UN Security Council Members Slam Attack On Mission In DR Congo

Members of the UN Security Council have "strongly condemned" an attack on the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday which left one Malawian peacekeeper dead.

"The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest condolences to the family of the victim, the Malawian authorities and the United Nations," read a statement posted on Tuesday on the website of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO).

The members added that "deliberate attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law," calling on Congolese authorities to quickly investigate the attack, which took place near Beni in the North Kivu province, and bring the attackers to justice.

They stressed the importance of MONUSCO "having the necessary capacities to fulfill its mandate and promote the safety and security of the United Nations peacekeepers, pursuant to relevant Security Council resolutions."

Earlier, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN under-secretary-general for peace operations, said the UN is deploying rapid reaction units in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to help contain armed groups.

The decision came after President Felix Tshisekedi announced security measures, including declaring a state of siege in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces, bordering Uganda, to contain armed groups.

The Central African country has been plagued by violence for decades as several rebel groups fight with each other or against the country's military and UN forces for territorial control.

According to the UN, exploitation of natural resources continues to be a root cause and driver of conflict. It is said that most of the armed groups have set aside their political demands and are involved in mineral trafficking.

More than 5 million people have been uprooted by insecurity and violence in the country over the last two years, according to UN estimates. -