From firefights to football matches: Life on a UN peacekeeping frontline
The Senegalese soldiers of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) – known by its French acronym, MINUSCA – are immediately deployed to confront the attackers.“The fighting lasted several hours in extremely difficult conditions,” recalls Lieutenant Colonel Gérald Aranda Assine, commander of the Senegalese contingent. “It was extremely demanding psychologically, physically, mentally and morally.”The blue helmets, part of a Quick Reaction Force ready to deploy at any moment, helped the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) to push back the rebels, preventing them from seizing Zémio and allowing the elections to go ahead as planned.
© MINUSCA
UN Peacekeepers on patrol in the Central African Republic
“Our soldiers held their positions,” says Lt Col. Assine. “At the same time, they managed to protect the places where the refugees were gathered.”From battlefield to football fieldWorking as a blue helmet involves much more than military intervention. Duties can range from providing free medical care aid to conducting patrols and holding meetings with community leaders.In the west of the country, where the “Retour, Réclamation, Réhabilitation” (3R) armed group agreed to disarm in 2025, peacekeepers are rebuilding links between people divided by years of fighting. Ex-combatants from 3R and the official army, as well as civilians, are participating in community activities, even playing a football match together, something that would have seemed unthinkable just a few months earlier.A toll on mental healthThe stark contrast between the demands placed on peacekeepers means that a great deal of attention must be paid to their well-being and mental health.Lt Col. Assine explains that this means regular sporting and cultural activities, and the maintenance of strong links with their families, even when they are posted in the most remote areas.“Looking at your children and then smiling, showing them that everything is okay, despite the difficult environment you’re in, is extremely important,” he says.
