13th February 2022 21:51:58 Hours
None other than Mr El-Ghassim Wane, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (UNSG) and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) on Saturday (12) soon after his attendance at the formal Medal Parade of the Sri Lankan Army's Combat Convoy Company (CCC) in Mali where the CCCs have only been employed in the most complex UN Peace-Keeping Operations (UNPKO), in a tweet recognizes 'the incredible work of the Sri Lanka Army Combat Convoy Company (CCC) in securing the supply of UN bases in Mali '.
" The supply of our bases in Mali over long & treacherous roads under the MINUSMA of the UN is the most complex UNPKO, the only one to employ CCCs and today I attended a medal parade in Gao, in recognition of the incredible work of the Sri Lanka Army Combat Convoy Company (CCC) of the MINUSMA," stated UNSG's Special Representative who took the salute of the Sri Lankan contingent, about to return home after completion of their tenure in Mali.
Meanwhile, in a retweet reply to Mr El-Ghassim Wane, the MINUSMA East Sector Commander Stefan J Andersson who was also the former Commander Sector West, MINUSMA describes " Sri Lankan CCC as an excellent unit with very professional and loyal troops. Grateful to have this Unit in the Sector East and I am proud of them," he responded to the UNSG Special Representative's comment.
At present, the Sri Lanka's 3rd contingent (LKACCC), including 20 Officers and 223 Other Ranks, engaged in convoy protection duties in Mali, a country marred by jihadist insurgency, self-claimed armed defenders and tribal violence is about to complete their tenure shortly and return home. Since the year 2017, the Sri Lanka Army has been dispatching combat convoy troops to Mali as requested by the UN.
Mr El Ghassim Wane earlier too during a meeting with a visiting Sri Lankan delegation went on record saying his appreciation for the Sri Lanka Army Combat Convoy Company (LKACCC) serving in landlocked Mali, tweeting that "Sri Lankan CCC is a tremendous asset for United Nations MINUSMA" and that he appreciates "excellent performance of Sri Lankan CCC members in protecting MINUSMA convoys in a challenging environment".
Here follows the reproduced tweet message:
