Major General Jawwad Ahmed Meets Moroccan Military Command in Agadir
Marrakech – In a significant development for the United Nations Mission in Morocco’s Western Sahara, Major General Jawwad Ahmed of Pakistan was welcomed on Thursday at the Southern Zone staff headquarters in Agadir by General Mohammed Berrid, the Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and commander of the Southern Zone. This meeting marked the new commander's first official engagement with Morocco’s military leadership, providing an opportunity to review ongoing mission operations and coordination efforts in various critical areas such as operational and security measures, demining activities, and logistical support. According to a communiqué issued by the FAR general staff, this collaboration underscores the commitment to effective mission delivery in the region.
The timing of this meeting is particularly noteworthy, occurring just before the upcoming deliberations at the UN Security Council regarding the renewal of the MINURSO mandate, which is set to expire on October 31 under Resolution 2797, adopted on the same date the previous year. Major General Ahmed was appointed to his role by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in August, taking over from Bangladeshi Major General Md Fakhrul Ahsan, who had been leading the mission since 2023 until his tour ended on August 2. With over 35 years of extensive experience in command and operational roles within the Pakistani army and UN peacekeeping efforts, Ahmed brings a wealth of expertise to his new position.
Major General Ahmed has a distinguished history, having served as a director general at Pakistan’s Defense Ministry, overseeing local governance and the administration of cantonment zones that house more than 5.3 million residents. His impressive record includes commanding an infantry division, leading the Inspection and Evaluation Directorate at army headquarters, and acting as Force Commander for Northern Areas. He has also commanded brigades in various terrains, including high-altitude regions, and served as the chief instructor at the National Command and Staff College in Quetta. His previous experience includes deployment with a Pakistani battalion in Croatia under the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Sirmium.
Educationally, Ahmed holds a Master of Science in the art and science of warfare and a Master of Philosophy in public policy and strategic security management from Pakistan’s National Defence University. Additionally, he has earned a postgraduate certificate in security and strategy from King’s College London. Fluent in English and Urdu, with a working knowledge of French, his diverse skills and qualifications are poised to enhance the effectiveness of the UN mission in the region.
As the new commander assumes his responsibilities, he does so amidst a backdrop of strategic reassessment of MINURSO by the US administration, which announced in March a comprehensive review of peacekeeping operations. This review is focused on evaluating the mission’s functions, staffing, and alignment with the evolving political context in Western Sahara. The discussions at the Security Council are crucial, with a vote anticipated soon regarding the future direction of the mission. The revised proposals indicate a shift in language while maintaining the core principles of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the foundation for negotiations, while also signaling a change in the mission's designation to the United Nations Mission in Western Sahara (MINUSO), eliminating the term 'referendum' from its name and mandate.
The revisions to the mandate extend its duration to October 31, 2027, with a request for detailed proposals from the Secretary-General by January 30, 2027. This strategic adjustment reflects a nuanced approach to the ongoing peacekeeping efforts in the region, emphasizing autonomy as a feasible solution while reintroducing the principle of self-determination in the operational framework.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
