Lieutenant General Francis Briquemont was born on 21 August 1935 in Mariembourg.
Briquemont served as commander of the UN security forces (UNPROFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina from 12 July 1993 to 25 January 1994.
UN flag given upon his departure, signed by his staff.
His term of office was characterised by:
Frustration with political unwillingness: He strongly criticised the gap between UN resolutions and the limited resources he was given to implement them.
His dissatisfaction focused on three key points:
The ‘Fantastic Gap’: Briquemont sharply criticised the gap between the ambitious resolutions of the UN Security Council and the actual willingness and resources to implement them.
Lack of troops: While the UN proclaimed ‘safe areas’ (such as Srebrenica), he received only a fraction of the requested reinforcements. Resolution 836 required 7,500 additional troops, but he received only 2,000.
Political powerlessness: He famously declared at the time: ‘I no longer read the Security Council resolutions because they don't help me.’ He felt abandoned by the international community while having to make impossible choices on the ground between troop protection and the humanitarian mission.
He later summarised his experiences in his book ‘Do something, general’, a title that refers to the desperate but often unrealistic pleas made to him by the local population and politicians.
From 29 June 1993 until his retirement on 30 September 1996, he held the position of commander of the 1st BE Corps and the Belgian Armed Forces in Germany.
General Briquemont's retirement marked the end of 50 years of Belgian military presence in Germany.
With HM King Albert II, 1994.
General Briquemont's honours:
Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown, 8 April 1994
Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold II, 28 February 1994
Commander of the Order of Leopold, ?
Officer of the French National Order of Merit, 14 July 1987
Officer of the Legion of Honour, France, 12/05/1995
Grand Officer of the Order of Merit, Germany, 24/09/1996
UNPROFOR Medal, UN, ?
Military Cross 1st Class, ?
Ceremony to present the Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of Germany, 24/09/1996.