The 2nd Engineering Brigade celebrated the 78th anniversary of its National Day in Abyei (Africa), with the participation of over 500 peacekeeping personnel from various countries.
At the ceremony on September 2nd, guests were introduced to Vietnamese culture and people by the No. 2 Engineering Team and enjoyed cultural and martial arts performances. In particular, the Engineering Team prepared 1,800 spring rolls with three fillings – beef, chicken, and vegetarian – to offer to over 500 guests.
At the end of the ceremony, guests were given gifts including hats, T-shirts printed with the Vietnamese flag, and conical hats.
Members of the 2nd Engineering Battalion perform a cultural show to celebrate National Day in Abyei. Photo: 2nd Engineering Battalion
Colonel Nguyen Viet Hung, Commander of the Vietnamese forces participating in peacekeeping operations at the UNISFA mission, expressed his delight at the closeness and friendliness of international friends participating in the National Day celebrations with Vietnam.
He said that throughout the 78 years since President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, the Party, State, and people of Vietnam have continuously fought to protect independence, sovereignty , unity, and territorial integrity. Vietnam has always actively supported and strived for peace, equal relations, and prosperity in the region and the world.
During more than a year of deployment at the UNISFA Mission, the Vietnamese Blue Berets have coordinated with the Mission's agencies and units to strengthen and develop the Abyei region, helping the local people to have better living conditions and children to receive a better education .
While acknowledging that the deployment process in the coming period will face many difficulties regarding climate, manpower, and materials, Colonel Hung stated that the Vietnamese peacekeeping force and the Engineering Team will strive to complete all assigned tasks.
Over 500 guests attending the ceremony enjoyed a variety of delicious Vietnamese dishes. Photo: Engineering Battalion No. 2
Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr, Commander of the Mission, said Vietnam is a model of a story of hope and change. "Having endured years of war and gained independence through persistent struggle, the Vietnamese people understand the value of peace," he said, expressing his appreciation for Vietnam's active participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations.
At the ceremony, he also expressed his admiration that Vietnam is currently one of the countries with the highest number of female soldiers participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations. This important force serves as a bridge, enabling the Mission to provide more effective support to local people.
The 2nd Engineering Battalion departed for Abyei on August 8th, with 184 personnel. Abyei is a disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan. The two countries signed an agreement on June 20, 2011, committing to withdraw troops from the demilitarized zone in Abyei and establish a joint mechanism to resolve the issue. However, to date, there has been little substantive progress between the two countries.
UNISFA was established in 2011 under Security Council Resolution 1990 with the mandate to protect civilians and promote demilitarization in Abyei, and its mandate to support the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) in Abyei was supplemented by Resolution 2024 of December 14, 2011.
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