Tanzanian soldiers in Congo are safe, TPDF reassures

Tanzania People’s Defence Force spokesman Major Joseph Masanja briefs journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday about two peace keepers killed by Allied Democratic Force rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday. PHOTO | VENANCE NESTORY 

By Kelvin Matandiko, The Citizen Correspondent

In Summary

A statement from the UN office in Dar es Salaam said on Wednesday the army officers were killed on Monday when a UN Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Monusco) convoy was ambushed and came under fire from suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in Beni, eastern DRC.

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) yesterday allayed fears over safety of its soldiers serving as UN peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the killing of its two soldiers, saying the rest were safe.

A statement from the UN office in Dar es Salaam said on Wednesday the army officers were killed on Monday when a UN Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Monusco) convoy was ambushed and came under fire from suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in Beni, eastern DRC.

“The attack occurred as Monusco was carrying out its protection of civilians mandate,” said the statement.

TPDF spokesman Major Joseph Masanja told a news conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday that Tanzanian peacekeepers will continue with their task of protecting civilians in DRC as mandated by the UN.

The United Nations Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, on Tuesday condemned the continuing atrocities perpetrated by the ADF against defenceless civilians in Beni.

The UN chief offered his deep condolences to the bereaved families and the government of Tanzania, said the statement.

At the same time, members of the UN Security Council have condemned in the strongest terms the attack against Monusco peacekeepers in DRC.

The members of the UN Security Council too expressed their condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers as well as to the government, people of United Republic of Tanzania and to Monusco.

They also wished a speedy recovery to those who were injured, says the statement issued yesterday by the United Nations communications office in Dar es Salaam.

They called on the government of the DRC to swiftly investigate the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice, stressing that those responsible for the attack shall be held accountable.

They underlined that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.

They also reiterated their deep concern regarding the security crisis in eastern DRC due to ongoing destabilising activities of foreign and domestic armed groups.

The deaths of the two army officers bring to five the number of Tanzanian soldiers who have been killed in the DRC in the past two years.

In July 2012, seven Tanzania soldiers, who were part of the United Nnations-Africa Mission in Darfur (Unamid), were killed after gunmen ambushed their convoy.

Their 17 colleagues were seriously wounded in the incident described as the deadliest ever single attack on the international force in Sudan.