Yesterday we celebrated our heroes who fell in 1994 during and before our war of liberation and through the genocide against Tutsi.
One man, however must never be forgotten: Capt Diagne Mbaye the Senegalese army officer serving under UNAMIR who was killed on May 31, 1994 while engaged in un-authorized continuous rescue missions at great peril to himself. He is said to have saved hundreds of Rwandans.
In the words of one of his superiors, “Here is someone who stepped out of the line and (the general is) not going to discipline him because he is doing the right thing.”
Mbaye relied on his extensive contacts among the military and militias, his ability to defuse tense situations with his quick jokes and wicked sense of humor, and occasional bribes of cigarettes, money and, although he was a devout Muslim, alcohol.
Gen Romeo Dallaire commander of the peacekeepers said, “ He was the bravest of all.”
On that fateful day, two weeks before he was scheduled to return to Senegal, Capt Mbaye was driving back to UN Headquarters with a message from Augustin Bizimungu to Gen Dallaire when a mortar shell landed behind his Jeep.
Shrapnel entered through the back window and hit him in the back of the head, killing him instantly.
Would it not be befitting to make the location where this gallant Senegalese officer fell, special so every Rwandan of goodwill can stop by and pay homage?
The head of the UN Humanitarian Assistance Team realized that the UN did not have a body bag and was forced to make one from a light blue UNICEF tarp and tape.
In 2005 Capt Mbaye was awarded the National Order of the Lion, rank of Knight.
On May 8, 2014 the UN Security Council created the Capt Diagne Mbaye Medal for Exceptional Courage in honor of the actions of Mbaye during the genocide against Tutsi.
Fellow officers and soldiers would say he was “ A REAL-LIFE COOL HAND LUKE”, or “… THE GREATEST MAN I HAVE EVER KNOWN”
But Mark Doyle a reporter for the BBC, and a good friend of Mbaye said it best, “Can you imagine the blanket media coverage that a dead British or American peacekeeper of Mbaye’s bravery and stature would have received? He got almost none.”
In the words of an unknown poet, let us salute this gallant son of Senegal who sacrificed for us, thus:
“ Unselfishly, you left your fathers and your mothers,
You left behind your sisters and your brothers,
Leaving your beloved children and wives,
You put on hold, your dreams-your lives.
On foreign soil, you found yourself planted
To fight for those whose freedom you granted.
Without your sacrifice, their cause would be lost
But you carried onward, no matter the cost.
Wiht a hand upon my heart, I feel The pride
and respect; my reverence is revealed
In the tears that now stream down my
upturned face
As our flag waves above you, in her glory
and grace,
Freedom was the gift you unselfishly
gave
Pain and death was the price that you
ultimately paid.
Every day, I give my utmost admiration
To those who had fought to defend our
nation”
Capt Mbaye left a wife, and two young children. To them, we owe an eternal debt.
