One of missing Malawi soldiers in DRC found alive, back in camp
After the death of six Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) four were still missing but the military has confirmed that one of them, Corporal George Salim is now back in camp receiving treatment from injuries sustained.
MDF spokesperson Major Paul Chiphwanya confirmed the return of Salimu but says investigations are still under way to establish what exactly happened to both the fallen soldiers and those still missing.
With Corporal George Salim now found, the three who are still missing are Lance Corporal Gift Nkhoma, Sergeant Boniface Nowa and Staff Sergeant Chancy Mwakawenga.
Making a ministerial statement in Parliament on Friday, deputy minister of Defence Amos Mailosi disclosed that eight more soldiers are hospitalised after they suffered injuries in an attack in the war-torn country.
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.
As the Malawi nation continues to mourn the fallen heroes, flags in all MDF premises throughout the country are flying at half mast and Malawians
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.”
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.
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CPL George Salim, wishing you a very quick recovery. You are tenacious. You are strong. MDF is composed of such characters. No wonder UN came knocking on MDF doors for assistance.
Nsima too much Malawians. Simungamenye nkhondo. Too weak
Then the British Army would not have requested for a hand from men from Nyasaland to fight on their side in Abyssinia, Nyangao, East Africa and Burma campaigns during First and Second World Wars. They are not weak as you put it.
Uwu ndiye mwano. Ngati palibe zokamba, just shut up your stinking mouth
Agree send soldiers to DRC based on experience in Army not for money we will lose our beloved soldiers. We love our soldiers because of esteem discipline so don’t abuse them with Money at UN Peace keeping mission. We also need to hear soon a report of what really happened that led to kill our six soldiers and now three missing so this does not happen again. It is the first of this kind to lose such a number soldiers from Malawi defense force. The nation is waiting to hear from General Spoon Phiri.
You were advancing and then started tactical withdrawal. Now, does it mean the rebels were more superior tacticaly than us? What weapons were we using? being chased by rebels seems something is wrong. Were the rebels better armed than UN troops? Tanenani bwinobwino. Why advance in the first place and then kuyamba kuthawa? Tactical withdrawal means kuthawa backwards. I need a proper explaination on this one.
May be they had run out of ammunition or there was no back up teams. However, MDF should operate separately and not be under the directions of a commandant from another country. It is likely that the huge loss was due to that arrangement. That is the suspicion.
Koma mtunda wa 6.8km mpaka kuyenda 2 days, zinachitika bwanji pamenepa,
That is very possible in a battle field
Moti iwe sukumva kuti anavulala, komanso kunali kuyenda mobisala………………………………..! Nde munthu ovulala komanso oyenda mobisala umafuna angoathamanga mumseu? Awanso, wayesa za phadaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Wishing him a quick recovery. Hope they all come home safe
The armed group pursued our soldiers…..were our soldiers running away when we lost six of them, 10 got injured, 4 (now 3) missed. If this is the case, there is total war in DRC. Our alleged peace keepers are fighting a bush war with a ragtag bunch of guerillas. There is no peace to keep. The nation needs to be told the truth of what is happening to our beloved soldiers. When our soldiers killed each other with MYP in Nayuchi, the then MCP regime never announced it to the nation. We should not slide back to those dark days… Read more »
You are so brave my brother. Tell me how you survived? Quick recoveries. Big up my bro
Mmmm
Mautanga mwana wa General Mautanga. Eishh!