UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday announced the appointment of Maj. Gen. Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr of Nigeria as force commander for the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
Abyei is a region contested by Sudan and South Sudan.
Sawyerr succeeds Maj. Gen. Kefyalew Amde Tessema of Ethiopia to whom the secretary-general is grateful for his dedication, invaluable service and effective leadership during his appointment with UNISFA, said the secretary-general's press office.
Sawyerr has a military career spanning more than 34 years of service with the Nigerian Army, including as the director of defense information of Nigeria's Defence Forces since 2021.
He holds a Bachelor's degree in political science from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in Nigeria and a Master's degree in defense and strategic studies from the University of Madras in India. ■
