Republic of Fiji Military Forces Colonel Silipa Vananalagi has become the first Fijian woman to be appointed as the Military and Police Advisor (MPA) at Fiji’s Mission to the United Nations in New York.

Colonel Vananalagi is the second woman to be promoted to Colonel. The first was Colonel Litea Seruiratu.

She has served in the regular force service for more than 30 years. She was the Commandant of the RFMF Officers Training School at Vatuwaqa before her appointment.

She departs for New York at the end of the month. Colonel Vananalagi is from Taci, Noco in Rewa.

Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew met Colonel Vananalagi and discussions focussed on peacekeeping work conducted by the Fiji Police Force.

Twenty-six officers are currently serving in the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and deployment is significant as it marked the FPFs largest deployment of women officers.

Another officer is currently deployed under the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in Sinai.

Mr Juki said the Force appreciated the support of Fiji’s MPA in lobbying and supporting the organisation’s peacekeeping campaign from the deployment of officers, to the facilitation of UN peacekeeping in-country training.

Regional efforts in assisting Pacific law enforcement partners with UN deployment were also discussed, as the FPF reaffirms its commitment to being the region’s hub of UN Police peacekeeping training.

Colonel Vananalagi assured Mr Juki of continuing the work of outgoing Lieutenant-Colonel Neumi Vakadewabuka in supporting the FPFs UN peacekeeping campaign, not only for Fijian Police officers, but for its regional partners.

Lt-Col Vakadewabuka was appointed in 2021 and is back in Fiji after his two years of service.

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