Lieutenant General Humphrey Nyone

Force Commander

Cavalry officer who joined the Zambian army in 1994, Lieutenant General Humphrey Nyone was appointed MINUSCA Force Commander by the UN Secretary-General on 15 May 2023.

A distinguished General with over 29 years' experience in the Zambian Armed Forces, he has risen through the ranks at both operational and strategic unit level. Prior to his appointment, he was Commander of the Staff College, where he was responsible for the pedagogical supervision and imparting of knowledge to trainee officers in military strategy, as well as directing the development of the College's strategic plans and budgets. As Commander of the Staff College of the Zambian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General H. Nyone was instrumental in planning a number of military exercises, such as "Southern Accords", in collaboration with the United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM).

He was also successively Commander of the 1st Infantry Division, Director General of Policy, Doctrine and Strategy of the Army HQ, Commander of the 6th Armored Brigade, Commander of the 64th Armored Regiment and Commander of the Armored School.

Lieutenant General H. Nyone also has experience of peacekeeping operations. He was a Military Observer, then DDRR Officer within MONUC in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2006 to 2007, and Chief of Operations for the first Zambian Battalion of UNAMSIL in Sierra Leone from 2001 to 2002.

Lieutenant General H. Nyone holds a master’s degree in business administration and a Master's degree in Defense and Security Studies from the University of Lusaka, Zambia. He is a doctoral candidate in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Lusaka. He is also a graduate of the War College of the U.S. Army Command and Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and of the Staff College of the Zambian Armed Forces.

Awarded a dozen national and international medals, he is married with five children.

Major General Pedro Miguel Alves Gonçalves Soares

Deputy Force Commander

Major General Pedro Miguel Alves Gonçalves Soares was born on 18^th of September 1964 in Catumbela, Angola. He is 57 years old with 40 years of service. He was promoted to his current rank on 30^th December 2021.

He is qualified with the career courses, namely the Army General Staff Course and the Flag Officer’s Promotion Course. From his record of service other courses stand out, the Commandos Course, the Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrols Course and the US Army’s Ranger and Airborne Courses.

Throughout his career he has served in several Units, Departments and Structures of the Portuguese Army and Portuguese Armed Forces General Staff. Within the Army Chief of Staff Cabinet as Military Cooperation and Alliances Department Head. Within the Lieutenant-General Deputy-Chief of the Army Cabinet and the Lieutenant-General Human Resources Commander Cabinet as Military Assistant. In the Portuguese Army’s HQ Force Planning Division Head. In the Commandos Unit as Deputy Commander and Unit Commander. And in the Human Resources Management Department as Military Personnel Management Department Head.

Later in Mons/Belgium he was Support to Operations Branch Head in the operations Division and Operational Concepts and Standards Branch Head in the Strategic Development of Forces Division, both at SHAPE/NATO. More recently he was the Rapid Reaction Brigade Commander.

He has carried out five operational deployments, namely in Mozambique, East-Timor, Angola and two in Afghanistan, always as Commander or Director.

Major-General Gonçalves Soares has been awarded with twelve commendations, 4 granted by the Portuguese Armed Forces’ Chief of Staff, 3 by the Army’s Chief of Staff, 4 by other Generals and 1 by other Military Entity.

He also holds several decorations, namely 5 Silver Distinguished Services Medals; 2 Military Merit Medals, 2 D. Afonso Henriques Medal – Army´s Merit and the Gold  and Silver Exemplary Behaviour Medals.