These messengers of peace spread President Ho Chi Minh's humanitarian aspirations in Africa.
Overcoming difficulties, the soldiers of the Ho Chi Minh Army, serving in peacekeeping forces in Africa, are building bridges and roads day by day, spreading smiles across the "black continent".
During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh taught..."Patriotism and internationalism are closely linked. Therefore, we simultaneously waged resistance and participated in the world peace movement."from this perspective"Helping a friend is helping yourself."
Inspired by President Ho Chi Minh's teachings, the Vietnamese peacekeeping forces have consistently strived to uphold those traditions over the years.
This May, amidst the sun-drenched and windswept land of Abyei, Vietnamese soldiers in blue berets are still silently toiling away on construction sites.
Imbued with President Ho Chi Minh's peace-loving ideology, Vietnam's 4th Engineering Team is transforming his humanitarian aspirations into bridges, roads, and radiant smiles in the "black continent." Through simple, dedicated actions, the 4th Engineering Team is illuminating the values of President Ho Chi Minh's peace ideology, powerfully spreading the humanistic beauty of the Ho Chi Minh's soldiers in the new era.
In the early days, the Vietnamese soldiers in blue berets faced not only challenges from the weather, disease, and lack of facilities, but also challenges related to security, political instability, safety risks, and homesickness. It was at this time that the spirit and will of the soldiers of Uncle Ho were clearly demonstrated.
At the UNISFA mission – an area frequently facing severe disruptions and shortages – the Engineering Team resolved a series of vital local challenges.
The construction and restoration of vital transportation routes, including the reconstruction of the single-lane Banton Bridge for handover to the local authorities, is not merely a technical task for the Engineering Corps, but also a direct action to protect security and promote the economic and social well-being of the entire region.
Every meter of road opened, every construction project built in Abyei is the clearest affirmation of a civilized, dedicated Vietnam, always ready to join hands in building a stable environment. While machinery reaches out to fill in deep trenches, the compassionate hearts of the soldiers are the most enduring bridge connecting directly to people's hearts, realizing the noble ideals for humanity of our beloved leader.
Closely adhering to the urgent needs of the local area, the unit has provided practical support programs. A notable achievement is the donation of 10 standard hospital beds, painstakingly brought from Vietnam by our soldiers, to the Abyei Health Department, directly easing the burden on a struggling healthcare system.
The tireless efforts of water tankers supplying clean water to the United Nations base and maintaining a weekly water supply for the local population have become a reliable lifeline during the drought.
The spirit of mutual support and compassion of the Vietnamese people extends halfway around the world, bringing the warmth of home to international friends. Recently, at the church grounds in Abyei, hundreds of gift packages containing essential goods, school supplies, and clothing sent by compatriots in Vietnam were thoughtfully handed over to women and children in Abyei by the soldiers.
Thank you, Vietnam! Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh!
Sharing his motivation for this journey, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Thanh Son - Deputy Commander of Engineering Team No. 4 - affirmed: "We work with utmost respect. We never forget Uncle Ho's teachings:Helping a friend is helping yourself.Every gift given is not just a material thing, but also a message of companionship.
By working with compassion, respect for discipline and local culture, we are contributing to building a sustainable peaceful environment, preserving traditions.When they leave, the people remember them; when they stay, the people cherish them.It continues to spread.
Every officer and soldier needs to uphold professionalism and creativity in successfully completing all tasks and establishing good relationships with local people and international colleagues."
Having personally visited the facility and witnessed firsthand the sense of responsibility and enthusiasm of the Vietnamese blue beret soldiers dedicated to the cause of education here, Mr. Karbimo Dut - Minister of Education of Abyei - could not hide his emotion and expressed his gratitude to "friends from Vietnam".
He shared that the enthusiasm and dedication of the Vietnamese peacekeeping forces have brought great hope.
"Through books and newspapers, I have come to know Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh - your great leader. Your presence and warm feelings today are the most vivid proof of those noble values," he confided.
Meanwhile, Father Archangelo Michael, representing the Church in Abyei, along with community representatives, expressed their gratitude for the thoughtful gifts from the unit. Thanks to this genuine bond, the people of Abyei have long regarded the Vietnamese soldiers as family and trusted companions.
At all the gift-giving locations, simple expressions of gratitude were heard."Thank you, Vietnam! Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh!"Their voices resounded incessantly, becoming the most objective and truthful measure of the mission of the Vietnamese blue beret soldiers.
Celebrating the 136th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth in the heart of Africa, no flower arrangement is as radiant as the happy smiles of the Abyei children, and no song is as sacred as the moment when Vietnamese soldiers and local people hold hands and sing aloud the song "As if Uncle Ho were present on this day of great victory."
The 4th Engineering Team, comprising 184 officers and personnel, was deployed from the Air Force, Navy, Military Regions 1, 2, 3, and 4; the 12th Corps; the Engineering, Special Forces, and Communications branches; the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department; and several other agencies and units. The team departed for Abyei on September 26, 2025, to replace the 3rd Engineering Team.
Abyei is a disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan. In 2011, the two countries signed an agreement committing to withdraw troops from the demilitarized zone in Abyei and establish a joint mechanism to resolve the issue. However, little substantive progress has been made to date.
UNISFA was established in 2011 under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1990 with the mission of protecting civilians and promoting demilitarization in Abyei.
