UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced Wednesday the appointment of Horst Köhler, former President of Germany, as his Personal Envoy for the Sahara. Mr. Köhler brings more than 35 years of experience in government and international organizations, including as President of the Federal Republic of Germany (2004-2010), said the UN spokesman in a statement. Köhler also served as State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Finance (1990-1993) before being appointed President of the German Savings Bank Association (1993). The new Personal Envoy succeeds American Christopher Ross whose tenure has expired in April after eight years of mediation that left the status quo unchanged. Köhler graduated from the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen with a Diploma in Public Economics and Political Sciences in 1969.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 16, 2017 19:18 UTC