Namibia condemns killing of peacekeepers
Namibia has condemned the killing of Tanzanian peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), calling it a barbaric act of violence.
The deputy prime minister and minister of international relations and cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, said Namibia learned about the wanton killing of the Tanzanian troops with “deep horror and revulsion”.
“The government of Namibia unreservedly condemns this contemptible act of atrocity committed against the peacekeepers.”
The United Nations last week confirmed that 14 of its peacekeeping officers had been killed in an attack by an armed militia group on 7 December in North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The peacekeeping officers, who were all Tanzanian, were part of the UN Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). The UN said 53 other officers were also injured in the same attack. Nandi-Ndaitwah extended Namibia's sympathy and fraternal solidarity to Tanzania, adding that the act of dastardly violence was perpetrated against those whose mission it was to help the DRC restore peace and security.
“The government of Namibia also extends condolences to the bereaved families of the gallant peacekeepers who made supreme sacrifice in the course of peace and to wish the wounded peacekeepers speedy recovery.”
Namibia further called on MONUSCO to provide all the necessary assistance and support to the Congolese national army to pursue and bring to justice those responsible for the “barbaric act” of unprovoked aggressions against the peacekeepers. UN secretary-general António Guterres has described the attack as the worst against a peacekeeping mission in recent history.
He said the deliberate attacks against UN peacekeepers were unacceptable and constituted a war crime. MONUSCO reportedly has about 18 000 troops in DRC. DRC has been locked in a political impasse for much of the past year as president Joseph Kabila refused to step down from office at the end of last year when his tenure expired. Riots protesting Kabila's continued stay in office led to a breakout of violence which left dozens dead.
ELLANIE SMIT
The deputy prime minister and minister of international relations and cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, said Namibia learned about the wanton killing of the Tanzanian troops with “deep horror and revulsion”.
“The government of Namibia unreservedly condemns this contemptible act of atrocity committed against the peacekeepers.”
The United Nations last week confirmed that 14 of its peacekeeping officers had been killed in an attack by an armed militia group on 7 December in North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The peacekeeping officers, who were all Tanzanian, were part of the UN Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). The UN said 53 other officers were also injured in the same attack. Nandi-Ndaitwah extended Namibia's sympathy and fraternal solidarity to Tanzania, adding that the act of dastardly violence was perpetrated against those whose mission it was to help the DRC restore peace and security.
“The government of Namibia also extends condolences to the bereaved families of the gallant peacekeepers who made supreme sacrifice in the course of peace and to wish the wounded peacekeepers speedy recovery.”
Namibia further called on MONUSCO to provide all the necessary assistance and support to the Congolese national army to pursue and bring to justice those responsible for the “barbaric act” of unprovoked aggressions against the peacekeepers. UN secretary-general António Guterres has described the attack as the worst against a peacekeeping mission in recent history.
He said the deliberate attacks against UN peacekeepers were unacceptable and constituted a war crime. MONUSCO reportedly has about 18 000 troops in DRC. DRC has been locked in a political impasse for much of the past year as president Joseph Kabila refused to step down from office at the end of last year when his tenure expired. Riots protesting Kabila's continued stay in office led to a breakout of violence which left dozens dead.
ELLANIE SMIT
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