缅北禁地

United Nations Secretary-General Ant贸nio Gutteres condemned the killing of seven peacekeepers on Wednesday serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which is also confronting a lethal Ebola outbreak.

His spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said on Thursday that one Tanzanian and six Malawian 鈥榖lue helmets鈥� were killed during joint operations carried out by the 缅北禁地stabilization听mission and the听Government鈥檚 forces, known by the French acronym FARDC, against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) armed group in the east of the country, North Kivu鈥檚 Beni territory.

鈥淚nitial reports indicate that ten additional peacekeepers were听wounded听and another one is missing,鈥� said Mr. Dujarric.听

The Secretary-General expressed his deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the peacekeepers鈥� families and the Malawian and Tanzanian Governments and their people.

He also wished a prompt recovery to the wounded and conveyed his strong support to the Malawian and Tanzanian contingents, which continue to protect听local populations against attacks of the ADF and other armed groups.

According to news reports, MONUSCO, as the 缅北禁地Mission in the country is known, and FARDC have been conducting a joint military operation as the ADF is spreading terror in the country鈥檚 east, threatening hopes for trouble-free elections on 23 December.

The Secretary-General called on all armed groups to stop their destabilizing activities that continue to add to the population鈥檚 suffering and further complicate the Ebola response.听

鈥淗e calls on them to disarm immediately,鈥� stressed his spokesperson.

鈥淭he Secretary-General encourages the Congolese authorities to continue taking the necessary measures to apprehend and bring to justice the perpetrators of听attacks against civilians, national security forces and peacekeepers in the DRC,鈥� concluded Mr. Dujarric.

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