UNSC calls for action on killing of UN peacekeepers in Congo

New Delhi, July 28

Members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) called on the Congolese authorities to swiftly investigate the killing of three UN Peacekeepers, including two BSF troopers, by a mob in Congo on Monday.

A UNSC statement, piloted by India and France, also asked the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for an update on Monday’s attack on a UN Peacekeepers’ base in Goma. The violent attackers had snatched weapons from Congolese police and “fired upon” the UN personnel.

The two BSF personnel killed in the attack have been identified as Head Constables Shishupal Singh and Sanwala Ram Vishnoi.

Two days back, while condoling the deaths of the peacekeepers, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had demanded that the perpetrators of the “outrageous attacks” must be held accountable and brought to justice.

The UNSC statement requested the Secretary-General for an update consistent with paragraph 4(a) of Security Council resolution 2589 (2021) on measures undertaken to promote accountability for such acts.

The relevant paragraph asks the Secretary-General to update on measures undertaken to promote accountability within a country’s domestic justice systems, consistent with applicable international obligations.

The UN mission in Congo (MONUSCO) Acting Head Khassim Diagne also said, “we will not leave any stone unturned to get to the bottom of it, to the investigation. This was clearly a hostile act against our troops. This may be a war crime.’’

India is a non-permanent member of the UNSC and also among three troop contributing countries to the UN peacekeeping missions.