Australia imetangaza kuwa kwa mara ya kwanza katika historia yake, mwanamke ataongoza jeshi la nchi hiyo, ikiwa ni sehemu ya mabadiliko ya uongozi ndani ya vikosi vya ulinzi.
Luteni Jenerali Susan Coyle, ambaye kwa sasa ni mkuu wa uwezo wa pamoja wa kijeshi, anatarajiwa kuwa mkuu wa jeshi la nchi hiyo kuanzia mwezi Julai 2026, kwa mujibu wa taarifa ya serikali. Atachukua nafasi ya Luteni Jenerali Simon Stuart.
Uteuzi wa Coyle unakuja wakati jeshi la Australia likijitahidi kuongeza idadi ya wanawake katika safu zake, huku likikabiliwa na wimbi la tuhuma za unyanyasaji wa kingono na ubaguzi wa kimfumo.
Coyle, mwenye umri wa miaka 55, alijiunga na jeshi mwaka 1987 na ameshika nyadhifa mbalimbali za juu za uongozi. Atakuwa mwanamke wa kwanza kuongoza tawi lolote la jeshi nchini humo.
Kwa sasa, wanawake wanachangia takriban asilimia 21 ya wanajeshi wote wa Jeshi la Ulinzi la Australia (ADF), na asilimia 18.5 ya nafasi za juu za uongozi. ADF imeweka lengo la kufikia angalau asilimia 25 ya ushiriki wa wanawake ifikapo mwaka 2030.
Mnamo Oktoba 2025, kesi ya pamoja ilifunguliwa dhidi ya ADF, ikidai kuwa jeshi hilo limeshindwa kulinda maelfu ya wanawake dhidi ya unyanyasaji wa kingono, manyanyaso na ubaguzi wa kimfumo.
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Australia on Monday said a woman would lead its army for the first time in history, as part of a reshuffle of the country's defence force leadership.
Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, the current chief of joint capabilities, will become chief of army in July, the government said in a statement. She will replace Lieutenant General Simon Stuart.
Coyle's appointment comes as Australia's military seeks to boost the number of female officers in its ranks. It faces a wave of allegations of systematic sexual harassment and discrimination.
Coyle, 55, enlisted in the military in 1987 and has held a number of senior command roles. She will be the first woman to lead any service branch of the military, Marles said.
Women currently make up around 21% of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and 18.5% of senior leadership roles. The ADF has set a target of 25% of overall participation for women by 2030.
Last October, a class action lawsuit was filed against the ADF alleging it failed to protect thousands of female officers from systematic sexual assault, harassment and discrimination.
The government on Monday also appointed Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, the current chief of the navy, as the head of the ADF, succeeding Admiral David Johnston.
The current deputy chief of navy, Rear Admiral Matthew Buckley, will replace Hammond as head of the branch.
Source: Reuters
Luteni Jenerali Susan Coyle, ambaye kwa sasa ni mkuu wa uwezo wa pamoja wa kijeshi, anatarajiwa kuwa mkuu wa jeshi la nchi hiyo kuanzia mwezi Julai 2026, kwa mujibu wa taarifa ya serikali. Atachukua nafasi ya Luteni Jenerali Simon Stuart.
Uteuzi wa Coyle unakuja wakati jeshi la Australia likijitahidi kuongeza idadi ya wanawake katika safu zake, huku likikabiliwa na wimbi la tuhuma za unyanyasaji wa kingono na ubaguzi wa kimfumo.
Coyle, mwenye umri wa miaka 55, alijiunga na jeshi mwaka 1987 na ameshika nyadhifa mbalimbali za juu za uongozi. Atakuwa mwanamke wa kwanza kuongoza tawi lolote la jeshi nchini humo.
Kwa sasa, wanawake wanachangia takriban asilimia 21 ya wanajeshi wote wa Jeshi la Ulinzi la Australia (ADF), na asilimia 18.5 ya nafasi za juu za uongozi. ADF imeweka lengo la kufikia angalau asilimia 25 ya ushiriki wa wanawake ifikapo mwaka 2030.
Mnamo Oktoba 2025, kesi ya pamoja ilifunguliwa dhidi ya ADF, ikidai kuwa jeshi hilo limeshindwa kulinda maelfu ya wanawake dhidi ya unyanyasaji wa kingono, manyanyaso na ubaguzi wa kimfumo.
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Australia on Monday said a woman would lead its army for the first time in history, as part of a reshuffle of the country's defence force leadership.
Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, the current chief of joint capabilities, will become chief of army in July, the government said in a statement. She will replace Lieutenant General Simon Stuart.
Coyle's appointment comes as Australia's military seeks to boost the number of female officers in its ranks. It faces a wave of allegations of systematic sexual harassment and discrimination.
Coyle, 55, enlisted in the military in 1987 and has held a number of senior command roles. She will be the first woman to lead any service branch of the military, Marles said.
Women currently make up around 21% of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and 18.5% of senior leadership roles. The ADF has set a target of 25% of overall participation for women by 2030.
Last October, a class action lawsuit was filed against the ADF alleging it failed to protect thousands of female officers from systematic sexual assault, harassment and discrimination.
The government on Monday also appointed Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, the current chief of the navy, as the head of the ADF, succeeding Admiral David Johnston.
The current deputy chief of navy, Rear Admiral Matthew Buckley, will replace Hammond as head of the branch.
Source: Reuters
