Freetown, Sierra Leone, May 2025— The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Ms. Seraphine Wakana, has praised Chief Superintendent Zainab Gbla of the Sierra Leone Police for her exceptional contribution to international peacekeeping, following her recent recognition as the United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year for 2025.
CSP Gbla, currently serving with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), was honored for her innovative and community-centered approach to policing in one of the most remote and underserved areas of the mission.
Among her many achievements, she used performing arts to engage children and youth, empowering them to share their stories, report human rights violations, and understand the importance of preserving evidence for justice and accountability.
Sierra Leone has been a key player in UN peacekeeping and is working to boost women’s roles in these missions,” said Ms. Wakana. “As the Resident Coordinator, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Chief Superintendent Zainab Gbla of the Sierra Leone Police, honored as UN Woman Police Officer of the Year while serving with the UN Interim Assistance Force in Abyei.”
Since joining the UNISFA mission in April 2023, CSP Gbla has led several community outreach and trust-building initiatives, including the creation of a local school programme and the launch of a community football team to foster cohesion between peacekeepers and residents. Her leadership and grassroots engagement have significantly improved community relations, crime prevention awareness, and access to justice in an area without formal national police presence.
The UN Woman Police Officer of the Year Award was formally presented to Gbla at the UN Headquarters by the UN Secretary General, António Guterresin, in New York on 29th May 2025.
Ms. Wakana noted that Gbla’s success also highlights the continued partnership between the Sierra Leone Police and the United Nations in promoting and advancing women’s roles in peacekeeping operations.
