JUBA – The celebratory spirit of the farewell parade for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Police Commissioner, Christine Fossen, was accompanied by a sentiment of sadness and emotion honoring the impact she had on colleagues across the mission. 

The diverse professional experience the Norwegian national brought to her mission, ranging from more than twenty years in a similar post with her country’s police force to her time as criminal prosecutor and leading an observer mission in the West Bank, as well as her positive, joyful character and spirit have left a lasting impression. 

“I am representing my country but being part of the UN is something bigger than yourself. Wearing the UN flag has always been a pride for me,” she emphasized with a breaking voice, overwhelmed by the emotional remarks at the event.

This humility and professional personability are why, soon after her arrival, many started referring to her as friend rather than colleague as illustrated by UN Police Chief of Staff, Murat Isik, who remembered her “approachable spirit making everyone feel valued and heard”.

Throughout her leadership, UNPOL significantly improved its stakeholder relationships, including with South Sudan’s senior police network, other national organizations, and communities. 

While the farewell event was marked by traditional formality, including formal speeches by UNMISS senior leadership and UNPOL colleagues paying their respect during the traditional military salute and parade, she had a loving smile for every participant.

In appreciation of her refreshing attitude, the humorous anecdotes she added to her own speech were collectively embraced with spontaneous laughter. 

But her remarks also addressed more serious issues such as the focus she put on protection of South Sudanese women and girls as well as her advocacy for the participation and leadership of women peacekeepers for whom she introduced various training and professional networking projects throughout the more than three years of her service. 

Responding to evolving challenges in the national security context, the Police Commissioner also initiated and led dedicated sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) patrols in displacement camps that will continue after her departure. 

Her ability to initiate and develop intersectional solutions was also recognized by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Guang Cong, who commended how her “strong leadership made UNPOL a systemwide model of an integrated approach”. 

Her assignment with UNMISS might have ended but, for UNPOL women officers such as Regional Expert of the UNPOL specialized police team on sexual and gender-based violence, Magret Jatta, the Police Commissioner’s legacy will linger.

“By always leading as example in everything she did, she really inspired me as a woman” the young and ambitious UNPOL team member shared, acknowledging how empowered she felt by observing the Police Commissioner’s leadership. 

It wasn’t just the people she encountered that were caught between gratitude for the shared time and sadness about the upcoming departure. Her closing remarks were a clear sign that she may be physically leaving but her thoughts and strong sense of responsibility for the people she trained and worked with will remain: 

“I will leave some of my heart and mind with UNMISS. To the many of you I was able to work with: I am so proud to have been able to get to know and work with you. As times are changing, I have no doubt that you are up for any challenge that may come. You know what to do.”