United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has appointed Lt General Mohan Subramanian of the Indian Army as the new Force Commander of the UN United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). He succeeds another Indian army officer Lt General Shailesh Tinaikar.
Making this announcement late Tuesday, the UN statement said the Secretary General is grateful for “his(Tinaikar)tireless dedication, invaluable service and effective leadership as UNMISS Force Commander.” He served as the commander since 2019.
Giving details of the new incumbent’s career profile, army said in New Delhi, Subramanian has a distinguished military career spanning over 36 years. Most recently, he served as the General Officer Commanding, Military Region (Operational and Logistic Readiness Zone) in central India, contributing to the Army's operational and logistic preparedness.
Previously, he served as the Additional Director General for Procurement and Equipment Management at the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army) (2019-2021), General Officer Commanding a Strike Infantry Division (2018-2019), Deputy General Officer Commanding of Infantry Division (2015-2016), Commander of a Mountain Brigade (2013-2014) among other appointments within the Indian Armed Forces. He has served as India's Defence Attache to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia (2008-2012) and as a Staff Officer with the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone in 2000. He holds two Master of Philosophy degrees in Defence and Management Studies as well as in Social Sciences.
He was commissioned into the Corps of Army Air Defence in 1986. He is an alumnus of Sainik School, Amaravatinagar, Tamil Nadu, National Defence Academy(NDA), Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy(IMA), Dehradun.
As regards India’s role in UN led peace keeping missions over the years, officials said India has, so far, provided 15 Force Commanders, two Military Advisors, one Deputy Military Advisor to the Secretary General of United Nations, two Divisions Commanders and eight Deputy Force Commanders in various United Nations Missions. India is among the largest contributors of uniformed personnel to the UN peacekeeping missions.
The Indian Army continues to play a lead role in United Nations Peacekeeping with presence in eight out of 14 (current) United Nations Missions worldwide and currently has over 5,400 military personnel deployed in challenging circumstances under the United Nations flag.
The Indian Army has large presence in United Nations Missions in Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, South Sudan, Golan Heights, Syria, Western Sahara, Abyei and Cyprus. India is also deploying an infantry Battalion Group in UNISFA (Abyei).