Former Dutch Development Aid Minister Bert Koenders has been appointed special UN envoy to Ivory Coast.

Mr Koeders, of the Labour Party, has been appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, the foreign ministry announced. He replaces ChoiYoung-jin from South Korea.

Until recently, Ivory Coast was the scene of a bloody political conflict. “I’m honoured”, Mr Koenders said, “but this is going to be a tough job”. He said he hoped he could help bring peace and security to people in Ivory Coast.

This spring, UN peacekeeping troops helped end a bitter conflict between former President Laurent Gbagbo and his rival Alassane Ouattara. For months, Mr Gbagbo had refused to accept the electoral defeat he suffered in November. Violence between the two leaders’ supporters claimed over 3,000 lives.

Last year, Mr Koenders was one of the candidates being considered to head the UN Commission on Population and Development.

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