Brazil has announced a replacement for the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti, who killed himself earlier this month.

A statement from the Brazilian government said Wednesday that General Jose Elito Carvalho Siqueira was offered the post after meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

An honor guard from Brazilian UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti carry coffin containing body of Lt. Gen. Urano Teixeira da Matta Bacellar

General Siqueira will replace General Urano Teixeira da Matta Bacellar, who was found shot to death in his hotel room January 7.  Investigators concluded the death was a suicide.

The United Nations established a peacekeeping force in Haiti in 2004, after the violent ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.  But with an interim government in place and presidential elections approaching, violence and kidnappings continue to prevail in the destitute Caribbean nation.