Secretary-General Appoints the heads of the United Nations Electoral Observation Mission in Burundi
11 November 2014 - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced yesterday the appointment of Cassam Uteem of Mauritius as his Special Envoy and Head of the United Nations Electoral Observation Mission in Burundi (MENUB).
MENUB was mandated by Security Council resolution 2137 (2014) adopted on 13 February, and will start its operations on 1 January 2015 immediately after the end of the mandate of the United Nations Office in Burundi.
Ban Ki-moon also announced the appointment of Issaka Souna of Niger as Deputy Head of the United Nations Electoral Observation Mission in Burundi (MENUB).
Mr. Cassam Uteem brings to this position many years of political and diplomatic experience with his Government. He served as President of Mauritius from 1992 to 2002, after holding various positions in his country, including Minister of Employment, Social Security and National Solidarity (1982-83) and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Industrial Technology (1990‑92). Mr. Uteem is credited for having promoted his country's "Unity in Diversity" policies which succeeded in establishing national unity and a stable inclusive democracy in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious society.
Mr. Souna brings with him extensive political and electoral experience. He has been the Minister of Justice as well as a former President of the Bar of his country. He has also worked with the United Nations Office in West Africa and UNDP in many countries in Africa on electoral assistance, among other functions.