New UNISFA Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander arrives in Abyei

Mr. Elijah Karambizi, Chief Mission Support, welcomes the new Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Tesfay Gidey Hailemichael.

21 Mar 2017

New UNISFA Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander arrives in Abyei

Christina

The new United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Tesfay Gidey Hailemichael of Ethiopia arrived in Abyei this afternoon to assume his duties.

 

The new Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander was met upon arrival at the helipad of UNISFA Mission HQ by senior UNISFA management staff led by Mr. Elijah Karambizi, Chief Mission Support, as well as uniformed personnel led by Diffra Senior Military Liaison Officer Brigadier General Belay Seyoum Akele. He was accompanied from Khartoum by the outgoing Deputy Force Commander Brigadier General Zewdu Kiros Gebrekidan.

 

Major General Hailemichael succeeds Major General Hassen Ebrahim Mussa who completed his assignment on 17 February 2017.

 

The new Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander is expected to carry forward the effective leadership and the vision set by his predecessors. As part of his initial activities in Abyei, he will be briefed by section chiefs and officers. Over the next few days, he will visit troops in different sectors and meet with the two communities, Ngok Dinka and Misseriya.

 

Background

Major General Hailemichael has had a long and distinguished career with the Ethiopian Armed Forces spanning over thirty-three years.

 

He graduated from the Ethiopian Defense Command and Staff College (1995) and has been the Head of the Defense Logistics Department in the Ethiopian Armed Forces since April 2014. He previously served as Corps Commander (2011-2014).

 

Prior to this, he was Deputy Army Corps Commander (2009-2011), Division Commander (2003-2007), Brigade Commander (1997-1998), among other appointments within the Ethiopian Armed Forces.

 

He is a member of the Defense Council since 2011 and holds various decorations.

 

Major General Hailemichael holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from the Siddarth HIV Research Institute, Ethiopia. He is married and with three children.