KENYA Defence Forces gets a new Defence Sergeant Major.

Source: Ministry of Defence Kenya

Chief of the Defence Forces Gen J W Karangi poses for a photo with the outgoing Defence Forces Sergeant Major Warrant Officer 1 Joseph Kithome (right) and the incoming Defence Forces Sergeant Major Warrant Officer 1 Khanso Khalif during the farewell ceremony at the Defence Headquarters on 26 January 2012.

The Kenya Defence Forces has a new Defence Sergeant Major. After six years at the helm as the Defence Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer 1 Joseph Kithome Mundi who is proceeding on retirement after 35 years of service handed over the mantle to Warrant Officer Class One Khalif Kanso Katana. The handing over ceremony was presided over by the Chief of the Defence Forces General Julius Karangi at the Defence Headquarter on 25th January 2012.

During the handing over ceremony, the CDF welcomed the new Defence Sergeant Major whom he said had enough experience and temperament to handle the appointment. He urged him to always lead by example and be a role model to the younger and junior soldiers. The new Defence Sergeant Major was enlisted in service in 1978.During this time he has served in various capacities such as Company Sergeant Major at AFTC Cadet School (Now Kenya Military Academy), Regimental Sergeant Major Guard of Honour Parades from May 2008 to March 2009 and his last appointment being the Air Force Sergeant Major.

The Defence Sergeant Major is the highest servicemen appointment within the Kenya Defence Forces and is the overall in-charge of servicemen discipline in all the service. Additionally, he is the link between the service Sergeant Majors and the Defence Headquarters. His other duties include the coordination of national ceremony parades among others.

Present during the ceremony were the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Samson Mwathethe, Assistant Chief of the Defence Forces Personnel and L logistics Major General Gordon Kihalangwa, Chief of Personnel Brigadier Philip Lepakio, Army Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class One John Muthoka, the newly appointed Air Force Sergent Major Warrant Officer Class one Joseph Muli Maingi and the Navy Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class One John Chacha among others.

Kenya war on terror claims officer

Source: Daily Nation

Photo/FILE Lieutenant Kevin Webi of the 1st Battalion Kenya Rifles was the Color Officer during the Trooping of the Color parade at Uhuru Park on August 27, 2010.

A Kenya Army officer who played a leading role at the military parade during the promulgation of the new Constitution has died in action in Somalia.

Lieutenant Kevin Webi of the 1st Battalion Kenya Rifles was the Color Officer during the Trooping of the Color parade at Uhuru Park on August 27, 2010.

He performed the same role at Nyayo Stadium during the first Jamhuri Day celebrations after the promulgation of the Constitution, on December 12, 2010.

Lt Webi, who was buried on Tuesday at Ndalala village in Kapomboi Location in Trans-Nzoia county, was killed on January 22 alongside a fellow officer, Lt Edward Juma Okoyo, during an operation that led to the capture of Delbio, a key centre used by Al-Shabaab.

Lt Okoyo had only recently married wife Doreen Magak on December 17 at Arya Primary School in Kisumu.

The couple enjoyed a honeymoon at Sunset Hotel for three days before he left for the battlefront. He hailed from Kasipul Kabondo.

Lt Webi was single, but recently engaged to fiancée Rachel Masika. He studied at the Mother of Apostles Seminary in Eldoret and sat for his KCSE in 2005 then joined Maseno University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

He later studied Military Science at Egerton University. He was commissioned into the force in May 2009 and only served for two-and-a-half years before dying in action.

Colleagues describe Lt Webi, the third officer to be killed in the 108-day old Operation Linda Nchi, as a polite man who gave his life for Kenya.

On the day he died, Lt Webi posted a message for friends on his Facebook page: “When you never have time to rest and pray on a Sunday, you simply offer your entire life and actions as a sacrifice to God. Every action I take is a prayer in itself, Amen”.

His page on the popular social networking site has been full of praises and condolences. Yesterday, his fiancée wrote:

“As I lay to rest the love of my life, I pray that God receives him in eternal peace where there’s no Al-Shabaab.

“Please God lift this load of pain and sorrow from my heart and clear the darkness ahead of me and help me crawl out of it. Go with my love Kevin Webi”.

Two days after Lt Webi’s death, Ms Masika posted on her wall that his colleagues had lied to her that he was in hospital, only for her to learn later that he had been killed.

A former classmate, Mr Waswa Edwin Wambulwa, described Lt Webi as an inspiration. “He died protecting his country against the Al-Shabaab”.

By Angira Zadock

Centrafrique: le Général Lapo, ex-ministre, chef d’état-major de l’armée

Source: Afreekelection.com/Agence France Press

General Guillaume Lapo nouveau Chef d’Etat-Major des FACA

Le général de brigade Guillaume Lapo, ancien ministre et ex-directeur du Trésor public, a été nommé chef d’état-major général de l’armée centrafricaine en remplacement du général André Mazi, mort le 16 octobre de maladie à Libreville, selon un décret présidentiel vendredi.

