UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) today paid tribute to a fallen French peacekeeper, who died on Saturday due to medical conditions, at a solemn ceremony held in a UNIFIL French base in Deir Kifa, south Lebanon.

Speaking on behalf of UNIFIL family, Acting Force Commander Brigadier General Irvine Nii-Ayitey Aryeetey expressed heart-felt gratitude to his family and country “for giving us the privilege” to serve with Sergeant Major Ludovic Logez, 55, who had been a member of the French Army for more than 35 years.

“We shall always keep in mind our fallen comrades in arms, for they represent an example of unwavering commitment to UNIFIL and to our hosts,” said Brig. Gen. Aryeetey.

He continued: “As we continue our perseverance and commitment to maintain calm and stability in the region, I would like to invite everyone to keep working with renewed determination, loyalty and enthusiasm, shaping the essential path to lasting peace for Lebanon. We owe it to ourselves, to our fallen comrades in arms and to Sergeant Major Ludovic Logez.”

In his eulogy, UNIFIL Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Hubert Gomart remembered Sergeant Major Logez as someone with full or of energy.

“A brother in arms has fallen! Like the 155 French soldiers whose names are engraved on the stele in the Place de France in Naqoura and who before you left us on this Lebanese land,” said Brig. Gen. Gomart. “But, to honour you, we will not let the night of torpor invade us. On the contrary, we will act in full light, proud to pursue our mission, with the impetus that you have transmitted.”

“Sergeant Major, Ludovic, thank you for your commitment and for all the services you rendered; and be assured that we will not forget the excellent non-commissioned officer that you were, nor your family.”

On the occasion, the Acting UNIFIL Force Commander and a LAF representative, Colonel Choukri El Helou, posthumously awarded Sergeant Major Logez with UN and LAF medals for his dedicated service for peace and stability in south Lebanon. Brig. Gen. Gomart gave out the French Overseas Operations Medal to the deceased.

Sergeant Major Logez, who arrived in UNIFIL on 3 June 2021 for a four-month service, had been an outstanding non-commissioned officer in the French Army with rare human and professional qualities.

He was married, had a child and was a young grandfather.