51 Peace Keepers Died In Cote D'Ivoire - UN

51 Peace Keepers Died In Cote D'Ivoire - UN

The United Nations peace operation in Cote d'Ivoire (ONUCI) has said 51 peace keepers have died in the seven-year mission, mainly from accidents and illnesses.

The UN started the deployment of peace keepers into Cote d'Ivoire in April 2004, to check the spate of violence and human rights abuse during a two-year civil war between 2002 and 2004.

A statement by the UN in Abidjan said a peace keeper from Senegal, Warrant Officer Major, Abu Diallo, died on Sunday.

“ UNOCI regrets to announce the death of a Senegalese soldier deployed in the mission. Warrant Officer Major, Abu Diallo, who died on Sunday, February 27, 2011 in Yamoussoukro, following a short illness”.

The statement said the deceased joined the peace mission in Cote d'Ivoire on June 24, 2010, after serving in other UN missions in Lebanon and Darfur .

“His death brings to 51 the number of UNOCI military that have died since the deployment of the mission in April 2004,'' the statement said.

NAN/Margaret/Yinka