Pakistani general new commander of UN forces in Sierra Leone

Maj. Gen. Sajjad Akram of Pakistan has been appointed as the Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).

General Akram replaces Lt. Gen. Daniel Opande, who is now the Force Commander for the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). Until his appointment, General Akram was Deputy Force Commander of the Sierra Leone operation.

The Security Council had unanimously agreed on 19 September to extend for six months the mandate of UNAMSIL, instructing it to continue the gradual drawdown of the peacekeeping force without jeopardizing the security situation in the country torn apart by a decade-long civil war.

At that time, the Council welcomed the increasing security in Sierra Leone and encouraged "further progress towards strengthening the capacity of the Sierra Leone Police and armed forces to maintain security and stability independently."