A Spanish General has been named as the principal military advisor in the UN’s mission in Colombia

 

Official photography of General César A. Sáenz de Santamaría

The UN’s Peacekeeping department, in coordination with the Department of Political Affairs and Peacebuilding, has selected the Spaniard General César A. Sáenz de Santamaría to be the principal military advisor to the Special Representative of the Secretary General for the UN’s Verification Mission in Colombia.

The appointment of the general shows a recognition of Spain’s commitment to peace in the region and the work done by the Spanish monitors on the ground. Spain is involved in the peace process in Colombia and has participated in the UN’s mission in Colombia since November 2016. Moreover, it is fifth out of all countries with regards to the number of troops contributed. The majority of these troops are Ibero-American.

Professional history

The general has held both national and international positions. In 2016 he was named as the National Military Representation for NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Forces in Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium. He also has a lot of international experience in peacekeeping missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Somalia, where he was the Chief of Staff.

Peace processes in Colombia

The UN’s Verification Mission in Colombia was established in 2017 by the Security Council to ensure the reinforcement of a stable and lasting peace between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People's Army (FARC-EP), guarantee FARC’s integration into the political, social and economic life in Colombia and implement safety assurances for the former members, both at a personal level and as a collective.