Porte-parole de l’armée centrafricaine puis directeur général du Trésor public centrafricain, le général Guillaume Lapo avait été relevé de ses fonctions en octobre par décret du président François Bozizé sans qu’aucun motif n’ait été précisé.

Formé à l’Ecole spéciale de formation des officiers d’active (ESFOA) Jean-Bédel Bokassa à Bouar (ouest), dans les années 70, le général Lapo a notamment été ministre de la Communication de 1981 à 1986 dans le Comité militaire de redressement national (CMRN) du général André Kolingba (président de 1981 à 1993 et décédé en 2010).

Un autre décret présidentiel nomme les colonels Ludovic Ngaïfé, Thierry Lengbé et Jean-Pierre Doléwaya, sous-chefs d’état-major des FACA, chargés respectivement des opérations, des renseignements et de la logistique.

Minée par l’insécurité, la Centrafrique s’est lancée en 2008 dans un processus de paix intégrant l’opposition et les rébellions, mais selon un rapport l’organisation de défense des droits de l’Homme Amnesty International paru en octobre, « le gouvernement s’est invariablement montré incapable ou peu disposé à agir pour protéger ses citoyens ».

Selon Amnesty International, au moins 14 groupes armés sévissent toujours en Centrafrique dont la LRA, réputée pour être une des guérillas les plus brutales au monde.

COLONEL PALE, CHEF D’ETAT-MAJOR DE L’ARMEE DE L’AIR : Mission, regagner l’estime et la confiance des Burkinabè

Source: Le Pays

Colonel Major Pale Chef d’Etat Major Armee de l’Air du Burkina Faso

Nommé le 26 octobre 2011 par décret présidentiel, le Colonel-major Naba Théodore Palé a pris le commandement de l’armée de l’air le mercredi 16 novembre dernier à la base aérienne 511 de l’Armée de l’air. Sa mission, a-t-il dit, est de redonner à l’Armée de l’air l’estime et la confiance des populations.

« Plus jamais ça ! (…) Et pour que cela n’arrive plus jamais, nous avons le devoir de reconstruire ensemble les fondements de notre armée. » Ces propos sont du Colonel major Naba Théodore Palé, après avoir reçu le drapeau de commandement en tant que Chef d’état-major de l’Armée de l’air des mains du Chef d’état-major général des Armées, le Général de brigade Honoré Traoré, ce mercredi 16 novembre 2011. Des propos qui renseignent sur sa mission en tant que nouveau chef de cette section importante de notre armée, dirigée par intérim pendant 7 mois par le Colonel Gustave Palenfo.

Gommer la fracture entre l’armée et la nation

Nommé le 26 octobre dernier par décret présidentiel, le Colonel-major Palé entend « redonner à l’armée de l’air l’estime et la confiance des populations » et « de contribuer à gommer la fracture qui s’est installée entre l’armée et la nation ». L’ambition du nouveau chef d’état-major, produit du Prytanée militaire du Kadiogo, est donc tout affichée et il l’a exprimée avec vigueur et fermeté : « L’armée est le foyer par excellence de l’honneur et de la gloire. Ceux qui ne l’ont pas compris n’ont pas leur place ici ». Pour restaurer les valeurs de base de l’armée, à savoir la discipline, l’honneur et l’amour de la nation, le Colonel-major, titulaire d’un brevet de pilote et qui totalise en 2008 3 600 heures de vol, a indiqué qu’il mettra l’accent sur l’instruction militaire des jeunes et des anciens soldats, la formation technique, améliorera les conditions de travail et renforcera la sécurité des vols. La tâche est immense, « mais je sais que je ne suis pas seul », a confié le Colonel-major.

Les remèdes à sa solitude, il les voit dans les conseils de ses devanciers et l’ensemble des militaires de l’Armée de l’air. « La nation investit beaucoup pour l’Armée de l’air, nous n’avons pas le droit de décevoir », a-t-il ajouté. Un défilé militaire de troupes au sol et aériennes de l’Armée de l’air a mis fin à cette cérémonie.

Abdou ZOUREZOURE

Cameroun: le Contre-amiral Nsola admis en deuxieme section

Source: Le Jour

Le contre-amiral Nsola Jean-Pierre est admis à la deuxième section du cadre des officiers généraux des forces de défense. C’est la teneur du décret signé hier 1er novembre par Paul Biya. Né le 26 mai 1951 à Sangmelima, Nsola Jean-Pierre a été élevé au grade de contre-amiral par décret présidentiel, le 11 mars dernier.

Le même jour, il a été nommé contrôleur des armées, puis a reçu ses attributs le 6 mai dernier à la cour d’honneur de la Brigade du quartier général de Yaoundé. Au moment de sa nomination au poste de contrôleur des armées, Nsola Jean-Pierre, était depuis 2005, attaché de défense près l’ambassade du Cameroun en Chine. Il est admis à la deuxième section du cadre des  officiers généraux, sans avoir été installé dans ses fonctions de contrôleur des armées. Pourtant, tous les autres responsables nommés en même temps que lui ont déjà pris fonction. Des sources indiquent que le contre-amiral Nsola Jean-Pierre serait encore en Chine, créant un doublon au niveau de la représentation diplomatique du Cameroun où son remplaçant est déjà en poste.

