The new Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Morocco's Western Sahara, Pakistani Major General Jawwad Ahmed, was received at the Southern Zone staff headquarters in Agadir by General of the Army Corps Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces and commander of the Southern Zone. This meeting allowed both officers to review the mission's work and discuss coordination in operational, security, demining, and logistical support.
Major General Jawwad Ahmed was appointed in August by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, replacing Bangladeshi Major General Md Fakhrul Ahsan. Ahmed took up his post in mid-September at the mission's headquarters in Laayoune. He has over 35 years of experience in command and operational roles in the Pakistani army and UN peacekeeping.
The encounter between Ahmed and Berrid marked the new commander's first official meeting with Morocco's military command. The timing of the meeting was notable, as it occurred on the eve of Security Council deliberations on renewing the MINURSO mandate, which expires on October 31. The current mandate was adopted under Resolution 2797 a year earlier.
Major General Ahmed has a distinguished military career, having served as a director general at Pakistan's Defense Ministry, overseeing command and control, local governance, and administration of the country's cantonment zones. He has also commanded an infantry division, led the Inspection and Evaluation Directorate at army headquarters, and served as Force Commander Northern Areas.
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. He also earned a postgraduate certificate in security and strategy from King's College London and speaks fluent English and has a working knowledge of French.
The arrival of Major General Ahmed coincides with a strategic review of the MINURSO mission. The US administration announced a thorough reassessment of MINURSO in March, examining the mission's functions, staffing, and fit with the evolving political process. A resolution is currently before the Security Council, with a vote expected.
The revised resolution text extends the mandate to October 31, 2027, and sets the name change for November 1, 2026. It asks the Secretary-General for detailed proposals by January 30, 2027. The revised text frames autonomy as the most feasible solution and reinserts the principle of self-determination in both the preamble and operational text.
Key points
- Moroccan Royal Armed Forces Inspector General Mohammed Berrid meets Pakistani Major General Jawwad Ahmed.
- The new MINURSO commander has over 35 years of experience in command and operational roles.
- The MINURSO mandate is set to expire on October 31, with a vote on a revised resolution expected.
