The United Nations Mission for Stabilization in Central African Republic (MINUSCA) held a funeral ceremony on Monday 13 October 2014 at its Headquarters in honor of two peacekeeping soldiers who died this week in Bangui, one of the Pakistani contingent, the second of the Burundian contingent.

Alongside General Babacar Gaye the Special Representative of United Nations Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon and Head of the United Nations Mission for the stabilization in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the Central African Prime Minister, his Excellency Mr. Mahamat Kamoun, several other Government members, MINUSCA’s Deputy Force Commander, the Burundian and Pakistani Contingent Commanders, Diplomatic corps, International Forces, UN country team and MINUSCA staff also participated in the event.

During the ceremony the caskets of the two peacekeepers were displayed in the courtyard of the Mission.

Sepoy Fahad Iftikhar of Pakistan Army, recently married, joined MINUSCA on 12 September 2014. On 6 October, he was a member of a composite escort returning to PK 11, the MINUSCA Military Transit Camp. Around 6pm, the escort was ambushed approximately 1 KM away from the transit camp. Sepoy Fahatd Iftikhar, age 32, died immediately after sustaining a fatal head injury. Six other peacekeepers were wounded during the attack. Eight United Nations Police officers suffered injuries in a subsequent attack the following day.

Chief Caporal Nizi Giyi Mana Jean Paul was a member of the Burundi National Defense Forces who joined MINUSCA on 18 September 2014. He was suffering from severe malaria and could not be medically evacuated due to ongoing aggressive demonstrations organized by the Anti-Balaka. He died, age 30, in the Bangui MINUSCA Hospital on 10 October 2014, leaving behind his wife and one child.

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Following the Honor Guard by the respective contingents, the prayers and the laying of wreaths, the UN Secretary-General Special Representative, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Force Commander and the Contingent Commanders delivered speeches in honor of the deceased.

General Babacar Gaye reiterated that "attacks against international forces and particularly UN peacekeepers must stop immediately. It is the consciousness of men that dictates an immediate halt to the violence. Many examples across the world show that the crisis is not a fatality. ”, he added.

The Central African Prime Minister Mr. Mahamat Kamoun honored "two peacekeepers that have been torn from their families and the international family, at a time when they were most needed. The loss of those two soldiers, fallen in the field of duty, plunges the Central African people in distress and deep emotion”, he said.

After the ceremony, the bodies of the fallen soldiers were repatriated to their respective countries.

The UN peace keeping force, created the Central African Republic in April 2014 by Security Council resolution 2149, was deployed on 15 September and will reach a full strength of 12,000 troops and UN police officers.