Egypt

Multinational Force and Observers (MFO)

Personnel: Up to 31

New Zealand has participated in the MFO since it was established in 1982 to ensure compliance with the commitments of the 1979 Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel. The Mission remains important to regional stability. New Zealand contributes up to 28 personnel which cover a number of roles including drivers, driver trainers, electricians, engineers and a command team.

The mandate for this deployment expires in September 2024.

Major General Evan Williams was confirmed in the role of MFO Force Commander in October 2019, alongside two associated positions. The press release is available from the Beehive website: www.beehive.govt.nz/release/senior-nzdf-officer-lead-peacekeeping-mission-sinai-peninsula-egypt(external link) (external link). His original deployment was from December 2019 to March 2022, however this has been extended for an additional year until March 2023.

For more information about the MFO go to: http://mfo.org/en(external link) (external link).

Copies of Cabinet papers and the associated minutes of decision regarding the contribution are linked in the Deployment Articles section below.