On December 30, senior local leaders were present at the site, underscoring the project’s significance for security and livelihoods across the entire region.
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Regional leaders touring the construction site |
Against the roar of engines and clouds of dust rising from the dry-season construction site, the appearance of Kuol Deng Rau, Chief Administrator of the Abyei Area, together with Kon Manyiet Matiok, Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works, was a powerful encouragement for the Vietnamese blue berets.
Standing beside road sections gradually taking shape, the Abyei Area Chief Administrator said, “These vital transport routes are strategic corridors enabling people to access essential services and stimulating economic activity. We are grateful to the Government and the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam for deploying elite forces to assist our country.”
Minister Kon Manyiet Matiok praised the quality of the work, “I highly commend Vietnam’s Engineering Company Rotation 4 for its professional and technical competence, as well as its strict compliance with the U.N.’s highest safety and technical standards. Under harsh weather conditions, your tireless dedication to maintaining both progress and roadbed quality is truly admirable.”
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Vietnamese blue berets working tirelessly to complete the project |
Responding to local expectations, commanding officers of the unit remain constantly present at the site, closely directing each construction effort. Affirming the unit’s determination, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Thanh Son, Deputy Head of Vietnam’s Engineering Company Rotation 4, stressed that with the spirit of “overcoming scorching sun and prevailing over rain,” they are racing against time. Although the work is being carried out urgently and is not yet fully completed, the goal of ensuring absolutely safe traffic flow for all vehicles must be achieved at all costs.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Cong, Political Commissar of the Engineering Company Rotation 4, said, “Every meter of road completed is a commitment by Vietnam to the international community. We work for peace and development of the people here.”
Regarding technical solutions, Lieutenant Colonel Van Dinh Quy, the unit’s Deputy Head, said that the unit is applying advanced measures to comprehensively address damage left by the rainy season. “The requirement is speed combined with sustainability. We are focusing on reinforcing weak subgrade soil and thoroughly treating areas that were previously waterlogged, ensuring stable movement for both logistics convoys and civilian traffic.”
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The spirit of “overcoming scorching sun and prevailing over rain” among Vietnamese engineers |
Along the routes connecting Banton with Anthony and Angok, it is easy to see the joyful smiles of local residents. Whenever a road roller passes by, children wave excitedly, while mothers pause by the roadside to watch, their faces reflecting clear hope for a future no longer divided by poor infrastructure.
At the construction site, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dinh Viet, Head of Bridge and Road Section, the unit which directly executes the work, said, “Seeing the happiness of the local people, all the exhaustion under the 40-degree Celsius sunlight seems to melt away. Many residents passing by have stopped to shake our hands and say ‘Thank you, Vietnam.’ That is the motivation for our troops to finish early so people can resume trade at the start of the New Year.”
Today, these paths have become corridors of trust and renewal. Roads that transform day by day stand as living proof of the intellect and iron will of Vietnam’s blue berets, peace ambassadors tirelessly weaving hope in the remote borderland of Abyei.
By Hai Yen (from Abyei)
Translated by Tran Hoai