Security Council Press Statement on the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attack perpetrated today by a Mayi-Mayi armed group in Butembo, North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which led to the death of a South African peacekeeper of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and of a Congolese police officer, as well as the injuries of two other South African peacekeepers.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, as well as to the Governments of the DRC and South Africa and to MONUSCO.

The members of the Security Council called on the Government of the DRC to swiftly investigate these attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice. They underlined that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the DRC and to MONUSCO to fully implement their mandate.