Cambodia sends 355 peacekeepers to S. Sudan, CAR, Lebanon

Phnom Penh

Cambodia has dispatched 355 new peacekeepers, including 86 women, to join United Nations peacekeeping missions in South Sudan, the Central African Republic (CAR), and Lebanon. The peacekeepers will replace those whose one-year assignments have concluded.

Major General Sem Ratana, acting Director-General of Cambodia’s National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces, stated that 73 military police personnel will serve in the UN Mission in South Sudan, 98 explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialists will join the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the CAR, and 184 multi-role engineers will assist the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.

At the send-off ceremony in Phnom Penh, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Tea Seiha emphasized that the peacekeepers would engage in critical tasks such as mine clearance, road and bridge engineering, and other humanitarian efforts. He noted that the deployment reflects the UN’s trust in Cambodia’s ongoing contributions to global peace and security.

Since Cambodia first deployed troops in 2006, the country has sent 9,826 peacekeepers, including 857 women, to 10 countries. Currently, Cambodian peacekeepers are serving in South Sudan, Lebanon, CAR, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Cambodia, once a recipient of UN peacekeeping support, has become one of ASEAN’s leading contributors to global peace efforts, with its deminers saving lives and clearing landmines to make areas safe for civilian use.