Indian general named new Force Commander for UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed Lieutenant General Jasbir Singh Lidder of India the new force commander of the peacekeeping UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).

General Lidder yesterday replaced Major General Fazle Elahi Akbar of Bangladesh, who served as Military Adviser to the UN Advance Mission in the Sudan (UNAMIS) before becoming Force Commander in September 2004, Mr. Annan said in an exchange of letters with the Security Council.

As of last November UNMIS comprised 4,222 total uniformed personnel, including 3,638 troops, 362 military observers, and 222 police, supported by 511 international civilian personnel, 983 local civilians and 67 United Nations Volunteers (UNVs).

Its authorized strength is at most 10,000 military personnel, including some 750 military observers, 715 police, 1,018 international civilian staff, 2,623 national staff and 214 UNVs.