C’est en 1972 que Nsola Jean-Pierre a été recruté au titre des diplômés de l’enseignement supérieur. Il est diplômé de l’Ecole navale française en 1974, puis du cours de commandant d’escorteur côtier de l’Ecole navale N°1 de la marine de l’armée populaire de libération de Chine en 1976. Diplômé d’Etat-Major, il est attaché militaire de l’air et de mer près l’ambassade du Cameroun au Nigéria de 2002 à 2006. Après le Nigeria, il est nommé en Chine jusqu’au 11 mars 2011, lorsqu’il devient contre-amiral.

L’admission à la deuxième section du cadre des officiers généraux des forces de défense décharge l’officier de ses fonctions. Il reste cependant à la disposition du ministère de la Défense et peut être rappelé à tout moment pour des missions ponctuelles.

Par Anne Mireille Nzouankeu

Togo: Biographie du Lieutenant-Colonel M’ba

Source: EMG FAT

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL M’BA

Né le 09 Mai 1961 à Ouidah en République du Bénin voisin, il fit ses études primaires à l’Ecole Primaire Publique du Camp RIT de 1969 à 1975 ; son cours secondaire au CEG Tokoin-Est de 1975 à 1978 ; le Lycée Kara de 1978 à 1980 ; le Collège Militaire Tchitchao de 1980 à 1983 sanctionné du Baccalauréat Série D. Il entre à l’Ecole des Forces Armées de Bouaké (EFA) en RCI d’Octobre 1983 à Juillet 1985. L’Ecole d’Application de l’Artillerie Sol – Sol à Draguignan en France de Septembre 1985 à Juillet 1986 ; au Cours de Perfectionnement des officiers subalternes (CPOS) Artillerie Sol- Sol de sptembre à décembre 1996 à Draguignan ; Ecole d’Etat-Major à Koulikoro  (Mali) de Septembre 1998 à juin 1999 et enfin Ecole de Guerre en Chine de Septembre 2010 à Août 2011.
Il a assumé plusieurs postes de responsabilités entre autres : officier observateur à la Batterie d’artillerie de 105 HM2 de juillet 1986 à août 1987 ;  Commandant d’Unité élémentaire au 3ème Bataillon d’infanterie de Lomé de novembre 1987 à juin 1992 ; commandant d’unité élémentaire au RCGP de juin 1992 à mars 1997 ; commandant la Batterie d’artillerie de 105 HM2 du RSA à partir de mars 1997 ; officier adjoint au RSA  de septembre 1999 à septembre 2005 ; commandant le CME de 2005 à 2011 puis Chef Corps du RCGP à partir du 06 septembre 2011.
Le nouveau Chef Corps du RCGP a effectué plusieurs  missions extérieures. Il  a été élevé Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mono, Médaille d’argent de la Défense Nationale française et trois  médailles de la Mission de la CEDEAO en Côte d’Ivoire (MICECI).

 

Kenya: Biography of General Jeremiah Mutinda Kianga

Source: Wikipedia

Photo Courtesy Peter M. Njoroge

General Jeremiah Mutinda Kianga ‘EGH’ ‘CBS’ ‘ndc’ (K) ‘cgsc'(USA), was born on 26 April 1950 in Makueni District. He went to Machakos Secondary School which he completed in 1970. He joined the military in April 1971 and after two years cadet training at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, he was commissioned and posted to the 5th Kenya Rifles as a Platoon Commander in 1973 where he did regimental duty up to 1975. General Kianga has been trained in Kenya, the United Kingdom (UK), India and the United States of America, where he obtained a Masters degree in Military Arts and Science from Kansas University.

He served on the Directing Staff at the Army Staff College, UK and Defence Staff College Kenya. He also served as Defence Advisor in Uganda and Chief of Military Intelligence at Defence headquarters. In December 1999, as a Major General, he was appointed General Officer Commanding Eastern Command then Deputy Army Commander and thereafter served as Assistant Chief of General Staff-in-charge of Personnel and Logistics at Defence Heaquarters.

On March 2003 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed Commander, Kenya Army from where he has been promoted to General and appointed CGS, taking over from General (Retired) J R E Kibwana.

General Jeremiah Mutinda Kianga retired on August 12th 2011 after over 40 years of soldiering.

Avi Bari, le Guinéen de l’armée israélienne

Source: Jeune Afrique

Adopté par une famille israélienne, il rêve aujourd’hui de devenir ambassadeur en Guinée. © Olivier Fitoussi pour J.A.

Venu seul de Conakry jusqu’à Tel-Aviv (Israël), cet orphelin, ancien clandestin, vient d’obtenir, à 21 ans, le grade d’officier dans l’armée israélienne.

