UNITED NATIONS, June 10 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has chosen long-time adviser Ibrahim Gambari of Nigeria as the new undersecretary-general for political affairs.
Effective July 1, he will replace the retiring Kieran Prendergast as chief political adviser, a spokesman for the secretary-general, Stephane Dujarric, said Friday.
Gambari, 60, is a special adviser on Africa promoting international support for the continent and the New Partnership for International Development, known as NEPAD. Previously, he was Annan's special representative to Angola and head of the U.N. Angola mission.
Annan "wanted an insider, someone who could hit the ground running," Dujarric told United Press International. "He didn't look for an African but he is clearly pleased an African will be heading a top department" at the world organization.
It was also clear to analysts the choice was a reflection of Annan's new Chief of Staff Mark Malloch Brown who has said he was not maintaining the tradition of certain countries having a hold on certain posts, such as Britain on political affairs.
