The United Nations has confirmed that at least 14 of its peacekeepers have been killed and over 50 others wounded when they came under attack in eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The UN’s Monusco mission said on Friday that the peacekeepers were attacked on Thursday by militants suspected to be from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in North Kivu province.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called the attack the worst carried out on UN peacekeepers in recent history.
The head of Monuscu, Maman Sidikou has said that he condemns “in the strongest terms this deadly attack on United Nations peacekeepers and the FARDC. Monusco will take all actions to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable and brought to justice.”
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who is the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping has also made a statement on twitter.
Outraged by the attack against @MONUSCO in #NorthKivu DRC last evening, where a large number of @UN peacekeepers have been killed & wounded. Our thoughts & prayers with families & our colleagues in @MONUSCO. Reinforcements are on scene & medical evacuations by Mission ongoing. pic.twitter.com/l84tFHYKMR
— Jean-Pierre Lacroix (@Lacroix_UN) December 8, 2017
Eastern Congo remains a deadly area due to such militant attacks as conflict in the area continues to wreak havoc on those living there.
Source: Africafeeds.com