• Home
• /
• World
• /
• Africa

UN helicopter carrying 8 shot down by rebels in Congo’s east

Congo’s forces and the UN are searching for the helicopter and potential survivors

---

---

Congo’s army says rebels in the country’s east have shot down a United Nations helicopter carrying eight peacekeepers and UN observers.

The helicopter shot on Monday was among two carrying out reconnaissance for the UN mission in Congo, according to a statement from Congo’s army on Tuesday. Those on the helicopter were assessing the movements of communities that had been attacked by a rebel group in order to coordinate humanitarian assistance.

The M23 rebel group on Monday attacked several villages including Tchanzu, Runyonyi, Ndiza and Tchengerero, according to the statement.

Congo’s forces and the UN are searching for the helicopter and potential survivors, the army said.

ALSO READ:

• 14 civilians, including seven children, killed in machete attack in DR Congo

• NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo visits DMCC Coffee Centre

Eastern Congo is prone to insecurity as there are several armed groups vying for control of mineral-rich territory lands. In 2012 the M23 rebels controlled large areas of eastern Congo, including the provincial capital Goma. The rebels were eventually pushed from eastern Congo into Uganda and Rwanda in 2013 by Congolese and United Nations forces.

Despite ongoing efforts to disarm the group, M23 rebels have recently increased their attacks in the region.

• Africa
• Africa