Residents of Abyei, a disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan, celebrated with dance and music on October 27 as Vietnamese military engineers completed the restoration of the Banton Bridge.
Bridge to peace: Vietnam’s peacekeepers win hearts in Abyei
The Banton Bridge, repaired by Vietnam's Level-2 Engineering Company Rotation 4 under the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), is more than a structure for transportation - it symbolizes connection, hope, and peace-building in a divided region.
Strategically critical to security, the local economy, and daily life in Abyei, the bridge had fallen into severe disrepair, disrupting UNISFA patrols, cutting off civilian mobility, and hampering humanitarian efforts.
Handover ceremony of Banton Bridge after repairs. Photo: Vietnam Engineering Unit Rotation 4
Assigned with the restoration task, Vietnam’s engineers faced not only technical and material challenges but also extreme weather conditions and rugged construction demands.
With ingenuity, technical skill, and unwavering commitment, the Vietnamese engineers revived the bridge in what officials described as a “miraculous” effort.
At the handover ceremony, Abyei locals broke into song and dance, celebrating the symbol of unity between soldiers and civilians.
Colonel Alexander De Lima, Chief of Staff of UNISFA, praised the team’s efforts, noting that the entire project was “completed within a week.” He called it a testament to efficient work that directly links infrastructure with regional security.
Vietnamese engineers repair the Banton Bridge. Photo: Vietnam Engineering Unit Rotation 4
Kuol Deng Rau, Acting Head of the Abyei Administration, called the bridge a result of “international partnership” that turned challenges into achievements. Alal County Commissioner Nyang Doldol Nyang praised the bridge as proof of the United Nations’ support and Vietnam’s goodwill toward Abyei.
Kon Maneit Matiok, Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Public Services, commended the Vietnamese peacekeepers for their “efficiency, discipline, and admirable work ethic.”
At the ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Trinh Van Cuong, representing the Vietnamese engineering unit, emphasized that Vietnam’s peacekeepers not only protect peace but actively build it - "brick by brick."
“Through this bridge, we are proud to make a lasting contribution to a noble mission,” he said.
Vietnam Engineering Unit Rotation 4Locals joyfully dance beside the newly repaired and fortified bridge. Photo: Vietnam Engineering Unit Rotation 4
In addition to their engineering work, the unit also distributed humanitarian supplies - mainly food and essentials - to residents living near the Banton Bridge.
These activities underscore the peacekeeping engineers' dual role as skilled technicians and “ambassadors of peace,” reflecting the spirit of "Uncle Ho’s soldiers" in both action and compassion.
Vietnam’s Engineering Unit Rotation 4 comprises 184 officers and personnel drawn from various branches including the Air Defense - Air Force Service, Navy, Military Regions 1 to 4, Corps 12, and specialized corps such as Engineers, Special Forces, Communications, as well as the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations and other agencies.
The team departed for Abyei on September 26 to succeed Engineering Unit Rotation 3.
Abyei remains a disputed region between Sudan and South Sudan. In 2011, both nations agreed to demilitarize the area and establish a joint mechanism to manage the territory, but little tangible progress has been made.
UNISFA was established in 2011 under UN Security Council Resolution 1990, tasked with protecting civilians and promoting demilitarization in Abyei.
Vietnamnet.vn
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