UN Secretary-General appoints new head of peacekeeping force in Cyprus

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Major General Mohammad Asadullah Minhazul Alam of Bangladesh as the new head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Alam brings over 30 years of experience from the Bangladeshi army, where he most recently served as the General Commanding Officer of the Army Training and Doctrine Command. He holds a PhD in international relations from Jahangirnagar University, along with master's degrees from the University of Washington, the National University of Bangladesh, and the University of Dhaka. Alam succeeds Major General Erdenebat Batsuuri of Mongolia, who served in the position for two years starting in 2024. Batsuuri previously served in the Central African Republic and East Timor as part of UN missions. The transition follows Batsuuri’s tenure, during which he expressed hope for a mutually acceptable settlement for Cyprus through dialogue. Guterres formally expressed appreciation for Batsuuri’s service and commitment to the mission.