December 20, 2012 (KHARTOUM) - Both the United Nations and the African Commission have appointed Mohammed Ibn Chambas as their Joint Special Representative for Darfur, Head of the African Union and United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon and African Union Commission Chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma announced the appointment of Chambas, a Ghanaian on Thursday.

His responsibilities, the two bodies said in a statement, will include those of the African Union-United Nations Joint Chief Mediator.

Chambas replaces Ibrahim Gambari, a Nigerian national.

“The Secretary-General and the African Union Commission Chairperson would like to take this opportunity to reiterate their deep appreciation to Mr. Gambari for his dedicated service during his tenure with UNAMID,” partly reads the joint statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

The Ghanaian, the statement adds, brings to this position extensive experience after a long and distinguished career in both international and governmental fora, having most recently served as the Secretary General of the African, Caribbean, Pacific Group of States (ACP).

Prior to this, however, he reportedly served as the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 2006 to 2009 and the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS from 2002 to 2005.

A former Member of Parliament, Chambas also served as Deputy Foreign Secretary of Ghana in 1987, Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education from 1997 to 2000 and was reportedly involved in the mediation efforts in Liberia, between 1991 and 1996.

Born in Ghana in 1950, Chambas holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Ghana, a Masters degree and a PhD from Cornell University. He also holds a law degree from Case Western Reserve University.

(ST).