UN mission condemns ‘murderous’ attack on civilians in north-eastern DR Congo town

The head of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has strongly condemned Wednesday’s deadly attack on civilians in North Kivu province and expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims.

According to MONUSCO, in the early morning hours of 15 April, a group of unidentified assailants suspected to belong to the Ugandan-based Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group attacked Matiba village, 5 kilometres north east of Mbau in Beni territory.

"My heart is with their souls," stressed Martin Kobler, who is also the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the DRC, through a statement issued from the capital, Kinshasa.

“I am deeply shocked by the killings of civilians near Beni. It is absolutely necessary that FARDC [Armed Forces of the DRC] and MONUSCO resume their cooperation. Together it will be possible to avoid a further deterioration of the security situation” declared Mr. Kobler.