Sous une chaleur écrasante, quatre groupes de soldats parfaitement alignés font face à la foule joyeuse qui a pris place dans les tribunes. En cette fin d’après-midi de juillet, l’ambiance festive contraste avec l’aspect solennel de la cérémonie. Et avec le lieu où elle se déroule : la base militaire de Tzrifin, l’une des plus importantes de la région de Tel-Aviv. Dans son uniforme vert olive, Avi Bari ne se laisse pas distraire par les acclamations et les banderoles. Lorsque son commandant s’approche pour lui remettre ses insignes d’officier, il gonfle le torse et fixe son regard sur l’horizon. Le colonel échange quelques mots avec le soldat, puis lui adresse une petite tape amicale sur la joue. Ému, Avi laisse enfin échapper un sourire. « J’ai repensé à ma traversée du désert et à tout le chemin parcouru depuis mon arrivée en Israël comme travailleur clandestin. Le destin m’a mené de Guinée jusqu’ici. Je fais aujourd’hui partie intégrante de ce pays et de son peuple. »

Il y a quelques années, Avi s’appelait encore Ibrahim Bari. Orphelin de Labé, il est vite pris en charge par son oncle, qui l’emmène à Conakry. Mais dans la capitale guinéenne où il grandit, le jeune homme ne se plaît pas. « On me faisait travailler dur, ça m’a donné envie de partir », explique-t-il. Dans le quartier de Matoto, Bari entend un jour parler d’Israël, nouvelle Terre promise des réfugiés du continent. Les gens y seraient bien traités et y gagneraient même beaucoup d’argent. En 2005, il décide de tenter l’aventure seul, persuadé qu’il va s’enrichir. L’adolescent de 15 ans se rend au Caire en avion, après avoir fait escale à Casablanca. Il n’a que quelques centaines de dollars en poche.

Son voyage se déroule sans encombre jusqu’à ce qu’il rejoigne la péninsule du Sinaï où l’attendent des passeurs bédouins. « Ce fut l’une des épreuves les plus dures de ma vie », raconte-t-il, marqué par le souvenir de cette expédition. « On marchait la nuit. Le reste du temps, on nous entassait sous des tentes. Il arrivait que nous restions des journées entières sans nourriture. » L’attente est longue, parfois interminable, dictée par les mouvements des gardes-frontières égyptiens qui n’hésitent pas à tirer sur les clandestins. Avi Bari se souvient qu’une fois les passeurs l’ont parqué pendant quinze jours dans le désert. « J’ai eu peur d’avoir été livré à des trafiquants. Avec les autres Africains, on a essayé de se rebeller. Mais deux adolescents bédouins nous ont braqués avec leur kalachnikov. »

La traversée de Bari s’achèvera à l’arrière d’un pick-up. De l’autre côté du grillage sectionné par les passeurs : Israël. Des taxis attendent, moteur en marche. Quelques heures plus tard, l’enfant de Labé arrive à Tel-Aviv, épuisé par les 5 500 km parcourus depuis sa Guinée natale. La métropole israélienne a pour lui des allures de Nouveau Monde. Bari prend la direction de Neve Shanan, un quartier proche de l’ancienne gare routière, où errent des milliers d’autres clandestins. Premier coup dur : le statut de réfugié lui est refusé par l’ONU au motif que la Guinée n’est pas en guerre. Il est envoyé à l’école Shanti, un centre d’accueil pour les immigrés mineurs et les enfants en difficulté.

En 2008, maîtrisant l’hébreu, il est embauché comme plongeur dans un restaurant. « Je n’avais aucune envie de rester en Israël et d’avoir la citoyenneté. Ce qui m’importait, c’était de gagner de l’argent et de repartir. » En situation illégale, le jeune Guinéen finit par se faire arrêter par la police d’immigration, qui le menace d’expulsion. Il est sauvé grâce à l’intervention de son instituteur, qui lui obtient une carte d’identité israélienne. Le destin d’Avi Bari bascule une fois de plus. Adopté par une famille originaire d’un kibboutz de Galilée, il reprend ses études et obtient son baccalauréat. À 18 ans, il est appelé sous les drapeaux, comme tout jeune Israélien. Sa motivation séduit ses commandants qui décident de l’envoyer suivre une formation d’officier.

Avec le recul, Bari considère que son engagement dans l’armée israélienne lui a appris à connaître le pays et à l’apprécier. Musulman et Noir, il arbore fièrement ses origines. « Je suis africain et je n’oublierai jamais d’où je viens. Mon passé ressurgit chaque matin au réveil, quand je repense aux étapes de ma vie. Cela me donne de l’ambition », assure-t-il. Conscient des difficultés que connaissent les milliers de réfugiés subsahariens présents en Israël, il promet de leur venir en aide en temps voulu. Mais son rêve est ailleurs : « Tôt ou tard, j’espère pouvoir être nommé ambassadeur en Guinée. Israël peut énormément apporter à mon pays d’origine. »

Par Maxime Perez

Cote d’Ivoire: Ban to Appoint Experienced Dutch Diplomat to Head UN Mission

Source: allAfrica

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced his intention to appoint Bert Koenders of the Netherlands as his Special Representative for Côte d’Ivoire and head of the United Nations peacekeeping operation in the West African country.

