Alexander Ivanko (Russian Federation)
SRSG and Head of MINURSO
Alexander Ivanko of the Russian Federation is the Special Representative for Western Sahara and Head of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). He succeeded Colin Stewart of Canada.
Having served as Chief of Staff of MINURSO since 2009, Mr. Ivanko brings to the position more than 30 years of experience in international affairs, peacekeeping and journalism. He previously served as Director of Public Information for the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (2006-2009) and as the United Nations Spokesperson in Bosnia-Herzegovina (1994-1998).
Mr. Ivanko began his career in journalism, working as a correspondent in Afghanistan and the United States for a Russian newspaper. He was also Senior Adviser to the Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (1998-2005).
He holds a Master’s degree with honors in Journalism from the Moscow State University and is fluent in Russian and English.
Major General Md Fakhrul Ahsan (Bangladesh)
MINURSO Force Commander
Major General Md Fakhrul Ahsan of Bangladesh is the current MINURSO Force Commander. He succeeded Major General Md Main Ullah Chowdhury of Bangladesh who completed his assignment on 31 March 2023.
The General was born in November 1968. He has over 34 years of national and international military leadership experience with the Bangladeshi Army. He served as General Officer Commanding, of the 10th Infantry Division and as Area Commander of the Cox’s Bazar Area, as Commandant of the Bangladesh Military Academy, and as Brigade Commander in the 16th and 69th Infantry Brigades. The General was a Senior Instructor in Bangladesh Defence Services Command & Staff College. He also served as instructor in School of Infantry and Tactics and Bangladesh Military Academy. He was the Director of the Military Intelligence Directorate at the Bangladesh Army Headquarters and also served as Assistant Defence Attaché at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.
The General has previously served in two peacekeeping missions — the United Nations Operation in Somalia II and the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC). He assumed the present appointment as Force Commander of MINURSO on 04 May 2023.
The General is a graduate of Bangladesh Defence Services Command and Staff College, France Joint Forces Defence College (Collège Interarmées de Défense) and Indonesia Lembaga Ketahanan Nasional. He holds a Bachelor of Science and master’s degrees in development studies and defence studies. He is fluent in English and French.
BRIG GEN Gabriel Olufemi Esho (Nigeria)
Deputy Force Commander
Brig Gen Gabriel Olufemi Esho is a Nigerian Army officer with over 20 years of national and international military leadership experience. He served as Commanding Officer of 312 Artillery Regiment and 375 Artillery Regiment. He was also the Garrison Commander of 33 Artillery Brigade.
Brig Gen Esho was a senior instructor at the Nigerian Army School of Artillery and Chief Instructor at the Nigerian Defence Academy. He was also the Director of Administration at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre and Deputy Director Operations Army Headquarters Department of Army Operations.
Brig Gen Esho was a Company Second- in- Command Nigerian Battalion (NIBATT 25) United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), Staff Officer Grade 2, Headquarters Sector A (UNMIL) and Chief U5 United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
Brig Gen Esho is a fellow of both Army War College Nigeria and National Defence College.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and master’s degree in security and strategic Studies.
Yusef Jedian (USA)
Head of Tindouf Liaison Office
Mr. Yusef Jedian has been serving at MINURSO as the Head of the Tindouf Liaison Office since January 2016. He was previously a Senior Civil Affairs Officer in Jonglei State with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Prior to joining the United Nations, Mr. Jedian held a number of leading roles in international development organizations, including with CARE International, working mostly on democracy and electoral support programmes in Chad, Gaza, Libya, Sudan and Yemen.
Mr. Jedian holds a Doctoral and a Master of Science in Development Policy and Planning degrees from the University of Wales in Swansea, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Birzeit University in Palestine.