Butembo, 27 July 2022 (TDI): The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attacks on the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) in DR Congo on 26 July. The attacks on MONUSCO are a result of civilian grievances. The people want the mission to leave because they have failed to protect the local people.
The demonstrations left two Indian police personnel and one Moroccan military personnel dead, injuring one Egyptian police personnel.
Guterres has expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased peacekeepers and also to the Governments and people of India and Morocco. He also wishes a quick recovery for the injured peacekeeper.
Secretary-General @antonioguterres strongly condemns fatal attack on peacekeepers serving in @MONUSCO
in Butembo, North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: https://t.co/sXwjXrV5jd— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) July 27, 2022
There have been several attacks on many United Nations across North Kivu province since 25 July. As a result, many individuals and groups have forcibly gone into bases. They were also involved in looting and setting ablaze residences of UN staff.
The UN Secretary-General also expresses deep regret for the loss of life of demonstrators. He also assures MONUSCO’s commitment to work with the Congolese authorities to assess these events.
Also read: MONUSCO Chief calls for strategy in DR Congo
Possible resolutions
The UN and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo have reaffirmed the Status of Forces Agreement. The Status of Forces Agreement guarantees the safety of United Nations premises.
Guterres said that the United Nations will consider any violent attack on the United Nations peacekeepers a war crime. He also called upon the Congolese authorities and Government to assess these events and quickly punish the culprits.
He also supports the statement of the spokesperson of the Congolese Government. This statement was made on 25 July and it states that the criminals will be punished.
The UN Secretary-General also assured the DR Congo of the United Nations’ commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of DR Congo.
He also assures the Congolese government and the Congolese people that his Special Representative in DR Congo and its Mission supports them. He also assures them of UN efforts to bring about peace and stability in the eastern part of the country.
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