Vietnam strengthens commitment to UN Peacekeeping efforts in Central African Republic
On April 15, a delegation from the Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS), led by Senior Lieutenant General Pham The Tung—Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of Public Security, and Head of the Steering Committee for Project 05 on Vietnam’s Public Security participation in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations—arrived in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR).
The visit marks the start of a working mission at the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
The delegation paid courtesy calls to Mr. Amadou Fofana, Acting Police Commissioner of MINUSCA, and Major General Maychel Asmi, Deputy Force Commander of MINUSCA.
During the meetings, Deputy Minister Pham The Tung extended his respectful greetings and thanked the Acting Police Commissioner and the Deputy Force Commander for taking the time to receive the delegation and share valuable information.
On behalf of the delegation, Deputy Minister Pham The Tung appeciated the Mission’s units for their coordination with the CAR government in ensuring security and safety for the successful organization of the first round of Presidential, Parliamentary, and local municipal elections. He noted that this was a significant event contributing to the continued maintenance of peace and stability in the region.
The Deputy Minister affirmed that, as a matter of policy, Vietnam consistently identifies participation in UN peacekeeping forces as a crucial political task, reinforcing Vietnam's commitment as a responsible member of the international community dedicated to global peace and security. After more than 12 years of participation, Vietnamese forces have grown steadily, asserting their role as a reliable and responsible partner of the UN.
The Deputy Minister provided an overview of the deployment of Vietnam’s People’s Army and People’s Public Security forces in both individual and unit formats at missions in South Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Abyei region, and at UN Headquarters in New York. All deployed forces have successfully completed their tasks, maintained strict discipline, and received high praise. “These results demonstrate Vietnam’s responsibility toward sustainable international peace and security, and our readiness to participate in addressing global challenges in the coming time”, stated Deputy Minister Pham The Tung.
He also highly appreciated the support from MINUSCA agencies in the recent deployment of Vietnamese Public Security forces, and requested that MINUSCA leadership continue to support and recommend to the UN the invitation of Vietnam to deploy more individual police officers and the Peacekeeping Police Unit No. 1 at the mission. To contribute more effectively to UN peacekeeping activities, the Deputy Minister also requested that the mission facilitate the delegation to learn from the experiences of other countries currently deploying police units at MINUSCA.
Mr. Amadou Fofana and Major General Maychel Asmi warmly welcomed and highly valued the working visit by Deputy Minister Pham The Tung and the MPS delegation. They briefed the delegation on the general situation following the December 2025 elections, including the protection of civilians, law enforcement, the mission's operational results, and priority development orientations for the mission in the near future.
The UN officials praised the contributions of Vietnamese Public Security officers to peacekeeping operations and commended Vietnam's training programs for officers prior to their deployment. They noted that these efforts have helped maintain peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the CAR. Both leaders expressed their readiness to support and create the best possible conditions for Vietnamese officers to excellently fulfill their assigned duties.
Six Vietnamese officers awarded UN peacekeeping medal
Also on the morning of April 15, Deputy Minister Pham The Tung and the delegation attended a ceremony to award the UN Peacekeeping Medal, organized by the MINUSCA Police, to honor the dedication of Vietnamese police officers serving under the national flag in the CAR.
In a solemn atmosphere, delegates performed the flag-raising ceremony to the tunes of the UN Anthem, the National Anthem of the Central African Republic, and the National Anthem of Vietnam. In a moment of pride and emotion, Acting Police Commissioner Amadou Fofana and Deputy Minister Pham The Tung pinned the UN Peacekeeping Medals on the chests of the six officers from Task Force No. 6.
Praising the role, sense of responsibility, and contributions of the officers at MINUSCA, Deputy Minister Pham The Tung affirmed: “To achieve these results today, besides the efforts of each individual, we deeply appreciate the close guidance and favorable conditions provided by the Mission to Vietnamese officers. In particular, the recognition and positive evaluations from the Acting Police Commissioner and commanders regarding the professionalism and responsibility of our forces are a great source of encouragement. Your trust has empowered us to contribute more confidently to the UN's common mission in the Central African Republic”.
