head of UN mission in South Sudan

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki of Kenya as the Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS).
Lieutenant General Ondieki will replace Lieutenant General Yohannes Gebremeskel Tesfamariam of Ethiopia, who will complete his assignment on June 17, 2016, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric at the noon briefing.
“The Secretary-General is grateful to Lieutenant General Tesfamariam for his dedication and invaluable service during his tenure in UNMISS,” said Dujarric.
Lieutenant General Ondieki has more than 34 years of national and international military, command and staff experience. He has been Deputy Army Chief of Staff-Command and Control of Kenya Army Forces since 2013, according to the UN.
Previously, he served as General Officer-Commanding Western Command-Kenya Army (2012 to 2013) and Land Forces Component Commander of Kenya Defense Forces in Operations (2011 to 2012).
In addition, Lieutenant General Ondieki held the position of Sector Commander-United Nations Mission in Sudan from 2010 to 2011.