Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz

Divisional general Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz (born 1 June 1952) is a Brazilian military officer who previously held the post of Force Commander of the United Nations' peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (known by its acronym, MONUSCO). He was appointed to this position by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 17 May 2013[1] and replaced by Derrick Mbuyiselo Mgwebi on 29 December 2015.[2] He was Minister-Secretary of Government of Brazil, nominated by President Jair Bolsonaro, from 1 January 2019 to 13 June 2019.[3]

Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz
Minister-Secretary of Government of Brazil
In office 1 January 2019 – 13 June 2019
President	Jair Bolsonaro
Preceded by	Carlos Marun
Succeeded by	Luiz Eduardo Ramos
Force Commander of MONUSCO
In office April 2013 – December 2015
Head	Martin Kobler
Preceded by	Derrick Mgwebi
Succeeded by	Chander Prakash
Force Commander of MINUSTAH
In office January 2007 – April 2009
Head	Edmond Mulet Hédi Annabi
Preceded by	José Elito Carvalho Siqueira
Succeeded by	Floriano Peixoto Vieira Neto
Personal details
Born	1 June 1952 Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Spouse(s)	Dora Regina Gondim
Military service
Allegiance	Brazil  United Nations
Branch/service	Brazilian Army
Years of service	1968–2019
Rank	Divisional General
Commands	MINUSTAH MONUSCO 43rd Motorized Infantry Battalion 13th Motorized Infantry Brigade 2nd Army Division National Public Security Force
Awards	Order of Military Merit (Grand Officer) Order of Naval Merit (Commander) Order of Aeronautical Merit (Grand Officer) Order of Labor Merit (Commander) Peacekeeper Medal Gold Military Medal (40 years of service) Order of Defence Merit (Grand Official)

Biography

His grandfather emigrated from Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal in 1921 at the age of 22. He is of Quadroon stock on his grandmother's side. His mother is of Portuguese Nobility origin from Bahia. A graduate of the Military Academy of Agulhas Negras 1974 Promotion (Resende, Rio de Janeiro) and the Catholic University of Campinas, Santos Cruz has more than 40 years of national and international military experience. He served as Deputy Commander for Land Operations of the Brazilian Army from April 2011 and March 2013. He also served as Special Adviser to the Minister for the Secretariat of Strategic Affairs within the Presidency of Brazil.[4]

Santos Cruz served as Force Commander of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) between January 2007 and April 2009. In April 2013, he received command of United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Santos Cruz commanded MONUSCO during the M23 rebellion and was praised for providing "strong backing" to the UN forces engaged alongside Congolese government forces.[5]

References

1. "Brazil's Santos Cruz to head UN's DR Congo mission". BBC. 17 May 2013.
2. "Secretary-General Appoints Lieutenant General Derrick Mbuyiselo Mgwebi of South Africa Commander, UN Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo". Press Release. United Nations. 29 December 2015.
3. Arbex, Thais; Carvalho, Daniel (13 June 2019). "Bolsonaro demite general Santos Cruz, e outro militar assume Secretaria de Governo" [Bolsonaro Fires General Santos Cruz, And Another Military Assumes Secretariat of Government] (in Portuguese). Folha de S. Paulo. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
4. "Secretary-general appoints Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto Dos Santos Cruz of Brazil Force Commander for UN Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo". Article. www.un.org/News/Press. 17 May 2013.
5. Olivier, Darren. "How M23 was rolled back". African Defence Review. Retrieved 2015-04-21.

Further reading

• Lt Gen Carlos Santos Cruz: We will go after those who are committing crimes against the population
• MONUSCO Senior Military Command meet over civilian protection and security issues