Vietnamese engineers "connect the beat" of peace in Abyei

On October 27, in the sunny and windy Abyei region, the handover ceremony of the Banton Bridge was solemnly held right at the construction site. The "blue beret" soldiers of the Vietnam 4th Engineer Team (under the UNISFA Mission) have just completed a mission of profound strategic and humanitarian significance: repairing and restoring the Banton Bridge. This is not just a simple traffic project, but a symbol of connection, hope and efforts to build peace in this divided land.

Công binh Việt Nam — Banton Bridge handover ceremony after the 4th Engineering Team repaired and upgraded

Banton Bridge after repair

Witnessing the ceremony were high-ranking guests from military to civilian: Colonel Alexander De Lima, Chief of Military Staff of the Mission, Mr. Kuol Deng Rau, Acting Chief of Abyei Regional Administration, Mr. Kon Maneit Matiok, Minister of Infrastructure and Public Services, Mr. Nyang Doldol Nyang, District Governor of Alal District.

Colonel Alexander De Lima, Chief of Military Staff of the Mission, was pleased to note that the Banton Bridge repairs were “completed in just one week.” He called it “a remarkable demonstration of speed and efficiency,” and directly linked infrastructure to security: “Each of these results directly contributes to peace, because when people have opportunity and hope, peace becomes more sustainable.”

Voices from local authorities have added to this sense. Mr. Kuol Deng Rau, Acting Chief Administrator of Abyei Region, called it the result of “international partnership” where “challenges have been turned into successes.” Meanwhile, Alal District Chief Nyang Doldol Nyang viewed the bridge as “a testament to the United Nations’ concern and Vietnam’s affection for Abyei.”

In particular, Minister of Infrastructure and Public Services Kon Maneit Matiok praised the "performance, discipline and admirable working spirit" of the Vietnamese blue beret soldiers.

"Reviving" a strategic artery

The Banton Bridge has long been more than just a road. It is a strategic "lifeline", a single traffic route that directly affects security, economy and people's lives in Abyei. The serious deterioration of the bridge over a long period of time has caused countless difficulties for the UNISFA Mission's patrol activities, cut off the movement of people and hindered humanitarian relief efforts.

In that context, the task of repairing Banton Bridge was assigned to the Vietnam Engineering Team No. 4. This was not just a problem of technique and materials. It was a mission that required courage, intelligence and empathy. Having received the task of "rescuing" the bridge, the Vietnam Engineering Team No. 4 immediately got to work. Overcoming difficulties in materials, weather and construction conditions, with technical skills, creativity and determination, the "green beret" soldiers miraculously "revived" the bridge.

Deeper than a building: The bridge of compassion

The atmosphere of the ceremony went beyond a normal technical event. It was a day of joy and hope. The representative of the 4th Engineer Team, Lieutenant Colonel Trinh Van Cuong, spoke at the handover ceremony: "As peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Security Mission in Abyei (UNISFA), our mission is not only to help protect peace, but also to join hands to build peace - bit by bit, brick by brick. And today, through this bridge, we are proud to contribute sustainably to that noble mission."

The significance of the ceremony was raised to a new level when, within the framework of the event, the 4th Engineer Team organized the giving of humanitarian gifts. Practical necessities such as food and provisions were handed out by soldiers to the people living in the Banton bridge area. The bags of rice and necessities given out may not completely solve hunger and poverty, but they are the clearest expression of humanity, of the spirit of "helping each other", overcoming language and cultural barriers. This is the highlight that highlights the profound role of the engineer soldiers in the peacekeeping mission - a noble gesture, fully demonstrating the dual role of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the international mission: both good engineers "building bridges" and "messengers" of peace and humanity.

The image of local people happily dancing beside the sturdy new bridge has become a symbolic moment of military-civilian solidarity. A local happily said, "Seeing the bridge more sturdy and spacious than before, we are very happy. From now on, traveling will be less difficult, and the children will feel more secure going to school."

From now on, the Banton Bridge not only carries the value of a strategic "lifeline", ensuring security for the Mission, but also a humane "lifeline", a path of hope, dialogue and trust that the Vietnamese blue beret soldiers have worked hard to build.

The Banton Bridge handover ceremony has ended, but the image it left behind will last forever. That is the image of the Vietnamese engineering soldier in the new era: having high professional capacity, meeting the most stringent technical requirements of the United Nations, and they are using their own works and actions to further enhance the image of Vietnam - a responsible country that always desires to contribute to the peace and stability of the world.

Source: https://vtv.vn/cong-binh-viet-nam-noi-nhip-hoa-binh-tai-abyei-100251029090724326.htm