Guest lecture Kees Matthijssen: The complexity and challenges in Mali

The lecture

Lieutenant-general (retired) Kees Matthijssen will come to our Faculty on Tuesday 9 January 2024 to discuss the background, the complexity and challenges based on his experience as Force Commander in MINUSMA, the UN mission in Mali. That will include, amongst others, themes like the mandate, legal framework, geopolitical aspects and diversity.

The lecture will take place in the Lokin Hall between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The speaker

Lieutenant General Cornelis Johannes (Kees) Matthijssen most recently served as Force Commander for the UN Mission MINUSMA in Mali from January 2022 until January 2023. His 42 years of military service include deployments as company commander to Bosnia and Herzegovina (1995), as battalion commander to Iraq (2004) and as brigade commander to Afghanistan (2008-2009).

Furthermore, Matthijssen was part of the Netherlands Liaison Team to UN Central Command in early 2002, he was Military Advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2013-2014) and he was the Deputy Army Commander and worked in NATO’s Joint Force Command Brunssum as Deputy Chief of Staff Plans. He holds a Master’s degree of Strategic Studies (MSS) obtained at the US Army War College in 2010.

Matthijssen was awarded the French ‘Legion of Honour’ and the German ‘Bundeswehr Cross of Honour’ for his outstanding cooperation with both nations. He is known for his excellent leadership and has recently received a royal decoration and has been appointed Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau with Swords.