El Fasher, 01 September 2009 The new Force Commander of the African Union United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Lieutenant General Patrick Nyamvumba (Rwanda), assumes duty today. He was appointed by the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations to succeed General Martin Luther Agwai, who was UNAMID’s Force Commander since the establishment of the Mission.
The new Force Commander, who arrived in the Mission area on 24 August 2009, paid a series of familiarization visits to UNAMID peacekeeping troops and civilian staff.

Lieutenant General Nyamvumba brings to UNAMID extensive leadership and operational experience. Prior to his appointment, he served as Chief of Logistics of the Rwanda Defence Forces and had previously held various senior positions in the Rwandan Army.

He was Commander of an infantry battalion, mechanized infantry regiment and infantry brigade in 1995, 1996 and 1997, respectively. Between 1998 and 1999, he served as Chief of Operations, Plans and Training. In 1999, he assumed the position of Joint Task Force Commander until his appointment as Commandant of the Military Academy in 2003. He has also served as the Commandant of the Force Preparation Centre between 2004 and 2007. In 2007, General Nyamvumba was appointed to serve as President of the Military High Court.

Born on 11 June 1967, Lieutenant General Nyamvumba is a graduate of the South African National Defence College.

****
© Photo UNAMID - N. Markogiannis, 2009