Mr. Koenders will replace Choi Young-jin of the Republic of Korea, who will complete his term on 31 August.

The Secretary-General expressed his gratitude to Mr. Choi for his « dedicated service and excellent leadership » of the peacekeeping mission, known as UNOCI, during a critical and challenging period in the country over the past four years.

Mr. Koenders will bring to the position more than 25 years of experience in international affairs, development cooperation, and international policy-making on humanitarian, development and governance issues.

He is currently serving as the co-chair of the Working Group for the Fourth UN High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness and as chair of the Rutgers World Population Foundation.

Mr. Koenders, who was born in 1958, also served as the Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation from 2007 to 2010 and worked on peace support initiatives for Afghanistan, Burundi, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Sudan. He was previously a Dutch lawmaker from 1997 to 2007.

He also served with the European Commission and the UN in Mozambique, and was foreign policy adviser to several Dutch members of parliament.

Côte d’Ivoire is emerging from a crisis that ended in mid-April, when former president Laurent Gbagbo finally surrendered, ending months of violence in the wake of his refusal to step down after he lost last November’s UN-certified run-off election to Alassane Ouattara, who was sworn in as President in May.

The country now faces a number of key post-crisis challenges, including the restoration of law and order, national reconciliation, the holding of legislative elections, and economic recovery.

Kenya: General Julius Waweru Karangi’s Biography

Source: Ministry of Defence Kenya

Gen Julius Waweru Karangi joined Kenya Air Force in 1973 and after Cadet training in UK , he was commissioned as an officer in 1974. After qualifying as a Flight Navigator in October 1975 in the Royal Air Force in England , he was posted to Flying Wing Kenya Air Force where he worked as a Navigator. Gen Julius Waweru Karangi has been trained in Kenya , United Kingdom (UK), India and United States . He has served as an officer in charge of the management of the American Military Aid to Kenya , Officer in charge of the Research Department in the Defence

Headquarters, Commander of an Air Defence Battalion in Kenya Air Force, Liaison officer in Sarajevo (Bosnia), Senior Military Liaison Officer in Belgrade (Serbia), Senior Military Observer in Belgrade and Croatia all with the United Nations as a peacekeeper in 1992/93, Staff Officer in Kenya Air Force Headquarters in charge of Administration, Personnel and Logistics, Iinstructor in Defence Staff College and the Armed Forces Training College, Lanet.

In 1995, he was appointed the Commander of a Kenya Air Force Base, Moi Air Base. In 1997, he was appointed the Commander of the Kenya Air Force Logistics Command. In 1998, he was posted to Defence Headquarters and appointed Chief Procurement of the Kenya Armed Forces. In May 1999, he was appointed to a senior position of Assistant Chief of General Staff at Defence Headquarters in charge of Training, Doctrine and Procurement for the Kenya Armed Forces.

Gen Karangi was appointed commandant Defence Staff College , Karen where he worked between Dec 2000 –Nov 2003 in the rank of Major General , after which he was appointed Commander Kenya Air Force and served from Nov 2003 to 10th Aug 2005. On 10th August 2005, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed Vice Chief of the General Staff Defence Headquarters, his current position.

General Karangi is married to Mrs. Mary Karangi and they are blessed with three children, two daughters and a son.

Rwanda: new security chiefs appointed

Source: Ministry of Defence Rwanda

Major General Emmanuel Karenzi Karake head of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS)

President Paul Kagame, in his capacity as Commander in Chief, yesterday, named new officers to head the country’s security and intelligence agencies.

Major General Emmanuel Karenzi Karake is the new head of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), while Brigadier General Richard Rutatina is the new Head of J2- Military Intelligence.

Col Dan Munyuza was appointed the Head of External Intelligence in NISS while Col Tom Byabagamba is the head of the Counter Terrorism unit in the Ministry of Defence and RDF.

In a related development, Captain Patrick Karuretwa will replace Brig Gen Rutatina as the Defence and Security Advisor to the President. Prior to his appointment, Maj Gen Karenzi, who replaces Col Dr Emmanuel Ndahiro, was the head of the Rwanda Military Academy-Nyakinama.

Also, Lt Col Joseph Nzabamwita has been appointed new Military and Defence Spokesperson, replacing Lt Col Jill Rutaremara who went for further studies.

Prior to his appointment, Lt Col Nzabamwita was the commanding officer of the 105 battalion based in Rubavu District, Western Province. The 45-year old holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Makerere University, Kampala and a Masters in International Law from the University of Washington.

Niger: le General de division Seiny Garba devient Chef d’Etat-Major des Armees

Source: Afriquinfos

Le General Seyni Garba CEMA Niger

Le nouveau chef d’état-major nommé à la tête de l’armée nigérienne, le général de division Seyni Garba, a pris officiellement les commandes des Forces armées nigériennes (FAN), a-t-on appris vendredi de sources militaires.

Le général Garba remplace le général de division aérienne Salou Souleymane, nommé par l’ex-junte militaire.

