United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday named Ellen Margrethe Løj of Denmark as the new head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Løj succeeds Hilde Johnson of Norway, who announced in May that she would be leaving South Sudan after her contract ran out. Johnson completed her three-year assignment in South Sudan on July 7.
Løj will "bring to the position a wealth of experience in peacekeeping and international affairs, having served as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the United Nations Mission in Liberia from 2008 to 2012," the United Nations said in a statement.
Løj, 65, has also served in senior positions in the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including ambassador to the Czech Republic, permanent representative to the United Nations, and ambassador to Israel.