By Elwyn Lopez
(CNN) – A
U.N. peacekeeper was killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in
recent fighting, according to a statement release Sunday from the
spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
U.N. peacekeeper was killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in
recent fighting, according to a statement release Sunday from the
spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
The Tanzanian
peacekeeper was part the U.N. Organization Stabilization Mission in the
unstable eastern part of the vast nation in Central Africa. The mission
was joining the Congolese military in an effort to protect civilians
about 25 kilometers (15 miles) north of Goma, the largest city in the
region, the statement said.
peacekeeper was part the U.N. Organization Stabilization Mission in the
unstable eastern part of the vast nation in Central Africa. The mission
was joining the Congolese military in an effort to protect civilians
about 25 kilometers (15 miles) north of Goma, the largest city in the
region, the statement said.
The mission said
Friday it was on “high alert” and monitoring the clashes between
Congolese forces and M23 rebels. The U.N .mission stated that about
5,000 civilians from the town of Kibumba crossed the border into Rwanda
on Friday.
Friday it was on “high alert” and monitoring the clashes between
Congolese forces and M23 rebels. The U.N .mission stated that about
5,000 civilians from the town of Kibumba crossed the border into Rwanda
on Friday.
In the past year,
clashes continued throughout the country’s eastern region with rebels
temporarily occupying Goma in November, according to the U.N.
clashes continued throughout the country’s eastern region with rebels
temporarily occupying Goma in November, according to the U.N.
The organization said
in the statement Sunday that it will remain committed to “taking all
necessary actions in line with Security Council resolution 2098 (2013)
to protect civilians” in the region.
in the statement Sunday that it will remain committed to “taking all
necessary actions in line with Security Council resolution 2098 (2013)
to protect civilians” in the region.
The eastern part
of the DRC is a mineral-rich region at the epicenter of a bloody
political and ethnic conflict involving its neighbors to the east,
Uganda and Rwanda.
of the DRC is a mineral-rich region at the epicenter of a bloody
political and ethnic conflict involving its neighbors to the east,
Uganda and Rwanda.
The M23 group was named for a peace deal reached on March 23, 2009, which it accuses the government of violating.
