Woman Inspector Cakacaka returns from Abyei

Being the first to establish Fiji's United Nations footprints in a new mission area, Inspector Rusila Cakacaka says she hopes her achievement will inspire other women officers.

Inspector Cakacaka who is originally from Nakama in Labasa returned after a 20-month tour of duty with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and was the first Fijian deployed to the mission area located on the border of South Sudan and Sudan.

Apart from routine mission duties, IP Cakacaka was given the responsibility of Chief Admin overseeing the administrative work in the UNISFA Commissioner’s Office in Abyei, and overseeing administrative issues of officers and civilians.

The experience helped her broaden her knowledge of international cooperation, having to interact with the UN Office in New York and the conduct of virtual meetings.

IP Cakacaka says her tasks also included overseeing the recruitment of staff at the UNISFA camp.

The outbreak of the global pandemic in 2020, meant conducting the majority of her work online, which she says taught her the importance of being innovative and being able to adapt to any situation.

Being the only Fijian officer serving in UNISFA was difficult at first, but words of encouragement from family and loved ones and friends in Fiji made the difficult situation more bearable.

IP Cakacaka who previously held the post of Station Officer- Lautoka prior to her deployment, says she is content and grateful for the opportunity given to serve as the first Fijian officer in Abyei.

Following IP Cakacaka’s deployment, two other senior Fijian officers have since been deployed to UNISFA in the field of Training and Administrative.

IP Rusila Cakacaka (left) prior to her departure in February 2020 and (right) after completing the Reintegration Program this week after returning from a 20-month tour of duty with UNISFA.