30th September 2013
The United Nations has expressed satisfaction and
pride in Tanzania’s Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) who are currently
stationed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) monitoring the
volatile situation in the war torn central African state.
“I applaud your leadership for their acceptance to participate in the ‘Eleven plus Four’ group dedicated to seeking long term peace solutions in the DRC. Tanzania FIB has proved to be outstanding …we commend your participation in the peace keeping mission,” United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon said to President Kikwete during their meeting at the Secretary General Office in New York on Friday.
“It is obvious that as a leader you know the importance and benefits of the peace keeping missions. My condolences to you for precious lives lost in Darfur and the DRC recently,” the UN secretary general told Kikwete who is in the United States of America on an official visit.
For his part, Kikwete accepted the recognition on behalf of the country and then went on to address the victimising terror incidents commonly referred to in the country as acid attacks. These occurrences involve unknown persons preying on unsuspecting victims and pouring corrosive substances on them, causing permanent scars.
“…a number of people have been victimised by these acid attacks…my government strongly condemns these acts and our police force has launched a special operation to bring to justice all involved…” the president said.
The police force recently announced a 100m/- bounty for information leading to the arrest of the culprits. Already, 10 people have been arrested in Zanzibar, where the cases have been prevalent and they await court hearing.
Based on the targeted victims, these attacks have struck fear and confusion as well as unrest and social unrest across the country and beyond.
Most targeted persons have been religious leaders followed by several politicians and at least one prominent businessman. Two British volunteers were also victims of the attack.
The first reported attack was on one of the most famous Islamic clerics in the country, Sheikh Fadhil Suleiman Soroga who was attacked early morning in Unguja. After the incident, a string of similar cases have occurred across the country causing considerable religious tension especially taking to account bombings that have occurred at worship houses.
However the government has made it clear that there is no evidence to link these incidents to organized crime but investigations are well underway probing the motive and persons behind the attack to bring them to justice and verify or discredit whether they are working in individually or in coordination.
“I applaud your leadership for their acceptance to participate in the ‘Eleven plus Four’ group dedicated to seeking long term peace solutions in the DRC. Tanzania FIB has proved to be outstanding …we commend your participation in the peace keeping mission,” United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon said to President Kikwete during their meeting at the Secretary General Office in New York on Friday.
“It is obvious that as a leader you know the importance and benefits of the peace keeping missions. My condolences to you for precious lives lost in Darfur and the DRC recently,” the UN secretary general told Kikwete who is in the United States of America on an official visit.
For his part, Kikwete accepted the recognition on behalf of the country and then went on to address the victimising terror incidents commonly referred to in the country as acid attacks. These occurrences involve unknown persons preying on unsuspecting victims and pouring corrosive substances on them, causing permanent scars.
“…a number of people have been victimised by these acid attacks…my government strongly condemns these acts and our police force has launched a special operation to bring to justice all involved…” the president said.
The police force recently announced a 100m/- bounty for information leading to the arrest of the culprits. Already, 10 people have been arrested in Zanzibar, where the cases have been prevalent and they await court hearing.
Based on the targeted victims, these attacks have struck fear and confusion as well as unrest and social unrest across the country and beyond.
Most targeted persons have been religious leaders followed by several politicians and at least one prominent businessman. Two British volunteers were also victims of the attack.
The first reported attack was on one of the most famous Islamic clerics in the country, Sheikh Fadhil Suleiman Soroga who was attacked early morning in Unguja. After the incident, a string of similar cases have occurred across the country causing considerable religious tension especially taking to account bombings that have occurred at worship houses.
However the government has made it clear that there is no evidence to link these incidents to organized crime but investigations are well underway probing the motive and persons behind the attack to bring them to justice and verify or discredit whether they are working in individually or in coordination.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
