MFO Director General, Elizabeth L. Dibble, visited Uruguay and Colombia on February 17 and 20, 2023, respectively to meet with representatives of two of the MFO’s long-time Troop-Contributing States.

In Uruguay, she met with Senator Javier Garcia, the Minister of National Defense, General Mario Stevenazzi, Chief of the Uruguayan Army, and Undersecretary of Foreign Relations Nicholas Albertoni to brief them on the MFO and discuss Uruguay’s contribution to the MFO, including encouraging Uruguay to send more women in senior positions. She also visited the National Peace Training Institute of Uruguay, where she gained insight into the preparation of Uruguayan soldiers prior to their deployment with the MFO.

In Colombia, she met with General Luis Mauricio Ospina Gutierrez, Commander of the National Army, the Deputy Commander, Major General Alvaro Vicente Perez Duran, and the Chief of Staff of Operations, Brigadier General Fredy Marlon Coy Villamil to discuss Colombia’s participation in the MFO, update them on our work in the region, and hear about Colombia’s plan to send more women in senior positions. In addition, she visited the Center of International Missions and Civil Affairs, where she was briefed on Colombia’s other contributions to worldwide peacekeeping.

In both countries, Ms. Dibble expressed the MFO’s and the Treaty Partners’ thanks for the many years of continued support from Uruguay and Colombia and for their commitment to peace in the Middle East. She noted that the troops Colombia and Uruguay provide are integral and valued parts of the MFO’s Force in Sinai and play an important role in ensuring the MFO is able to carry out its mission successfully.

For more details on the composition and efforts of the Uruguayan and Colombian contingents, see the following link.