Republic Of Fiji Military Forces Lieutenant-Colonel Siliva Raradoka Druavesi Vananalagi takes up the role as Chief Observer Group Golan (OGG) this week.

She arrived in Israel over the weekend and will take up the role for one year. She is being assisted by two deputies – one on the Israeli side and one on the Syrian side.

The Observer Group Golan operates under the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO)

UNTSO currently provides military observers to two UN missions in the area: Observer Group Lebanon (OGL), which supports UNIFIL in south Lebanon, and Observer Group Golan (OGG), supporting UNDOF in the Golan. OGG maintains its headquarters co-located with UNDOF HQ in Camp Ziouani, RFMF Commander Rear-Admiral Viliame Naupoto said the UN offered Fiji the post and they had submitted Lt-Colonel Vananalagi’s name.

Two RFMF officers are currently based at the OGG as observers – Captain Vakaenei and Captain Asaeli Lave.

About Lieutenant-Colonel Siliva:

Born: 31 May, 1969

Village: Taci, Noco, Rewa

Service: 32 years regular force service.

She enlisted into the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) on February 5, 1988 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in December of the same year. She was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2015. She is one of the seven pioneer female officers in a group of 41 women that joined the RFMF.

She is a graduate of the Chinese National Defense University, in Changping, Beijing China after she successfully completed the National Defence and Strategic Studies course. She also attended various military training in India, China, Australia, Taiwan and Hawaii and is also alumni of the Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies in Hawaii.

Lieutenant-Colonel Vananalagi has held various command appointments with RFMF Engineers, RFMF Maintenance Unit, Logistic Support Unit; and Staff Officers appointment with Headquarters Land Force Command and Strategic Headquarters of the Republic Fiji Military Forces.

She was appointed Commanding Officer of the Logistic Support Unit in 2016 on her return from studies in China and was appointed Chief of Staff of the Land Force Units in November of 2018.

She was appointed and served as Chief Military Personnel Officer (CMPO) with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) from December 6, 2018 to December 19, 2019.

She has served seven tour of duties with various peacekeeping missions in the Multinational Forces and Observers in Egypt (MFO) – 3 times (1996; 1998-99; 2011-2012)

She was the first Fijian servicewomen to serve in the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in 2000-2001; and was part of the 1st Fiji Contingent to serve in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in Syria (UNDOF) and as CMPO with UNDOF from 2018 – 2019 based at Camp Faour, Syria. This is her 8th year of peacekeeping duties.

Lieutenant-Colonel Siliva is married to retired Lieutenant Colonel Serevi Vananalagi.

She is a mother to nine children and with six grandchildren.

Feedback: rosi.doviverata@fijisun.com.fj