When Nigeria leads on the global stage, its flag does not just fly - it commands respect. That was the tone set by former Force Commander, United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), Major General Olufemi Sawyerr, as he reflected on his international mission experience and how it shapes Nigeria’s foreign policy posture.
Zig Diaries | Defence & Diplomacy
Date: Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Time: 13:30 WAT
Location: 📍 Abuja, Nigeria
The retired senior officer, who led the Abyei mission staed this during an exclusive interview with Security and Defence Corespondent Nokai Origin in Abuja, noting that being at the helm of such a critical UN operation was both “a thing of joy” and a major diplomatic win for Nigeria.
According to the former Force Commander, “When you see a mission being headed by a general from your own country, it projects that country. The last time we had someone head a UN mission was long ago. So when I came on board, I was well accepted in the UN system.”
Under his command, the mission brought together eight contingents - from Ghana, Nigeria, China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Vietnam, with a total of about 3,500 peacekeepers under one operational structure. This, he said, amplified Nigeria’s leadership profile and aligned with the country’s foreign policy objectives of regional and international engagement.
Beyond military command, the mission offered rare diplomatic exposure. “It gave me an opportunity to interact with people from different parts of the world,” he said, describing how both uniformed and civilian personnel from multiple nationalities experienced Nigeria’s leadership first-hand.
He particularly highlighted the professionalism of the Nigerian base defence company of about 161 troops stationed at the UNISFA camp. “The Nigerian-based defence company showed a very high level of professionalism. When people broke into the camp to steal, they arrested them without molestation and handed them over to local authorities,”
In one incidents he recalled, stolen items were recovered in less than an hour - a reflection of the Nigerian Army’s operational discipline before the international community.
Another strategic layer of his mission was high-level engagement with government officials of both Sudan and South Sudan, two countries at the heart of the Abyei conflict. “It was very interesting because I had to meet with the highest leadership of both countries. You see the interplay of international politics and how conflicts arise unnecessarily,” he explained, noting how such engagements sharpened Nigeria’s diplomatic voice in conflict resolution.
General Sawyerr’s leadership in Abyei not only showcased operational competence but also projected Nigeria’s image as a credible actor in peacekeeping and international diplomacy.
🏷️ Tags: Nigeria, UNISFA, Peacekeeping, Foreign Policy, Sudan, South Sudan, Abyei, Military Diplomacy, Nigerian Army, International Relations
#Nigeria #UNISFA #Peacekeeping #Defence #ForeignPolicy #Abyei #ZigDiaries #MilitaryDiplomacy #Security #Sudan #SouthSudan
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