UNITED NATIONS, May 29 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday announced the appointment of Major General Shivaram Kharel of Nepal as the acting head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), according to a press note from the UN chief's office.

This follows the sudden death of Major General Francis Vib-Sanziri of Ghana on April 19. The secretary-general remembers and honors late Vib-Sanziri for his dedicated leadership of UNDOF and service in the United Nations, said the press note.

Kharel has had "a distinguished military career" at both national and international levels. He recently served as the deputy force commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

In addition to his peacekeeping experience with UNIFIL, Kharel also served in the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara from 2012 to 2013 and the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2005 to 2006.

Kharel holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in public administration from Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal, as well as a master's degree in strategic studies from the National Defense University, Pakistan.

Born in January 1963, he is married and has two sons.