When Alexandra Carmen walks home through Bangui today, she carries something that once felt out of reach—freedom. Years after leaving the Central African Republic as a teenager, she returned not only to rebuild her life, but to help strengthen the systems that keep others safe.
Across MINUSCA, national staff like Carmen play a critical role in supporting security and accountability systems. Now part of the mission’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU), she works behind the scenes to ensure procedures are followed and sensitive records are handled with care—quiet, meticulous work that underpins the mission’s broader security architecture. It is detailed work, often behind the scenes, but essential for accountability within the mission. Her role contributes to the broader security architecture in which civilian, police and security components work together to support the mission.
The situation in the Central African Republic remains fragile, and parts of Bangui continue to face security challenges. Yet Carmen has seen daily life improve in some areas of the capital since returning home in 2012. “Now people can walk freely." She said, recalling a time when uncertainty shaped everyday life.
At 18, Carmen left the Central African Republic on a basketball scholarship to the United States. She arrived in Dayton, Ohio, without speaking English. “When I first got there, I didn’t even speak a word of English,” she said. “None.”
Adapting was not easy. Everything was new, from the language to the culture. Over time, she found support. Her teachers were patient, and a host family took her in. The father spoke some French, which helped. “He was everything that I had,” she said. “I didn’t have any family there.”
Basketball helped her find her footing. It gave her structure and discipline, and it pushed her to keep going. Those lessons stayed with her when she came back to Bangui, where institutions were under pressure and everyday movement could not be taken for granted. Like many national colleagues, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience of the country’s recent history.
Carmen decided to remain in the country. She joined MINUSCA and started in logistics before moving into the SIU, part of the mission’s security structure.
She now leads a team of about 15 people, bringing together national staff, international colleagues and police officers. Their work connects with regions beyond Bangui, so coordination matters. “We care for each other here,” she said.
One of her recent responsibilities was overseeing the unit’s move from headquarters to a logistics base. The process required careful planning, especially because of the sensitive records involved. Files had to be sorted, transported and secured properly.
“We had maybe 12 drawers with all this stuff from 2021 to 2026,” she said. “Handling the database in SIU is very tough. But I enjoy doing it.”
Outside the office, Carmen is raising two children, one of whom she adopted. Her days are busy, moving between work and home life. “My work here is my first family,” she said. “And when I go home, I have my second family.”
Peacekeeping is often described in terms of mandates and strategy. In practice, it also depends on national staff like Carmen, whose knowledge of the local context and daily work within integrated security structures help sustain the mission from within.