A former IDF commander was killed Monday in a helicopter crash in Cameroon. Colonel (res.) Avi Sivan died in the crash alongside a local army commander and two pilots.
Sivan, 53, had lived in recent years in Cameroon, where he served as a security adviser to President Paul Biya. He and his wife also managed a shelter for orphaned and injured gorillas.
He will be buried in Israel. The time and place of the funeral have yet to be announced.
Sivan was the third commander of the elite Duvdevan unit. “Avi was one of the first commanders of Duvdevan. A very brave captain,” said Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Yaalon, a former IDF Chief of Staff. “He was among those who put a stop to terrorism during the first Intifada. He was known for being creative and bold.”
After leading Duvdevan, Sivan worked as the head of the Defense Ministry delegation to Cameroon. He stayed in the country after retiring from public service.
He was the director for Ape Action Africa in Cameroon, and helped care for hundreds of injured or orphaned gorillas, chimpanzees and other primates. “Avi was a tireless supporter of Ape Action Africa right from the early days of CWAF fourteen years ago,” Ape Action Africa said in a statement. “His strength, leadership and incredible generosity helped us succeed in giving new hope to hundreds of abused and orphaned primates.”