Tribute to the late Egyptian military of UN LSP Mission in Darfur

May 26, 2007 — The farewell ceremony of the mortal remains of the late Lieutenant-Colonel EHAB NAZIR, member of UN LSP military component, took place today, Saturday 26 May 2007, at the AMIS Forward Headquarters.

The ceremony presided over by Ambassador Hassan Gibril, Deputy Head of the African Union Mission in the Sudan was witnessed among other high ranking dignitaries of both AMIS and UNMIS and a GoS delegation led by H.E Osman Mohamed Youssuf Kebir, Wali of North Darfur State and its Government.

Late Lieutenant-colonel EHRB NAZIR, was assassinated by three unknown armed men at his residence, last night

Attached are copies of the tribute paid by Ambassador Hassan Gibril and Miguel Martin, acting coordinator of UN support to AMIS.

1. Once again we have woken up to yet another sad day in the rather short history of the AMIS. The senseless killing of an innocent man in the confines of his residence is beyond comprehension. We are gathered here once more to pay a glowing tribute to our late colleague, Lt Col Ehab Nazih who was deployed as an Egyptian member of the United Nations Light Support Package to AMIS. He served in the Communication and Information Office of Joint Logistics Centre of AMIS Forward Head Quarters. Lt Col Ehab Nazih was assessed by all and sundry to be a hard and diligent worker who never relented on his duties. He was a strict disciplinarian with profound religious convictions but yet also remained affable and respectful. The totality of the sterling qualities of our beloved colleague were exemplary, outstanding and endeared him to the hearts of all those who came into contact with him, particularly the staff of AMIS and UNMIS in El Fasher.

2. To you brother Ehab – whilst you are about to commence your final journey into eternity, we, your colleagues of AMIS/UNMIS and the people of DARFUR hail you for the fruitful and positive contributions you made towards creating a peaceful environment such that the people of DARFUR can enjoy their normal lives. With your conduct as a fine and disciplined soldier, we also salute your memory, courage, commitment to duty and indeed your loyalty to the peace mission in Sudan. Indeed your contributions will never be in vain for we your colleagues will continue with the struggle until a final solution is found to the DARFUR problem. We will never be fazed with cowardly acts of terrorism and uncivilized behaviour which have cost you your dear life. We promise you in the name of Allah that our knees will never fumble or buckle in the face of anything until we finish the selfless work you have started with total abnegation in response to the clarion call of our beloved continent, Mother AFRICA.

3. To our dear brothers and sisters of Egypt, We, the members of the AMIS family and the peoples of DARFUR share in equal proportion the grief occasioned by the untimely death of such a dedicated, reliable, selfless and hardworking personality as Lt Col Ehab Nazih.

4. On behalf of the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union and Head of Mission and the entire members of the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and in the name of the good peoples of the Sudan in general and particularly the civilian populations of Darfur and singularly of El Fasher, I would like to convey our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the Government of Egypt, to the bereaved families of our late colleague, to the members of the Egyptian community and to the UNMIS and AMIS personnel in Darfur. As we celebrate our colleague Ehab’s most fulfilling and exemplary life, we give thanks to Allah the Almighty and fervently pray that HE will give all of us, especially his kith and kin, the strength to come to terms with the irreplaceable and painful loss of such a dedicated gentleman.

5. Lt Col Ehab Nazih, on my part, I bid you farewell. Rest peacefully in the arms of our Creator until we meet again. May the Almighty Allah, your Maker, reserve you an enviable and blessed place in HIS Paradise as a PEACE MAKER, that you indeed really have been.

May your soul rest in eternal and perfect peace.

R. I. P (Requiescat in Pace). AMEN

– His Excellency, Governor/Wali of North Darfur
– His Excellency, Deputy Head of Mission
– AMIS Acting Force Commander
– Joint Chief of Staff
– AMIS Deputy Commissioner of Police
– Senior Military and Police Officers
– Men and women peacekeepers
– Friends of AMIS and UNMIS
– Ladies and gentlemen

I stand here primarily on behalf of the Coordinator of United Support to AMIS, Major-General Henry ANYIDOHO, and indeed all staff of UNMIS on the occasion of the aftermath of yet another gruesome and the uncalled-for murder of one of colleague peacekeepers barely a month after that of Tony’s. Yesterday night, at 2330hrs, three unidentified armed men scaled the walls of the home of Lieutenant-Colonel Ehrb Nazir, member of UNMIS and staff officer of the Light Support Package, from Egypt, and trying to rob him, shot at him.

Lt Col Nazir was born on 6 May 1967 in Cairo. He joined the Egyptian Army in 1988 and arrived in the mission on the 26 July 2006 and thereafter assigned to AMIS Headquarters in the Joint Logistics Operations Centre (JLOC). He made a sound contribution to AMIS operations and expected to end his one year tour of duty this July 2007. He previously participated in a UN PKO in Morocco. Minutes before the incidents, he had just finished a telephone conversation with his wife and the two daughters back home in Egypt.

Notwithstanding the fact that this is the first UN casualty in this mission, we would like to give you the assurance that this unfortunate event will not affect our resolve to and commitment to support AMIS with their mandate to assist in restoration and maintenance of the peace in Darfur.

It is with the deepest regrets and sorrow that we should lose another colleague. On behalf of the Coordinator, General Anyidoho, the senior leadership of UNMIS, and on my own behalf, we extend to the bereaved family, the Egyptian contingent, and the Government of Egypt, our sympathies and condolences.

May His (Nazir’s) soul rest in perfect peace.