Lt. Gen. Leonard Muriuki succeeds Lt. Gen. Frank Mushyo as force commander for AU‑UN hybrid operation in Darfur.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat have announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Leonard Muriuki Ngondi of Kenya as Force Commander for the African Union‑United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).

With this appointment, Lieutenant General Leonard Muriuki Ngondi succeeds Lieutenant General Frank Mushyo Kamanzi of Rwanda to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedication and effective leadership as head of UNAMID military component.

According to available profile, Lieutenant General Ngondi is a graduate of the Kenyan National Defense College and Defense Staff College. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human and Social Studies from the University of South Africa and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in International Studies from University of Nairobi.

Currently, he is the Commandant of the National Defence College, a position he has held since 2016. Following his career trend, Lieutenant General Ngondi has had a distinguished career with the Kenyan Defence Forces, spanning over thirty-nine years, including as Commander Kenya Army (2015-2016), General Officer Commanding Western Command and General Officer Commanding Eastern Command, Chief Instructor Defense Staff College, Brigade Commander and Commandant School of Infantry.

This new position, according to views from the public is a plus to his achievement as Lieutenant General Ngondi has also served as Force Commander in the United Nations Mission in Liberia (2012) and Commanding Officer, Kenyan battalion (KENBATT) in the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (2000). In 1990, the 58 year old and father of three was then deployed as part of the Kenyan contingent in the United Nations Transition Assistance Group in Namibia.

Correspondent: Ridwan A Olayiwola