At least 14 UN peacekeepers and five Congolese air force
members have been killed in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC) in the "worst attack in recent history",
according to the UN.
The UN said that at least 53 peacekeepers were also injured
in the attack in North Kivu. "I condemn this attack
unequivocally," Antonio Guterres, UN secretary-general, said
in a statement.
He continued to say, "these deliberate attacks against UN
peacekeepers are unacceptable and constitute a war crime. I
call on the DRC authorities to investigate this incident and
swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice. There must be no
impunity for such assaults, here or elsewhere."
The attack took place at a base in Beni, North Kivu, of the
UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC
(MONUSCO). The area has been repeatedly attacked by
rebels of the ADF.
Farhan Haq, UN deputy spokesperson,said the peacekeepers
were mainly from Tanzania. Nearly 300 peacekeepers have
been killed since the initial mission arrived in 1999,
according to UN figures.
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