Ban names Qazi as new UN special envoy to Sudan

September 4, 2007 (JUBA, Sudan) — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon named on Tuesday Pakistani diplomat Ashraf Qazi as his new special representative to Sudan to replace Jan Pronk, who was expelled a year ago after angering Khartoum.

Half-Irish Pakistani Qazi is currently U.N. envoy to Iraq. Ban praised his “wide and extensive diplomatic skill” when he made the announcement after arriving in the southern Sudanese capital of Juba as part of a 6-day tour of Sudan, Chad and Libya.

“I want Qazi to contribute to the peace and security of Sudan. I will need your cooperation for that,” Ban said, addressing his comments to south Sudan President Salva Kiir.

Diplomats said some in south Sudan were unhappy with Qazi’s appointment because of his Muslim faith. South Sudan’s population is predominantly Christian and animist, in contrast with the predominantly Muslim north.

The U.N. Mission in Sudan, known as UNMIS, supervises the peacekeeping operation of some 10,000 personnel in south Sudan, but Pronk was also outspoken on Darfur issues.

Pronk was expelled from Sudan after he wrote on a personal Web site that the Sudanese army had lost two major battles to rebels in Darfur and that its morale was low.

In August, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad suggested Qazi may be replaced in Baghdad by Staffan de Mistura, who once served in southern Lebanon for the United Nations and was deputy representative in Iraq two years ago.

(Reuters)