PHOTOS: Rwanda UNMISS peacekeepers decorated with United Nations peacekeeping medal

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has awarded Rwandan Contingent (Rwanbat1) with United Nations Peacekeeping Medal. The parade medal event took place at UNMISS Tomping base camp in Juba earlier this week.

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Times Reporter

Gen Yang (R) decorates Rwanbatt1 Commanding Officer, Lt Col Ndengeyinka during the UN Peacekeeping Medal ceremony at UNMISS Tomping base camp earlier this week. / Courtesy

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has awarded Rwandan Contingent (Rwanbat1) with United Nations Peacekeeping Medal.

The parade medal event took place at UNMISS Tomping base camp in Juba earlier this week.

While officiating at the colourful UN medal ceremony, the UNMISS acting force commander, Maj Gen Chaoying Yang, hailed Rwanbatt-1 for outstanding and courageous activities in the protection of civilians in South Sudan, according to a statement.

UNMISS Acting Force Commander, Major General Chaoying Yang.

Brig Gen JJ Mupenzi UNMISS Sector Commander, decorating Rwandan peacekeepers.

"It is my pleasure, on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, to award to all of you the United Nations Peacekeeping Medal, in recognition of your outstanding work in South Sudan,” Yang said.

He noted that when war broke out in 2013, Rwandan soldiers quickly adapted to UNMISS’s new mandate and courageously engaged in activities to protect civilians and support the Mission’s operations ever since.

UNMISS Force Commander inspecting parade.

"During the fighting in Juba in July, you successfully provided protection to hundreds of civilians seeking safe haven at the UNMISS base in Tomping. You have demonstrated unwavering commitment to implementing the Mission mandate to protect civilians under threat of violence in the Equatoria region,” Gen Yang said.

On behalf of Rwandan contingent decorated, Lt Col John Ndengeyinka highlighted some of the activities conducted for the last nine months serving under UNMISS.

Lt Col Ndengeyinka address.

"Rwanbatt-1 carries out different activities that include; guarding UN bases, long and short duration patrols, dynamic air patrols, force protection and rescue operations,” Lt Col Ndengeyinka said.

He also commended the UN Peacekeeping Medal recipients for their diligence, discipline and commitment in all their daily tasks meant to achieve the mission mandate.

Peacekeepers performing Rwanda traditional dance at the function.

He added that the medal award would be an extra-ordinary motivation to their commitment to fulfillment of the tasks ahead.

Since 2004, Rwanda has risen to become one of the top contributors of peacekeepers for both UN and AU missions.

In South Sudan, Rwanda was among the first countries to deploy troops when the UNMISS was established in 2011.

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