Commander of the Armed Forces (Suriname)

The Commander of the Armed Forces (Dutch: Commandant van de strijdkrachten) is the professional head of the National Army (Dutch: Nationaal Leger—NL), the military of the Republic of Suriname. The position dates back to the country's independence from the Netherlands in 1975, with the military being named the Surinamese Armed Forces (Dutch: Surinaamse Krijgsmacht—SKM) until after the Sergeants' Coup in 1980.

Commander of the Armed Forces of Suriname
Commandant van de strijdkrachten van Suriname
Incumbent
Colonel Robert Kartodikromo
since 22 March 2019
National Army
TypeChief of staff
StatusSenior-most officer
Member ofSecurity Council
AppointerPresident of Suriname
Chan Santokhi
Term lengthNot fixed
Inaugural holderYngwe Elstak
Formation25 November 1975

The Commander of the Armed Forces is appointed by the President of Suriname, who is the commander-in-chief of the military according to the Constitution.[lower-alpha 1]

The current Commander of the Armed Forces is Colonel Robert Kartodikromo, since 22 March 2019.[1]

List of commanders of the armed forces
No. Portrait Commander of the Armed ForcesTook officeLeft officeTime in officeDefence branchRef
1
Elstak, YngweYngwe Elstak
(1927–2010)
[lower-alpha 2]		25 November 197525 February 19804 years, 92 daysSurinamese Armed Forces
(Surinaamse Krijgsmacht)		–
2
Bouterse, DésiDési Bouterse
(born 1945)		July 198022 December 199010 years, 5 monthsNational Army
(Nationaal Leger)		[2]
–
Graanoogst, IvanIvan Graanoogst
Acting
[lower-alpha 3]		22 December 199031 December 19909 daysNational Army
(Nationaal Leger)		–
(2)
Bouterse, DésiDési Bouterse
(born 1945)		31 December 19903 December 19921 year, 11 monthsNational Army
(Nationaal Leger)		[3]
–
Graanoogst, IvanIvan Graanoogst
Acting		3 December 199215 May 1993163 daysNational Army
(Nationaal Leger)		–
3
Gorré, ArthyArthy Gorré
(1950–2018)		15 May 199330 June 19952 years, 46 daysNational Army
(Nationaal Leger)		[4][5]
4
Sedney, GlennColonel
Glenn Sedney		30 June 19951 July 20016 years, 1 dayNational Army
(Nationaal Leger)		–
5
Mercuur, ErnstColonel
Ernst Mercuur		1 July 20014 February 20108 years, 218 daysNational Army
(Nationaal Leger)		–
6
Gilaard, HedwigColonel
Hedwig Gilaard		4 February 201010 July 20133 years, 156 daysNational Army
(Nationaal Leger)		[6]
–
Benschop, RonniColonel
Ronni Benschop
(born 1955)
Acting		10 July 20134 February 2014209 daysNational Army
(Nationaal Leger)		[7][8]
7
Benschop, RonniBrigadier general
Ronni Benschop
(born 1955)		4 February 2014August 20151 year, 178 daysNational Army
(Nationaal Leger)		[8]
–
Jardim, AdolfColonel
Adolf Jardim
Acting		August 2015March 20193 years, 7 monthsNational Army
(Nationaal Leger)		[9]
8
Kartodikromo, RobertColonel
Robert Kartodikromo		22 March 2019Incumbent1 year, 320 daysNational Army
(Nationaal Leger)		[1]

Notes
  1. Article 100 of the Constitution of 1987.
  2. Deposed in the Sergeants' Coup.
  3. Staged the Telephone Coup.

See also

References
  1. "Nationaal Leger heeft na bijkans drie jaar weer bevelhebber" (in Dutch). 22 March 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  2. "Suriname Military Chief Resigns, Complaining of a Lack of Support". The New York Times. 24 December 1990. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  3. "Suriname's Army Chief Resigns". The New York Times. 21 November 1992. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  4. (in Dutch) Surinaamse legertop kondigt ontslag aan Trouw, 14 May 1993
  5. (in Dutch) Nieuwe bevelhebber in Suriname Trouw, 30 June 1995
  6. (in Dutch) President benoemt Hedwig Gilaard tot bevelhebber Starnieuws, 1 February 2011
  7. (in Dutch) Bouterse: Vervanging legerbevelhebber was nodig Starnieuws, 10 July 2013
  8. (in Dutch) Benschop wordt officieel legerleider en brigade-generaal Starnieuws, 28 January 2014
  9. (in Dutch) Kolonel Adolf Jardim volgt Ronni Benschop op als bevelhebber van het Nationaal Leger De Ware Tijd, 20 August 2015
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