UN condemns killing of Tanzanian peacekeeper in DRC
October 29, 2013 (NEW YORK) – The United Nations Security Council has condemned the killing of a Tanzanian UN peace keeper in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
‘‘The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attacks by M23 rebel group against the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) in North Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing one Tanzanian peacekeeper,’’ the security council said in a statement on Monday.
The peace keeper, part of the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), was killed on Saturday while protecting civilians, according to Martin Kobler, head of MONUSCO.
In the statement, members of the Security Council reiterated their ‘‘full support’’ for MONUSCO and called on the rebels and the government to cooperate with the mission.
Fresh fighting broke out on Friday last week between M23 rebels and the Congolese army shortly after collapse of peace talks in Kampala. The talks collapsed over disagreement between M23 and the DRC government on amnesty and integration into the Congolese army of the rebels.
The United States on Monday warned that renewed violence in the volatile Kivu region in eastern Congo could drag neighbouring countries into the conflict and urged M23 and the government to resume peace talks.
Rwanda, and to an extent Uganda, have been accused by the United Nations and human rights organisation of supporting the rebels, an allegation denied by both countries.
Rwanda has meanwhile warned DRC that it will retaliate after shells allegedly fired by the Congolese army injured one person inside the country.
The DRC government has said it has retaken most of the towns from the M23 and pushed the rebels towards the Rwanda border.
The rebels say they pulled out of the towns into the mountains from where it is suspected they plan to launch more attacks on positions of the Congolese army.
The UN has a 3,000-strong intervention brigade in DRC with a mandate to use force against the rebels and to protect the civilian population.
(ST)