The ceremony of transfer of authority from the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) will take place on Monday 01 July 2013 from 08:00 a.m.to 9:30 a.m. at the International Conference Center in Bamako.

The event will be attended the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission and Head of AFISMA, President Pierre Buyoya, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Mr Ramtane Lamamra, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of MINUSMA, Mr Bert Koenders and the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr Hervé Ladsous. A high-level representative of the Malian transitional government will also participate.

The event will include a re-hatting ceremony, in which AFISMA Troops and Police will take off their AFISMA berets and put on UN blue berets.

MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS:

Journalists are requested to arrive at the Bamako International Center from 7:00 a.m. and no later than 7:30 a.m. Media access will require a press card for the issuance of press badges.

For further information, please contact: Valerie Mainil-Varlet, MINUSMA Public Information, (223)91380871, Email: mainil-varlet@un.org or Orlando Bama, AFISMA Public Information, (223)71804216, Email: obama00123@gmail.com or Liberor Doscof Aho, AFISMA Public Information, (223)73004300, Email: liberor@ecowas.int, doscof@yahoo.fr    

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