La cérémonie de passation de commandement s’est déroulée en présence du ministre de la Défense nationale Karidio Mahamadou, des hauts responsables des différents corps des forces de défense et de sécurité, et de plusieurs officiers supérieurs des FAN.

Le général de division Seyni Garba, qui prend désormais le fanion de commandement des FAN, a acquis, en 36 ans de carrière, une grande expérience professionnelle tant dans le domaine du commandement que de l’administration.

Il a été instructeur, chef de peloton, et a commandé plusieurs unités des FAN. Il a aussi été chef de corps de la garde présidentielle, ainsi que chef d’état-major général adjoint des Forces armées nigériennes.

Dans le domaine de l’administration, Seyni Garba a occupé plusieurs postes dont celui d’ambassadeur du Niger au Maroc.

General Babacar Gaye’s Bio

Source: Wikipedia

Babacar Gaye (born 31 January 1951 in Saint Louis, Senegal) is a Senegalese Army General who since 2005 serves as Force Commander for the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Education

Babacar Gaye studied at the military academy École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr, where he enrolled in 1970 and graduated in 1972.

Lieutenant-General Gaye attended military courses at prestigious war colleges and military schools in France and Belgium.

He joined the École Supérieure de Guerre in Paris in 1986 and graduated in 1988.

Career

In 2005, The Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, appointed Lieutenant-General Babacar Gaye (Senegal) as the new Force Commander of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC). He replaces Major-General Iliya (Nigeria) and is the third Force Commander of MONUC and the second commander from Senegal after General Mountaga Diallo.

In January 2004, he was assigned as Ambassador of Senegal in Germany by president Abdoulaye Wade.

Babacar Gaye was promoted to the rank of Brigade General in 2000, when he became Chef d’état-major general des armées (Chief of the Defence Staff) from May 2000 to August 2003 and to Divisional General (equivalent to Major General) in 2002.

Prior to this position, he led an extensive and distinguished military career, having served, among others, as Chief of Military Region from November 1997 to May 2000.

From 1994 to 1997, he served as the Director of the Senegalese foreign intelligence agency.

In 1991, he served as commander of the Senegalese contingent in the Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia based in Dhahran.

He also served as the Commander of the Senegalese contingent in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from August 1979 to March 1980. From July 1974 to February 1975, he served in the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF).

 

New Chief for the SA National Defence Force

Source: Ministry of Defence South Africa

 

On Tuesday, 31 May 2011, the former Chief South African National Defence Force General Godfrey Nhlanhla Ngwenya will hand over command of the South African National Defence Force to Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Solly Zacharia Shoke. The Commander-in-Chief, President Zuma, recently appointed Lt Gen Solly Shoke as the Chief of the South African National Defence Force (CSANDF).

Lieutenant General Solly Zacharia Shoke was born on 15 August 1956 in Alexander Township. He completed his school career in Orlando High School. Lieutenant General Shoke obtained a Diploma in Human Resources Management from Damelin, a Certificate in Defence Management from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Certificate in Personnel Management from IPM.

He held several command posts in starting as a Unit Commissar and later becoming a Commander in the Transvaal Urban Machinery of Umkhonto we Sizwe. He later became part of the National underground leadership during operation “Vula”. Lieutenant General Shoke was the National Co-ordinator for the Peace Process during the negotiations and was also part of the work groups that facilitated integration of the Armed Forces.

Lieutenant General Shoke received general training in Angola and did the Brigade Commanders Course in the USSR. He completed the Intermediate Staff Course in 1993/1994 in Zimbabwe. In 1995/1996 he did the Senior Command and Staff Course at the SA Army College and the Joint Staff Course in 1998.

In April 1994 he was appointed as the Director Personnel Planning of the SA Army. In January 1997 he was appointed as the Director Integration. He was the Director Personnel Acquisition from January 1999 to October 2000 when he was promoted to the rank of Major General as the Chief Director Human Resources Support. In June 2004 Lieutenant General Shoke was appointed as the Chief of the South African Army.

One of the highlights of his career was when he became the Mission Commander for the SADC Forces in Lesotho in 1998 to 1999.

Lieutenant General Shoke is married to Charlotte and has four children. He speaks 9 languages and he is fond of golf and soccer.

 

Rear Admiral Michael T. Franken Commander, Combined Joint Task Force, Djibouti, Africa

Source: US Navy

Rear Adm. Franken served as the vice director, Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J5) at U.S. Central Command since July 2008. In that position, he was involved in regional security engagement, regional planning efforts, and future force posture in U.S. Central Command.

His formative operational assignments consisted of postings on guided missile destroyers. He was the first commanding officer of USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) and took the ship through work up training with the Royal Navy. His operational tours in USS King (DDG 41), USS Dahlgren (DDG 43), USS Barry (DDG 52), and Churchill garnered multiple Battle « E » decorations.  As commodore, he commanded Destroyer Squadron 28 and Commander, Task Group 152.0 in the Eisenhower Strike Group from 2006-2007.

