Serbia’s contribution to peace in the Central African Republic recognized through its military officers

28 Jun 2021

Serbia’s contribution to peace in the Central African Republic recognized through its military officers

Maria Kabatanya

For over a half-century, the Republic of Serbia has answered the United Nations call for peacekeeping in the world. Peacekeepers serving with the MINUSCA Serbian Contingent were today awarded the UN service medal for their contribution to peace in the Central African Republic (CAR).

The 72-strong contingent – including 33 women – has been primarily entrusted with the all-important task of saving lives. They have provided critical medical support to UN personnel at the Mission's Level 2+ hospital in Bangui.

Serbia promptly heeded the UN’s petition for peace in the CAR – sending its first-ever military contingent to the country back in 2014.

The blue helmets honored today are part of the eleventh rotation of Serbian blue helmets on Central African soil. In the first three months of their deployment earlier this year, hospital staff treated more than 2,500 patients, of whom more than 150 were Covid-19 cases. They also conducted more than 50 aeromedical evacuations.

Emergency surgery, intensive and high-dependency care, in-patient, laboratory, pharmaceutical, dental and gynaecology services are also among the catalogue of health services provided by the contingent’s medical team.

Medal recipients also included military observers and staff officers.

Addressing the honorees, the MINUSCA Force Commander Lieutenant General Daniel Sidiki Traoré commended Serbia’s support to the Central African Republic. “You have all served with distinction and honor and of that you should be extremely proud,” he said. 

“The Serbian people know the value of peace. Therefore, we are doing our best to promote peace across the world,” said Contingent Commander Colonel Djordje Graovac.

The Republic of Serbia is a veteran of UN peacekeeping: the south-eastern European country boasts a long-standing tradition of contributing to international efforts to prevent and end conflict, dating back to 1956. Serbian peacekeepers have participated in UN peace operations worldwide – from Angola, Burundi, Chad, East Timor and Iran to Iraq, the Ivory Coast, Namibia, the Sinai and Yemen.

Close to 300 Serbian military peacekeepers currently service in five UN missions – with MINUSCA in the CAR, MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UNFICYP in Cyprus, UNTSO in the Middle East and UNFIL in Lebanon.

As the MINUSCA Serbian Contingent majestically marched in unison in a parade held at the end of the event – with their UN service medals on full display – they were not only celebrating their contribution to peace in the Central African Republic but also marking the “Vidovdan” Serbian holiday, which coincided with the medal ceremony.