DRC: UN Security Council, EU, Arab MPs & several Arab countries decry terror attack against Moroccan peacekeepers

The UN Security Council, the European Union, the Arab Parliament and several Arab countries, including Bahrain and Jordan have strongly condemned the deadly terrorist attack on Moroccan peacekeepers serving in the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The attack on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of three MONUSCO peacekeepers: two from India and one from Morocco, while twenty blue Helmets sustained injuries.

A statement from the FAR’s General Staff confirmed that the soldier died after he sustained gunfire injuries during attacks on several deployment sites of the FAR contingent in DRC’s northeastern region.
Rebels in the turbulent region took advantage of an aggressive demonstration by the local population against the presence of MONUSCO, which occurred on July 25 and 26, to attack FAR Deployment sites.

On Wednesday, another soldier of the FAR contingent died after an accidental shooting by an element of the UN police, part of the teams sent to reinforce the Moroccan military, following the aggressive demonstrations of the local population against the presence of MONUSCO, which have been staged since July 25, according to a statement of the General Staff of the FAR.

At least 5 people have already died, and 50 were injured, following the rallies that began on Monday, July 25, according to Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya.

In a press release issued Wednesday, the members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms all attacks and provocations against MONUSCO. They underlined that deliberate attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.

They called on the Congolese authorities to swiftly investigate these attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice. They also called for calm and dialogue in order to resolve the current tensions and to ensure 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 expressed their deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to India and Morocco as well as to the United Nations.

The European Union also condemned the deadly attack against the MONUSCO in the province of North Kivu.

“The European Union strongly condemns this murderous attack against peacekeepers as well as all the violence in North Kivu province since July 25, which has caused the death and injury of several civilians,” said in a statement the spokesperson for the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrel.

The spokesperson reaffirmed the EU’s support for MONUSCO and the government of the DRC in their commitment to investigate these incidents and prosecute those responsible.

For its part, the Arab Parliament decried the attack against the Moroccan peacekeepers deployed in DRC within the frame of a UN mission for the protection of civilians, which includes humanitarian personnel and human rights defenders. The MONUSCO Blue Helmets also support the Government of the DRC in its stabilization and peace consolidation efforts, the Arab Parliament said.

Bahrain and Jordan have equally condemned in statements issued by their respective foreign departments the terrorist attack that targeted the FAR contingent, and expressed condolences and sympathy to the Moroccan government, the Moroccan people and the families of the victims.

Bahrain expressed its solidarity with Morocco, as well as its consideration of the important role undertaken by FAR within the framework of MONUSCO in maintaining security, facilitating peace and providing humanitarian aid, stressing the need to intensify international efforts to eradicate terrorism in all its forms, as well as whoever supports or finances it.

In its Statement, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry said Amman condemns all forms of violence and attacks against UN peacekeeping missions, bases and buildings.

The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, had presented his most sincere condolences to Morocco, following the death on Tuesday of the first Moroccan soldier to be killed this week.
Following the attack, the MONUSCO took “several measures” to repatriate the remains of the deceased and ensure the security and safety of the deployment sites of the FAR contingent.