The new United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander (acting HOM and FC) Major General Gebre Adhana Woldezgu arrived in Abyei on 15 May 2018 to assume his duties.

General Woldezgu was received upon his arrival at the UN helipad by UNISFA’s senior management as well as Mission HQ officers and staff. The Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander was accompanied by Brigadier General Deriba Mekonnen Hateu, the new Deputy Force Commander, and Mr. Alexander Rose, UNISFA Chief of Staff/Principal Officer, who traveled with him from Khartoum where initial official visits were conducted including a meeting with Sudan’s Minister of Defense, Lt. Gen. Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf.

Major General Woldezgu succeeded Major General Tesfay Gidey Hailemichael who completed his assignment on 23 April 2018. 

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

Major General Woldezgu has had a long and distinguished career with the Ethiopian Army spanning over 38 years. He regularly traveled to Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda and African Union Mission in Somalia to coordinate common security and border issues with neighboring countries as well as being fully involved in force preparations, planning, and deployment of forces for international and regional peacekeeping operations. 

Before his UNISFA assignment, he was a Director in the Ethiopian Ministry of National Defence (since 2008). He also served as a Division Commander (1999-2008) and Mechanized Deputy Division Commander (1995-1998) of the Ethiopian National Defence Army. 

Major-General Woldezgu holds a Master’s Degree from the Ethiopian Civil Service University.

Arrival photos