PHNOM PENH: A total 73 members of the Cambodian Blue Helmet Force have returned to Cambodia on Tuesday. They have completed a UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. Director General of the National Center for Peacekeeping Forces, General Sem Sovanny has welcome the troops congratulating them for the successful mission abroad.

The 73 members of the Blue Helmet force, including 28 women from the 186th Royal Gendarmerie Squadron have returned to Cambodia after the successful completion of year-long peacekeeping mission in the Republic of South Sudan.

The return of the troop was welcomed by the Director General of the National Center for Peacekeeping Forces, General Sem Sovanny, and some Blue Helmet Army leaders at the Phnom Penh International Airport. The General welcomed the Blue Helmets back and congratulated them for a successful mission abroad. He also relayed further messages of greetings from Prime Minister Hun Sen, Minister of Defence Tea Banh and Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhon.

The rotating division taking their place in South Sudan will be the 739th Royal Gendarmerie Squadron, with a total force of 73 people, including 34 women. 2021 marks the 10th year of Cambodia’s participation in the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, but the Kingdom has been sending Blue Helmet Troops on various UN peacekeeping missions since 2006.

A total of 7,899 personnel has been deployed so far, exemplifying the Cambodian force’s good cooperation, discipline and courage to perform its role at any time and in any region of the world.