UN Security Council condemns assault on peacekeepers in Congo that killed 2 Indians
4 min readThe United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the assault on the UN mission in Congo wherein two peacekeepers from India and one individual from Morocco had been killed, urging the Congolese authorities to swiftly examine the assault and convey the perpetrators to justice.
In a press assertion, tabled by India and France, the highly effective 15-nation Council expressed its deepest condolences to the households of the victims and to India and Morocco.
The council additionally expressed its condolences to the United Nations and the civilians who misplaced their lives, moreover wishing a speedy restoration to peacekeepers and civilians injured within the July 26 assault in Butembo, North Kivu province.
“The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the recent attacks on the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in North Kivu, which resulted in the death of three peacekeepers from India and Morocco, as well as in injuries to peacekeepers,” mentioned the assertion issued on Wednesday.
India’s Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday confirmed the dying of two of its personnel within the assault within the Democratic Republic of Congo. The two Border Security Force personnel killed within the assault have been recognized as Head Constables Shishupal Singh and Sanwala Ram Vishnoi.
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UN Security Council adopts press assertion, tabled by India and France, on the current deaths of peacekeepers within the Democratic Republic of the Congo #MONUSCO
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India, presently a non-permanent member of the Council and among the many largest troop contributing nation to the UN peacekeeping missions, performed a really energetic function in bringing Council members collectively and making certain {that a} strong-worded assertion goes out that condemns the assault on peacekeepers, sources mentioned.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has additionally strongly condemned the July 26 deadly assault and expressed his deepest condolences to the households of the fallen peacekeepers, in addition to to the governments and the folks of India and Morocco.
At the MONUSCO Butembo base, violent attackers snatched weapons from Congolese police and “fired upon” the uniformed personnel. MONUSCO’s Acting Head Khassim Diagne instructed reporters from Kinshasa that the previous two days have been “intensive” and “tragic” for the mission.
“The culmination of the violence and the tragedy resulted in the killing of three of our brave peacekeepers, two Indians of the Formed Police Unit and one Moroccan from the military contingent and another Egyptian colleague from the police also wounded,” he mentioned.
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UN Security Council Briefing on Peacebuilding and sustaining peace
Highlights of remarks by Ambassador R. Ravindra, Chargé d’affaires@MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/Y33PZXLmye
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“We once again express our deepest condolences to the families and the government of India and Morocco. And we will not leave any stone unturned to get to the bottom of it, to the investigation. This was clearly a hostile act against our troops. This may be a war crime,” he mentioned.
Diagne added that the mortal stays of the fallen peacekeepers have been transferred now to the northeastern metropolis of Beni.
“We’re looking at arrangements for these remains to go back quickly to their families in India and Morocco,” Diagne mentioned.
In the press assertion, the Security Council members condemned within the strongest phrases all assaults and provocations in opposition to MONUSCO and underlined that deliberate assaults focusing on peacekeepers could represent “war crimes” underneath worldwide legislation.
They referred to as on the Congolese authorities to swiftly examine these assaults and convey the perpetrators to justice, and preserve the related troop-and police-contributing nations knowledgeable of the progress in line with related Security Council resolutions.
They requested the Secretary-General for an replace in line with para 4(a) of Security Council decision 2589 (2021) on measures undertaken to advertise accountability for such acts.
The UNSC decision 2589 was adopted in August final 12 months underneath India’s Presidency of the Council and it referred to as upon the Member States internet hosting or having hosted United Nations peacekeeping operations to advertise accountability for the killing of, and all acts of violence in opposition to United Nations personnel serving in peacekeeping operations.
It additionally recognises the necessity to improve help to assist these nations deal with impunity.
As of November 2021, India was the second-highest army contributor to MONUSCO with 1888 troops and the fifth highest police contributor with 139 personnel. The mission has a complete of over 17,700 personnel.
“The members of the Security Council called for calm and dialogue in order to resolve the current tensions and to ensure the protection of civilians. They encouraged further efforts of the Congolese Government to restore law and order as well as to conduct investigations into the underlying causes of the current tensions and to ensure accountability,” the assertion mentioned.
The Council members referred to as on all events to cooperate totally with MONUSCO and to stay dedicated to the total and goal implementation of the Mission’s mandate and underneath the Status of Forces Agreement with MONUSCO.
The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their robust dedication to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Congo.
They reiterated their full help to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Bintou Keita, and for the stabilising motion of MONUSCO, consistent with the fundamental ideas of peacekeeping, together with consent of the events, and its mandate and expressed their deep appreciation to MONUSCO’s troop- and police-contributing nations.
