Addis Ababa – African Union Commission (AUC) appointed Friday the Angolan Lieutenant General António Lamas Benedito Xavier Chief of Staff of the African Standby Force (ASF), Angop has learnt.
The appointment, by AUC chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, is in line with the final declaration from the Extraordinary Summit on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa held on 28 May in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
The declaration determines the operation of the aforementioned Force “without further delays” and the strengthening of “coordination with the Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms on its use”.
According to the final declaration of the Malabo Summit, one of the main tasks of the ASF is the creation of a Counter-Terrorism Unit.
The Angolan Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU), Francisco José da Cruz, said the appointment complies with the country's strategic importance and its active role in the prevention, management and conflict resolution in Africa to enable the continent's development and economic integration.
Recalling the Angolan President’s speech delivered to the Nation on October 15, 2020, the diplomat João Lourenço highlighted the strategic importance of the insertion of the Angolan staff in international organisations, specially in this current context of Angolan foreign policy.
António Lamas served, since February of this year, as a military adviser to the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the continental organisation, Bankole Adeoye.
The service record of Lieutenant General António Lamas Benedito Xavier include the positions of Brigade Commander, Deputy Chief of the Operations Directorate of the National Air Force and Head of the Anti-Air Defence Directorate of the National Air Force of Angola.
He took part in various humanitarian and peace support events and operations.
He was the National Contingent Planner and Commander of the SADC Humanitarian Air Exercise BLUE CLUSTER in Limpopo, South Africa.
