Malawi top soldier on peacekeeping mission dies in DRC
A top Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldier has died on a military observer (MILOBS) mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Lt. Col. Martin Tayeni Mandere died on 4th January after what has been said to be Blood Pressure or cardiac arrest.
Reports reaching Nyasa Times indicate the Colonel was found dead in his quarters, after performing all his duties well.
Details of the death, however, remain shadowy, as some wonder why the MDF has not yet released the news about the sudden demise.
Lt. Col. Mandere was once posted at the Parachute Battalion in Senga-Bay, Salima, amongst many other places within the defence force and is described as one of the best military commanders Malawi has ever had.
At the time of posting the story the Colonel’s remains were in Kampala, expected in the country around Thursday or Friday this week and to proceed for burial at his home place at Mua.
Lt. Col. Mandere’s last posting was in the Army Headquarters Directorate of Training.
Several peace keepers from Malawi have died since the peaceful southern African country started deploying troops to war torn countries across the globe.
Years back a Major Sidon Banda was killed by cannibal rebels and was eaten alongside a colleague from Latin America during their peace observer mission in the DRC.
The late Maj. Banda, who was awarded a posthumous medal by the United Nations (UN), is the only Malawian soldier known to have been killed during such service.
Another soldier, a Captain Humphreys Theu died of malaria in the same country, among others.
Malawi troops are in DRC on UN peace keeping mission after M23 rebels have been fighting Congolese government troops in North Kivu province for the last six months.
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