New York – The United Nations has posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal to two Zambian Army peacekeepers who died while serving in the Central African Republic, in a ceremony held at UN Headquarters in New York on 5 June 2026.
Corporal Steve Muloke Sakachoma and Staff Sergeant Alick Banda were honoured during the commemoration of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. UN Secretary-General António Guterres presented the medals to Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr Chola Milambo, who was accompanied by Brigadier General Oliver Musonda, Military Adviser at the Permanent Mission to the UN.
Corporal Sakachoma died from a gunshot wound in June 2025 while serving as a contingent member in the Central African Republic. Staff Sergeant Banda fell ill and died while also on deployment in the Central African Republic in December 2025. 
The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal is a posthumous honour reserved for peacekeepers who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving under the UN flag.
Secretary-General Guterres used the occasion to speak about the value and weight of UN peacekeeping operations, describing peacekeepers as protectors of the vulnerable and guardians of hope in places where hope is often in short supply. He noted that more than 50,000 peacekeepers are currently deployed in developing countries, where they protect civilians and enable political solutions, humanitarian aid, and elections.
This year’s ceremony saw the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal awarded posthumously to 68 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers who died in the line of duty, including 59 who lost their lives in 2025. Since UN peacekeeping began nearly 80 years ago, approximately 4,500 peacekeepers have lost their lives.
The Secretary-General also recognised two individuals with the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage. The late Sergii Prykhodko of Ukraine and Sergeant Matias Reyes of Uruguay, who serves with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, received the honour. Inspector Stephanie Königs of Germany was awarded the 2025 United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year Award, while Major Abhilasha Barak of India received the 2025 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is observed globally on 29 May each year, with missions around the world paying tribute to those serving in UN peacekeeping operations and remembering those who gave their lives in the cause of peace.
