On 1 March 2010, New Zealand’s Major General Warren Whiting took command of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO). Director General of the MFO, Ambassador David Satterfield presided at the ceremony at North Camp, El Gorah which was also attended by New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully.
The MFO was established in 1982 as a peacekeeping and observation force to monitor the 1979 Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel.
MAJ GEN Whiting is the second New Zealand Officer to command the MFO, a mission in which New Zealand has maintained a constant presence for almost 30 years. Often considered to be ‘the world’s most successful but least famous peacekeeping operation’, the MFO has seen generations of Kiwi service people deploying to the challenging desert conditions of Sinai.
Over 1,600 troops from 12 nations, and 800 specialist civilian employees, monitor the 210km common border between Egypt and Israel. The 28-strong New Zealand Contingent has staff in the key MFO functional areas.
The significance and benefit of having a New Zealand General commanding a formation in this strategically vital area cannot be overestimated. The need to maintain stability, communications and an international commitment is self-evident. Despite the proximity to areas of conflict, the Force prides itself on maintenance of a mission, which includes liaison, operational effectiveness, transparency and even-handedness.