.Grief as 14 TPDF soldiers die, 44 injured in DRC attack

.PRESIDENT John Magufuli has expressed grief and shock as 14 Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) peacekeepers died while 44 others were injured during an attack, Thursday night, in North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In his condolence message, President Magufuli also expressed his heartbreak as two other TPDF soldiers in the DRC peacekeeping mission went missing. He sent his message to the Minister for Defence, Chief of Defence Forces, bereaved families and Tanzanians for the fallen soldiers who were killed in line of duty.

“I have been saddened and shocked by the reports of the death of the Tanzanian soldiers who were killed while in their peacekeeping mission in DRC,” said Dr Magufuli in his statement.

However, he called for patience among Tanzanians as the government is charting out the best measures, after the incident, as he prayed for quick recovery of the 44 injured soldiers.

The UN Secretary Gen- However, he called for patience among Tanzanians as the government is charting out the best measures, after the incident, as he prayed for quick recovery of the 44 injured soldiers eral, Mr António Guterres, has condemned the attack unequivocally on United Nations peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“I want to express my outrage and utter heartbreak at Thursday night’s attack on United Nations peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” said the SG in a statement availed to the media, yesterday.

According to him, early indications from the site of the attack in North Kivu indicated that at least 12 Tanzanian peacekeepers were killed, and at least 40 injured, four of them critically. “We also understand that at least five members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo were killed.

“I offer my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, and to the Government and people of Tanzania. I wish a speedy recovery to all those injured,” he said.

“These deliberate attacks against UN peacekeepers are unacceptable and constitute a war crime. I call upon theDRC authorities to investigate this incident and swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice. There must be no impunity for such assaults, here or anywhere else. Military reinforcements have arrived at the scene. The Force Commander is there as well, coordinating the Mission’s response. The medical evacuation of casualties is ongoing.”

The statement said the attack is the worst on UN peacekeepers in the Organisation’s recent history. It is another indication of the enormous sacrifices made by troop contributing countries in the service of global peace.


“These brave women and men are putting their lives on the line everyday across the world to serve peace and to protect civilians,” The situation in the DRC is one of the emergencies we are highlighting in today’s appeal for the Central Emergency Response Fund. This latest attack highlights the urgency of helping people in need and addressing the volatile situation, the SG said.