Attack against UN peacekeepers is a war crime, says UN chief

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack against UN peacekeepers in Congo and said it "may constitute a war crime under international law."

The conflict-torn Minembwe region of South Kivu province was attacked on Friday by suspected Twirwaneho militia members. "A peacekeeper was killed by armed men who approached the base after having contacted MONUSCO for a surrender," said MONUSCO - the UN peacekeeping operation in the DRC.

Congolese army spokesman Lieutenant Jeremie Meya said the Twirwaneho militiamen killed the UN peacekeeper under the "ruse" of handing themselves in. In July, the region faced serious anti-UN protests for a week which led to the death of 32 protesters and four UN soldiers.

The strike led to the death of a Pakistani blue helmet. The UN chief expressed his deepest condolences to his family and the government of Pakistan. He also called on the Congolese authorities to investigate this incident and swiftly bring those responsible to justice.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres, in an official statement, said that the UN will continue to support the Congolese government and people in their efforts to bring about peace and stability in the east of the country.

The Twirwaneho militia is one of more than 120 armed groups in volatile eastern Congo. In the past 10 years, they have led to the death of several thousand. The UN has been active in Congo since 1999 and currently has 16,000 troops.

A week ago, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called on the UN to start a new peacekeeping operation Monusco in Congo as violence has escalated in the past year. He said: "Monusco must end and be replaced."