Fallen African peacekeepers among 117 honoured by the UN

The United Nations has honoured 117 peacekeepers who lost their lives in 2016 while serving in peacekeeping operations in 2016.

Among the military, police and civilian personnel awarded the posthumous Dag Hammarskjöld Medal on Wednesday are 3 Kenyans, 2 Nigerians, 2 Ghanaians, 3 Rwandans, 2 South Africans, and 5 Ethiopians.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres laid a wreath at the UN Headquarters in New York to honour the soldiers as part of the commemoration of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.

“Their sacrifice only strengthens our commitment to ensuring that United Nations peacekeepers continue protecting civilians in harm’s way, promoting human rights and the rule of law, removing landmines, advancing negotiations and securing a better future in the places they are deployed,” Guterres said in a video message.

Our mission for peace will never succeed without courageous people willing to put their lives on the line antonioguterres #investinginpeace pic.twitter.com/Jv41w3cVcq

— UN Spokesperson (UN_Spokesperson) May 24, 2017

He also paid tribute to the over 3,500 peacekeepers who died in service since 1948.

Over 96,000 uniformed peacekeepers from 124 troop- and police-contributing countries serve globally including over 15,000 international and national civilian staff and nearly 1,600 United Nations Volunteers.

The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is being celebrated around the world.

Below is a list of the fallen men from Africa awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal and the contribution of their countries to peacekeeping operations.

Nigeria – 1,700 peacekeepers

• Commodore Christopher Ademu Abu – he served with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

• Police Sergeant Mayehm Norbert – he was deployed with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

Kenya – 274 peacekeepers

• Corporals Joseph Kandie – he served with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

• Albert Nziu Muthui – he served with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

• Charles Nyawara Sidede – he served as a civilian staff member in the UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI).

Ghana – 2,700 peacekeepers

• Lance Corporal Emmanuel Sakyi – he served with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

• Staff Sergeant Boniface Atanyik – he lost his life while deployed with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Rwanda – 6,100 peacekeepers

• Pvt Alex Katurebe, who served with UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic.

• Corp Jean Saver Benimana – he was deployed with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

• Serg Innocent Nsabimana – he was deployed with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

South Africa – 1,400 peacekeepers

• Private Moalosi Albert Mokhothu – he served with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

• Corporal Edward Mxolisi Mnyipikai – he was deployed with United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

Ethiopia – 8,300 peacekeepers

• Private Mulu Alemu Gebremekael – he lost his life working with the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

• Corporal Yibralem G. Mehary – he lost his life working with the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

• Private Edosa Fufa Godana – he lost his life working with the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

• Sergeant Lilay Mekonen Legese – he lost his life working with the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

• Private Sisay Engida Gebo – he served with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).