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The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres has congratulated Sierra Leonean Policewoman, Superintendent Zainab Gbla after winning the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year.
“Congratulations to Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone, our UN Woman Police Officer of the Year,” Guterres stated on social media, X.
Gbla spoke on motivation to serve far away from home.
“I saw people coming from different parts of the world just to help bring peace in my country,” Gbla told UN News.
The policewoman is a member of the UN Interim Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
Abyei is a disputed oil-rich region straddling Sudan and South Sudan. Gbla has been on peacekeeping in Abyei since April 2023, as the Chief Police Training Officer for the interim security force there.
The UN said the award recognises her innovative community engagement initiatives which have strengthened relations between host communities and the UN mission.
Gbla’s recognition as the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year is a testament to the impact of Sierra Leoneans and other dedicated peacekeepers in some of the world’s most challenging environments. Her work in Abyei exemplifies the power of community-focused policing and the vital role of women in international peace and security efforts.
