Peacekeepers Murdered In Eastern Chad

UN Force Mourns Peacekeepers Murdered In Eastern Chad

New York, Apr 8 2009 6:10PM The United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) today expressed its dismay over the killing yesterday of a peacekeeper and two soldiers of the European Union force (EUFOR) by a fellow soldier in a camp in Abeché in eastern Chad.

“A French soldier of the EUFOR military operation killed two of his cohorts as well as a Togolese UN peacekeeper for reasons yet to be determined,” the Mission said in a news release issued in N’Djamena.

Chadian authorities, in collaboration with France and EUFOR, are investigating the incident and searching for the perpetrator.

MINURCAT reiterated its full confidence in EUFOR and conveyed its condolences to the families of the victims.

In September 2007, the Security Council approved the establishment of a UN-mandated, multidimensional presence, including EU military forces, in Chad and CAR to help protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid to thousands of people uprooted due to insecurity in the two countries and neighbouring Sudan.

On 15 March, UN peacekeepers took over the military and security responsibilities of EUFOR after the Council approved the deployment of an additional 5,500 blue helmets to serve with MINURCAT.

ENDS

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