RACMP - MINURSO (Western Sahara)

Written by SGT Mick Cracknell, RACMP, 2001, for Australian MP History website

The MINURSO was established by resolution 690 (1991) to assist in implementing a Settlement Plan, which was meant to conclude with a referendum in which the people of the Western Sahara would choose between independence and integration with Morocco. The referendum was originally scheduled for January 1992, but the parties continued to have divergent views on some of the Plan's key elements, including those on the question of criteria for eligibility to vote in the referendum.

Australia provided a 45 person force throughout the period Sep 1991 - May 1994.

This was over 5 rotations, being:

ASC 1 - Sep 91- May 92

ASC 2 - May 92 - Nov 93

ASC 3 - Nov 93 - May 93

ASC 4 - May 93 - Nov 93

ASC 5 - Nov 93 - May 94.

The principal task of the AS contingent was to provide communications support and a force Orderly Room.

 Australian MP deployed with ASC 2 - 4.

ASC 2 CPL's Steve Cole and Perry Jokinen

ASC 3 CPL's Pete Toia and Glenn Forrest

ASC 4 CPL's Jamie Sayers and me.

Although we deployed as Military Policeman, our role's were many and varied. I can only mention what happened on my contingent, although I believe the other guys did similar tasks.

What generally happened is we would work for three weeks straight at a team site (either a HQ, Sector HQ or a desert site), then have a week of CTO (Compensatory Time Off). Most guys went to Agadier in Morocco or to the Canary Islands for leave.

Jamie and I spent the majority of our time at a Team site called Awsard, which was in the Southern sector. We were the Section Commanders of a Transport Detachment, with 2 or 3 Diggers under our command.

Our principal duty was to deliver fuel and gas to Team sites within the Southern Sector. We would do this utilising a Spanish truck called a Pegaso (similar to the old Army F1). The tasking originally was for the UN civilian drivers, but they refused due to the trucks not being air-conditioned! Therefore, Aussie soldiers were given the duty! The duty was a pain in the arse! Due to the terrain, speeds were an average of 20 km/h. Breakdowns and punctures occurred more times than not.

To add to the problem, the area is one of the most heavily mined area's in the World, so navigation was through cleared area's utilising GPS. We would have a guide vehicle, driven by UNMO's. Sayers and I rotated through the Awsard site throughout, taking it in turns as Detachment Commander.

I also worked in the Radio Rooms as a radio operator at the HQ in Llayoune, Southern Sector HQ in Dakhla, Northern Sector HQ in Smara, and the Algeria detachment in Tindouf. Each Radio room generally had a 3 man detachment, and would work a shift system around the clock. The HQ in Llayoune, we would work two days on days, two on nights, two days off. (12 hr shifts).

From a Military perspective, the mission was quite safe. The peace agreement was working well, we had no major incidents at all throughout my time. We were unarmed throughout. The constant danger however was land mines, to go off formed roads was suicidal.

My rotation did have one tragic event, our Medical Officer, MAJ Susan Felsche was killed in an aircraft accident at Awsard. She was a passenger in a Swiss Medical Unit Pilatus Porter that crashed on take off. The Pilot, MAJ Felsche, and a Norwegian technician were killed. A swiss nurse survived, however received horrific injuries. To the best of my recollection, she broke just about everything and was badly burnt.

As far as I can determine, 20 Land Commander Commendations were presented to members of ASC, 4 each contingent. Both Pete Toia and I received one.