François Lounceny Fall, the former prime minister and minister of foreign affairs for the Republic of Guinea, has been appointed as deputy chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) which is overseeing implementation of South Sudan's peace deal.

JMEC said in a press statement that Fall will begin work on 18 January as deputy to chairperson Festus Mogae, the former president of Botswana.

“Mr. Fall is a distinguished public servant who has ably served his country and the United Nations," Mogae said in the statement. "I welcome his commitment to serve the people of South Sudan in this important role."

Fall was Guinea's permanent representative to the United Nations from 2000 to 2002, and Guinea's foreign affairs minister from 2002 to 2004.

Fall served as Guinea's prime minister in 2004 before resigning. From 2005 to 2010, he led the UN's mission in Somalia, before returning to Guinea to serve as foreign affairs minister a second time.

Francois Lounceny Fall, speaks at the UN while serving as Foreign Minister of Guinea. UN Photo/Ryan Brown