The 10th Chinese Peacekeeping Troops to MINUSMA returns to China after the mission. (Photo by Wang Jinpeng)
我第10批赴马里维和部队凯旋仪式现场。王金朋摄
By Zhang Dongpan, Wang Xuechao, and Zhang Guangxuan
张东盼、汪学潮、张光轩
At the request of the United Nations (UN), China dispatched peacekeeping troops to Mali for the first time in December 2013. As the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) ended its mission in June 2023, the 10th Chinese peacekeeping troops to MINUSMA returned to China after completing their mission on December 23, 2023.
2013年12月，应联合国请求，中国首次向马里派出维和部队。2023年6月，联合国驻马里维和部队任务终止，中国第十批赴马里维和部队官兵于12月23日完成任务回国。
Located on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, Mali is characterized by its complex security situation, harsh natural environment, and rampant infectious diseases. It is therefore described as "the most dangerous mission area" by the UN. Over the past decade, the Chinese military has sent 10 batches of peacekeeping troops to Mali, including defense infantry, engineering and medical contingents, which have successfully completed multiple tasks such as guard and defense, engineering construction, and medical support.
马里地处撒哈拉沙漠南缘，安全形势复杂、自然环境恶劣、传染疾病肆虐，曾被联合国称为“最危险的任务区”。10年间，中国军队连续向马里派遣10批维和部队，包括防卫步兵分队、工兵分队以及医疗分队，圆满完成了警戒防卫、工程建设和医疗保障等多重任务。
The defense infantry contingent undertook security patrol, armed escorts, and other tasks. Stationed at the forefront of the peacekeeping super-camp and the defense perimeter, the peacekeepers of the contingent have to stand the test of blood and fire at all times.
防卫步兵分队担负警戒巡逻、武装护送等任务。身在维和超营及周边地区防卫前沿，分队官兵要时刻经受血与火的考验。
In May 2016, when a car bomb attempted to attack the Chinese peacekeeping camp, Shen Liangliang, then sentinel on duty of the 4th Chinese peacekeeping engineering contingent to MINUSMA, spent the last 37 seconds of his life sounding the alarm and directing fire, winning precious time for avoiding more casualties. He was posthumously conferred the national honorary title of People's Hero.
2016年5月，我维和营区遭遇汽车炸弹袭击，第4批赴马里维和工兵分队执勤哨兵申亮亮用生命最后的37秒，拉响警报、指挥射击，为避免更大伤亡争取了宝贵时间。他牺牲后被授予“人民英雄”国家荣誉称号。
In October of 2023, when the 10th Chinese peacekeeping troops were assisting in the construction of a hospital in Gao, an explosion occurred nearby. The defense infantry contingent guarding the perimeter immediately committed to the combat. They took advantage of the terrain and covered the construction personnel to quickly board the vehicle and safely return to the super-camp of the MINUSMA, which protected the security and safety of the peacekeepers to the maximum extent.
今年10月，第10批赴马里维和部队在加奥市医院援建工程设施时，不远处突然发生爆炸，在外围警戒护卫的防卫步兵分队立刻进入战斗状态，依托有利地形掩护施工人员迅速登车，并安全返回马里稳定团超营，最大限度地守护了维和人员安全。
The peacekeeping engineering contingent earned respect and praise from friendly troops and local residents through its high standard of operations.
工兵分队以高标准作业赢得了友军和当地居民的尊重和赞誉。
When they first arrived in Mali, they saw barren deserts, lacking clean water and power supply. Peacekeepers of the engineering contingent overcame difficulties under high temperature and built a fully equipped camp in just two weeks. Among the first peacekeeping troops deployed by the MINUSMA, the Bangladeshi peacekeeping troops have been living in a camp built by Chinese engineering troops since their arrival in the mission area. After close contact for a period long enough, the commander of the Bangladeshi peacekeeping troops said, "Due to their strict discipline and capable performance, the Chinese soldiers can accomplish their tasks very well."
初到马里时，沙地上荒芜一片，没有干净水源，没有电力保障。工兵分队官兵顶着高温攻克难关，仅用2周就建起一座设施完备的营地。作为马里稳定团最早部署到位的维和部队之一，孟加拉国维和部队自抵达任务区以来一直住在中国工兵修建的营区内，在长时间近距离接触下，其指挥官感慨地说：“中国军人能出色完成任务，源于严明的纪律和过硬的素质。”
Over the past 10 years, the Chinese peacekeeping engineering contingent to MINUSMA has leveled over 900,000 square meters of ground, built and repaired over a thousand plank houses, and assembled over 40,000 sandboxes. The MINUSMA officials and the peacekeeping troops from many other countries all spoke highly of China's speed and standard.
10年来，中国赴马里维和工兵分队累计平整场地90余万平方米，新建修复板房上千间，装配沙箱超4万个。马里稳定团官员和多国维和部队都对中国速度、中国标准给予高度肯定。
In the Mali mission areas, the lives and health of peacekeepers faced multiple risks. The arrival of the Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent provided them with effective health protection.
在马里任务区，维和官兵生命健康面临多重风险，中国维和医疗分队的到来为其提供了有力的健康保障。
In 2013, the Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent set up the only Level-2 Hospital in Sector East of the MINUSMA, which took on the responsibility of providing medical service for more than 6,000 peacekeepers and humanitarian medical assistance for the local people.
2013年，中国维和医疗分队组建了马里稳定团东战区唯一一所二级医院，承担起6000多名维和人员的医疗保障任务，并担负着为当地民众提供人道主义医疗救援的责任。
In the face of the tense security situation, peacekeepers of the medical contingent kept on standby throughout the year. One early morning in March 2020, when informed that five peacekeepers were wounded in a roadside bomb attack, the medical contingent dispatched armored ambulances to recover and treat the wounded. Then, they conducted five surgical operations in the hospital simultaneously and eventually saved all the wounded from danger after more than 50 continuous hours of hard work.
面对紧张的安全形势，医疗分队官兵全年处于备勤状态。2020年3月的一个凌晨，5名维和人员遭遇路边炸弹袭击受伤。收到消息后，分队派装甲救护车前出接收救治伤员，而后在医院同步展开5台手术，连续奋战50多个小时，让伤员全部成功脱离危险。
Over the past 10 years, the medical contingent actively carried out free medical treatment, medicine donation, and other activities in Mali, which won them high praise from the UN officials, "Chinese peacekeepers have fully demonstrated their humanitarian spirit through protecting the security and safety of civilians, especially those vulnerable groups."
10年来，医疗分队在马里积极开展的义诊、药品捐赠等活动，获得了联合国官员的好评：“中国维和官兵保护平民，尤其是弱势群体的安全，充分彰显了人道主义精神。”
Today, although the Chinese peacekeeping troops have left Mali after completing their mission, the seeds of hope they brought to the Malian people have been sowed and deeply rooted in the land. China will continue to make its due contribution to the peace and development of Mali together with the international community.
如今，中国维和部队虽然结束任务离开马里，但他们为马里人民带去的希望，已犹如一颗种子，深深扎根在这片土地上。未来，中国将继续携手国际社会，为马里实现和平发展，作出自己应有的贡献。
