Honouring UN Peacekeepers: Tanzania identifies new threats to peace, security missions

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Europe

02:40

As it commemorates the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, Tanzania has identified new threats to peace and security. In Dar es Salaam, hundreds of people have paid tribute to Tanzanians who lost their lives serving at UN missions. Last year, the East African nation lost 20 troops -- most of them in the DRC. CGTN's Daniel Kijo has more.

Tanzania joined global peacekeeping efforts 13 years ago and this soldier says it is a life of uncertainty.

LT COL SHIJA RUPI, PEACEKEEPER "The life of peacekeepers in the area of operation is unpredictable."

Tanzania currently contributes peacekeepers in six UN missions in Africa and UNIFIL in Lebanon With the intention to help countries transition from war to peace. And to support the fight against terrorist threats.

AUGUSTINE MAHIGA, FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER, TANZANIA "There is what we call asymmetrical warfare, caused by a threat of terrorist nature. After the decisive defeat in the middle east global terrorism is looking for space on the African continent to continue with their agenda."

Last December Tanzania lost 15 soldiers and many more were injured in an ambush while peacekeeping in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite this, the country says it remains focused on continuing its support enforcing peace on the continent.

DANIEL KIJO, DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA "The foreign minister says Tanzania is considered a valuable player in global peacekeeping. And now on this day, the government says it will strongly continue the fight to maintain peace against new and emerging threats."

Tanzania has provided 2,700 military and police personnel to UN peace operations so far and is ranked the 9th largest among member states currently contributing personnel to the larger UN peacekeeping force. A contribution the UN is keen to recognize.

ALVARO RODRIGUEZ, RESIDENT COORDINATOR, UN TANZANIA "Now for Tanzania, in particular, we consider it a very important day. Because Tanzania for the last 15 years has been heavily involved in peacekeeping operations and has sustained many losses."

UN peacekeeping deploys more than 100,000 military, police and civilian personnel in 14 peacekeeping operations on across the world. As Tanzania honors its fallen heroes, it is reaffirming its pledge of support for UN peacekeeping operations. Daniel Kijo CGTN, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.