General Philippe Morillon dies at 90: UN commander whose Srebrenica promise defined an era

A five-star general who retired in 1996, Morillon served as the commander of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in Bosnia from September 1992 to July 1993. This period is recognized as one of the most difficult phases of the war. Pierre Schill, Chief of Staff of the French Army, expressed sadness over the loss, describing Morillon as a "great servant of France" who embodied the international community's will to protect civilians.

However, his death has refocused public attention on a dark chapter of European history: the Srebrenica genocide. Morillon's name remains indelibly linked to the tragedy due to his March 1993 declaration to the residents of the besieged enclave: "You are now under the protection of the United Nations forces. I will never abandon you."

Two years later, in July 1995, Srebrenica fell to the Army of Republika Srpska. In the ensuing days, approximately 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed in a crime later legally classified as genocide. Although Morillon was no longer the UNPROFOR commander at the time of the fall, his earlier vow became a symbol of the international community's failure to provide actual safety.

Critics argue that his 1993 statement created a false sense of security, as the UN lacked the political will and capacity to fulfill the promise. While Morillon rejected claims that he consciously misled the population, the inability of the international protection system to act decisively remains a subject of intense scrutiny following his passing.