UN honours Chinese peacekeepers in Mali

The 4th contingent of Chinese peacekeeping force in Mali have been honoured by the United Nations for its efforts in the African country.

The peacekeeping force was awarded second class Peace Medal of Honor on Wednesday.

The award ceremony took place in Mali’s Northern city of Gao and was attended by UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Mali and the Chinese Ambassador.

Lu Huiying, Chinese ambassador to Mali said, “Over the past nine months, you risked your life and overcame various difficulties to excellently fulfill all your tasks. You deserve the medals.”

All the members of the contingent were awarded medals including a soldier who lost his life in a bomb attack last year.

“The mission in Mali, compared with the mission of fighting Ebola in Liberia, is more bloody and more closer to the battlefield, especially when we deal with people who suffer penetrating or blast wounds, the injuries are complex, but I have accumulated more experience of rescuing and treating the injured on the battlefield,” explained, Yang Limin, nurse, medical detachment, 4th contingent of Chinese peacekeeping force in Mali.

At present, over 2,400 Chinese peacekeepers are conducting UN peacekeeping operations in 7 African mission zones. The country is the 9th largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions in the world

The UN mission in Mali (Minusma) was set up in 2013 to help stabilise the country following a rebellion by Islamist jihadists.

Delays in implementing the UN brokered peace deal has also led to the strengthening of Jihadists. This is despite French forces driving the militants from major urban centres in 2013.

Reuters