Newly appointed UNSOS chief takes office in Mogadishu

UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) newly appointed head Hubert Price took up the leadership of the reformed UN body in Mogadishu Friday.

Hubert who was appointed by outgoing UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon early this month will head the revamped body whose mandate covers provision of support services to Amisom, UNSOM and the Somali National Army on joint operations with Amisom.

Amisom chief Francisco Madeira welcomed Hubert noting his appointment was critical in promoting a more enhanced engagement with the UN and troops and police contributing countries to Amisom.

“We look forward to working with Mr. Price and expect him to make a vital contribution to our engagement with the United Nations, and especially its member states that contribute military and police personnel to AMISOM,” said Madeira.

The position of UNSOS Head was established following the completion of a strategic review of UNSOS in 2015, which recognized the growing responsibilities of UNSOS in support of AMISOM and UNSOM

Price who has variously served in the UN was until his appointment the Acting Assistant Secretary General in the Department of Field Support.

“Mr. Price will focus on strategic issues posed by the relationship between the UN, the African Union Mission in Somalia, and Somali National Security Forces. He will assume overall managerial responsibility for UNSOS while its current Director Amadu Kamara concentrates on day-to-day UNSOS operations, Amisom said in a statement Friday.

UNSOS is the predecessor of UN Support Office for Amisom, UNSOA. The UN announced last November it was expanding the mandate and scope of UNSOA owing to concerns that of limited capacity to address the widening logistical challenges.