Night falls on Camp Garuda, it is 6:00 pm on this February 6, 2021. The curfew imposed by presidential decree due to the increase in security incidents in the Central African Republic imposes silence on a city of Bangui which is generally occupied at the end of the day. Under the shrill sound of the bugle blaring from the four corners of the base announcing the end of the day, the Indonesian flag, the Merah Putih, is solemnly lowered by a man and a woman in tactical gear, blue helmet screwed to their heads and a mask protection against COVID-19 on the face.
The Bangui Joint Staff (JTFB), MINUSCA command center in charge of securing the Central African capital and the United Nations Police of the Mission (UNPol) support the internal security forces in their patrols, in installing at key points and patrolling the various axes of the city. Tonight, Formed Police Units (FPU) from Indonesia and Cameroon will roam the PK5 and Boeing neighborhoods in the third district of Bangui.
For the second year in a row, the Indonesian Police is taking an active role in the peacekeeping mission. The INDO FPU 2 is composed of 143 police officers including 16 women, all seconded various units or department at home. More than half of the troops are from the Indonesian Mobile Brigades, a militarized police force accustomed to combat and tough counterterrorism operations. « Like all the other FPUs, I took part in a long recruiting and training process, following the tough selection of the School of Peacekeepers of the Police Academy in Jakarta. We attend a 6-month intense course. Before our deployment to CAR the tactical training we receive is based on the local context, to be ready upon landing in Bangui. We are also lucky to be able to follow an intense French class, even while in the mission, so we can better communicate with the population and our French speaking colleagues”, recounts Capitaine F. from the Counter Narcotic Police before his yearlong deployment.
The “Jaga Malam” (night duty in Indonesian Malay) starts at 8:00 pm sharp and the 10 squad members, including two policewomen, get ready: coyote uniform, blue helmet with Indonesian flag, dust goggles. With their first name inscribed on their plate holders, they look like commandos. Aligned, facing their section commander, they raise their weapons, tilting at 90 degrees, they all check the breech, with their left hand, they load their machine gun. One click and they turn around simultaneously. They bow their heads, their hands crossed holding the butt of their assault rifle. The prayer is interreligious, the members of the Muslim confreres service respecting the 24 Christians and 8 Hindus of INDO FPU 2.
Meticulously complying with COVID-19 regulations, they quickly jump into the White Phantom, a turret-mounted APC manned by an artilleryman Sergeant J. has both hands on his light machine gun, ready to protect the convoy at an angle of 360 degrees, regardless of the source of the threat. Inside the vehicle, it is hot, but the conversions between the police officers make you forget this heat. However, their readiness is also high.
Driving slowly, the convoy strolls through the red zones of Bangui. Red and blue flashes reflect empty streets. Every three hours, the two APCs stop at key locations and report: “the situation is calm”.
We are on the way back, the Phantom passes the first civilian vehicles, the curfew has just been lifted and enters Camp Garuda. The team goes down, tired but can free themselves from their equipment. Welcomed by Major J., they are all directed to the canteen to eat and enjoy a little rest.
On the other side of the camp, the FPU SWAT Squat is preparing to carry out additional patrols to protect the civilian populations of Bangui.