Today, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) underwent a transfer of authority ceremony of Force Commander Major General Cheryl Pearce to the Mission’s Chief of Staff Colonel Neil Wright at the completion of her 2-year term. 

Major General Pearce of Australia took charge as UNFICYP’s Force Commander in January 2019 and has had a distinguished career in the Australian Defence Force. 

During her deployment she led over 800 military personnel to overcome the challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic, ensuring UNFICYP peacekeepers were able to continue contributing to peace and stability across the UN controlled buffer zone.

At the ceremony, UNFICYP’s Senior Advisor Aderemi Adekoya congratulated the Force Commander Pearce for completing her tenure and passed on gratitude on behalf of all the peacekeepers for her services since her arrival to the Mission. The Honour Guard saluted the Force Commander and attendees paid tribute to her commitment and service for peace in Cyprus.

Colonel Neil Wright from the United Kingdom will act as Officer-in-Charge of the military component, until the appointment of the next Force Commander, expected to take place early in 2021.