A Malawian soldier serving under the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) was killed this week following an attack on a peacekeepers’ base in eastern DRC, a military spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Acting Malawi Defence Force public information officer Emmanuel Mlelemba said Lance Corporal Chitenji Kamanga, 28, was killed when the UN base in the village of Kilia in the Beni region was attacked by unknown assailants on Monday.
“Malawi Defence Force has lost a courageous, hardworking and disciplined female soldier,” Mlelemba said in a statement.
The UN peacekeeping mission has around 12,000 troops deployed in eastern DRC to contain violence by armed groups.
Malawi is one of a number of southern African countries contributing troops to the Force Intervention Brigade under MONUSCO. Other countries include Namibia and South Africa.
JN/APA