Australian officer appointed to command international peacekeeping force

Major General Simon Stuart has been appointed to lead a multinational peacekeeping force on the Sinai Peninsula.

The Multinational Force and Observers, known as the MFO, is an independent organisation headquartered in Rome that supervises implementation of the security arrangements to the 1979 Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel.

The Director General of the MFO, Ambassador David Satterfield, announced today that Major General Stuart would become Force Commander MFO from 1 March 2017.

Australia has been a long-standing contributor to the MFO of more than 30 years and has an ongoing contribution of up to 25 Australian Defence Force members serving in key appointments.

The Minister for Defence, Senator the Honourable Marise Payne congratulated the Major General on his appointment and said this would be the second time in its history that an Australian has been appointed to this role.

“Australia has a long and proud history of contributing to international peacekeeping and peace building efforts,” Minister Payne said.

“The MFO’s selection of an Australian to lead their force is testimony to the high regard in which our contribution is held by the international community.”

The only other Australian to hold this post was Major General David Ferguson who commanded the Force from 1994 to 1997.