United Nations Peacekeeping

Synonymous with United Nations peacekeeping efforts to protect civilians on the ground, particularly in far-flung locations marked by fragile security contexts such as in parts of the Central African Republic (CAR), UN Temporary Operating Bases – a staple of peacekeeping operations in the field – are indispensable to peacekeeping operations.

When duty calls – whether it be to respond to sudden threats, latent crises or to conduct routine and ad hoc operations in mandate implementation – the answer oftentimes lies in the critical protection options offered by Temporary Operating Bases (TOBs): agility, mobility, proximity to vulnerable populations and the ability to – by their critical presence on the ground – swiftly diffuse tensions, respond to threats, assure protective presence, facilitate the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance, and prepare the groundwork for and consolidate stabilization efforts.

However, for the men and women in uniform from UN police- and troop-contributing countries serving with the UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA) and currently deployed to multiple Temporary Operating Bases across the CAR, life in a TOB is far from straightforward.

Access and mobility

In a country as vast as the CAR, ranked among the world’s 50 largest – yet with minimal to no infrastructure in large swaths of the territory – mobility to assure protection and security is a gigantic task.

Anywhere else in the world with fairly decent infrastructure, a 600-kilometer journey— the approximate distance between the CAR’s capital, Bangui, and the Mission’s TOB in Koui in the northwest—would be a routine affair. The reality on the ground was, however, far from predictable. It involved a flight, at least a further 10 hours on the road, parts of which had previously been mined, causing tragic fatalities among peacekeepers.

Despite the obvious hurdles along the way, including treacherous, at times nearly non-existent roads, there was a silver lining. At least it had not rained. For when it rains in these parts, manageable tracks become impassable, and barely navigable roads become deadly, often proving too much for smaller vehicles, let alone the Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) used by Force escorts. The mood remained upbeat as the convoy, comprising members of a Mission integrated team, escorted by the Senegalese Quick Reaction Force and Bangladesh Battalion of MINUSCA steadily advanced, on the way to the Koui Temporary Operating Base to secure disarmament, demobilization operations in the area. It was common knowledge that many contingents had to surmount massive distances to conduct their day-to-day work in the CAR, some spending days, if not weeks on the road. Despite a couple of reparable breakdowns to an Armored Personnel Carrier, the convoy safely arrived at the Temporary Operating Base, albeit after dark. Exhaustion was apparent among all of us, civilian peacekeepers and those in uniform alike, as was unmistakable relief for having made it to their destination without any major incident.

When morning comes

Life in a temporary base is inevitably dictated by communal living. It is often said that there is security in numbers, and that perceived sense of safety was palpable as the shared tents and folding beds were handed out to set up for the night. Yet still, one could not escape the sense of isolation as the night wore on, possibly inherent to being in the middle of nowhere. Perhaps triggered by the darkness. Or maybe by the silence of the night. It could even have been brought on by the barking dogs roaming around the tents. A generator rumbled on throughout the night, offering both comfort and periodic insomnia. Disrupted sleep might also have been due to the biting cold cutting right through the tent. The chilly nights in the Central African highlands this time of year bringing with them an abundance of moisture that stuck to all manner of surfaces, on the floor, roof and sides of the tent, seemingly instantaneously. Despite the real and perceived anxieties of the night, still, there was a silver lining every new day, when morning came without incident.

Constant adaptability

Soldiers are up decidedly early. Perhaps out of habit. Perhaps to shrewdly make use of the makeshift bathrooms out in the open before the habitual onlookers, mostly village children, start to gather and stare at the peacekeepers going about their morning routines – ablutions; water carried across the camp from a makeshift pump, past free-range goats already roaming around; some men head for the improvised prayer room as others adjust car mirrors to shave before heading out.

The nature of the work – security escorts, patrols, securing disarmament and demobilization sites and civil-military activities – also demand early set off. A hastily downed coffee and a piece of bread count for much. Whatever is on offer in the troops’ packages of rations takes on significant importance during operations, as food breaks are not a given once at work out in the field.  On the upside, a hot meal is assured at the base at the end of the workday. Tray foods placed on whatever space is available – tents, the hood of a car sometimes. Other everyday comforts – a small handheld screen showing a Champions League football game, the odd luxury of a steady wi-fi connection, and a private spot in some corner of the camp to speak to loved ones thousands of miles away at home – offering relative certainty in a setting that demands constant adaptability.

When duty calls

If there is one thing that’s certain in Koui this time of year, it is rain. Incessant rain – through the night; from dawn to early afternoon. And when it rains, gusts of wind violently shake the slight tents left and right, many of the smaller ones in particular needing occasional support to stay in place.

Rain inevitably leaves its mark on both the nature of life and tasks at hand – disrupted patrols; aborted movements; hazardous roads. As if to test the resolve of the UN blue helmets. And yet, despite the vagaries of the weather, the protection of civilians remains centre stage–perhaps best exemplified by the soldiers’ perpetually mud-caked boots and the recurrent image of rain-drenched troops atop APCs, determined to carry on – offering a glimpse into the resilience and determination of the men and women in uniform to assure security support, civilian protection, and critical operational coverage in often challenging settings.

Yet only telling a fraction of the story of the immense sacrifice of UN peacekeepers deployed to Temporary Operating Bases.

A lifeline

It’s a sacrifice of great impact, in the words of Larry Nordine Malhaba, the Sub-Prefect of Koui: “MINUSCA’s presence instills confidence and reassures the local population. Previously, the community had appealed to the Mission for the return of peacekeepers who had relocated elsewhere. The TOB provides a strong sense of security: when the Mission is here, peacekeepers ensure safety; they offer free medical assistance to the population when health concerns arise; and they conduct patrols in response to security issues. When peacekeepers are absent, however, the population feels less secure.”

According to Lt. Col. Aranda G. Assine, Commander of the MINUSCA Senegalese Light Quick Reaction Force, “Protection patrols, joint operations with the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) and Internal Security Forces (ISF) and coordinated exercises between national and MINUSCA forces have fostered trust between local populations and security forces. This translates into a strengthened sense of security and the gradual return to normalcy in the region after years of instability.”

“The TOB is part of the Mission’s commitment to strengthen local security and stability; ensure the protection of civilian populations; guarantee the safety of disarmed ex-combatants; and support the return of State authority.”