Senegal honors its three Minsuma soldiers who fell in Mali and reaffirms its commitment
Vehicle of Minusma blue helmets between Mopti and Djenné, in central Mali, April 28, 2019 (photo illustration).
© MICHELE CATTANI / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
A tribute was paid, Wednesday, March 1, to the three Senegalese soldiers of the Minusma contingent, who died in Mali on February 21.
Their vehicle had hit an improvised explosive device (IED) between Ogossagou and Sévaré, in the center of the country.
The UN force includes 850 Senegalese soldiers.
While several countries have announced their withdrawal from Mali, Senegal recalls its commitment to peacekeeping operations in the sub-region.
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With our correspondent in Dakar,
Charlotte Idrac
The three coffins are covered with the green-yellow-red flag.
The body lifting ceremony was held in the Dial Diop district, headquarters of the Senegalese general staff.
“
May the earth be light to them
”, declares Colonel Mathieu Diogoye Sène.
The commander of the 11th Senegalese detachment of Minusma pays tribute to Staff Sergeant Eugène Idrissa Badhyne Mingou, Corporal Ousseynou Diallo and Private First Class Pierre Tama Boubane.
The colonel honors these three men "
in recognition of the supreme sacrifice made in the service of peace in the world and in the sub-region
".
Moments of strong emotion this morning at the Dial Diop camp in #Dakar.
I took part in the tribute to the 3 #helmetsbleus of @UN_MINUSMA, killed on 21/2 near Songobia 🇲🇱, alongside the Minister of the Armed Forces & the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.
Renewed solidarity with the 🇸🇳 & its people.
pic.twitter.com/3UcoIN1w9s
— El-Ghassim Wane (@elghassimw) March 1, 2023
"It is in the interest of Senegal that Mali regains its stability"
In recent months, several countries – Germany, United Kingdom, Egypt, Benin or even
Côte d'Ivoire
– have announced their wish to
withdraw their personnel from Mali
, or the suspension of their participation in Minusma.
But Senegal "
remains committed to the service of peace and stability, particularly in the sub-region, within the framework of collective security
", affirms the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sidiki Kaba.
“
We are present in Mali to make our contribution to the return of peace and stability in this country and for this brotherly people to whom everything binds us.
It is in Senegal's interest that Mali regain its stability and its rightful place in our sub-regional community.
»
Today, according to the minister, nearly 2,000 Senegalese soldiers are deployed in external operations, particularly in the Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau and Gambia.
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