A total of 15 members of the Vanuatu Mobile Force are expected to leave the country on United Nations Peace keeping duty in Ivory Coast – also known as Cote d’Ivoire, in West Africa this month on August 17.
Vanuatu Mobile Force Commander, Job Esau, says this is the largest contingent to date to serve on a UN Peacekeeping Mission anywhere in the world.
Commander Esau makes the announcement to break his silence following his return to the VMF from his former position as Acting Commissioner of Police in the most recent past.
Asked to explain the recruitment process, the Commander says the UN personally interviewed the candidates by phone, shortlisted them then put them through a series of tests.
He says the men have already qualified in pistol shooting and the last preparation took place yesterday morning, without elaborating what type of training they undertook.
“At the end the UN selected 15 most suitable members of the Force to serve on its Mission”, he says.
He is confident of his men’s skills and qualifications saying there should not be any barrier to stop them from successfully carrying out their UN duties.
While it is a 2-year contract, the men’s contracts could be extended pending their completing the first year. “Today I have returned to the VMF as their Commander to finalise their deployment,” he says.
In addition he says anyone that leaves the country to serve in his or her line of duty has a duty to do so with excellence as an ambassador of the Republic of Vanuatu. “In our case, my men are going to represent the people of Vanuatu and their customs and culture and traditions and religious values, as our ambassadors to Ivory Coast in West Africa”, he says.
“This is the power base from which they can help to bring back peace and stability to that country.”
According to 2013 census, the population of Ivory Coast is 20.23 million people.