Australian officer takes command of international peacekeeping force

Major General (MAJGEN) Simon Stuart, DSC, AM, has assumed command of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) during a change of command ceremony at the MFO’s main camp in Sharm el Sheikh, Sinai, Egypt on 1 March 2017.

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.

MAJGEN Stuart is the second Australian to command the MFO. MAJGEN David Ferguson commanded the Force from 1994 to 1997.

MAJGEN Stuart said he was privileged to take command, especially from his predecessor MAJGEN Denis Thompson.

“I thank him for the great work he has done, this is a great mission, it’s a very successful mission,” MAJGEN Stuart said.

Australia has been contributing to the MFO for more than 30 years with about 25 ADF personnel currently serving in key appointments.

The ceremony was attended by Australia’s MFO coalition partners and presided over by the MFO Director General David Satterfield.