At least 14 U.N. peacekeepers killed in Congo in the worst attack 'in recent memory'

At least 14 United Nations peacekeepers have been killed in eastern Congo, The Associated Press reports. "It's a very huge attack, certainly the worst in recent memory," said deputy spokesman Farhan Haq. At least 40 other peacekeepers were wounded.

The U.N. peacekeeping mission has been involved in civil war ravaged Congo since 1999 and is "the biggest in the world," The Washington Post writes. There are a number of militant groups in the nation, including the Allied Democratic Forces rebels, from neighboring Uganda. The ADF has repeatedly attacked the base where the peacekeepers were killed Friday, and is blamed for this attack as well. Fighting reportedly lasted for four hours.

Most of the peacekeepers killed Friday were from Tanzania, and at least five were from Congo.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up