This appointment marks a significant milestone in UN peacekeeping missions and the advancement of women in leadership roles within international organizations. Major General Asmah follows in the footsteps of other female trailblazers in peacekeeping, such as Major General Kristin Lund of Norway, who became the first female Force Commander of a United Nations Peacekeeping Force in 2014.
In a historic appointment, Major General Anita Asmah of Ghana has been named the first African woman to serve as a Force Commander in the United Nations.
Appointment Details
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced Major General Asmah's appointment as the Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on December 11, 2024. She succeeds Lieutenant General Nirmal Kumar Thapa of Nepal in this role.
Major General Asmah's Background
Major General Asmah brings an impressive 31 years of leadership and command experience to her new position:
- She most recently served as Director General in the Department of Defence Civilian Establishment of the Ghanaian Armed Forces.
- From 2021 to 2023, she held the position of Deputy Force Commander of UNDOF.
- She briefly served as Acting Force Commander of UNDOF from July to November 2022.
- Her UN peacekeeping experience includes roles as a Staff Officer in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and as a Military Observer in the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC).
Major General Asmah holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law from the University of Ghana and is fluent in English and French.
UNDOF's Mandate
In her new role, Major General Asmah will lead UNDOF's efforts to:
- Monitor the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria
- Observe and maintain buffer zones established under the Agreement on Disengagement
- Supervise disengagement zones to prevent violations of the agreement
Major General Asmah expressed her commitment to her new role, stating,
“I am happy and wholeheartedly accept this role to serve. I am so in love with the mission and the people. It is an opportunity to lessen their suffering”.
As the UN's first African woman Force Commander, Major General Anita Asmah's appointment represents a significant step forward in diversity and inclusion within UN peacekeeping operations, while also highlighting Ghana's contributions to global peace and security efforts.
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