Tag Archives: peacekeeping

Fijians leave Lebanon, but stay busy

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The Fiji Infantry Regiment dates back to at least the 1920s when the (then colony) fell under the influence of New Zealand and it was established as a local defense force– akin to territorials. By WWII, the unit was seeing service in a real shooting war, with Fijians making a name for themselves throughout the Pacific.

Fast forward to 1978 and, once the island nation became a self-governing and independent republic inside the British Commonwealth (with a short break after a military coup), the FIRgt became the cornerstone of the 3,500-man Republic of Fiji Military Forces.

A Fijian honor guard unit in their traditional uniforms at an event in 2018. Note the old-school M16A1s. The RFMF’s ethos is “Na Dina, Dodonu, Savasava,” which translates to Truth, Integrity, Purity

Unique in its structure, the three (active) battalion regiment typically has two of its battalions permanently deployed with the UN while the third remains at home for actual defense (a rarity) and training. The Fiji Regiment also has three reserve battalions should things get crazy.

Now, it seems they have a free company.

The UN recently bade farewell to 134 Fijian peacekeepers with the UNIFIL force in Lebanon. The country deployed to Beirut initially in 1978– the Republic’s first overseas mission– and has remained there off and on since then.

The job has been dangerous and no less than 35 Fijians lost their lives on the mission over the past 40 years.

“We shall keep in mind our fallen comrades in arms, who represent an example of unwavering commitment to UNIFIL and to this country,” said UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Maj. Gen. Stefano Del Col of Italy.

Don’t worry though, the Fijians still have forces deployed on UN missions in Syria (a battalion-sized unit), Iraq, Sudan, Jerusalem, and the Siani (another battalion)— meaning about a quarter of their entire force (and two-thirds of their infantry) is currently wearing the blue beret.

Jadotville gets its due

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In the ongoing crapshow that was the Katanga conflict, A Company, 35th Irish Infantry Battalion, led by Commandant Pat Quinlan, was part of the United Nations Operation in the Congo (ONUC) peacekeeping mission in the region in 1961.

The mixed force of 150 men, armed with the random collection of WWI/WWII era equipment that the Irish forces were known for at the time, held the village of Jadotville (modern Likasi) against a determined force of (up to) 3,000 Katangan gendarme–mostly bands of Luba warriors– led by French, Belgian and Rhodesian mercenaries and supported by light artillery (WWI-era French 75s) and a French-made Fouga CM.170 Magister*, a jet trainer that could carry cannon, rockets and small bombs.

Winning a tactical victory, the Irish refused to quit for a full week until they were out of ammo, short of water, and with no relief in sight– without losing a life. Surrendering, their story was one of shame instead of victory due to striking their flag. Well, that has finally been reversed in recent years and a film has been made of the fight. Great footage of the Vickers dotting up the Magister.

The film, set to release on October 8 on Netflix, is based on the book and scholarship about Jadotville book by Declan Power, who gives a great synopsis and overview in the interview below.

(*Ironically, the Irish Air Corps operated six Fouga Magisters from 1975 to 1999, four of which equipped the Silver Swallows display team, and were the last armed jets the Irish flew).

UNOCI comes to an end

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Bangladeshi UN soldiers sit on top of armoured vehicles during a patrol in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, photo via AFP

Bangladeshi UN soldiers with blue painted U.S. M1 helmets sit on top of Soviet-made armored vehicles and carry Chinese spiker Type 56 AKMs during a patrol in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, photo via AFP

In something rarely seen in recent years where nation building seems to never conclude, the UN Security Council has lifted remaining sanctions on the Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) and will end the peacekeeping mission there.

Some 6,000 UN peacekeepers and international police will leave Ivory Coast by next April, and in June the UN mission will officially close after 12 years in the country.