Over 11,000km, more than 180 soldiers of the Vietnam Engineering Corps arrive in Africa

After more than 60 hours of travel with many flights, 184 officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Engineering Team No. 2 arrived at the United Nations Interim Security Mission in Abyei, ensuring absolute safety.

Earlier on the morning of August 8, after the farewell ceremony at Noi Bai airport, the 2nd Engineering Team completed the boarding procedures, traveling more than 11,000 km to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission UNISFA to replace the 1st Engineering Team. Immediately after arriving at the mission, the 2nd Engineering Team was welcomed and taken to the HIGHWAY military base.

2nd Engineer Team arrives at Abyei Regional Mission. Photo: 2nd Engineer Team

The first impression of the team when arriving in Abyei was the harsh, hot weather... However, when meeting international friends, receiving an enthusiastic welcome with greetings like "Hello VietNam! Welcome VietNam!"; along with the joy and enthusiasm of the local people and the Engineering Team No. 1, all fatigue disappeared. Colonel Nguyen Viet Hung, Team Leader of the Engineering Team No. 2, said that all officers and staff of the team marched to the stationed area to ensure absolute safety, excitedly, and quickly settled down to eat and stay. The team will coordinate with officers and staff of the Engineering Team No. 1 to agree on the handover contents, ready to carry out the task.

Officers and soldiers of Vietnam's Engineering Team No. 2. Photo: Engineering Team No. 2

In the immediate future, the 2nd Engineer Team will carry out the tasks of repairing and consolidating the barracks, stabilizing the unit's accommodation and food. At the same time, it will receive and consolidate equipment, cars, vehicles, machines, etc. to continue with the tasks assigned by the Mission Commander. The 2nd Engineer Team has 203 members, including 184 official members and 19 reserve members (27 officers, 176 professional soldiers, 19 women). This force is selected and mobilized from agencies and units: Military Regions 1, 2, 3, 4; Corps 1, 2; the following branches: Engineers, Special Forces, Communications; Vietnam Peacekeeping Department and other agencies and units throughout the army. The 2nd Engineer Team's mission includes 173 officers and soldiers. Eleven officers and soldiers of Engineering Team No. 1 volunteered to stay and join Engineering Team No. 2.

Abyei is a disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan. In 2011, the two countries signed an agreement pledging to withdraw troops from the demilitarized zone in Abyei and establish a joint mechanism to resolve the issue. However, so far, the two countries have not made much substantive progress. UNISFA was established in 2011 under Resolution 1990 of the United Nations Security Council with the mission of protecting civilians and promoting demilitarization in Abyei.