4 MDF soldiers missing in DRC
As the nation continues to mourn the death of six Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers, there is still more stress, pain and panic following an announcement that four are missing in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Making a ministerial statement in Parliament on Friday, deputy minister of Defence Amos Mailosi also disclosed that eight more soldiers are hospitalised after they suffered injuries in an attack in the war-torn country.
Those missing are Sergeant Chancy Mwakalenga, Sergeant Boniface Noah, Lance Corporal Gift Nkhoma and Corporal George Salim.
The injured, who have been hospitalised at Entebbe in Uganda, include Sergeant Dan Chilenje, Corporal Malijani Selo, Lance Corporal Mautanga, Private Anthony Mwamadi, Private Moses Mdala and Private Damson Nkhoma.
The news comes at a time the nation is grief-stricken following the death of six soldiers whose bodies arrived in the country on Wednesday this week.
The MDF soldiers are part of an 850-strong MDF contingent serving as United Nations peace keeping mission under the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB).
Under the FIB, the Malawi troops are operating along other peacekeepers from Tanzania and South Africa.
They are charged with the mission to neutralise armed groups in DRCs North Kivu.
The deputy minister informed the House that the six soldiers died in an operation known as Usalama South on November 14 aimed at clearing known Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) bases—a rebel group that fights the government of Uganda, but has its bases in eastern DRC.
He said: “The Malawi battalion was advancing towards Kasinga tactical operating base, an illegal armed group base and the ADF base was at a distance of approximately 6.8 kilometres. The troops advanced without much resistance up to Ididiwe, which was originally a base for Fardc, a government force there.
“The following day, on November 14 2018, the troops to the IAG position, however, before reaching the position they came under contact, exchanged fire and started breaking contact up to Ididiwe. ADF pursued our troops up to Ididiwe and there was heavy exchange of fire. It is at this point and position that we lost four soldiers and 10 were wounded.”
He explained that two more soldiers died of bleeding while four went missing.
After the statement was delivered, Second Deputy Speaker Clement Chiwaya requested members not to debate the statement as per Standing Orders to give respect to the departed soldiers.
Said Chiwaya: “I ask members that there shouldn’t be any debate on this matter so that the souls of the departed soldiers should rest in peace.”
The minister has assured that government will keep updating the nation on the status of the injured soldiers and those missing.
Meanwhile, the six MDF fallen soldiers who were killed in the ambush were buried on Thursday. MDF spokesperson Paul Chiphwanya said Corporal Jonathan Kapichira from Mphunda Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kaphuka and, Sergeant Steven Kambalame of Maya Village TA Kachere both from Dedza, Private Chauncy Chitete from Peter Village TA Mwenemisuku, Chitipa; Private Benjamin Songela from ChikhawoVillage, T/A Tengani, Nsanje and Private Simplex Taferakaso from Kaumphawi Village TA Nsamala Balaka were buried at their respective home village. Lieutenant Aubrey Kachemwe, who hailed from Mbendera Village, T/A Mkanda was buried at HHI cemetery.
—Additional reporting by Jonathan Pansungwi
