Security Council Press Statement on Attack against United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission Peacekeepers in Democratic Republic of Congo

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Tekeda Alemu (Ethiopia):

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attack perpetrated on 17 September 2017 in Mamundioma, in North Kivu province, which led to the death of a Tanzanian peacekeeper of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), as well as the injury of another peacekeeper.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest condolences and sympathy to the family of the peacekeeper killed, as well as to the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, and to MONUSCO.  They wished the injured peacekeeper a speedy recovery.

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms all attacks and provocations against MONUSCO by armed groups.

The members of the Security Council called on the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to swiftly investigate these attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.  They 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 to MONUSCO to fully implement their mandate.