Samora Yunis

In this Ethiopian name, the name Yunis is a patronymic, and the person should be referred by the given name, Samora.

Samora Muhammad Yunis (Ge’ez: ሳሞራ መሐመድ ዩንስ) is an Ethiopian military officer. Born in the Tigray Region in the north of the country, Yunis rose to be a four-star general in the Ethiopian National Defence Forces and eventually Chief of the General Staff in 2001.^[1][2] He would serve until 2018.^[2]

Samora Yunis
Gen. Samora Yunis in 2013
Native name	ሳሞራ መሐመድ ዩንስ
Born	1949 (age 75–76) Tigray Province, Ethiopian Empire
Allegiance	Ethiopia
Branch	Ethiopian National Defence Forces
Rank	General
Commands	Chief of General Staff
Battles / wars	Ethiopian Civil War Insurgency in Ogaden Eritrean-Ethiopian War Somali Civil War (2006-2009)
Chief of General Staff
In office 2001 – 7 June 2018
Preceded by	General Tsadkan Gebretensae
Succeeded by	General Se'are Mekonnen

Biography

Yunis fought for the military wing of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, playing a leading role in the Battle of Shire (18–19 February 1989).^[3] He was made Chief of General Staff in 2001, when he replaced Tsadkan Gebretensae.

According to Human Rights Watch, credible sources identify General Samora as a member of the leadership group which met in Jijiga following the attack on oilmen at Abole on 24 April 2007, to determine an appropriate response to this raid.^[4] On 7 June 2018, it was announced that Yunis would be replaced by Seare Mekonen as the new Chief of General Staff.^[2][5]

In 2017, he received the Order of the Two Niles from Sudan.^[6]