Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 5th August. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Thursday told reporters in New York that the UN regretted the decision by the Government of Democratic Republic of Congo to expel the mission MONUSCO spokesperson.
Dujarric told in a regular press briefing that the USG for peacekeeping operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, briefed a closed-door session of the Security Council to discuss the situation in the country.
Mr. Dujarric told reporters that the UN continues to engage with authorities in the DRC in the aftermath of the deadly shooting this past weekend which involved peacekeepers from MONUSCO.
According to media reports, the members of the Security Council held closed door meeting in New York after Congolese authorities officially expelled the MONUSCO Spokesperson from the country, reportedly for making “indelicate and inappropriate remarks” after a deadly protests in the east.
Mr. Dujarric added that “In line with the status of the UN under the Charter of the Organization, any concerns that the Government may have regarding the actions of a member of MONUSCO should be raised directly with the Mission leadership. The Mission and UN Headquarters are accordingly engaging with the Government to address this matter.”
MONUSCO also regretted the government’s decision.
The Mission underscored its commitment “to continuing to work alongside the Congolese population and authorities to implement the mandate entrusted to it by the Security Council,” in a statement issued on Wednesday
UN said that the shooting incident occurred on Sunday in Kasindi, a town in North Kivu province, on the border between the DRC and Uganda.
According to local media, the peacekeepers were returning from leave, when they opened fire at a border post, under circumstances which are not yet clear. Two people were killed, and several others wounded.
Secretary-General António Guterres was “outraged” by the “serious incident”, in addition to being saddened and dismayed over the loss of life and injuries, in a statement issued that day by his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric in New York.
Guterres strongly emphasized the need to establish accountability, and welcomed MONUSCO’s decision to immediately open an investigation.
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