DR of Congo: UN mission launches investigation into killing of military observers

The United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has launched an inquiry into the recent killing of two military observers in that country’s war-torn northeast.

According to a UN spokesman in New York, the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC) has opened its investigation into the allegations and circumstances of the deaths of the two peacekeepers – nationals of Jordan and Malawi – whose mutilated corpses were recovered from Mongbwalu on 18 May.

Meanwhile, MONUC said that recent appointments made by the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) to administrative posts in war-ravaged Ituri are “null and void.” MONUC underscored that only the Interim Special Administration from the Ituri Pacification Commission – which rival militia and tribal groups agreed to set up to manage the region until a new post-war national government takes over – is authorized to carry out appointments to different administrative posts in Ituri.

“The Mission also informed us that on 14 June, the multinational force [deployed in Bunia] had a first clash with an unspecified number of militia, believed to be of Lendu origin,” spokesman Fred Eckhard said. One patrol from the force was fired on some 4 kilometres south of Bunia, returned fire – for the first time since its deployment – and was able to repel the militiamen, without suffering any damage.”

In other news, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced that it will help over 1,000 primary school children in Bunia and nearby Beni sit for their final exams, despite the violence plaguing the region. The agency will help provide local education authorities with the equipment necessary to ensure that sixth grade students – the majority of whom are girls – complete their school year today.

UNCEF said the decision to hold the exams was reached after consultations with parents, teachers, children and UN peacekeepers and multi-national troops, just now arriving in Bunia. The troops will secure the five centers in which the tests will take place and will support the distribution of UNICEF materials.