By John Stephen Katende – 23^rd–29^th Aug 2010

Sixty 60 unidentified men armed with machetes and spears attacked and killed three Indian UN peacekeepers.  The attack took place at the UN operating base of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission [MONUSCO] located at Kirumba in the volatile North Kivu province of DRC shortly after 2am on the 17^th of August 2010.

Several peacekeepers engaged the attackers, forcing them to retreat.  But at least six military personnel were injured in the surprise attack, some of them critically.  In the attack, the motives of which are still unclear, the assailants also stole two MONUSCO weapons.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the overnight ambush of a United Nations peacekeeping base and called on the DRC government to launch an immediate investigation into the incident to ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly identified and brought to justice.  He also conveyed his condolences to the Indian Government and to the families of the three slain soldiers.