Indonesian police contingent honored for securing Central African Republic elections
President Prabowo Subianto awarded medals to 140 Indonesian peacekeepers who secured presidential elections in the Central African Republic, part of Indonesia's role as the fifth-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions worldwide.
Indonesian police tasked with candidate security in Central Africa
Indonesian police peacekeepers who helped secure the Central African Republic's December 2025 elections received presidential honors Monday at a ceremony in Jakarta, highlighting Indonesia's expanding role in international peacekeeping operations.
The 140 members of the Garuda Bhayangkara contingent, deployed as the seventh Formed Police Unit (FPU-7) under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), were awarded the Satyalancana Bhakti Buana medal by President Prabowo Subianto. National Police Deputy Chief Commissioner General Wahyu Hadiningrat presented the medals on the president's behalf at police headquarters.
The presidential honor recognizes National Police personnel who demonstrate exceptional discipline while carrying out UN peacekeeping duties.
Head of the National Police International Mission Bureau Brigadier General Tommy Wibisono emphasized the contingent's unique assignment during the country's combined presidential, legislative, and local elections held on December 28, 2025. In those elections, incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadéra secured a third term with 76.15 percent of the vote, while the local polls marked the first such elections in the Central African Republic in over 36 years.
"Although there were contingents from several other countries, the Indonesian team was entrusted with securing presidential and vice-presidential candidates during the elections," Wibisono said.
Broader humanitarian mission
The peacekeeping operation extended beyond security and political stabilization. Wibisono highlighted the contingent's humanitarian activities, noting that a platoon of female officers was specifically assigned to engage with mothers and children in the region.
"We had a platoon of female officers assigned to engage with mothers and children there. In other words, we also carried out humanitarian missions," he explained.
The FPU-7 task force returned to Indonesia after completing a one-year deployment, following the standard rotation pattern for Indonesian police peacekeeping units. An FPU-8 contingent has been dispatched to continue the mission.
MINUSCA was established by the UN Security Council on April 10, 2014, with protection of civilians as its utmost priority. The mission was initially authorized to deploy 10,000 military personnel and 1,800 police, with responsibilities including security sector reform, disarmament and reintegration of armed groups, and supporting justice initiatives. Its mandate has been extended multiple times, most recently until November 15, 2026.
Despite improvements, the Central African Republic's security situation remains fragile, with armed group activity persisting in northwestern and eastern regions, cross-border security challenges, and spillover effects from the conflict in Sudan affecting the northeast. According to the UN Secretary-General's June 2026 report, 1,331 former combatants have been disarmed and demobilized since July 2025, contributing to improved security conditions.
Indonesia's peacekeeping commitment
Indonesia currently ranks as the fifth-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping forces globally, with approximately 2,700 to 2,750 personnel deployed across eight missions, including operations in Lebanon, Congo, South Sudan, and Western Sahara.
This commitment builds on a nearly seven-decade tradition. Since first joining UN peacekeeping operations in 1957 with the United Nations Emergency Force in Sinai, Egypt, Indonesia has contributed more than 24,000 personnel through its Garuda Contingent across 30 missions.
Indonesian police FPU contingents receive specialized training before deployment, including English and French language proficiency, electronic communications, mechanics, riot control, and driving in conflict-prone areas, ensuring they can effectively operate in challenging environments.
Wibisono noted ongoing coordination with the United Nations regarding potential Indonesian participation in new peacekeeping missions in other regions. He emphasized that the presidential decoration would serve as motivation for police personnel to continue fulfilling their duties.
Reflecting National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto's leadership motto of "Police with the People," Wibisono concluded: "We stand with the people at home, and with the global community abroad."