"I saw people coming from different parts of the world just to help bring peace in my country,” said Chief Superintendent Zainab Gbla, speaking to UN News just ahead of receiving her award this week for UN Woman Police Officer of the Year.

She’s been serving in Abyei, a disputed oil-rich region straddling Sudan and South Sudan, since April 2023, as the Chief Police Training Officer for the interim security force there, UNISFA.

Ms. Gbla’s award recognises her innovative community engagement initiatives which have strengthened relations between host communities and the UN mission.

UN News' Emma Trager-Lewis sat down with her ahead of the award ceremony and started by asking what drew her to serve as a ‘blue helmet’.