Secretary-General Appoints Major General Jean-Paul Deconinck of Belgium Force Commander, UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Major General Jean-Paul Deconinck of Belgium as Force Commander of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
Major General Deconinck succeeds Major General Michael Lollesgaard of Denmark, who completed his tour of duty on 31 December 2016. The Secretary-General is grateful for his dedicated and exemplary service during his tenure with MINUSMA.
Bringing 38 years of national and international military experience with the Belgian Army to his new position, Major General Deconinck was previously Commander Land Forces of the Belgian Armed Forces beginning in September 2014. He also served in various leadership positions, including Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (Support), Commander of the Belgian Defence College and Commander of the 7th Brigade (Marche-en-Famenne). He also held the position of Force Commander, European Union Battle Group from 2008 to 2009.
Major General Deconinck holds a master’s degree in military and social sciences from the Belgian Royal Military Academy. He is also a graduate of the French War College (École de Guerre, Paris), and the Defence College in Brussels, Belgium.
Born in 1959, he is married and has three children.