The United Nations on Thursday announced the appointment of Swedish national Per Lindgarde as UN Deputy Special Representative for Somalia.

According to a statement issued in Nairobi from UN Political Office for Somalia, Lindgarde has had a long career with the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

His appointment comes at a time when the Horn of Africa nation is facing political crisis where the increasingly powerful Islamic militia seized the capital Mogadishu and much of southern Somalia.

Lindgarde's appointment also came as the UN-backed transitional government is increasingly being isolated over the past week, with more than 30 members of his administration having resigned.

Lindgarde's last assignment was with the Swedish Embassy in Nairobi as deputy head of the mission.

Somalia has been without an effective central government since warlords toppled dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Since then much of the country has been ruled by violence and clan law.

Source: Xinhua