# Philippe Morillon

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**Philippe Morillon** (filip mɔʁijɔ̃; 24 October 1935 – 29 January 2026) was a French general, who commanded the [United Nations Defence Force](/source/FORPRONU) during the [Bosnian War](/source/Bosnian_War) between 1992 and 1993. He later was a [Member of the European Parliament](/source/Member_of_the_European_Parliament) between 1999 and 2009, elected on the [Union for French Democracy](/source/Union_for_French_Democracy) ticket with the [Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe](/source/Alliance_of_Liberals_and_Democrats_for_Europe) group.

He is a controversial figure in Bosnia. His phrase to the crowd "you are now under the protection of the UN. I will never abandon you." before leaving [Srebrenica](/source/Srebrenica) in 1993 is remembered by locals as Western countries' abandonment of the Bosnians when the [Srebrenica massacre](/source/Srebrenica_massacre) occurred two years later. However, outside Bosnia, Morillon was recognised as the person who warned of the humanitarian crisis in Srebrenica and contributed to improving the situation in the city.

## Early life

Morillon was born on 24 October 1935 in [Casablanca](/source/Casablanca), [French Morocco](/source/French_Morocco).[1] He participated in the [Algerian War](/source/Algerian_War) as an officer and had a career in the Armored Corps of the [French Army](/source/French_Army).[1] He studied at the [École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyrin](/source/%C3%89cole_sp%C3%A9ciale_militaire_de_Saint-Cyr) 1956, at [Supélec](/source/Sup%C3%A9lec) in 1964 and at the French Army Staff College.[2][3] He supported the [Algiers putsch of 1961](/source/Algiers_putsch_of_1961) against [Charles de Gaulle](/source/Charles_de_Gaulle).[3]

## War in Bosnia

During the [Bosnia War](/source/Bosnia_War) (1992–1995), Morillon was named commander of the [United Nations Forces](/source/UNPROFOR) in the country in 1992 after he volunteered for this office.[3][1] In early March 1993, at least between 30.000 and 60.000 [Bosniak](/source/Bosniak) refugees arrived in [Srebrenica](/source/Srebrenica) fleeing the Serbian military offensive.[4][3] Keen to see the situation for himself in the city, which was becoming critical, besieged and overcrowded, Morillon travelled to Srebrenica on 11 March 1993.[4][5][3][6] He had previously visited [Cerska](/source/Cerska) where a massacre had taken place.[3]

After holding a meeting with military and civilian authorities, the crowd prevented him from leaving as a protest organised by [Fatima Husejnović](/source/Fatima_Husejnovi%C4%87).[4][5] He told the authorities that people should leave Sreberinca.[4] Despite Morillon's intention to return to [Sarajevo](/source/Sarajevo), he stayed, and days later uttered the phrase from the window: "You are now under the protection of the UN. I will never abandon you."[4][7][5]

In a 13 March broadcast on amateur radio, he stated that it was his duty to remain in the city because a great tragedy was about to occur.[3] Morillon stayed for two weeks.[4] The Serbian bombings continued, even hitting the post office where Morillon and his team were staying and where the UN flag had been hoisted.[4][3] He visited Serbian President [Slobodan Milošević](/source/Slobodan_Milo%C5%A1evi%C4%87) in Belgrade, and when Morillon returned to Srebrenica, the bombing ceased.[4] During those days, convoys arrived in Srebrenica with food and representatives from various international organisations such as [UNHCR](/source/UNHCR), the [Red Cross](/source/Red_Cross) and [Médecins Sans Frontières](/source/M%C3%A9decins_Sans_Fronti%C3%A8res), and the seriously wounded and sick were evacuated.[4][5] Two years later, the [Srebrenica massacre](/source/Srebrenica_massacre) took place.[8]

In April 1993, [Cedric Thornberry](/source/Cedric_Thornberry), deputy head of the UN mission to Yugoslavia, stated that Morillon's promise to defend Srebrenica was a mistake, as UN troops had a mandate for humanitarian aid and not for peacekeeping, and could not exceed the mandate ordered by the [United Nations Security Council](/source/United_Nations_Security_Council).[6] [José María Mendiluce](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Mar%C3%ADa_Mendiluce), the [UNHCR](/source/UNHCR) special envoy to Yugoslavia, said that Morillon succeeded in drawing the world's attention to the moral injustice taking place in the territory.[6]

In 2010, after retiring, Morillon visited Srebrenica to visit the [Srebrenica Genocide Memorial](/source/Srebrenica_Genocide_Memorial) and apologise for what happened after he abandoned the city, but several victims' associations expelled him, believing that he had allowed the massacre to occur.[4][9] However, outside Bosnia, Morillon was recognised for warning of the humanitarian crisis in Srebrenica, as he had warned Milošević that a "terrible tragedy" could take place there if Milošević did nothing to calm the situation.[5][10]

## Later life

Morillon testified in the [International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia](/source/International_Criminal_Tribunal_for_the_former_Yugoslavia) on 12 February 2004.[11][10]

After Bosnia, Morillon commanded the Rapid Reaction Force, after which he retired with the rank of [général de corps d'armée](/source/G%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral_de_corps_d'arm%C3%A9e) in 1997.[5]

