UN envoy to DR of Congo named new deputy High Commissioner for Refugees

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Ruud Lubbers, today announced the appointment of Kamel Morjane of Tunisia as the agency's new Assistant High Commissioner.

Mr. Morjane is a veteran UN official who also served as Tunisia's representative to the UN in Geneva. The 53-year old Ambassador, who has spent nearly 20 years with UNHCR, served most recently as the Secretary-General's Special Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Mr. Morjane replaces Soren Jessen-Petersen of Denmark, who joined the UN refugee agency in 1973 and held a string of senior positions before becoming Assistant High Commissioner in 1998.

In naming the new official, the High Commissioner thanked Mr. Jessen-Petersen for his invaluable contribution to UNHCR. "His leadership, advice and wisdom benefited a huge number of staff in the organization," Mr. Lubbers said.

Mr. Morjane is expected to take up his new duties on 1 October.