Vietnamese soldiers erect a 20-meter pole to celebrate Tet in Africa

Two large water pipes left over from digging a well were used by the 2nd Engineer Team to make a pole to celebrate Tet in Abyei, Africa.

The 20-meter-high pole stands out in the middle of the flag-raising yard of the Command Headquarters in Abyei on the days before Tet. The top of the pole is decorated with a 2-meter-high five-pointed star and two flags of the Fatherland and the United Nations. The sacred symbol of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year is more sparkling at night thanks to LED strips and decorative colored paper.

A 20-meter-high pole was erected in the grounds of the No. 2 Engineering Team barracks. Photo: DCB — A 20-meter-high pole was erected in the grounds of the No. 2 Engineering Team barracks. Photo: *DCB*

Before Tet, the 2nd Engineer Team of the Vietnamese peacekeeping force also organized a Chung cake wrapping event, introducing Vietnamese culture to international friends and members of the UNISFA mission. In addition to enjoying Vietnamese food, international guests were introduced to the story of Chung cake and Day cake and were able to wrap the cakes themselves under the guidance of Vietnamese soldiers.

The representative of the 2nd Engineer Corps said that 2024 is the first year that the United Nations recognizes Lunar New Year as a public holiday, marking the international community's recognition of traditional East Asian culture. This is an opportunity for officers and employees of the Vietnam Engineer Corps to celebrate a warm and complete Tet.

UNISFA Mission members are instructed by Vietnamese soldiers to wrap banh chung. Photo: DCB — UNISFA Mission members are instructed by Vietnamese soldiers to wrap banh chung. Photo: *DCB*

In an online exchange on February 6 with Vietnamese peacekeeping forces, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense, said he was very moved and proud when listening to the stories of Vietnamese blue beret officers and soldiers performing their duties and celebrating Tet at missions near Tet.

"I had the opportunity to work in Abyei, so I understand more clearly the hardships and difficulties that you are going through. I am very happy to see that you in Abyei as well as in all the military bases of the force, are trying to overcome all difficulties to successfully complete your tasks in the field," said Senior Lieutenant General Chien.

The Deputy Minister of National Defense asked the Vietnamese blue berets to celebrate Tet but still fulfill their tasks well, ensure the safety of their members in the face of ongoing conflicts and instabilities in Africa, and deploy many creative models to help local people.

Abyei is a disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan. The two countries signed an agreement on June 20, 2011, pledging to withdraw troops from the demilitarized zone in Abyei and establish a joint mechanism to resolve the issue, but so far there has been little substantive progress.

The 2nd Engineer Team, consisting of 184 officers, was deployed to Abyei in August 2023 with the main mission of humanitarian work and supporting the people of this town. The team regularly builds and renovates roads, bridges, drainage systems, school and hospital infrastructure in the area; and rescues UN and civilian vehicles in distress.

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