El Fasher (Sudan) – “Now we see thousands of refugees seeking the borders to escape the violence”, this is the account of the only Brazilian military in Sudan, Major Gabriela Rocha Bernardes. Since the 15th, Sudan has become the stage for conflicts between the armed forces and paramilitary groups in a great dispute for power. The clashes started days before the signing of the final agreement for Sudan’s political transition from the country’s military to civilians.
The Brazilian Army officer started a pioneering work serving one of the newest UN missions in the African continent. Since June 2022, she has been a reporting officer for the Permanent Ceasefire Committee of the United Nations Integrated Transitional Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), a position that aims to monitor and record the ceasefire agreements and negotiations in the Darfur region, western Sudan.
Major Gabriela tells that she is a volunteer and was prepared by the Army to represent Brazil at the UN in the peace process in Sudan. However, the situation in the last few days took a turn. “Nobody expected the outbreak of such violence,” she explains.
According to the Major, the UN guidance is for its members to stay in their homes and await further instructions, and adds that, practically, the only option is aerial evacuation. “I and about 100 UN and humanitarian agency personnel are waiting and we believe this is about to happen.”
Despite the twist in the end of the mission, the military demonstrates the value of the Soldier of Caxias and understands that a situation like the one she has been living in the last few days can happen in this type of mission. “It’s not easy, but we manage to contribute with our country’s presence to the UN and the international community, which needs peace so much, particularly at this time that the world is going through,” adds the Major.