Ashore, Franken served in four operational staff positions ranging from a readiness squadron to a four-star fleet command. He also served in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, in four other Pentagon staff positions, and in the Joint Staff as United States Pacific Command division chief and deputy JOD chief in the Joint Operations Directorate. He presented the worldwide orders book to Secretary Donald Rumsfeld from 2003 to 2005, and was the first military officer to serve as a military legislative fellow for late Senator Ted Kennedy. He authored past Navy posture statements in the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel, congressional testimony in Navy’s Deep Blue, and Navy’s 2003 forcible entry study.

Raised in rural Iowa, Franken is a 1981 distinguished Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps graduate from the College of Engineering at the University of Nebraska, and obtained a Master of Science degree from the College of Physics at the Naval Postgraduate School. He is a graduate of the Brookings Institute and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI.

Franken is the  Commander, Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa in Djibouti, Africa.

MAJOR GENERAL MARGARET H. WOODWARD’s commanding Libya’s operation

Source: US Air Force

MAJOR GENERAL MARGARET H. WOODWARD

Maj. Gen. Margaret H. Woodward is Commander, 17th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The command serves as the Air Component for U.S. Africa Command and has responsibility for all Air Force activities in the Africa theater spanning 53 countries, 11 million square miles and more than 900 million people.

General Woodward entered the Air Force in 1983 as a graduate of Arizona State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering. Her career includes a variety of operational and staff positions, including command at the squadron, group and wing levels. She flew and commanded in operations Just Cause, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.  The general served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as the Director of Protocol and military assistant, and she was the Deputy Director for Colonel Matters, Air Force Senior Leader Management Office, Washington, D.C. Prior to her current assignment, General Woodward was Vice Commander, 18th Air Force, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

General Woodward is a command pilot with more than 3,800 hours in the C-40, KC-135, C-37, T-38 and T-37.

EDUCATION

1982 Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe

1995 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

1997 Master’s degree in aviation science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.

2001 Master’s degree in national security strategy, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

ASSIGNMENTS

1. January 1983 – November 1983, student, undergraduate pilot training, Columbus AFB, Miss.

2. November 1983 – April 1987, T-38 instructor pilot, Columbus AFB, Miss.

3. April 1987 – September 1990, KC-135 flight examiner and aircraft commander, Plattsburgh AFB, N.Y.

4. September 1990 – August 1994, T-38 flight commander, flight examiner and operations group executive officer, Laughlin AFB, Texas

5. August 1994 – July 1995, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

6. July 1995 – July 1998, Deputy Director and Director, Protocol, Office of the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

7. July 1998 – July 2000, operations officer and Commander, 97th Air Refueling Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash.

8. July 2000 – July 2001, student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

9. July 2001 – March 2002, Director, Commander’s Action Group, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations, and Deputy Chief, Strategy, Concepts and Doctrine Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

10. March 2002 – March 2004, Commander, 12th Operations Group, Randolph AFB, Texas

11. March 2004 – February 2005, Deputy Director for Colonel Matters, Air Force Senior Leader Management Office, Washington, D.C.

12. February 2005 – March 2007, Commander, 6th Air Mobility Wing, MacDill AFB, Fla.

13. March 2007 – January 2009, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing, Andrews AFB, Md.

14. January 2009 – June 2010, Vice Commander, 18th Air Force, Scott AFB, Ill.

15. June 2010 – present, Commander, 17th Air Force, Ramstein AB, Germany.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS

July 1995 – July 1998, Deputy Director and Director, Protocol, Office of the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a major and lieutenant colonel

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Rating: Command pilot

Flight hours: More than 3,800

Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-38A, KC-135A, KC-135Q, KC-135R, KC-135T, C-37A and C-40B

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Defense Superior Service Medal

Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters

Bronze Star Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Air Force Commendation Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Second Lieutenant Oct. 20, 1982

First Lieutenant Oct. 20, 1984

Captain Oct. 20, 1986

Major Oct. 1, 1994

Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 1, 1998

Colonel Aug. 1, 2002

Brigadier General June 24, 2008

Major General Frocked

General Carter Ham Africom’s new commander

Source: Wikipedia

Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1976 – present
Rank	General
Commands held	U.S. Army, Europe Director of Operations, Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. 1st Infantry Division
Battles/wars	Iraq War *Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Able Sentry (Macedonia) Operation Desert Storm (Iraq)
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal (Army) Defense Superior Service Medal (3) Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Meritorious Service Medal (6) Joint Service Commendation Medal Army Commendation Medal (3) Army Achievement Medal (3)

General Carter F. Ham, USA, (born February 16, 1952) is the current Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army. He previously served as Director for Operations (J-3) at the Joint Staff from August 2007 to August 2008 and the Commanding General, U.S. 1st Infantry Division from August 2006 to August 2007. He assumed his current assignment on August 28, 2008.

