Nepali peacekeeper dies in Congo rebel attack

A Nepal Army constable deployed to the UN mission in Congo died in a rebel attack on Tuesday.

The deceased has been identified as Anil Gurung of Gurmakot-14, Surkhet.

Gurung, who was critically injured in the rebel attack, breathed his last during the course of treatment at the Buniya-based Level-2 Hospital, yesterday.

Chief of Army Staff Parshu Ram Sharma expressed condolences on the death of Gurung on behalf of the entire organization.

Meanwhile, Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the attack against peacekeepers serving in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in Bali, Djugu territory, Ituri province, by suspected members of the Coopérative pour le développement du Congo (CODECO) militia, read a statement issued by the United Nations.

The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the family of the fallen peacekeeper, as well as to the Government and the people of Nepal.

“The Secretary-General recalls that attacks against United Nations peacekeepers may constitute a war crime. He calls on the Congolese authorities to investigate this incident and swiftly bring those responsible to justice,” the statement read.