Patrick Cammaert

Major General[1] Patrick Cammaert (Dutch: [ˈpɛtrɪk ˈkɑmaːrt], born April 11, 1950, Alkmaar) is a retired[2] Dutch general who served as the United Nations Force Commander for the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was previously the Military Advisor to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Prior to that position, he was the Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), as the Military Adviser in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and has spent a career in the Royal Netherlands Marines specializing in peacekeeping operations.

Patrick Cammaert in 2001

Cammaert is notable for having implemented many of the recommendations of the Brahimi Report.

UN peacekeeping

In 2005 Cammaert took command of the 15,000-strong UN peacekeeping force in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.[1] His principle during this mission was that "UN forces are impartial and not neutral".[1][3] In early 2005 Cammaert's Eastern Division killed 50 fighters in Ituri after losing nine of its own soldiers in an ambush.[1]

In early 2016, Cammaert led a Headquarters-Board of Inquiry on the circumstances of the clashes that occurred in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) protection of civilians site in Malakal, South Sudan, on 17–18 February 2016. Later that year, he was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to lead an independent special investigation into the violence in Juba, South Sudan, in July 2016, and the response of the UNMISS.[4]

On 22 December 2018 Cammaert started leading the UN monitoring mission to oversee the UN-brokered ceasefire and redeployment of forces in the city of Al Hudaydah in Yemen.[5][2] On 17 January 2019, Cammaert's convoy was reported to have been fired upon by unknown assailants, thought Cammaert remained uninjured.[6] By February 2019, he was replaced with Danish Major General Michael Anker Lollesgaard.[7]

Cammaert is also a regular senior mentor at UN Senior Leadership Courses and at Intensive Orientation Courses for new force commanders. In 2015, he was a member of the High Level Advisory Group for the global study on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.[8]

Other activities

Recognition

On October 10, 2008 Cammaert received the Carnegie Wateler Peace Prize for his commitment to world peace.

References
  1. Dutch general Patrick Cammaert faces 'huge challenge' in Hodeidah, Al Jazeera English (19 December 2018)
  2. UN Yemen mission to rush to Hodeidah to oversee ceasefire, The Guardian (14 December 2018)
  3. U.N. peacekeeping chief speaks about the challenges of his work, Radio Netherlands Archives, September 7, 2007
  4. Secretary-General Appoints Major General Cammaert of Netherlands to Lead Investigation into July 2016 Violence in South Sudan, Response of United Nations Mission United Nations, press release of 23 August 2016.
  5. Yemen: Head of UN mission monitoring Hodeidah ceasefire arrives, Al Jazeera English (22 December 2018)
    UN calls out Yemen's Houthi rebels over peace gestures, Fox News (30 December 2018)
  6. UN leader in Yemen safe after reported shooting amid peace talks, Global News (17 January 2019)
  7. Michelle Nichols (January 24, 2019), U.N. to replace head of Yemen truce monitoring mission: diplomats Reuters.
  8. Board of Directors Center for Civilians in Conflict.
  9. Advisory Board Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security.

Sources


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