General Carter F. Ham served as an enlisted Infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division before attending John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. He was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant through the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (Army ROTC) in the Infantry as a Distinguished Military Graduate in 1976. He later received his master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island as well as graduating from several military schools including the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Armor Officer Advanced Course, the College of Naval Command and Staff of the U.S. Naval War College and the U.S. Air Force Air War College. He is a member of the John Carroll University ROTC Hall of Fame. He was born in Portland, Oregon and he and his wife, Christi, are both John Carroll University graduates.

Ham’s early assignments included service at Fort Knox, Kentucky and tours of duty in Italy and Germany. After graduating from the Armor Officers Advanced Course, he was a Recruiting Area Commander in Lima, Ohio. In 1984, he served with a joint service unit in support of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

From 1984 until 1989, Ham served as Assistant Inspector General, then as Battalion S-3 and Executive Officer with the Opposing Force at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. He attended the Naval College of Command and Staff, graduating with distinction in 1990, and was then assigned to the US Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia.

He served a tour as an advisor with a Saudi Arabian National Guard Brigade in Riyadh then returned to Fort Benning, where he was the executive officer for the Infantry School. Ham commanded the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry in Vilseck, Germany including a six month tour with the United Nations Protection Forces in the Republic of Macedonia. Following battalion command, he was the Senior Observer/Controller of the Timberwolf Team at the Combat Maneuver Training Center, Hohenfels, Germany.

He graduated from the Air War College in 1997 then returned to Germany where he served as G3 then Chief of Staff, 1st Infantry Division. From 1999 to 2001 he commanded the 29th Infantry Regiment at Fort Benning then was assigned to United States Central Command serving in Tampa, Florida and in Qatar. Ham was assigned as the Deputy Commanding General for Training and Readiness, I Corps at Fort Lewis, Wash. in August 2003. In January 2004, he assumed command of Multinational Brigade (Task Force Olympia) – North in Mosul, Iraq serving there until February 2005.

Returning from Iraq, Ham served as the Deputy Director for Regional Operations on The Joint Staff. Ham assumed command of the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas in August 2006 and served as the Commanding General until July 2007. He most recently served as the Director for Operations, J3, The Joint Staff.

Contents [hide] 1 Education 2 Dates of rank 3 Major Duty Assignments 4 US Decorations and Badges 5 Image gallery 6 External links

Education

John Carroll University – B.A. – Political Science
Naval War College – M.A. – National Security and Strategic Studies
Currently Gen.Ham is the nominee for Commander U.S.Africa Command (AFRICOM)

Dates of rank

• 2LT – June 1976 – June 1978
• 1LT – June 1978 – August 1980
• CPT – August 1980 – June 1987
• MAJ – June 1987 – September 1992
• LTC – September 1992 – April 1998
• COL – April 1998 – October 2003
• BG – October 2003 – February 2005
• MG – February 2005 – July 2007
• LTG – August 2007 – August 2008
• GEN – August 2008 – present

Major Duty Assignments

Training Officer, II Reserve Officer Training Corps Region, 4th Basic Combat Training Brigade	1976
Section Leader, Combat Support Company, 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry (Airborne Combat Team)	1977-1978
S-1 (Personnel), 2d Battalion, 22d Infantry, 4th Infantry Division	1978-1979
Commander, C Company, 2d Battalion, 22d Infantry, 8th Infantry Division	1979-1981
Student, Armor Officer Advanced Course	1981-1982
Lima Area Commander, Columbus District Recruiting Command	1982-1984
Detachment Commander, Forward Military Support Element, 1984 Summer Olympics	1984
Assistant Inspector General, National Training Center	1984-1986
S-3 (Air), 6th Battalion (Mechanized), 31st Infantry	1986-1987
Executive Officer, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 52d Infantry	1987-1989
Student, College of Naval Command and Staff, U.S. Naval War College	1989-1990
Executive Officer, United States Army Infantry School	1990-1993
Commander, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division	1993-1995
Senior Task Force Observer/Controller, Operations Group, Combat Maneuver Training Center	1995-1996
Student, United States Air Force Air War College	1996-1997
Chief of Staff, 1st Infantry Division	1997-1999
Commander, Infantry Training Support Brigade, 29th Infantry Regiment	1999-2001
Deputy Director, J-8, United States Central Command	2001-2003
Deputy Commanding General for Training and Readiness, U.S. I Corps, Cmdr. MNB North (Task Force Olympia) (Mosul, Iraq)td>	2003-2005
Deputy Director for Regional Operations, J-3, The Joint Staff	2005-2006
Commander, 1st Infantry Division	2006-2007
Director for Operations (J-3), The Joint Staff	2007-2008
Commanding General, U.S. Army, Europe	2008–present

US Decorations and Badges

	Distinguished Service Medal (Army)
	Defense Superior Service Medal (with three bronze oak leaf clusters)
	Legion of Merit (with two bronze oak leaf clusters)
	Bronze Star Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal (with six oak leaf clusters)
	Joint Service Commendation Medal
	Army Commendation Medal (with three oak leaf clusters)
	Army Achievement Medal (with three oak leaf clusters)

	Combat Action Badge
	Expert Infantryman Badge
	Parachutist Badge (United States)
	Ranger Tab
	Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge