With our correspondent in Dakar, Charlotte Idrac
The three coffins are covered with the green-yellow-red flag. The body lifting ceremony was held in the Dial Diop district, headquarters of the Senegalese general staff.
« May the earth be light to them », declares Colonel Mathieu Diogoye Sène. The commander of the 11th Senegalese detachment of Minusma pays tribute to Staff Sergeant Eugène Idrissa Badhyne Mingou, Corporal Ousseynou Diallo and Private First Class Pierre Tama Boubane. The colonel honors these three men “ in recognition of the supreme sacrifice made in the service of peace in the world and in the sub-region ».
“It is in the interest of Senegal that Mali regains its stability”
In recent months, several countries – Germany, United Kingdom, Egypt, Benin or even Ivory Coast – have announced their desire to withdraw their personnel from Mali, or the suspension of their participation in the Minusma. But Senegal remains committed to the service of peace and stability, particularly in the sub-region, within the framework of collective security said Armed Forces Minister Sidiki Kaba.
« We are present in Mali to bring our contribution to the return of peace and stability in this country and for this brotherly people to which everything binds us. It is in Senegal’s interest that Mali regain its stability and its rightful place in our sub-regional community. »
Today, according to the minister, nearly 2,000 Senegalese soldiers are deployed in external operations, particularly in the Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau and Gambia.