A female train driver from Cameroon, who has defied the odds to become a pioneering figure in a male-dominated profession, encourages young women across the country to pursue their dreams despite the challenges.
Known affectionately as the "Night Queen of the Rails", Sandrine Nyambon stands out as one of the few women in Cameroon's rail industry, blazing a trail in a male-dominated sector.
She works for Camrail, a company operating passenger and freight traffic in the country.
Each day, Nyambon leaves her family behind to head to one of the main train stations in Yaoundé, capital of Cameroon, where she begins her routine.
"You visit the locomotive and make sure that everything is fine and that there are no worries. As soon as you've finished, you go back to your supervisor to tell him you're done. The supervisor then gives you the paper confirming that the track is clear and that you can go on to the other station. So, all the conditions are met for you to go to the other station, and the supervisor authorizes you to leave," she explained.
The early days of her career were challenging for her family, as her husband and children initially struggled to accept her role as a train driver.
"It took my husband a while to understand, and even the children complained at first, and were always looking for Mom. But then they got used to it, and now they are the ones chasing me out of the house, like "Mom, are you not going to work". It's a routine now, they know that Mum's going to go out and be away perhaps for two days. They've already got the hang of it," Nyambon said.
For Nyambon, her journey is not merely about breaking gender barriers; it's also about inspiring the next generation. As a female train driver, she embodies a shift in societal norms and serves as a beacon of hope for young girls who might have once considered such careers out of reach.
"I've already got used to the idea that it's a job like any other. I started and realized that I could. So, when you already know you can, you take away the fact that it's a job reserved for men. There's no such thing as a men-only job, maybe there is, but if you can already do this kind of work, that means there's nothing men-only about it," she said.
Cameroonian female train driver breaks barriers in male-dominated profession, inspiring future generations
Preliminary findings indicate that Israeli tank fire and a Hezbollah explosive were likely responsible for the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers in Lebanon last week, a UN spokesperson said at a daily briefing on Tuesday.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) shared the initial findings of its inquiry with the governments of Indonesia, Israel and Lebanon, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
He said these are preliminary findings based on initial physical evidence, adding that a full UN investigation continues.
The spokesman said that all actors must fulfill their obligations to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers at all times. The inviolability of UN installations must be respected.
"These incidents are unacceptable. We have requested with the relevant parties that the cases be investigated and prosecuted by national authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure criminal accountability for crimes against peacekeepers. Attacks on United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law," said Dujarric.
The three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon in late March. A UN investigation determined that one died when Israeli tank fire struck a UNIFIL position on March 29. The next day, two others were killed when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle in a logistics convoy near Bani Hayyan. Initial findings pointed to a roadside blast.
UNIFIL paid tribute to the life and work of the fallen peacekeepers in an April 2 ceremony at Rafik Hariri International Airport, Beirut, before their remains were repatriated.
The three peacekeepers were posthumously awarded medals in recognition of their dedicated service to UNIFIL's mission in southern Lebanon.
On Saturday, the remains of the three fallen Indonesian peacekeepers arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport where they were received with honors by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto before being transferred to their respective hometowns for final rites.
The secretary-general earlier condemned the killings, extended his deepest condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and to the government of Indonesia, while expressing appreciation for the courage and service of all men and women serving with UNIFIL.
The UN Security Council, which mandated the UNIFIL mission, also condemned the attacks in a statement, offering condolences to the victims' families and to Indonesia. Council members reaffirmed their full support for UNIFIL.
Israeli tank fire, Hezbollah explosive likely killed 3 UN peacekeepers in Lebanon: spokesperson
