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UN chief saddened by death of two UN experts on DR Congo

Xinhua, March 29, 2017 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday voiced sadness at the death of two UN experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"I am deeply saddened to confirm that the remains discovered by peacekeepers from the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) on March 27 outside of the city of Kananga in the Congolese Kasai-Central province are those of Michael Sharp (United States) and Zaida Catalan (Sweden), members of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo missing since March 12," Guterres said in a statement.

"I convey my profound condolences to Michael's and Zaida's families, loved ones and colleagues," he added.

The two lost their lives seeking to understand the causes of the conflict and insecurity in the DRC in order to help bring peace to the country and its people, said the UN chief.

"We will honor their memory by continuing to support the invaluable work of the Group of Experts and the whole UN family in the DRC."

Guterres promised an inquiry and nudged the Congolese authorities to "conduct a full investigation into this incident."

He also urged the government "to continue the search for the four Congolese nationals" who accompanied his UN colleagues.

Sharp vanished two weeks ago along with his colleague Catalan, both members of a Group of Experts, appointed by the United Nations Security Council, as they went to investigate a relatively new rebellion. Endi