UN chief appoints new deputy head of mission in Lebanon

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Jack Christofides of South Africa as the deputy head of Mission for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), his press office said in a statement Friday.

Christofides succeeds Imran Riza of Pakistan, to whom the secretary-general is grateful for his dedicated service, the statement said.

Christofides brings much experience in diplomacy, international affairs, human rights and peacekeeping. Most recently he served as the director of the Northern Africa Division of the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations.

From 2012 through 2018, he served as the director of the Africa II Division of the Office of Operations in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

Before joining the United Nations, Christofides was in the South African diplomatic service.

Christofides holds a master's degree in political science from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

UNIFIL was established in 1978 by the UN Security Council to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, and assist the government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area.

(CGTN)