Defence & Arms
Gen. Abdul Hafiz to Choi: "We Are Not Here to Kill Ivorians! "
By Cotedivoire.net 18/3/11
Mar 19, 2011 - 9:44:01 AM

"We're not in Côte d'Ivoire to kill Ivorians and I, I stop because I do not want to remain in the wrong," said Major General Abdul Hafiz, outgoing commander of the troops of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI). According to our sources close to UNOCI, he made that statement a few hours after the presentation of his resignation. Hafiz, whose country is one of the poorest in the world knows that by doing such an act, he loses a lot of money, but he did it, for his dignity and respect for human life.

But officially, UN authorities accuse him of having provided ''top secret'' information to the author of the documentary film entitled ''Laurent Gbagbo in the the Gulf of Guinea whirlwind.'' This documentary film highlights the neo-colonialist appetite of France facing its African ''territory'' and the huge interests for which France is engaged in a war for the control of the Ivorian State. General Abdul Hafiz, whose functions come to an end, next Tuesday, March 22nd, was replaced by Maj. Gen. Gnakoudè Berens, a citizen from Togo. In reality, the senior officer of the Bangladeshi army, making his resignation, refused to endorse and participate in the genocide that France, the United States of America and the United Nations are scheming.

Who is General Abdul Hafiz ?

After a Master of Defence Studies, National University of Bangladesh, that Abdul Hafiz joined the infantry corps as an officer, May 8th, 1977. After a long journey, he was promoted Major General of the Bangladesh Army, December 31st, 2005.

General Hafiz replaced General Fernand Marcel Amoussou of Benin, who served the Mission for more than four years. Prior to assuming his new role, he Headed the military component of UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire) from 2003 to 2004 and Deputy Commander of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire ( UNOCI) from 2004 to 2005.

His experience within the UN peacekeeping operations began with his participation in the reconnaissance mission preparing for deployment of Bangladesh in November 1993 in Rwanda and Bosnia in August 1994.

General Hafiz also took part in the planning and coordination for the deployment of troops from Bangladesh to Somalia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Bosnia and Haiti from 1993 to 1994. From January to March 1992 he was appointed Chief Military Liaison Office in Zagreb. Previously, he was part of the Observation Mission of the United Nations in Iraq and Kuwait from 1991 to 1992.

In October 1994 he participated in a mapping exercise of Operations Peacekeeping at the seminar on the Operations of Peacekeeping Nations held at the United Kingdom School of Staff , Camberley , and in October 2006, the 11th Committee on Defence Forum held in Tokyo, Japan. He also attended the first national seminar on sustainable development.

General Hafiz holds several degrees and certificates. He attended various courses and training in both his country and abroad.

General Hafiz is a graduate from the School of National Defense, School of Staff and Defense Services (DCES).
General Hafiz took a course on small and heavy arms of infantry in China and Advanced Infantry Officer's course in the United States of America. He is also a graduate from the Defense Intelligence College of France. He speaks fluent English and French.