United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
10 November 2008
In Goma a final tribute has been paid to the Senegalese soldier who died following a shooting on Friday night. Mamadou Thiaw was honoured by the civilian authorities and MONUC's military in the presence of the Force Commander of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, General Babacar Gaye.
In his funeral oration, Genral Gaye expressed the wish that peace returns to North Kivu as soon as possible. "This first class soldier is dead. Like many Congolese civilians, he couldn't defend himself. The protection of the population which is at the heart of our mission, finds here a tragic illustration of its pertinence".
General Gaye continued, "we must reduce drastically the number of weapons in circulation and carried around in our towns. This first class soldier has died far from his relatives. I invite all the protagonists in this crisis and the Congolese population to join me and all United Nations personnel to kneel down as one and pay their respects alongside his grieving brothers-in-arms and with his family."
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