Some Members of Hanbit Unit Scheduled to Return

Hanbit Unit security troops are conducting QRF (quick reaction force) dispatch training on the 6th (local time) within the Bor Gidi compound in South Sudan. (Photo by South Sudan Joint Press Corps)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] Some members of the Hanbit Unit in South Sudan, Africa, are returning. Due to delays in mission rotation, some are expected to remain on site.

According to military authorities on the 18th, the mission rotation of the Hanbit Unit was postponed due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The Ministry of National Defense had planned to replace the 11th Hanbit Unit with the 12th on the 9th of this month, but South Sudan requested the United Nations to suspend the entry of peacekeeping forces from five countries, including South Korea, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Accordingly, around the 25th of this month, about 150 of the approximately 270 members of the 11th Hanbit Unit will return to Korea, and in early next month, about 60 more will return. The remaining 60 or so will stay in South Sudan as basic security and essential maintenance personnel.

The Ministry of National Defense stated that about 10 members of the 11th Hanbit Unit are scheduled to be discharged in early April, and to guarantee soldiers' voting rights in the April 15 general election, it appears they decided on partial return without mission rotation.

The government is reportedly continuing negotiations with the South Sudan government to ensure that the 12th unit departs and the entire 11th unit returns before the general election.

The Hanbit Unit has been deployed to South Sudan since 2013 as part of the United Nations peacekeeping forces. They support the reconstruction of roads, airports, and other infrastructure in the war-torn South Sudan region, and provide humanitarian aid such as refugee protection, water supply, and medical assistance.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.