Security Council Press Statement on Attack against United Nations Monitoring Team near Nigeria-Cameroon Border on 31 January‎

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Volodymyr Yelchenko (Ukraine):

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attack against a United Nations monitoring team near the Nigeria-Cameroon border on 31 January 2017, during which one UN independent contractor, three Nigerian nationals and one Cameroonian national were killed and others injured.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of victims, as well as to the Government of Nigeria and to the Government of Cameroon, and to the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission.  They paid tribute to the United Nations employees who risk their lives.

The members of the Security Council called on the Governments of Nigeria and Cameroon to swiftly investigate these attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.  The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice.  They stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard.

The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.  They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

The members of the Security Council expressed their concern about the security situation in the northern Cameroon-Nigeria border areas as a result of Boko Haram-related violence, which adversely affects the work of the Commission.

The members of the Security Council stressed the importance that Cameroon and Nigeria take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and staff operating in their territories.