Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the killing of peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Secretary-General condemns the killing of six Malawian and one Tanzanian peacekeepers of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in Beni territory, North Kivu. The peacekeepers were killed during joint operations carried out by MONUSCO and the Forces armees de la Republique democratique du Congo (FARDC) against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). Initial reports indicate that ten additional peacekeepers were wounded, and another one is missing. Several FARDC soldiers and an unknown number of ADF fighters were also reportedly killed or wounded during the operations.

The Secretary-General expresses his deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the families of the killed peacekeepers and the Governments and people of the Republic of Malawi and the United Republic of Tanzania. He wishes a prompt recovery to the wounded and conveys his...