Korean War: official confirmation of the identities of 8 Moroccan soldiers
Gravestones of Two Moroccan Soldiers Who Participated in the Korean War at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan
(Photo provided by the South Korean Embassy in Morocco. Resale and archiving prohibited.)
Death Certificates of Two Moroccan Soldiers from the Korean War at the UN Cemetery in Busan
(Photo provided by the South Korean Embassy in Morocco. Resale and archiving prohibited.)
Patrick Barré, Director of the Moroccan National Office for Veterans and War Victims (ONACVG).
RABAT/SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Yonhap) – Several Moroccan soldiers participated in the Korean War (1950-1953), the South Korean Embassy in Morocco officially announced for the first time.
On Tuesday (local time), the embassy stated that it had officially confirmed the identities of eight Moroccan soldiers who fought alongside South Korea during the Korean War.
Among them, two—Landri Mohamed and Djian Julian—died in combat in 1953 and were buried at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan. However, the fate of the remaining six soldiers remains unknown. Given the life expectancy of North Africans at the time, it is unlikely that they are still alive.
The embassy also obtained a list of 16 additional soldiers who are believed to have participated in the Korean War. If confirmed, the number of Moroccan fighters in the conflict would increase. However, despite the official confirmation of Moroccan combatants, it remains uncertain whether Morocco will be added to the list of countries that participated in the Korean War. This is because Moroccan soldiers fought under the French army's banner during the French protectorate period in Morocco (1912-1956).
However, historical records suggest that Morocco’s participation was voluntary, following a royal order, rather than forced recruitment. Although the country was under a protectorate, France recognized the Moroccan kingdom. According to Patrick Barré, director of the Moroccan National Office for Veterans and War Victims (ONACVG), Moroccan fighters in the French battalion participated in the Korean War as part of UN forces, voluntarily taking part in the conflict and fighting for South Korea’s liberation.
The project to confirm the identities of Moroccan soldiers who fought in the Korean War began in 2012 but was suspended the following year when Moroccan authorities appeared reluctant to support the verification of related documents. The project was revived last year after South Korean Ambassador to Morocco, Chung Kee-yong, learned from the then French Ambassador to Morocco, Hélène Le Gal, that documents regarding Moroccan soldiers who participated in the Korean War might exist in France.
The South Korean embassy ultimately identified two Moroccan soldiers buried in Busan after confirming UN cemetery records. Since then, Moroccan and French organizations have increased their cooperation. The South Korean embassy requested verification of information regarding Moroccan combatants, and with the ONACVG’s support, they discovered documents in the Military Archives in southern France, confirming that a total of eight Moroccan soldiers participated in the Korean War.
Chung stated that the confirmation of Moroccan fighters’ presence in the Korean War would be a key factor in strengthening relations between South Korea and Morocco, especially as the two countries celebrate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
Text copied in full from the site - Yohnap press agency
Article by Kim Kun-hee - date 11/16/2022
https://fr.yna.co.kr/view/AFR20221116001400884Kim Kun-heeKim Kun-heeKim Kun-hee