He was elected [Member of the European Parliament](/source/Member_of_the_European_Parliament) in the [1999 election](/source/1999_European_Parliament_election_in_France) and re-elected in [2004](/source/2004_European_Parliament_election_in_France) with the [Union for French Democracy](/source/Union_for_French_Democracy) in the [Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe](/source/Alliance_of_Liberals_and_Democrats_for_Europe) group.[12][13]

## Death

Morillon died on 29 January 2026, at the age of 90.[14] His death was announced by the France's [Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs](/source/Minister_of_the_Armed_Forces_(France)) [Catherine Vautrin](/source/Catherine_Vautrin).[8] His death was mourned by the Chief of the Armed Forces [Pierre Schill](/source/Pierre_Schill) and Minister of Foreign Affairs [Jean-Noël Barrot](/source/Jean-No%C3%ABl_Barrot).[5]

## Honors

- [Legion of Honour](/source/Legion_of_Honour) (France)[1]
- Grand Cross of the [Ordre national du Mérite](/source/Ordre_national_du_M%C3%A9rite) (France)[5]

## References

1. Ourdan, Rémy (31 January 2026). ["General Philippe Morillon, former UN commander during the Bosnian War, dies at 90"](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/obituaries/article/2026/01/31/general-philippe-morillon-former-un-commander-during-the-bosnian-war-dies-at-90_6750015_15.html). *[Le Monde](/source/Le_Monde)*. Retrieved 1 February 2026.

1. Boileau, Anne-Charlotte (30 January 2026). ["Décès du Général d'armée (2s) Philippe MORILLON"](https://www.saint-cyr.org/fr/article/deces-du-general-d-armee-2s-philippe-morillon/30/01/2026/1471) [Death of Lieutenant General (2s) Philippe MORILLON] (in French). *La Saint-Cyrienne*. Retrieved 4 February 2026.

1. Barber, Tony (21 March 1993). ["Profile: General Philippe Morillon - Bosnia, I am with you: Tony Barber reports from Zvornik on the French general who is bringing hope to a besieged town"](https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/profile-general-philippe-morillon-bosnia-i-am-with-you-tony-barber-reports-from-zvornik-on-the-french-general-who-is-bringing-hope-to-a-besieged-town-1499083.html). *[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)*. Retrieved 4 February 2026.

1. Sekulić, Marinko (11 March 2023). ["Srebrenica: 1993. nisu mu dale da ode, a 2010. ga otjerale"](https://www.dw.com/bs/%C5%BEene-u-srebrenici-mu-1993-nisu-dale-da-ode-a-2010-ga-otjerale-iz-grada/a-64931338) [Srebrenica: in 1993 they didn't let him leave, and in 2010 they drove him away] (in bs). *[Deutsche Welle](/source/Deutsche_Welle)*. Retrieved 1 February 2026.

1. ["Preminuo general Morillon, čovjek koji je 1993. obećao zaštitu Srebreničanima, a dogodio se genocid"](https://n1info.ba/vijesti/preminuo-general-morillon-covjek-koji-je-1993-obecao-zastitu-srebrenicanima/) [General Morillon has died, the man who promised to protect the people of Srebrenica in 1993, but genocide occurred.] (in bs). *[N1 TV channel](/source/N1_(TV_channel))*. 30 January 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.

1. Williams, Carol L. (17 April 1993). ["COLUMN ONE : Beau Geste in Bosnia Goes Awry : When French Gen. Philippe Morillon joined the besieged Muslims of Srebrenica, he became an instant hero. But he misjudged the world’s willingness to follow him."](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-17-mn-24004-story.html). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. Retrieved 5 February 2026.

1. ["How Britain and the US decided to abandon Srebrenica to its fate"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/04/how-britain-and-us-abandoned-srebrenica-massacre-1995#comments). *[TheGuardian.com](/source/TheGuardian.com)*. 4 July 2015.

1. ["Philippe Morillon, General Who Failed to Prevent the Srebrenica Genocide, Has Died"](https://sarajevotimes.com/philippe-morillon-general-who-failed-to-prevent-the-srebrenica-genocide-has-died/). *Sarajevo Times*. 30 January 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.

1. Sito-Sucic, Daria (3 September 2010). ["Women force French former general from Srebrenica"](https://www.reuters.com/article/world/women-force-french-former-general-from-srebrenica-idUSTRE6823BD/). *[Reuters](/source/Reuters)*

1. ["UN general 'foresaw Srebrenica'"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3481619.stm). *[BBC News](/source/BBC_News)*. 12 February 2004. Retrieved 4 February 2026.

1. ["General Philippe Morillon"](https://www.icty.org/en/content/general-philippe-morillon). *[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia](/source/International_Criminal_Tribunal_for_the_former_Yugoslavia)*. Retrieved 4 February 2026.

1. ["5th parliamentary term"](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/4332/PHILIPPE_MORILLON/history/5#detailedcardmep). *[European Parliament](/source/European_Parliament)*. Retrieved 4 February 2026.

1. ["6th parliamentary term"](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/4332/PHILIPPE_MORILLON/history/6#detailedcardmep). *European Parliament*. Retrieved 4 February 2026.

1. [Ancien général cinq étoiles de l'armée de Terre et ex-député européen, Philippe Morillon est décédé](https://www.ouest-france.fr/politique/defense/ancien-general-cinq-etoiles-de-larmee-de-terre-et-ex-depute-europeen-philippe-morillon-est-decede-6475de58-fd1d-11f0-b421-129bd2858122) (in French)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Philippe Morillon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Morillon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Morillon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.