Security Council and UN SG express condolences to Morocco following Moroccan peacekeeper’s death in CAR
Members of the UN Security Council have offered their "most sincere" condolences to the Kingdom of Morocco following the death of a Moroccan peacekeeper in an attack Thursday against the UN mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). The martyr of peace was a member of the Royal Armed Forces contingent deployed within this UN mission.
The UN Security Council members sent their sincere condolences and compassion to the peacekeeper’s family, Morocco, and the UN in a press release issued on Friday.
The attack on the Obo airstrip in the southeast of the Central African Republic was strongly denounced by them.
In a statement sent by his spokesperson, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres offered his sympathies to the Moroccan Kingdom and people as well as the family of the fallen peacekeeper.
In addition to stating that MINUSCA has launched an inquiry to determine the circumstances behind the Moroccan peacekeeper’s death, he strongly denounced the attack.
Additionally, Guterres sent to Omar Hilale, the Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN , his sincere condolences to the family of the fallen peacekeeper as well as to the Moroccan government and people.
Following the passing of the Moroccan peacekeeper, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, sent a message of sympathy to the government and the Royal Armed Forces to Ambassador Hilale.
“I thank Morocco once again for its commitment and support to our operations, despite the very heavy price resulting from this,” he said, adding that the UN “will do its utmost to hold the perpetrators accountable for this act”.
The UN representative also sent his heartfelt condolences in a tweet to the family of the Moroccan peacekeeper who died in the attack in the CAR while defending international peacekeeping efforts.
My deepest condolences to the Kingdom of Morocco and to the relatives of the Moroccan peacekeeper who was killed in a cowardly attack yesterday while #ServingForPeace with @UN_CAR. An investigation is ongoing and the perpetrators of this heinous act must be held accountable. #A4P pic.twitter.com/n8OYV2vZBy
— Jean-Pierre Lacroix (@Lacroix_UN) November 25, 2022
He stated that an inquiry has been started, and those responsible for this atrocious act will face consequences.
Attacks on UN peacekeepers may qualify as war crimes under international law, the Security Council and UN SG have underscored.