500 Togolese soldiers in UNOCI decorated with UN Medal

The Force Commander of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), General Muhammad Iqbal Asi, on Wednesday, 18 September 2013, presided over the medal parade ceremony of the UN Mission's 18th Togolese Battalion at their camp situated in the Riviera Golf neighbourhood of Abidjan.

The Togolese Battalion, comprising 500 soldiers arrived in UNOCI on 3 April 2013 and is part of the Abidjan Sector of UNOCI Force. Among its multiple duties,
it provides security at the presidential palace and Houphouet Boigny Airport in Abidjan.

After speeches delivered by the Togolese Battalion commander and UNOCI Force Commander, the peacekeepers were decorated with the United Nations Medal by both commanders at the ceremony which was attended by local dignitaries.

The celebrations included a march past, military parades and traditional songs and dance from Togo.