A Moroccan UN peacekeeper and his Congolese interpreter died in a tragic road accident in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, officials confirmed.
The vehicle, part of a UN convoy, veered off course and plunged into a ravine roughly 13 kilometres south of Kitchanga, North Kivu province.
According to the UN mission MONUSCO, the accident occurred as the vehicle slid on difficult terrain and overturned during transit.
The soldier, a member of Morocco’s rapid deployment battalion, and the local language assistant were pronounced dead at the scene.
Four additional Moroccan soldiers sustained injuries and were transported to the UN hospital in Goma, the provincial capital currently under M23 rebel control.
The peacekeeping force expressed deep sorrow over the loss, highlighting the dangers faced by personnel stationed in conflict-prone regions.
MONUSCO, with nearly 13,800 personnel as of February, remains one of the UN’s largest and most complex peacekeeping missions.
Since its inception in 1999, over 400 MONUSCO staff—both military and civilian—have lost their lives while serving in the DR Congo.
The mission continues to operate in volatile conditions, supporting peace efforts amid decades-long instability in the region.
An investigation into the accident is underway as the UN vows to ensure the safety of its personnel and honour the fallen.
