Two Moroccan Blue Helmet soldiers at MINUSCA perished by the beginning of October during their mission in Central Africa. Head of MINUSCA Valentine Rugwabiza and Morocco’s Ambassador to Central Africa Mostafa El Halfaoui paid tribute to them in the Central African Republic capital of Bangui on Tuesday.
Private Hafid Nachit and Private First Class Driss Hajjaj died on October 2, 2023 while on a peacekeeping mission in that nation.
The officials present paid respect to the bravery and dedication of these committed peacekeepers, who had served with pride in the CAR from June 28 of this year until their final breath.
Since 2015, Morocco has lost many of its troops performing on-duty services as Blue Helmets. Many have received the Dag Hammarskjöld medal, a posthumous award given by the United Nations to honor these soldiers.
In 2015 Morocco lost five troops in peacekeeping operations. In the years since it has grieved 1, 7, 1, 1, 1, 1, and 3 soldiers respectively from 2015 to 2023, primarily constituting the region encompassing Central Africa through Congo.
Blue helmets are not combatants, as they are not permitted to take coercive action. Similarly, under the rules of engagement of international humanitarian law, attacks on these individuals are also forbidden. However, as we have just witnessed with respect to the cases of these Moroccan peacekeepers, these regulations are not always observed.