North Kivu:

4 Mar 2014

North Kivu:

Martin Kobler, head of MONUSCO, strongly condemns the grenade attack on a MONUSCO convoy in Beni

Kinshasa, 03 Mars 2014: On Monday, a MONUSCO vehicle was attacked with grenades in the Beni region of North Kivu.

“This attack directed against MONUSCO is unacceptable and will not in any way diminish our support to the FARDC in the fight against armed groups,” Martin Kobler said. He further declared that “our mandate is to neutralize all illegal armed groups in the eastern DRC, and we are committed to implementing it.”

MONUSCO strongly reaffirms its commitment and determination to protect the civilian population, and would like to reiterate that such acts do not in any way lessen its commitment to contribute to the reinstitution of State authority and the restoration of peace and security for the Congolese population.

The five peacekeepers wounded in this attack were immediately taken to the Benimilitary hospital.

The attack, which was perpetrated by two persons on a motorcycle, took place ten kilometres from the Mavivi airport inBeni.