Rabat – The President of the Commission of the African Union Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed condemnation of the attacks on UN personnel in DR Congo which cost the lives of five soldiers, including two Moroccans.
A statement by the AU said its commission president was following the security situation in the country “with concern,” adding that he called for restraint on the part of the involved parties in order to allow peace operations to continue.
“The President of the Commission also calls for an immediate stop to all forms of violence by the population and any armed group against persons, property and the UN mission in DRC,” the statement continued.
The statement concluded by encouraging authorities in DR Congo to take all necessary measures to maintain peace and bring an end to the violence.
Members of the UN Security Council, as well as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, have all also condemned the attacks and the loss of life of UN peacekeepers. The Security Council members additionally requested that measures be taken to hold responsible parties accountable.
A Moroccan soldier died due to injuries sustained from gunfire earlier this week. Another followed the following day “after an accidental shooting of an element of the UN police.”
Apart from UN personnel who were killed, at least five people have died in the attacks, in addition to 50 who sustained injuries, according to the UN.
Protesters have gathered around the UN’s logistics base in North Kivu where peacekeepers are deployed as part of the Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
The protests are demanding the departure of MONUSCO, claiming that it’s failing to restore safety and fight armed groups.
