Annan appoints Cameroonian diplomat as envoy to DR of Congo

The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has decided to appoint a Cameroonian diplomat as his next Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Amos Namanga Ngongi currently serves as Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and has had "a distinguished career within that organization and in the diplomatic service of his country," a UN spokesman told the press today in New York.

Mr. Ngongi will succeed Kamel Morjane of Tunisia as Special Representative to the DRC, and will assume his functions by the end of this month.

"The Secretary-General expresses his deep appreciation for the tremendous efforts made by Mr. Morjane in bringing peace to Central Africa and wishes him well in his next important assignment," the spokesman, Fred Eckhard, said.