Peacekeepers from Timor-Leste share their unique stories

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Published Feb 17, 2025

One of the main examples of successful stabilization by the UN comes from Timor-Leste, a context that was marked by 24 years of conflict during the Indonesian occupation and violent internal crises after independence. With support from the United Nations, the small Asian nation achieved self-determination and pacification.

To overcome divisions and other issues, Timor-Leste invested in reconciliation, an experience that can inspire global peace and security efforts in other contexts. Therefore, on a recent visit to the country, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, stated that “the world has a lot to learn” from the Timorese experience.

Between 1999 and 2012, Timor-Leste hosted six of the organization's missions, four of which were peacekeeping and the other two were political. The Asian nation lives under the motto “conflict never again, welcome development” and works to send more and more Timorese soldiers to stabilization missions around the world.