When UN Police Officer Zainab Mbalu Gbla first stepped into the arid plains of Tajalei, a remote corner of the Abyei region in 2023, she found a land stripped bare not only by conflict but by silence—no schools, no laughter, no learning.
It reminded her of her own country, Sierra Leone, which was just coming out of conflict when she joined the police as a fresh university graduate.
Years later, in Abyei, a region on the border of South Sudan and Sudan which has been in conflict for decades, Chief Supt. Gbla was enthusiastic, and despite the desperation, she wanted to make a difference. Where some saw helplessness, she saw hope and possibility. It is no surprise then that this dedicated officer has been named the 2024 UN Woman Police Officer of the Year.
“I feel fulfilled. It is a testament that hard work pays. This is a dream come true. This award is not for me alone, it is for the women and children of Abyei because they go through a lot, and my colleagues, especially women peacekeepers in the field,“ she told Africa Renewal in an interview at the UN headquarters in New York where she received her award.
“This award symbolises the tireless work of the women in uniform who serve under the UN Flag. Each one of us faces unique challenges in our respective missions, yet our collective goal remains the same—to foster peace and protect the vulnerable,” said Chief Supt. Gbla.
Her story is about lifting spirits, building trust, and transforming communities with books, seeds, and a football.
“Having been inspired by seeing the positive impact of the police firsthand, including the rebuilding and restructuring of the Sierra Leone Police following years of conflict, Chief Supt Gbla embodies the work of the UN to improve lives and shape futures,” said Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
What drives her determination?
“I’m a war survivor. I have been an IDP, I have been a refugee. I have tasted war. I know hunger. When I saw the people of Abyei, I felt emotionally attached because I have been through similar experiences. I was empathetic and wanted to help make a difference,” she said.
Building classrooms
Chief Supt. Gbla arrived at UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in April 2023 as a gender officer, assigned to Tajalei. Finding no schools in the area—she created one.
With creativity and limited resources, she launched an informal school for village children. Her lessons weren’t just about math and languages, they were also lessons of hope, and in the power of being seen.
Using visual aids and performing arts, she engaged children who had never sat in a classroom before. She mentored girls aged 14 to 20, offering lessons on hygiene, confidence, and overcoming challenges.
The culmination of this effort was the International Day of the Girl Child celebrations on 11 December 2024, where the community came together, complete with costumes, a dancing and drawing competition, and most importantly—parents hopeful for a brighter future.
Women’s empowerment
Chief Supt. Gbla’s vision extended beyond the children’s classroom. Teaming up with the UNPOL Gender Adviser and other UN agencies, she launched a women’s empowerment farming initiative, where they distributed seeds to women.
The resulting harvest didn’t just yield crops—it brought income. Many used their earnings to send their children to school in Abyei town, creating a cycle of education and empowerment.
She also encouraged women to rear livestock—goats, sheep, chickens—which they are now selling across the region. This has boosted their earnings.
To reach young people, Chief Supt. Gbla turned to sport. She helped put together a football team in Tajalei and initiated friendly matches between locals and UN peacekeepers. This gesture helped foster friendship and strengthen trust between the two groups.
Why use sports? “Because sports bring people together,” she said.
The work continues
Currently, Chief Supt. Gbla serves as Chief Training Officer at the UNISFA headquarters. Here, her passion for peace took on a new form: capacity building.
From teaching early warning signs and road safety to training on child protection, community-oriented policing, and human rights, she equips the Community Protection Committees (CPC) and Joint Protection Committees (JPC) to become guardians of law and order in Abyei.
An outspoken advocate against the use of children in armed conflict, her work bridges the worlds of peacekeeping and prevention.
As for her message to African youth? “Embrace peace. We need a paradigm shift - avoid negative thoughts and be positive. Just love one another, you are Africa’s future.”
About Chief Superintendent Zainab Mbalu Gbla
She joined the Sierra Leone Police in 2002, where she has since held various roles in operations, training, and leadership.
She has been serving with UNISFA since April 2023 as Officer-in-Charge of the Community-Based Disarmament Unit and UNPOL Chief Training Officer.
This is her third peacekeeping deployment, after serving with the United Nations – African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) in 2010–2013 and 2020–2021.
About the Awards:
The United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year award was established in 2011 to recognize the exceptional contributions of women police officers to UN peace operations and to promote women’s empowerment, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
The Resolution also calls for the protection from, and prevention of, conflict-related sexual violence and for an expansion of the role and contribution of women in UN operations, including of uniformed women peacekeepers.
