City-based officer recognised for UN mission in Congo

Published on Thursday 24 March 2011 12:54

AN army officer based at Craigiehall has been made an OBE in today's Operational Honours List.

Colonel Guy Deacon, chief of staff at Army HQ 2nd Division, has been recognised for his service on the United Nations' peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He spent 18 months in the country, commanding troops and helping persuade rebels to surrender and adopt peaceful lives.

Col Deacon, 49, of the Queen's Dragoon Guards, was based in the volatile Kivu region, initially running the UN's forward headquarters and co-ordinating activities of three brigades in the area.

He became senior military advisor to the mission's Disarmament, Demobilisation, Regeneration, Repatriation and Resettlement directorate (DDRRR).

Col Deacon said one of his most important roles was persuading rebels to surrender, particularly members of the The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, or FDLR.

He said: "They are, in simple terms, the residue of the Hutu population that fled to Congo after the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. That force is pitted against, primarily, the National Army of Congo.

"I was there to try and support the National Army of Congo in its campaigns against the FDLR and latterly I was there with the DDRRR and our job was to try and encourage rebel leaders and foot soldiers to surrender to us.

"We would, in return, repatriate them to Rwanda or return them to peaceful livelihoods in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was entirely different to any operation that anybody's ever been on."

He said it had been "tremendous" to work with such a multinational force. During his first nine months he commanded 20,000 troops, a quarter of them Indian, a quarter Bangladeshi, a quarter Pakistani and the remainder from other nations.

Col Deacon said he was very proud of the success of the DDRRR. He said: "During my time the numbers went up from about 100 people surrendering every month to about 150, and we reduced the number of FDLR rebels in the field through that time.

"I'm jolly proud. It's good to be recognised for a small part that the UK plays in a funny part of the world."

His OBE citation reads: "Some of his most recent work could lay the foundations for major operational advances in the future.

"In all, Col Deacon has made a very valuable and prolonged contribution to the UN peacekeeping work in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"In harsh and demanding conditions, he has shown great perseverance and initiative, which have won him much respect and admiration."

An army spokeswoman said: "We are thrilled to hear of Col Deacon's award. He worked tirelessly for 18 months to help improve the lives of the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It also serves as a reminder of how busy the British Army is in operations in other parts of the world."

[e-mail]