The Deputy Registrar will boost the team headed by Adama Dieng of Senegal, who took over as ICTR Registrar in March this year. Prior to his appointment at the ICTR, Munlo was Principal Partner in a private law firm in Lilongwe. He has served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General in his country, Deputy Minister of External Affairs, Justice of the High Court of Malawi and Director of Public Prosecutions. Munlo is a Senior Counsel (SC) in the Malawian Bar, the equivalent of Queen's Counsel (QC) in the English legal profession. He obtained law degrees from the University of Malawi (1976) and University of London (1989). ICTR spokesman and special assistant to the Registrar Kingsley Moghalu of Nigeria says the Deputy Registrar's post is a key one. "It's a very important position," Moghalu told a press conference last month, "and the fact that the post has not been filled over the past several months has placed quite a significant burden on the Registrar (…). So I can say that the arrival of Mr. Munlo will certainly be a big help for the Registrar and strengthen the team that is heading the Tribunal's Registry. "The previous Deputy Registrar left last year after her contract was not renewed. Since then, the post has been advertised and re-advertised. The Deputy Registrar heads the ICTR's Judicial and Legal Services division, one of the Registry's two divisions, alongside Administration. "So the Deputy Registrar has an important role to play in the smooth functioning of the court," said Moghalu. He said this includes supervising such areas as judgement writing; witness protection and witness support; and assignment of defence counsel to indigent detainees. Munlo arrives as the ICTR has seven trials of 17 accused alternating before three Trial Chambers. The Tribunal currently has 52 people in detention. SW/JC/PHD/FH (RE1004E)