Moroccan Peacekeeper Dies in UN Convoy Accident in Congo

Rabat - A Moroccan peacekeeper died on May 13 in a fatal road accident in North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, while serving under the UN Stabilization Mission, MONUSCO.  The incident left a mark not only on the mission but also back home, where families of Moroccan soldiers await news from distant, volatile terrains. The soldier belonged to Morocco’s Rapid Deployment Battalion, part of a long-standing contribution to UN efforts in the DRC.  He died when a MONUSCO logistics vehicle left the road and tumbled into a ravine during a convoy journey from Munigi to the permanent base in Kitchanga. A Congolese interpreter also died in the crash. Four other Moroccan peacekeepers sustained injuries and were transferred to the UN hospital in Goma for treatment. Their condition has not been publicly disclosed. MONUSCO’s acting head Vivian van de Perre addressed the tragedy in a statement from Kinshasa.  “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Kingdom of Morocco, to the families and colleagues of the deceased, and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” she said. “The Mission is taking all necessary measures to support those affected and their loved ones during this difficult time.” An investigation has begun to clarify the circumstances of the accident, the UN mission confirmed. An assessment of the damaged equipment is also underway, it added. For Morocco, this loss adds another name to the silent list of soldiers who died while wearing the blue helmet far from home.  Morocco remains one of the UN’s key contributors in Africa, with Moroccan troops often deployed in conflict zones where danger rarely pauses.