About 1900 men and women of Ethiopia’s 19th Battalion, Multi Role Logistics Unit, Light Field Engineering, Quick Reaction Force, Aviation Utility Unit, Tank and Artillery Companies, Liaison Officers, as well as Military Staff Officers and Military Observers from different countries serving with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) for more than eight months received the United Nations Peace Medals in a ceremony held on 26 February 2019 in Rumajak/Dokura in Abyei area.
“The United Nations Peace Medal is a mark of the UN’s gratitude and appreciation to your commitment, sacrifice and hard work in this mission,” said Major General Gebre Adhana Woldezgu, acting Head of Mission/Force Commander (HoM/FC). “Keeping close relationship with local communities and their leaders provides a commendable influence on the mission area in building peace.”
The UN Medal Day ceremony was witnessed by community leaders and UNISFA leadership, as well as civilian and uniformed personnel.
General Woldezgu added that the Ethiopian peacekeepers have been deployed in Abyei since 2011. “For more than eight years, they have continually served with resilience, dedication, and professionalism within the UN mission core values to build and maintain peace in the Abyei box. It gives me immense pleasure to share with you that Ethiopia is one of the leading providers of peacekeepers for United Nations peacekeeping operations In Africa.”
During the ceremony, UNISFA paid tribute to three UN peacekeepers namely Capt. Kamal Musa, Lt. Temesgen Cherenet, and Lt. Taye Tesfaye who lost their lives during a helicopter crash on 9 February this year.
