Roger A. Meece
Encyclopedia
Roger Allen Meece is an American diplomat. He has served as United States ambassador to Malawi
(2000–2003) and Democratic Republic of the Congo
(2004–2007), as well as Charge d'affairs to Nigeria
(2003) and to Ethiopia
(2009). He currently heads the United Nations
mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
, Indiana
in 1949. He graduated with a B.A. in mathematics from Michigan State University
in 1971, and attended the National Defense College of Canada for one year.
Before joining the Foreign Service, Meece served extensively in Africa
, beginning as a Peace Corps
Volunteer in Sierra Leone
in the early 1970s. He subsequently worked in Peace Corps assignments in Washington, D.C.
, Niger
, Cameroon
, and the Republic of the Congo
(Brazzaville), culminating with an appointment as the Peace Corps Country Director in Gabon
.
(1979–1981) and in Malawi
(1981–1984). He later served in more senior roles, including posts such as Deputy Chief of Mission in Brazzaville (Republic of Congo) and Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), and as Consul General in Halifax (Nova Scotia
, Canada
). In Washington, Meece has served in the Bureau of International Narcotics Matters (1986–1988), on detail to the Office of the Vice President, and as Director for Central African Affairs (1998–2000) at the State Department. In 2004 he was briefly diplomat-in-residence at Florida International University
. Meece's State Department career culminated with his two ambassadorships during the 2000s. Mostly notably, he played a central role in leading the international community efforts to help the Congolese government organize the free elections of 2006 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
After his retirement from the U.S. State Department, Meece was appointed by the United Nations
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
as his Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo
and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo(MONUSCO) on 9 June 2010. He replaced Alan Doss
of the United Kingdom in this role. The Secretary-General informed the Security Council of his decision in a letter dated 7 June. In accordance with Security Council resolution 1925 (2010), adopted on 28 May, MONUC will bear the title of MONUSCO, beginning on 1 July (2010). Meece arrived in Kinshasa to take up this new role on July 17, 2010.
He is fluent in French
as well as native English
. His American residence is in Seattle, Washington
.
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
(2000–2003) and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
(2004–2007), as well as Charge d'affairs to Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
(2003) and to Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
(2009). He currently heads the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Biography
Roger Meece was born in IndianapolisIndianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
in 1949. He graduated with a B.A. in mathematics from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 1971, and attended the National Defense College of Canada for one year.
Before joining the Foreign Service, Meece served extensively in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, beginning as a Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
Volunteer in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
in the early 1970s. He subsequently worked in Peace Corps assignments in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
, Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, and the Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
(Brazzaville), culminating with an appointment as the Peace Corps Country Director in Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
.
Career
Meece joined the State Department in 1979. His early assignments included postings to the United States embassies in CameroonCameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
(1979–1981) and in Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
(1981–1984). He later served in more senior roles, including posts such as Deputy Chief of Mission in Brazzaville (Republic of Congo) and Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), and as Consul General in Halifax (Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
). In Washington, Meece has served in the Bureau of International Narcotics Matters (1986–1988), on detail to the Office of the Vice President, and as Director for Central African Affairs (1998–2000) at the State Department. In 2004 he was briefly diplomat-in-residence at Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
. Meece's State Department career culminated with his two ambassadorships during the 2000s. Mostly notably, he played a central role in leading the international community efforts to help the Congolese government organize the free elections of 2006 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
After his retirement from the U.S. State Department, Meece was appointed by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
as his Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo(MONUSCO) on 9 June 2010. He replaced Alan Doss
Alan Doss
Alan Claude Doss CMG is a British administrator who has spent his entire professional life in the service of the United Nations working on peacekeeping, development and humanitarian assignments in Africa, Asia and Europe as well as at United Nations Headquarters in New York.On 24 October 2007, he...
of the United Kingdom in this role. The Secretary-General informed the Security Council of his decision in a letter dated 7 June. In accordance with Security Council resolution 1925 (2010), adopted on 28 May, MONUC will bear the title of MONUSCO, beginning on 1 July (2010). Meece arrived in Kinshasa to take up this new role on July 17, 2010.
He is fluent in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
as well as native English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. His American residence is in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
.