China’s Huang Xia, 57, has been appointed as the United Nations Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, announced the appointment on Tuesday. Huang, replaces Said Djinnit of Algeria. According to the statement, the UN Secretary-General is “deeply grateful” for the dedicated service and distinguished United Nations career of the outgoing Djinnit. The Secretary General said that Huang brings over 30 years of diplomatic experience across the world, with experience in Africa, having served in several high-level positions. He was the Ambassador of China to Niger, Senegal and the Republic of Congo. Most recently, Huang has served as the Ambassador at large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. In earlier postings, he served in the Embassy of China to Gabon, in the Embassy of China to France, and as Deputy Mayor of the People’s Government of Jiamusi, Helongjiang Province in China. The appointment comes barely a week after the Constitutional Court in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Sunday confirmed the win of Felix Tshisekedi for the December Presidential polls. In February 2013, 11 nations signed the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the DRC and the region, in what was described as “a renewed drive to end the recurring cycles of devastating conflict in eastern DRC which impacts stability and development in the Great Lakes area of Africa.” In January 2014, Kenya and Sudan, became signatories of the PSC Framework. The framework aims to help “address the root causes of conflict and put an end to recurring cycles of violence” in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes Region.” The PSC Framework outlines key national, regional, and international level actions required to end the recurring cycles of violence in eastern DRC and the region. It provides space for collaboration between the countries in the region, regional organizations and the international community to work together and address the structural causes of instability in the DRC and the region. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
