The ceremony was attended by Brigadier General Adebowale Oladimeji Ajagbe, UNISFA Deputy Force Commander; representatives of the mission leadership and the administration of the Abyei Special Administrative Area; commanders of the various peacekeeping forces; and local residents.
Abyei is a territory contested by Sudan and South Sudan for over a decade.
Addressing the event, Senior Lieutenant Colonel Trinh Van Cuong, commander of Engineering Unit Rotation 4, said celebrating National Day while carrying out an international mission gave every officer and staff member an opportunity to remember their roots and strengthen their national pride.
He said the occasion also helped promote the image of a friendly, peace-loving Vietnam and demonstrate the sense of responsibility of Vietnamese soldiers serving in international peacekeeping missions.
A cultural program choreographed and performed by members of the engineering unit brought a joyful atmosphere to the celebration. Books about President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap offered the international attendees a deeper understanding of Vietnam and its history. The event included an exhibition of produce grown by the unit, highlighting the peacekeepers’ spirit of self-reliance and ability to adapt to challenging conditions.
Despite Abyei’s harsh environment, a vegetable garden cultivated by members of Engineering Unit Rotation 4 provides fresh produce for the unit and reflects their determination to overcome difficulties while carrying out their mission.
The National Day celebration at the Highway base concluded on a high note, leaving a lasting, positive impression of a compassionate and resilient Vietnam—a nation that spreads noble values right on the front lines of UN peacekeeping.
