Ghanaian peacekeeper dies of heart failure in DRC

UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) civilian and military staff paid final respect to Corporal Mfum Darko, a Ghanaian peacekeeper on Tuesday 29 June 2004. He died following heart failure.

The UN Special Representative in DRC, Mr. William Lacy Swing expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and the government and people of Ghana. Mr. Swing paid tribute to a man who knew that ''freedom and peace in any country are very precious and there is no higher price to pay than the principles which we hold dear''.

It is in the name of these principles that Corporal Darko, volunteered to serve in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Special Representative underscored. He invited MONUC civilian or military, international or national staff, to continue struggling for this ideal, by contributing to the peace process. ''The best way to prove that corporal Darko and his other 58 fallen colleagues did not waste their lives in vain is for everyone of us to redouble efforts in implementing MONUC's mandate'', Mr. Swing declared.

Earlier, MONUC's Force Commander, General Iliya Suma?la, briefed on corporal Darko's military career within the UN peacekeeping operations, indicating that the latter served in Liberia, in the codenamed operation "Libert?", under the banner of ECOMOG (West African Forces). He also worked in Cambodia and Lebanon, before joining the UN Mission in DRC.

Corporal Darko joined MONUC on 18 May 2004 and died less than two months later. He is survived by a wife and three children.

His death brings to 41 the number of soldiers fallen in DRC since MONUC establishment in November 1999.