UNITY – Following his recent appointment, Major-General Major General Junhui Wu, Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), has begun his maiden visits to field locations across the country.
While travelling to Unity state, Major-General Wu used his time to engage with field office colleagues, contingent commanders and, above all, community members.
“It is very important for me to familiarize myself with different locations in South Sudan where our troops are deployed, especially given our new mandate in which protection of civilians remains among our top priorities,” said Force Commander Wu.
During his time the ground, the Force Commander’s discussions revolved around operational challenges and the worsening impact of climate shocks in the state.
For his part, Sam Muhumure, Head of the UN Peacekeeping mission’s field office in the state, highlighted that flooding remains a major risk to the safety of more than 100, 000 displaced people residing in the Bentiu camp for internally displaced persons: “The IDP camp is a prime factor in our protection of civilians efforts in Bentiu.”
Following this comprehensive briefing, Force Commander Wu dedicated time for interactions with communities to get firsthand insights into the security situation, operational realities, and key challenges affecting the protection environment within the IDP camp.
Urgent planning and adaption are necessary, said the Major-General, ahead of the long rainy season which renders many conflict hotspots in Unity state inaccessible by road, as he reaffirmed his commitment to “work closely with colleagues and troops in field locations to generate new ideas and come up with new mechanisms to enhance the effectiveness of our protection efforts.”
This sentiment was fortified after an intensive tour of the vast network of mud dykes. These are built and maintained by Pakistani engineers and are vital to protecting the lives of displaced communities as well as the Rubkona airstrip. The latter ensures that humanitarian assistance can continue unimpeded.
Additionally, Major General Wu attended a medal parade honoring the service of Ghanaian peacekeepers.
“Our peacekeepers from Ghana have demonstrated exceptional professionalism, discipline and commitment in carrying out their assigned tasks in support of the UNMISS mandate. Through sustained presence and operational effectiveness, the battalion has contributed meaningfully to maintaining stability,” said Force Commander Wu at the event.
With conflict on the rise even as South Sudan prepares for its first elections, Major General Wu stressed the importance of military peacekeepers being fully prepared to maintain a robust, agile and proactive presence in Bentiu and beyond.
For the new Force Commander, partnerships with host communities are the key to building trust and reinforcing UNMISS’ civilian protection efforts:
“Strengthening cooperation between our peacekeepers and the populations we serve is the fulcrum upon which a stable security environment can take shape.”
By Matiisetso Mosala
