Security Council Press Statement on MONUSCO Peacekeepers

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Raimonda Murmokaitė (Lithuania):

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attack against United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) peacekeepers in Beni territory on 5 May 2015, in which two Tanzanian peacekeepers were killed and others injured.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest condolences to the families of the peacekeepers killed, as well as to the Government and people of the United Republic of Tanzania, and to MONUSCO.  The members of the Security Council also wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

The members of the Security Council called on the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to swiftly investigate this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice and stressed that those responsible for the attack shall be held accountable.  The members of the Security Council underlined that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and MONUSCO to implement their mandate.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their deep concern regarding the security crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo due to ongoing destabilizing activities of foreign and domestic armed groups.