Bangladeshi Chief of Army Staff visits UNMISS, meets peacekeepers in Wau and Juba

UNMISS protection of civilians Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff Action for Peacekeeping South Sudan Wau Juba

From 18-23 February 2021, General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, visited UNMISS to inspect Bangladesh's troop contributions and its role in helping build a lasting peace in the world's newest country.

24 Feb 2022

Bangladeshi Chief of Army Staff visits UNMISS, meets peacekeepers in Wau and Juba

Dawit K. Tedla

JUBA/WAU – One of the primary responsibilities of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is to protect civilians and ensure their safety when conflict erupts.

Military and police peacekeepers play a critical role in achieving this mandated objective.

In this regard, General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Army Staff, Bangladesh, visited his country’s troops serving for peace in South Sudan, from 18-23 February.

The focus of his visit: To inspect the operational readiness of Bangladeshi peacekeepers and familiarize himself with their on-ground activities.

General Ahmed travelled to Wau, Western Bahr El Ghazal, where he interacted with uniformed personnel from his country as well as government officials.

Additionally, he inaugurated a youth club here that has been established by Bangladeshi peacekeepers to provide young people a space where they can come together, play sport and build friendships.

“Young people are the future of South Sudan,” said General Ahmed. “But I am aware that they continue to face many hardships which can, at times, lead them onto the path of violence. I am hopeful that this initiative by Bangladeshi peacekeepers will contribute towards providing youth in Wau a much-needed platform where they can peacefully resolve issues that arise.”

In Juba, General Ahmed met with the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative, Guang Cong, to discuss how Bangladeshi troops can further assist the UN Peacekeeping mission in supporting the ongoing push for durable peace in the world’s youngest nation.

“Our peacekeepers are here as a symbol of Bangladesh’s commitment to international peace and security. Protracted and complicated conflict, such as the one in South Sudan, have a cascading impact across the world and Bangladesh is here to help communities foster trust and build stability,” stated the General.

Before leaving South Sudan, General Ahmed inspected honour guards and met with government officials, both in Wau and Juba.

Bangladesh is one of the leading troop contributors to UN peace operations worldwide as well as a signatory of the Declaration of Shared Commitments on Peacekeeping Operations, part of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ Action for Peacekeeping initiative.