U.N. secretary-general sends aide to Congo

NEW YORK, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- The U.N. secretary-general announced he is sending his senior aide to the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a result of the ongoing crisis there.

U.N. officials say tens of thousands of people have been displaced by recent fighting in the eastern part of the DRC. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced Wednesday that his senior aide, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Haile Menkerios, will travel to the country on a special mission for talks with officials.

“Menkerios will consult with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and other leaders in the region, as well as the DRC’s bilateral and multilateral partners, to find ways to resolve the immediate crisis and to address its underlying causes,” U.N. spokesperson Michele Montas said in a statement.

“In carrying out his mission, Menkerios will coordinate closely with the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the DRC and with international partners currently engaged in initiatives to help resolve the crisis.”

Menkerios is considered a prime candidate to hold talks from his previously position as deputy special representative of the U.N. secretary-general for the DRC.