Chinese Officer Earns Dual UN Honours
Chinese police officer Zhao Huan has received both the United Nations Peace Medal and an excellence award after a demanding year in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, where intermittent clashes and disease outbreaks test every blue helmet.
Life Inside a Ten-Square-Metre Container
On arrival during the mosquito-heavy rainy season, Zhao shared a weather-beaten container no bigger than ten square metres; leaks, damp walls and a persistent musty smell challenged her health, causing severe skin rashes and sleepless nights.
Calm Diplomacy under Fire
When a deadly riot erupted at UN IDP Camp Three on 8 July 2024, her convoy was intercepted by armed militants. Zhao calmly identified herself, persuaded the gunmen to stand down and continued to the camp, helping stabilise a situation that left 27 casualties.
Championing Girls’ Education
Beyond security patrols, Zhao visited communities and camps 126 times, urging girls to stay in school and encouraging local elites to advance women’s rights. “Education changes destinies,” she told students, underscoring Beijing’s commitment to gender equality in peace operations (Bastillepost, 2025).
Why Her Story Matters for Africa
Female peacekeepers remain just twelve percent of uniformed UN personnel in Africa. Analysts argue that Zhao’s decorations could motivate governments and young Africans—especially women—to volunteer, strengthening mission legitimacy and community trust across hotspots from Abyei to the Central African Republic.
Second Mission on the Horizon
After fourteen years in policing, Zhao says she is ready to deploy again. Her resolve mirrors the UN’s call for experienced officers to rotate through multiple theatres, ensuring hard-won knowledge benefits future contingents and, ultimately, the civilians they protect.