Keeping the peace
Task Group 633.2 proves that a small team can have a huge impact, but only with a mammoth support element behind it.

By Corporal Simone Liebelt

Commander of the Australian Contingent, SQNLDR Ruth Elsley, with Staff Officer Operations, MAJ Sami Silmu, from Finland, and Sudanese children from a local village.

Australian contingent member, LCDR Russell Crawford, left, on a patrol in Sudan with other UN Military Observers.

Photos provided by SQNLDR Elsley.

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* Nine ADF members, including two from Air Force, have spent the past five months on Operation Azure as part of the UN Mission in Sudan. The Australians have been working with personnel from 28 countries as UN Military Observers and UN staff officers across Sudan.

NEARLY five months after arriving in war-ravaged Sudan for Operation Azure, the Commander of the Australian Contingent (COMASC) says the deployment has been a life-changing experience.

Squadron Leader Ruth Elsley, an air traffic control officer from No. 44 Wing, spoke to Air Force News for the first time since leading the nine-strong, to be increased to 15, ADF team into the north African country to take part in the United Nations Mission in Sudan.

She says the challenge began with “a bit of a shock to the system”.

“Within 24 hours of arriving in the country, we were conducting a driver’s test in a left-hand drive vehicle on the right-hand side of the road, in what can only be described as uncontrolled, chaotic traffic,” she says.

“Being in a ‘start-up mission’ posed a great number of challenges to all the personnel deployed, especially in a country with such poor infrastructure and extreme climatic conditions as Sudan.

“For the first five months, the southern part of the country was in the midst of the rainy season, which meant the establishment of team sites and movement of logistical equipment was almost impossible. In one road trip, it took an Australian and Sudanese member over nine hours to travel 165km.

“Khartoum also experiences horrendous dust storms called the ‘haboob’, which render visibility down to about 100m at best, and covers everything, including the inside of your lungs, with a fine silt dust. The temperature in Khartoum hasn’t been below 39 degrees [Celsius], and most days are certainly above 41 degrees.”

Despite the challenges, she says her team had very little trouble establishing their roles in the mission due to their “high skill levels, professionalism and outstanding work ethic”.

“The Australians are all very highly regarded within the mission, and are sought after in a variety of roles, often outside the scope of their nominated position,” she says.

The contingent members have been integrated into sectors throughout Sudan in the roles of UN Military Observers and UN Staff Officers. Military Observers work in patrols to monitor groups and ensure they accord with the terms of the peace agreement, and staff officers are involved in aviation safety, air operations and movement control.

All contingent members work with a combination of personnel from the 28 contributing countries, including Denmark, China, Peru, and Brazil.

In addition to the role of COMASC, Squadron Leader Elsley is also the only Aviation Safety Officer in the mission, and is responsible for covering an area the size of Western Australia with more than 30 aviation assets.

“Integration has been good considering the incredible mixture of culture, languages and work ethic,” Squadron Leader Elsley says.

“The abilities and levels of professionalism have been highly commended by many personnel from a number of nations. It has been mentioned several times to me as Commander of the Contingent that the Aussies are an asset to the mission wherever they are located. I have been very privileged to have the command of such a dedicated group of ADF members.”

She says what has been particularly memorable is the friendliness and gratitude of the Sudanese people.

“There is always an overwhelming positive reaction from the people when they learn that we are from Australia. The Sudanese have all said that they have heard that Australia is a very beautiful country and they want to know how to live there.

They are also incredibly glad to have UN personnel in the country and have expressed how happy they are to have a real chance of peace after such a long time.

“The highlight of the mission has been seeing the Sudanese smile, and it is encouraging to know that these special children now have the chance to grow up in a country where they don’t have to learn how to pick up a weapon and kill their fellow countrymen.”

The next rotation of personnel will deploy on Operation Azure next month.

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